North Macedonia is not prepared to implement constitutional amendments at this stage, Foreign Minister Timčo Mucunski said during a joint press conference with Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, who is on his first official visit to the country.
“At this moment there are no conditions for constitutional amendments, and the government is not prepared to take any step toward implementing them,” Mucunski said.
According to the foreign minister, there is a serious lack of trust and credibility regarding what has been delivered to North Macedonia in the context of its European integration process.
Despite the deadlock over constitutional changes, Mucunski said the country continues to take concrete steps linked to its European perspective.
“The first is what we are doing regarding the Reform Agenda. The second is what we are doing in the field of the common foreign and security policy, but even more importantly, what we are doing in implementing European values,” he said.
Mucunski added that North Macedonia remains objectively committed to European values, which he described as broader than simple alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy.
Addressing relations with Bulgaria, the foreign minister said North Macedonia has always been ready for dialogue and remains open to talks today.
However, he argued that the lack of willingness for dialogue had come from neighboring Bulgaria, particularly from one of its previous political governments.
“I hope there is awareness in Sofia that the European perspective of our country is important for the entire region,” Mucunski said.
He stressed that even if such awareness does not emerge, North Macedonia is not considering alternatives to the European path.
“We will continue with reforms, continue aligning with the common foreign and security policy, and continue sharing the European values in which the overwhelming majority of our citizens believe,” he added.
Mucunski reiterated that under the current circumstances the country is not ready to proceed with constitutional amendments.