North Macedonia

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

04 Feb 2022 6 3

Iakovos Michailidis

Inserted 2 years ago

“The history of Bulgaria and Slav Macedonia until World War Two are one and the same. Where they differ is after 1940, when Bulgaria becomes a Nazi ally, and [what is now] North Macedonia was part of Tito's resistance to the Nazis. That's where the history diverges. So the history up to World War Two is an apple of discord. Historical continuity and roots in the Balkans have become huge issues. The Slav Macedonians cannot accept that their beginnings as a nation go back only as far back as the 1940s.”

Aljazeera

Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki

20 Jan 2022 6 2

Saska Cvetkovska

Inserted 2 years ago

“Both sides discussed some more pragmatic parts of the cross border cooperation - economic and diplomatic education, chambers of commerce. These are mostly run by the EU so they don't count. Everybody was avoiding the core issue, which is the recognition of the Macedonian language and identity.”

Aljazeera

Executive director at the Investigative Reporting Lab a centre of the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project

20 Jan 2022 4 3

Dimitar Kovachevski

Inserted 2 years ago

“We're only going to pay attention to the things that are making us closer, not the things that are keeping us apart. We will give those matters an additional deadline.”

Aljazeera

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

18 Jan 2022 1 1

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Open Balkan is our way forward on the road to the European Union. We agreed that our three countries would not be held hostage to the failure of the European Union to unblock our European integration process. That process can be stopped in Brussels, but the Europeanization and implementation of European values in Northern Macedonia, Serbia, and Albania have no reason to be on hold.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

21 Dec 2021 6 5

Stevo Pendarovski

Inserted 2 years ago

“The approach of the new Bulgaria PM [Kiril Petkov], that history should not be the only venue of communication [between Skopje and Sofia] is acceptable to me.”

President of the Republic of North Macedonia

15 Dec 2021 2 1

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“My days [as PM] are numbered. I said I would stay to solidify the government majority and today I believe we are achieving that goal. Now I will need to oversee developments with Bulgaria, and that will take only a few weeks.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

05 Dec 2021 1 3

Kastriot Rexhepi

Inserted 2 years ago

“On the day of the vote [Thursday November 11th] I frivolously took a hideout at a friend's place in order not to allow the country to take a wrong direction, contrary to my beliefs. Zaev's [Zoran Zaev] comeback was the main turning point for me. That, and the signals I received from representatives of the international community, that the US and the EU are working hard to ensure that the country gets a [start] date for EU talks. I hope that reason among my party colleagues will prevail in the coming days, and I will try to be the bridge if I can, for that to happen. Stabilisation is now important for the country so it can deal with the energy crisis and the pandemic. We don't need fresh elections and grinding to a halt, but a stable majority.”

North Macedonia politician - MP from the small ethnic Albanian BESA

15 Nov 2021 3 1

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“I expect the parliamentary majority to stabilize, especially the majority that is for the EU, for a multiethnic society.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

09 Nov 2021 3 2

Florian Bieber

Inserted 2 years ago

“This is a problem [citizens in the Western Balkans believing that they will never join the EU] because it removes the pressure on the elites to implement reforms. The results of recent elections in North Macedonia show to the elites in the region that, if one puts all eggs in one basket - the EU - one risks being punished by the voters. Without a political message and with the difficulty with the e-word (enlargement), the reports lose the power they once had. They have now become much more of a non-event. Which is a pity - they are in many ways better than five years ago.”

Professor at the University of Graz and member of the Balkans in Europe Policy Advisory Group (BiEPAG)

09 Nov 2021 4 4

Maciej Popowski

Inserted 2 years ago

“The delay on the adoption of the negotiating frameworks with Albania and North Macedonia had the consequences on the entire region… We don't want to lose the Balkans, and the citizens. The overall level of support (for EU enlargement) is still high, but it cannot be taken for granted.”

Acting Director-General of the Directorate General Neighbourhood and Enlargement

09 Nov 2021 4 3

Hristijan Mickoski

Inserted 2 years ago

“The new majority means one thing for sure, that this government of [Zoran] Zaev, who is the source of all problems, is crumbling. This means that in the period that follows I will try, I repeat will try, to form a new government. That will happen only if I am sure that this will be a government with firm political credibility and efficiency needed to tackle the serious challenges ahead. If this does not happen… then what remains as the only option are quick parliamentary elections.”

Leader of VMRO-DPMNE

06 Nov 2021 3 4

Xhelal Neziri

Inserted 2 years ago

“There is a perception that the SDSM [Social Democratic Union of Macedonia] had only replaced VMRO-DPMNE and that it was continuing the same practice of influencing the judiciary, controlling the prosecution, with impunity for politicians and people associated with the government.”

Political analyst based in Skopje

02 Nov 2021 6 5

Marko Trosanovski

Inserted 2 years ago

“His [Zoran Zaev] failure to fulfill those promises was one of the main reasons for his electoral defeat. They were warned several times, both in previous election cycles and by experts, to return to the reform agenda, but they left many unaddressed problems: Judicial reform and the public administration remained [politically] partisan.”

President of the Skopje-based Institute for Democracy

02 Nov 2021 2 4

Bilall Kasami

Inserted 2 years ago

“We have to make a clear distinction between local and parliamentary elections. In parliamentary elections, a mandate is taken to lead the government for four years, while in local elections we're concerned with local government and the topics are completely different. I think this government and this parliament should end their four-year term because we have strategic goals towards the full integration of North Macedonia into the EU, the same as we wanted integration into NATO.”

North Macedonian politician - Leader of the ethnic Albanian Besa party and mayor of Tetovo

02 Nov 2021 2 3

Aranit Hoxha

Inserted 2 years ago

“We do not agree with Zaev's [Zoran Zaev] resignation either, but that is his personal move, which the PM decided on himself.”

Secretary-general of North Macedonia junior ruling party, BESA

02 Nov 2021 2 2

Artan Grubi

Inserted 2 years ago

“All the partners in the government were absolutely against Zaev's [Zoran Zaev] resignation, because we think it was a rushed decision… He should continue leading the government and carry out the policies, because a stable and predictable government is what the citizens are expecting.”

Democratic Union for Integration organisational secretary

02 Nov 2021 2 2

Nikola Micevski

Inserted 2 years ago

“The situation in the country is very serious and we will try to forge a new parliamentary majority. If the party fails it would be for the best to go to snap parliamentary elections, because this government, this majority, has lost political legitimacy.”

North Macedonian politician - VMRO DPMNE's parliamentary caucus leader

01 Nov 2021 5 3

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“I will stay in the immediate period ahead, while I am needed, so that a new government is organised with [the support of] the progressive majority [in parliament] which is there, and might get bigger.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

01 Nov 2021 2 2

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“I take responsibility for these developments. I resign from the post of prime minister and party president. I have brought freedom and democracy, and democracy means taking responsibility.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

31 Oct 2021 3 3

Olivér Várhelyi

Inserted 2 years ago

“Delays in the official start of membership negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia have a negative impact on the credibility of the EU. The pending bilateral issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia should be resolved as a matter of priority. It is essential that EU Member States conclude discussions on the Negotiating Frameworks without further delay and that the first intergovernmental conferences with both countries be held as soon as possible and before the end of this year. Albania has achieved tangible results in judicial reform and the fight against crime, results have been achieved in the fight against corruption and crime. Macedonia has made progress in the reforms imposed by the EU, it has been determined in the fight against crime and corruption, this fight must continue.”

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

19 Oct 2021 8 8

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“At the end of the second round, I assure you we will have more mayors elected than the retrograde alliance [led by VMRO DPMNE].”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

17 Oct 2021 3 2

Hristijan Mickoski

Inserted 2 years ago

“This is not the end of the battle. The real battle is yet ahead of us.”

Leader of VMRO-DPMNE

17 Oct 2021 0 3

Dragi Gjorgiev

Inserted 2 years ago

“When there is talk about the so-called memory politics of a nation's past, then in order to make decisions about this memory politics, which usually results in what is written on the monuments, and how public opinion perceives this past, seeing things through the eyes of politics, then a lot of discussions, talks, consensus in public opinion is needed to make a decision on how to present a certain event or person from the past. I do not see this statement by our Prime Minister [Zoran Zaev] as a statement that will be implemented immediately and on the basis of which the deletion of some offensive designations from those that have been established so far will begin in the field tomorrow. I see this statement more as an attempt, a signal to the other side that as far as the historical reconciliation between the Macedonian (sic) and Bulgarian people is concerned, there should be a dialogue, all the painful issues between us should be discussed and that this is the solution to achieve reconciliation.”

Balkaneu

Chairman of the North Macedonia Group in the Joint Interdisciplinary Commission on Historical and Educational Issues with Bulgaria

27 Sep 2021 5 4

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“I personally believe that the head count will be successful. But still, let us not rush to conclusions as we have some ten more days.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

20 Sep 2021 1 2

Radmila Sekerinska

Inserted 2 years ago

“North Macedonia and Turkey are not only strategic partners but also friends who respect and cooperate for almost three decades, without a single stain on relations. Friendship and cooperation strengthened with NATO and will help greatly in promoting the standards and readiness of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia as the 30th member of NATO.”

Balkaneu

North Macedonian Defense Minister

17 Aug 2021 2 2

Jani Makraduli

Inserted 2 years ago

“Macedonian language, Macedonian identity and Macedonian uniqueness are internationally accepted and confirmed, part of our ID at the United Nations. Our international positions are clear and repeated countless times - there has not been and there will never be negotiations about them.”

North Macedonia politician - Social Democrat MP

30 Jul 2021 4 5

Bojan Maricic

Inserted 2 years ago

“After adoption by the government, we will immediately process these changes to parliament. I expect parliament to pass these changes right after the summer break. The defamation fines for journalists and editors will be five times lower, and for media outlets they will be three times lower [than before].”

North Macedonia Justice Ministry

27 Jul 2021 2 3

Dusan Kovacevic

Inserted 2 years ago

“A state-of-the-art facility will be built using the latest technology available in the United States. Briggs, McBride, and Caldwell [American football stars Lance Briggs, Turk McBride, and Donnie Caldwell] have chosen a growing location in North Macedonia. The next step is to buy the land and begin construction, which is planned for the autumn. The American athletes' role would be to provide investment and state-of-the-art growing technology.”

Founder and director of the Exit music festival in Novi Sad, Serbia

14 Jul 2021 (approx) 2 2

Kostadin Kostadinov

Inserted 2 years ago

“The Social Democrats' position on the Macedonian language and identity are crystal clear. The identity red lines are clear to our people and to the entire international public. If VMRO DPMNE is not sure on these lines, we as a constructive parliamentary majority can make that step without any problem and accept the resolution as is. Support for the document should dispel all the lies that we are committing national treason” that the opposition has been spreading.”

North Macedonia politician - Social Democrat MP and member of the party’s executive board

04 Jul 2021 1 2

Tanja Fajon

Inserted 2 years ago

“To be frank, the region is in a bad condition, the enlargement is in a bad condition, and the EU is in a bad condition. A lot of selfishness, a lot of egoism in the past years, as well as dangerous nationalism. For a country - Bulgaria - to jeopardize another country - this is selfish and dangerous.”

Slovenian politician and Member of the European Parliament

01 Jul 2021 3 5

Nikola Dimitrov

Inserted 2 years ago

“This is great timing for this topic and our gathering. However, we have to be honest and open – it is the worst time possible. For the second time, Bulgaria vetoed the accession talks with North Macedonia and Albania. It has been two decades since we started the talks with the EU. We do not know whether to expect it anymore. If the EU cannot make a difference in the region, which is not even its backyard, but its courtyard, it is telling about the problem the EU faces. The long-term consequence will be the weakening of those who believe in the transformative process of the enlargement and in European values.”

Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration of North Macedonia

01 Jul 2021 4 6

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“The meeting today is a step towards finding a solution that is aimed at being of interest to both parties. Only in this way will we have the support of the citizens of both countries. I appeal to the brotherly people in Bulgaria through their leaders to continue their support for the Republic of North Macedonia on the road to its EU membership because our country has no other alternative. The most important thing is that we believe in European values.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

17 Jun 2021 3 2

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“I am convinced that today's meetings here in Sofia will bring about only good for both brotherly nations. I appeal on the brotherly Bulgarian nation - through its leaders - to continue to help the Republic of North Macedonia on our path toward the European Union. We have no alternative.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

17 Jun 2021 2 3

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“I have a feeling the problem won't be solved by June 22. Bulgaria has a technical government and has no parliament [in session, ahead of July elections], but this option is not impossible. But I believe that these days we can reach an agreement that would be ratified by us and by the next Bulgarian government and parliament.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

16 Jun 2021 1 2

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Leaving a vacuum in our part of Europe [Western Balkans] is not an option. We need a predictable, credible and re-intensified EU and NATO integration processes.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

14 Jun 2021 4 2

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“It is very important for us that France supports the process of integration of North Macedonia in the EU, with clearly set standards and without wasting time. Ahead of us is the European Council Summit in June, which is a real opportunity for a step forward and a solution that will remove the blockade on our European path.”

Prime Minister of North Macedonia

10 Jun 2021 4 2

Vlado Misajlovski

Inserted 2 years ago

“We took to the streets to raise our voice and to ask the government to show us what is being put on the table [in talks with Bulgaria], and whether they are again negotiating about Macedonian identity and language. We are all supporting the EU bid but there is something more important than that, the Macedonian state, the nation, the citizens and off course, the [national] identity.”

Vice president of North Macedonian main opposition party VMRO DPMNE

09 Jun 2021 1 3

Zoran Zaev

Inserted 2 years ago

“Mickoski [Hristijan Mickoski] absolutely knows that the plan [Portuguese plan to overcome the issues with Bulgaria] is good and is a starting point for reaching a solution. So now, to organise protests with a few cars and a handful of people to block the traffic, is a message that I really cannot understand. We are talking with Bulgaria about the roadmap, and the talks are focused on a sectorial level, on construction of railways and roads that are part of Corridor 8, on cooperation between the culture ministries, and ministries for education and science, on labour and social policies and on health, as well as on cooperation between the national youth agencies and the national broadcasters. Everything else is being discussed through the Portuguese presidency.”