1 The government has an idea how to unblock the EU negotiations. However, it’s in no hurry to act.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski announced that “they would address and work with the European Commission and partners to find a solution that is dignified and aligns with our national interests.” The Minister of European Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Orhan Murtezani, said that a letter is being prepared within the government, but it’s still in the phase of internal discussions, noting that “even if we have a proposal, we won’t rush to announce it before the elections in Bulgaria are over.” In response to opposition leader Venko Filipche’s request for the Government to present its proposals at a parliamentary session on how to unblock the process, spokesperson Marija Miteva replied that the Government would inform the Parliament with a letter “once the solution is completed.”
We can’t wait to see the letter.
But, wait a minute, first, the elections in Bulgaria need to conclude. And then they must form a Government, assuming they manage to do so this time. If not, we’ll have to wait for another Bulgarian election.
But, wait, first, the composition of the new European Commission needs to be elected, and after that we’ll need to give the new European Commissioners time to settle in. Otherwise, we would send them a letter right away. However, there’s no one to address it to.
On top of that, the European Union won’t take any dramatically different steps in its enlargement policy, at least until after the German elections next autumn. So, we’ll have to wait to see who the Germans will elect.
Roughly during that period, our local elections will coincide, so we’ll be waiting for that as well.
In other words, 2030 may not be a realistic timeline for Macedonia to become an EU member. Although, to be fair, it’s realistic to expect that by 2030, the letter will have reached the European institutions, even if it travels as registered mail via “Macedonian Post” on the high-speed line of “Macedonian Railways.”
2 The fact our Minister of Energy, Sanja Bozinovska, holds Bulgarian citizenship is not something illegal. In reality, it’s not a problem for someone to hold two citizenships, or in Minister Bozinovska’s case, even three – Macedonian, Czech, and Bulgarian. The problem is that she concealed her Bulgarian citizenship. Is she ashamed of her Bulgarian passport? How come she wasn’t ashamed when she was proving her Bulgarian identity?
We’re not judging the minister. Nor are we seeking an explanation for why she obtained Bulgarian and Czech citizenship. We’re seeking an answer why she didn’t disclose them. It’s simple – she holds a public office. How can we trust her that she’ll work for the interests of Macedonia, and not for the interests of Bulgaria and the Czech Republic? She oversees the energy sector. It’s a strategic issue. Should we just take her word for it? Given that she’s already concealed an important piece of information from voters and taxpayers, how can we do it? Or should we ask lawyers to determine if we can trust her?
It would be best if Prime Minister Mickoski announced all the ministers and MPs from his party who hold Bulgarian passports in one go. After the initial buzz dies down, perhaps within a week, another scandal will come out, they’ll keep doing what they’re doing, and we’ll know who we’re dealing with. It will save us the hassle, since Bulgaria surely has information on all Macedonian politicians with Bulgarian citizenship. And they’ll reveal names from the list when it suits them. They’re not fools not to reveal them. If I were them, I would publish those names too. Especially when it comes to the ones who openly criticise Bulgaria. The ones who speak of pride back home while carrying a couple of passports in their pockets, just in case.
After all, VMRO-DPMNE holds a majority in Parliament, let them change the law. Anyone who wants to hold a state office can’t have dual citizenship. A mayor yesterday, a minister today, who’s to say tomorrow they won’t try to plant someone with dual citizenship to be elected president. Let’s not go too far, let’s not get too carried away with paranoia or conspiracy theories about which services they work for, but then again, how would we know which motherland is truly dearer to them?
3 Minister of Finance Gordana Dimitrieska – Kochoska signed an agreement in Budapest for a loan from Hungary worth 500 million euros.
The Hungarian Government under Viktor Orban is a strategic partner of the Macedonian Government under Hristijan Mickoski.
Hungary is the country whose secret services extracted former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and saved him from prison, granted him political asylum, and has been hosting him in Budapest for six years.
Hungary has held the presidency of the European Union for the past six months. And it approved this loan precisely during the period when it presides over the European Union.
Hungary, holding the presidency of the European Union, voted in favour of separating Macedonia and Albania from the EU negotiation package, so Albania continues the negotiations, and Macedonia does not.
Isn’t it absurd?
This is yet another episode of Macedonian Band-Aid diplomacy. It sounds goofy, but it works. How it will play out and the consequences of this approach – only time will tell.
4 Rereading the old columns I published around this time, coinciding with the holiday marking the Macedonian uprising against the fascist occupier, I came across the column “Fake Glow,” which I published in the newspaper “Vecher” on October 12, 1996. Here’s an excerpt from that column:
“A few days ago, an old man visited me in the editorial office and handed me a short letter he had written to the Americans, in which, recalling the National Liberation Army and the first time he listened to “Voice of America” in 1942, he expresses his hope they’d help us save our country. When I asked him what he wanted me to do with the letter, he replied ‘I’m not asking for anything!’ To my obvious astonishment (can anyone truly not ask for anything at this time), the old man explained with a trembling voice and teary eyes: ‘Nothing, just to save our beloved country…’ And then he left.
Yesterday, we had a problem agreeing on who should write a commemorative text for the holiday of October 11. This reminded me of the incident with the old man and his letter. That’s why I decided to dedicate the festive segment of today’s text to him. What urged him to tell someone so touchingly: ‘Just to save our beloved country…”
And what can be said after 28 years on the date of the same occasion?
Death to fascism. Freedom to the people. That slogan never goes out of style.
Translated by Nikola Gjelincheski
