North Macedonia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani said there are plans to convince Macedonians to include Bulgarians in the country’s constitution, which would open the way for EU accession as per an agreement struck between Skopje and Sofia.
In June, after two years of a standoff between EU member Bulgaria and hopefully North Macedonia over language, cultural, and historical issues, an agreement was brokered whereby the latter would include Bulgarians as an recognised ethnic minority in the constitution, along with several other matters.
The problem is that the government does not have the necessary majority in parliament to change the constitution as the opposition are vehemently opposed.
Euronews Albania asked Osmani when the constitutional changes would take place.
“During 16 months, we will convince the citizens why the constitutional changes are not harmful to the country,” he said, adding that “I remember that the inclusion in the constitution like Croatia, which included communities and minorities, has strengthened Croatia, this will also happen with Macedonia.”
Osmani addressed the lack of political consensus required, stating that he hopes changing public opinion will then lead to political changes.
“We have political-party resistance, but the months will serve us that these constitutional changes will strengthen Macedonia”, said Osmani.
