30 minutes agoUS reacts After Northern Macedonia Accepts French Proposal
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)The United States said it welcomes the North Macedonia Assembly decision, which approved the French proposal to pave the way for European integration. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the 16 July vote is the next step on the Northern Macedonia road towards the EU. “We know the difficult compromises made for [...]
“We know the difficult compromises made for this compromise, which recognises and respects the cultural identity of North Macedonia and the Macedonian language. This decision comes at a critical moment for northern Macedonia, the Western Balkans and Europe. A European Union, including Albania and Northern Macedonia, will be stronger and more prosperous. Now is the time to build momentum and work in the next steps”, Blinken said through a written statement.
The Northern Macedonia Assembly on Saturday, 16 July, voted the French proposal, and after that, European Union officials said that negotiations for Skopje's membership would begin next week, but also Tirana in the bloc.
The Macedonian opposition is opposing this proposal, since it argues that “undermines Macedonian national language and identity”.
For more than two years, Bulgaria, an EU member state, vetoed the start of negotiations for membership in the bloc with Skopje due to disagreements on Macedonian language and identity.
