Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova she met with her Croatian counterpart Zoran Milanović during an official visit to Croatia on Tuesday.
Milanović commented on Macedonia’s long-running EU accession process, saying that too many demands and conditions are being placed on the country. She said that Macedonia is deciding its own path.
“Macedonia decides for itself what is better for it and which path it will choose, I assume that it is the path of prosperity, peace and tranquility for the citizens of Macedonia. And the second, including the EU and NATO, is a facade, a kind of energy renewal, but what makes a house is the interior. These are my thoughts, they are not advice even for the neighbor I live next to, let alone for another country and people. This also applies to Croatia, the EU is a superstructure, but by no means a building. Our house and tradition are on our land, and the EU is a welcome seasonal story while it lasts. That’s it. There is life without the EU, and it is successful and dignified,” President Milanović said.
President Siljanovska-Davkova pointed out that Macedonia demands that double standards not be applied to it.
“According to our Constitution, the initiative for its change can be launched by the president, 30 MPs or 150 thousand citizens. Now, the EU is also demanding this from us, and maybe some of our neighbors will do it too. This is truly enormous pressure. As a state, we modestly demand that double standards be abolished and that our achievements be valued like everyone else’s,” said the Macedonian head of state.
Siljanovska-Davkova adds she still hopes that Macedonia will be given the opportunity to compete on an equal footing with others.
“I believed, and I still believe, that a good faith approach is possible and that we will be given the opportunity to compete on an equal footing with others in adopting the rule of law, the separation of powers and respect for human rights, including the rights of minorities, in order to truly find our place in the European family,” said the Macedonian President.
