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The American ambassador in Skopje, Kate Marie Byrnes, through an open letter addressed to the citizens of North Macedonia, has called on North Macedonia to accept France’s proposal to resolve the dispute with Bulgaria, which would open the door to integration European.
In the open letter, Ambassador Byrnes said that “the people and institutions of this country (North Macedonia) have the strong support of the USA in the journey towards the EU, for making a decision, which, however it may be heavy, it is important for the future of the country”.
“EU membership will make your country stronger. Joining an international organization, much less participating in those processes, is hard work and comes with difficult decisions… But accepting this proposal means you will finally have a seat at the membership negotiating table. It puts EU member states, many of which are your close partners and allies, in a room with you… Once you start negotiations, you will have more tools and, thanks to the new methodology, earlier access to funds and EU programs – which you can use to realize your goals and build the future you want for yourself and your children,” the US ambassador wrote.
According to her, the new French proposal does not violate the Macedonian language and identity and that its content is more technical.
“It (the proposal) recognizes the Macedonian language and identity and protects them from further challenges. While it may not be perfect, the proposal does what is necessary: it protects your core interests and initiates a dynamic negotiation and review process. In our pragmatic view, it really represents the best opportunity to finally move your country forward on its path to the EU, strengthening control over your future,” Byrnes says.
She adds that “the choice to move forward is your decision as a sovereign nation – and we know it’s a difficult choice.”
“At the negotiating table, if you feel your concerns are not being addressed, you can make other choices. You have to take the first step to reach the second”, says the American ambassador, Kate Marie Byrnes, in the open letter addressed to the citizens of North Macedonia.
On Wednesday, the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, addressed the citizens of North Macedonia in a letter to support the French proposal for resolving the dispute with Bulgaria, which, according to Macron, paves the way for European integration.
“A historic opportunity is opening, the choice is yours”, French President Macron told the Macedonian citizens, in the letter published on Thursday by the French embassy in Skopje.
Macron does not claim that the French proposal is perfect, but says that it brings the country into the European Union.
In the French proposal, the Macedonian language is defined as such, that is, the Macedonian language without additional explanations or footnotes, while it is apostrophized that the European Union will consider the statements of the two states, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, in relation to the language.
Also in this proposal it is stated that North Macedonia should “initiate and achieve as a matter of priority constitutional changes, with the aim of including in the Constitution the citizens who live within the borders of the state and who are part of other people, such as Bulgarians”.
The French proposal has been supported by Bulgaria, which also decided to remove the veto against Skopje for the start of talks with the EU, which it had decided in November 20202.
The governing parties in Skopje support the French proposal, but it is opposed by the Macedonian opposition, which is organizing protests every day, which escalated into violence on the streets of Skopje.
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