"That Protocol is bilateral and it is a record of the annual meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, which is an instrument of the 2017 Agreement. We have such a protocol signed in 2019 by Dimitrov and Zaharieva where, among other things, they encourage the historical commission to find a solution to historical issues. So it is not something that is being done for the first time. What we are doing and discussing now is important for the further course of implementation of things, and it is important for us to have reciprocity for most of the issues wherever possible, this means that what we should do Bulgaria should also do it, Deputy Prime Minister Maricik pointed out in an interview on "Kanal 77".

"Chapter 34 is Institutions. That Chapter is, I should say formal one, there is no screening, because it is not about any European rules, standards, but it is called Institutions, where the number, i.e. the quota, of places in the European institutions for employment is allocated to North Macedonia, how many MEPs we have and how we will participate, in what way and with what number in the institutions and at which level, and in which language, said Maricik, adding that at the end of this Chapter the language will be official, and by then we will have already had the term Macedonian language used in all documents of the European Union.

For Deputy Prime Minister Maricik, North Macedonia has a clear position that its strategic goal is membership in the EU and believes that this is the best path, although there are always alternatives, which should be reasonably considered, what concepts they offer.

- We have always had a clear position that we are in favour of the EU, and we think that this is the best way. Although our road to the EU was bumpy. We should not consider other alternatives. We have come to the point of having in front of us a compromise proposal that gives us a chance to sit at the table with European developed countries, where we will be able to express our views and influence. An economically developed state, a social state, democracy, security and connection with all democratic states in Europe is what we should appreciate as a value, Maricik said.

The Deputy Prime Minister reiterated the support we receive from the EU member states, who expect us to give a statement on the proposal, but also that we must be realistic that there are structures that do not think well of our country or the region and influence with a tendency for us to stay in isolation and with no perspective.

It is important to keep the country on the European path. It would really be a pity to lose a chance and an opportunity that we don't know if we will get it again after a few months or a few years. It is not good for us to be the topic of the elections in Bulgaria again, to open a space for discussion about our European future and to collect points on the Macedonian issue when we have a clear situation in our Macedonian language, for the first time in the history of our relations with Bulgaria, emphasized Maricik.