VMRO-DPMNE leader and future Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Christian Mitzkoski, has said that while the constitutional name of the country (North Macedonia) will be used in official communications by state institutions, he will continue to refer to the country as “Macedonia”.
“Whatever is stipulated in the Prespa Agreement, including the name, the future VMRO-DPMNE government will respect it. We use the name North Macedonia in the official certificates and in the bill we submitted today. However, I have the right to freedom of speech and expression and I do not mind if other politicians do not use the full name of their country. For me, my country is Macedonia and that is what I will call it in my statements,”
Mitskoski
Mitskoski stressed that institutional communication will follow the laws and the constitution as long as they are in force. “You cannot ask for the laws to be respected and at the same time say other things. But in my personal statements I will call the country Macedonia,” he added.
Speaking at a press conference on his party’s bill to create three new ministries, Mitskoski noted that he would also support his positions at the NATO summit if the issue came up. “We want to build bridges of friendship and cooperation with all our neighbours and show that the Macedonian people are peaceful and hospitable. I do not intend to behave in an extreme way and I do not expect such behaviour from any politician in the 21st century. We can discuss in any forum what everyone has implemented from the Prespa Agreement,” he added.
The VMRO-DPMNE leader argued that “the hysteria created in Greece and transferred here is due to their election campaign”. Finally, Mitskoski announced he will shortly receive the mandate from the President of the Republic, Gordana Siljanovska, to form a government, following the parliamentary vote.