North Macedonia's PM Mickoski Questions Greece's Stance on the 'Macedonian Issue'

North Macedonia's Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, has hinted that Greece might have a guilty conscience regarding its stance on the "Macedonian issue."

In Skopje, Mickoski speculated that Greece's subconscious might be at play, invoking Freud's theories, but he refrained from delving further into the matter when responding to Athens' criticism of his recent statements on the unresolved issue.

Mickoski emphasized that the "Macedonian issue" remains open until North Macedonia achieves its fundamental and strategic aim of becoming a full member of the European Union. He highlighted the European Court of Human Rights' numerous rulings on the rights of the Macedonian community in Bulgaria, which remain unobserved.

"We are in the 21st century, discussing an EU member state that infringes on the rights of the Macedonian community," he said, adding that the Macedonian identity continues to be questioned. "It would be irresponsible, frivolous, and traitorous to claim that the Macedonian issue is resolved," Mickoski asserted.

Earlier this week, during a speech to expatriates in New Jersey, Mickoski mentioned the "unresolved and existing Macedonian issue." In response, Athens' Foreign Ministry labeled his remarks as a "provocation," underscoring that North Macedonia's EU membership is contingent on full adherence to the Prespa Agreement concerning the country's name.