WEBVTT

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Dear journalists, guests

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and everyone following us.
Welcome at the press conference

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of the Slovene
and North Macedonian PM.

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Today,
the PM Robert Golob is hosting

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the North Macedonian PM
Dimitar Kovačevski.

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They want to strengthen
the cooperation

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and continue
with the political dialogue.

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First, I give the floor
to the Slovene PM Robert Golob,

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who will tell us more.
Mr. Golob, go ahead.

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Welcome, everyone. I am glad

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to host
the North Macedonian PM.

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North Macedonia has been
on the same page with Slovenia

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throughout the whole history.
It is a friendly country.

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We don’t have in common just the
Euro-Atlantic geopolitical views,

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but also
excellent bilateral relations

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and the relationship
between both nations.

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Today, we talked about this.

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How to strengthen
our cooperation,

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the declaration is
a step in this direction.

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Slovenia wants to help
North Macedonia in any way possible.

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Since 2010,

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Slovenia has been one
of the biggest donors

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of development help,
mostly development help

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for the development of the
infrastructure and social networks

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in North Macedonia.

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During this time, Slovenia
has contributed 37.7 million

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for all kinds of help,

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but mostly for the development
of the infrastructure.

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It is important
that this help isn't in vain.

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Slovene companies work on
the infrastructure for waste water.

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It is help
where Slovene companies

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have economical
and investment interest.

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I believe we will continue doing it.
We will help North Macedonia

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and increase
our trade exchange,

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which is very balanced
and it should stay this way.

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We also talked about cooperating
in investments in North Macedonia.

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Slovenia is one of the biggest
investors, it is among the top five.

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Last year, we had
a 7% part of all the investments

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which shows
the Slovene economy

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has a good understanding
of North Macedonia.

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It is a basis for our relationship
in the future.

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Almost 1,500 Macedonian students
study in Slovenia

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and we want them to be
the bridge between the countries.

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Slovenia should not just be
the window to the EU, but a place

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where we cooperate

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with the Macedonian
government and society.

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These students go back
and we should cooperate.

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This agenda is our priority

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and I believe
we will make progress.

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And the most important thing.
In Slovenia, we believe

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that Macedonia
and its Euro-Atlantic journey

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are an important factor in the
stability of the Western Balkans.

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The process
that started last year

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and got a new momentum,
I am talking about the negotiations

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of North Macedonia and Albania
to join the EU,

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should not stop,
especially not now.

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Many people want
this process to stop.

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They don't care about the interest
of the people in the Western Balkans

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and we will do everything to support
Mr. Kovačevski's government

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and other efforts
in North Macedonia

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to fulfil the expectations

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and obligations to the EU,
but the EU has to understand

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the importance of this moment
in North Macedonia

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and make sure
the process doesn't stop.

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Last year, we achieved a lot

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and the process
should not stop.

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This is the key message today.
Slovenia will be active

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in Brussels and in the region

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if it will benefit
North Macedonia.

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Today,
we showed that they can count

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on our alliance and support.

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We will of course coordinate
with their government.

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We believe now
is the right time for it.

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This is all for now,
later I will answer questions.

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Thank you.
Dear PM of North Macedonia

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Dimitar Kovačevski, go ahead.

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Dear PM Golob,
dear ministers of the Slovenian

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and North Macedonian
government,

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dear foreign minister,

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dear media representatives.

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I can see
when everyone was born.

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Journalists from North Macedonia
are younger

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and they needed
an interpreter

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to understand Mr. Golob.
I didn't understand him.

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We come from the same country
and we speak all languages

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that were spoken there.
It is our tradition

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that is crowned by the friendship
between both countries.

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I am glad to be in Slovenia.

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I want to thank
the PM for inviting me

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and accept me as a good host.

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The connections between Slovenia
and Macedonia are strong.

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We have had an honest relationship
since our independence

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and we respect each other.
We honestly talked

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about our relationship
until now

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and made a plan for the future. We
also talked about other questions,

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questions that are important
for the region and other issues,

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such as the Ukraine war
and our commitments.

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We signed the declaration
to strengthen our cooperation

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which is a sign
of our friendship

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and partnership
between the countries.

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We established
our future work

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where we could cooperate.

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We want to strengthen
the bilateral relations.

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Our governments
will meet together

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by the end of the year
if it will be possible.

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We will talk about important
bilateral and regional questions.

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We also talked
about the region,

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about the current issues. We need
to keep the geopolitical momentum

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to ensure our safety.
We agreed

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on a better coordination
and a regular dialogue

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to contribute to the cohesion of
the countries in the Western Balkans

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and strengthen
their way toward the EU.

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We also agreed

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to discuss our foreign policy

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and talks in the region.
North Macedonia showed

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that we can contribute
to the stability of the region.

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We want to be
a society of equals,

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this is our internal policy,
but we also want a dialogue

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with all countries in the region.
There is also a question

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and it is clear

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that we support the EU policy
regarding the situation in Ukraine

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which showed continuity
and a credit to European values

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that have been cherished
since our independence.

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I would like to thank my host,
Mr Golob, and Republic of Slovenia

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for always sincere support
on our Euro-Atlantic course

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and development
in all past years.

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This support
was very gracious,

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which was evident
on last June,

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when after 17 years,
since we are a candidate,

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we have started
the discussion with EU.

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This support
is still very important,

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as Premier Golob
has emphasized.

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Here, I would like to thank
for Slovenian support

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to all the MPs
of the National Assembly.

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Considering this moment
and possibility to make a new step

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in the process of negotiation

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to become a full Member State.
Here, I would like to say

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that the Republic of North Macedonia
and its citizens

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are aware of its role in the
European and regional context.

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I believe, we shall successfully
walk on a European path,

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although certain
external and internal forces

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don't want this.
At the end, the ones,

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who believe in justice
and a better tomorrow,

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are always winners. The citizens,
the nation always support them.

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The support of Slovenia on our path
to the EU is not only political,

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but it is actual and practical.

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Among others,
a Slovenian technical support

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for improvement of administrative
capacity in integration,

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with readjustment of our legislation
with EU's is very important.

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Slovenia has been supporting
the progress of North Macedonia

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with almost 40 million Euros
for implementing the reforms,

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which result
from a process of integration

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and a general development
of many areas in our country.

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As far as the help for development
is concerned,

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Slovenia is allocating
its help to the Western Balkans.

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60% of it goes there
and 40% to other countries.

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It just corroborates the fact that
Slovenia is one of the best friends

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to the countries of Western Balkans
and its promoter in the EU.

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I have to emphasize a great help
we get from Slovenia,

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especially from its
Ministry of Agriculture.

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For developing the programs
in our country.

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Because of the knowledge
they have brought,

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we are a country with the best yield
from the funds in the EU.

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We are even better than some
of EU Member States.

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We are developing
wine production in our country

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and small wineries
we are all boasting about.

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Yesterday, in the wine fair
in Verona we could show them,

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with our friends
from Serbia and Albania,

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which wouldn't be possible
without the expert help

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in adopting a politics
and economic models

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that we got from Slovenia.

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A lot about it can tell us
the Minister of Agriculture,

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who is here with us today.

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We have also foreseen
an improvement in collaboration

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on integration
of North Macedonia in the EU.

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It was all focused on a preparation
of Macedonia for the EU,

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for working and entering the EU.
Slovenia has the best experiences,

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including the projects
that EU is financing,

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and that would help us to fulfil
the criteria for the membership.

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We are also going
to reinforce the collaboration

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in the area
of green agenda

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and in the area of youth,
the cultural exchange

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and exchange in the field
of science and higher education,

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which is on a very high level.

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Primarily, we would like
to improve the economy.

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Our cooperation is very productive,
as Mr Golob has said,

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in the area of economy.

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Slovenian investors would like
to invest in our country

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and Slovenian funds are
traditionally present there.

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As far as amount and investments
are concerned,

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the trade between the countries
is continually growing.

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Slovenian investments
cover 7%

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of all investments in Macedonia,

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which puts
Slovenia in the fifth place.

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According to statistics,
cumulative receipts

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of foreign investments
is more than 400.000 Euros,

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but here are more than 40 companies
that have 2500 employees

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with wages, high than
the average wage in the country.

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Among those are
LTH Ohrid, Tab Mak,

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investments in drinking water
in Probištip

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and one of the best wineries
in Negotino.

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There are also cleaning plants
in Štip and Negotino

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and investments
in banking industry.

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We shouldn't forget
that one of our biggest banks

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is de facto
owned by Nova Ljubljanska banka.

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The first pension company and Nova
Ljubljanska banka are cofounders

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of private pension funds
in the Republic of Macedonia.

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With this,
Slovenian companies are ensuring

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an investment and financial
stability in our country for years.

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I have to mention also
the biggest photovoltaic home base

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in the Republic of North Macedonia
that Gen-i from Slovenia has

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put into use last year.

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I have been present
at that occasion.

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This is very important for us
because of energetic transformation.

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Mr Golob could put this investment
wherever he would like to,

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in any other area in the region
or even the world,

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because this is
a world-renowned company.

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Nevertheless,
they have picked out our country,

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because we gave them
the best support and service.

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The North Macedonia
is renowned and respected

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as far as foreign
investments are concerned.

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We have made a step forward
with this investment

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towards the energetic independence,

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reinforcing the green economy
and a higher standards of living.

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Today, the whole world
is facing the energy crisis

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and the North Macedonia
is ensuring clean energy

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which can support 5500 Macedonian
households with this home base.

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I am happy to see that other big
companies from Slovenia

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show interest to invest
in the Republic of Macedonia.

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Tomorrow our Minister of Agriculture
will meet with Perutnina Ptuj

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to explore the possibilities for
potential investments in Macedonia.

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Our goal is to raise the trade
with Slovenia to 500 million Euros.

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At the moment it is
about 300 million Euros.

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And also to deepen a cooperation
with foreign investments.

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We are seeing a bigger interest
of Macedonian companies

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to invest in Slovenia.

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Some brands are investing
30 million Euros,

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mainly in metallurgic branch.

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We have some investments
in telecommunication, organic foods,

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digitalization, energetics

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and we have focused on direct
flights between the countries.

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We shouldn't forget
that in the age of digitalization,

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in the updating of telecommunication
in our countries,

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the Slovenian companies
have been historically important.

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I am very happy
that we have around 1500 students

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studying full-time on undergraduate
and postgraduate programs

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in University of Ljubljana.

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I personally,
as well as the Government,

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want the students
to return to North Macedonia

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and use the knowledge
they acquired here.

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That is why I support
the initiative

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of the Chamber of Commerce
of the Slovenian Embassy

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and the business club of
Macedonian and Slovenian companies

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to open up possibilities,

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so that these students
can apply their knowledge

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in the Macedonian economy.

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This is necessary for young people
and for all our citizens.

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I would like to thank
my dear friend Mr Golob

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and citizens
of the Republic of Slovenia

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for maintaining
the path towards the EU

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and a dynamic process
to secure EU membership,

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because we really believe
we can do it by 2030.

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Thank you once again
to the Prime Minister,

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to all of you
and to the ministers.

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We're here to answer questions.

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We have time for two more
questions from the press.

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The first one will be asked

00:22:02.022 --> 00:22:07.375
by a journalist from the Macedonian
National Television. Please.

00:22:17.066 --> 00:22:20.702
A question
for Slovenian Prime Minister Golob.

00:22:21.210 --> 00:22:25.389
You have delivered
a key message

00:22:25.510 --> 00:22:31.105
that Macedonia must not stop
in the European integration process.

00:22:31.941 --> 00:22:34.896
You also spoke
about external influences.

00:22:35.017 --> 00:22:40.783
How do you rate
from this point of view

00:22:40.946 --> 00:22:43.208
the Euro-Atlantic route

00:22:43.329 --> 00:22:49.004
and all these forces
that affect this path,

00:22:49.125 --> 00:22:52.482
how will Slovenia
help Macedonia in this?

00:22:56.371 --> 00:22:59.660
First of all,
I would like to emphasise

00:23:00.004 --> 00:23:03.481
that North Macedonia
is part of Europe.

00:23:03.602 --> 00:23:05.602
It has always been part of Europe,

00:23:05.723 --> 00:23:09.863
now is also the time for it to
become part of the European family,

00:23:09.984 --> 00:23:12.248
called the European Union.

00:23:12.477 --> 00:23:15.474
It has been waiting
too long for this.

00:23:15.595 --> 00:23:20.445
Today, it's at a point where
that process has finally moved.

00:23:20.566 --> 00:23:22.850
I think we all
have to do everything

00:23:22.971 --> 00:23:26.614
so that this process
never stops again.

00:23:26.735 --> 00:23:32.077
It is a multifaceted process
and a multifaceted operation.

00:23:32.512 --> 00:23:37.010
On one side,
you have your internal process,

00:23:37.468 --> 00:23:39.885
including amendments
to the constitution,

00:23:40.266 --> 00:23:45.195
which you must perform
in order to fulfil the conditions

00:23:45.933 --> 00:23:49.464
so that the rapprochement
can continue.

00:23:50.125 --> 00:23:55.542
I believe on the one hand,
that this is a demanding task,

00:23:55.706 --> 00:23:59.302
but at the same time,
that reason will prevail.

00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:03.505
That all political parties
in North Macedonia

00:24:03.626 --> 00:24:08.343
will understand the historic
importance of this moment today

00:24:08.464 --> 00:24:13.024
and that this process must be
completed as soon as possible.

00:24:13.145 --> 00:24:16.789
Just as it is foreseen
in the negotiations.

00:24:17.023 --> 00:24:22.399
This is a historic occasion that has
nothing to do with party affiliation.

00:24:22.520 --> 00:24:24.319
It has nothing to do
with ideology,

00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:28.902
but with the future
of the entire Macedonian nation.

00:24:29.023 --> 00:24:31.707
I think parties
have to internalise that.

00:24:31.828 --> 00:24:35.308
If Slovenia can help
with this in any way

00:24:35.429 --> 00:24:41.088
with a presentation, a dialogue,
we will be happy to do so.

00:24:42.557 --> 00:24:46.661
On the other hand, we have
an understanding of this process

00:24:46.782 --> 00:24:50.301
and the historic importance
of this moment in Brussels,

00:24:50.422 --> 00:24:52.791
among the members
of the European Union.

00:24:52.912 --> 00:24:58.100
This whole time we have been
clearly defending the position

00:24:58.562 --> 00:25:00.447
that the Western Balkans,

00:25:00.568 --> 00:25:05.911
North Macedonia is one of the more
advanced candidates for membership,

00:25:06.032 --> 00:25:11.989
that the Western Balkans need
to be stabilised especially today,

00:25:12.110 --> 00:25:14.391
otherwise they could become
a source of instability

00:25:14.512 --> 00:25:17.819
for the whole of Europe.
Politically stabilised.

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:20.602
The only way to stabilise
the Western Balkans

00:25:20.723 --> 00:25:25.577
is the rapprochement to the European
Union. There is no other way.

00:25:25.698 --> 00:25:27.399
The Western Balkans must become

00:25:27.520 --> 00:25:30.364
an integral part of the European
Union as soon as possible.

00:25:30.485 --> 00:25:32.466
This is the only way
to stabilise them.

00:25:32.587 --> 00:25:37.997
Slovenia will strive for this not only
by offering technical assistance,

00:25:38.118 --> 00:25:41.516
but above all by political support.

00:25:42.065 --> 00:25:44.119
We will defend the position

00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:50.108
that the current negotiation process
must not be stopped

00:25:51.343 --> 00:25:56.608
by introducing additional
bilateral issues to the agenda.

00:25:57.677 --> 00:26:00.683
We will insist on moving forward

00:26:00.804 --> 00:26:04.727
with those processes that have
already been agreed upon,

00:26:04.848 --> 00:26:06.448
amendment to the constitution,

00:26:06.569 --> 00:26:10.539
but that no additional requirements
may be introduced at this time

00:26:10.660 --> 00:26:14.663
to the process of rapprochement
and negotiations.

00:26:15.469 --> 00:26:18.702
This aspect is very important
because, unfortunately,

00:26:18.823 --> 00:26:21.610
it has been shown in the past
that many neighbours,

00:26:21.731 --> 00:26:23.605
even we had such an experience,

00:26:23.726 --> 00:26:29.019
try to blackmail the candidate
member in such negotiations.

00:26:29.748 --> 00:26:32.292
We will insist that in this case,

00:26:32.413 --> 00:26:36.503
because of the increased influence
of Russian propaganda in the region,

00:26:36.624 --> 00:26:39.405
we must not allow
such blackmail.

00:26:40.169 --> 00:26:43.227
The European Union
must not allow such blackmail.

00:26:43.348 --> 00:26:48.234
And that the timeline, even in terms
of the sequence of steps,

00:26:48.355 --> 00:26:51.769
is fully respected
by the European Commission.

00:26:51.890 --> 00:26:54.414
To know exactly
that negotiations are one thing,

00:26:54.535 --> 00:26:57.611
while internal changes, in this case
changes to the constitution,

00:26:57.732 --> 00:27:00.074
are another thing,
and that we should not wait

00:27:00.195 --> 00:27:03.727
and reverse the order,
but condition what must be first.

00:27:03.848 --> 00:27:07.230
This part seems important to me
and I want to emphasise it.

00:27:07.351 --> 00:27:11.946
Because these are
two parallel processes,

00:27:12.067 --> 00:27:16.302
and only if they really run
in the right sequence of steps,

00:27:16.423 --> 00:27:19.179
the right effect can occur.

00:27:19.646 --> 00:27:23.482
I wish that, on the one hand, all the
conditions will be met by November,

00:27:23.603 --> 00:27:27.617
and that in December
at the European summit

00:27:27.738 --> 00:27:30.038
we will proudly state

00:27:30.592 --> 00:27:33.396
that all the conditions
from the agreement have been met

00:27:33.517 --> 00:27:38.789
and that Macedonia can continue
with full-fledged negotiations.

00:27:40.621 --> 00:27:43.399
Thank you very much.
One last question

00:27:43.520 --> 00:27:46.202
related to today's official visit.

00:27:46.323 --> 00:27:51.501
Mrs Marta Razboršek
from RTV Slovenia.

00:27:52.206 --> 00:27:55.196
A question
for both Prime Ministers.

00:27:55.317 --> 00:27:57.803
There were
elections in Bulgaria.

00:27:57.924 --> 00:28:01.406
How do you comment on them
and do you think

00:28:01.527 --> 00:28:05.913
the Macedonian side will be able
to find a common language

00:28:06.034 --> 00:28:08.170
with the future government?

00:28:08.291 --> 00:28:12.295
How specifically,
Prime Minister Golob,

00:28:12.416 --> 00:28:19.602
will you help
in persuading the Macedonian side?

00:28:19.723 --> 00:28:22.883
So what will Slovenia's
specific help be in this regard?

00:28:23.004 --> 00:28:27.379
I have another question
about your recent interview.

00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:30.278
Will the reforms continue?

00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:33.752
Does Minister Boštjančič
have your support

00:28:33.873 --> 00:28:37.896
and is it true that the reconstruction
of the Government is on the table?

00:28:38.017 --> 00:28:40.017
Please, go ahead.

00:28:44.041 --> 00:28:45.641
First...

00:28:48.455 --> 00:28:54.598
At the moment, Europe
is in an extremely delicate

00:28:56.968 --> 00:29:01.784
and a unique
geopolitical moment,

00:29:03.094 --> 00:29:10.000
from the moment when Russia launched
a military attack on Ukraine.

00:29:10.121 --> 00:29:15.378
North Macedonia, as I have
already said and as everyone knows,

00:29:15.499 --> 00:29:20.180
Macedonia joined the foreign policy
of the European Union,

00:29:23.139 --> 00:29:27.219
and as a member of NATO
it participates in supporting

00:29:27.762 --> 00:29:32.978
a democratic
independent country

00:29:33.099 --> 00:29:37.415
that has been attacked
by a larger neighbour.

00:29:39.094 --> 00:29:43.431
This just shows
that North Macedonia is as always

00:29:44.850 --> 00:29:46.879
on the right side of history.

00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:50.647
When it comes to relations
with our neighbours,

00:29:50.768 --> 00:29:55.478
we are the Government
that in the past five years

00:29:57.435 --> 00:30:02.747
closed all open issues
with neighbouring countries.

00:30:02.868 --> 00:30:06.014
If you look at our relations
with Albania,

00:30:06.135 --> 00:30:09.583
there are no open questions.

00:30:09.704 --> 00:30:13.266
If you look at our relations
with Serbia...

00:30:13.970 --> 00:30:18.623
The last big issue between
North Macedonia and Serbia

00:30:18.744 --> 00:30:22.680
has been solved
by the Serbian Orthodox Church

00:30:22.801 --> 00:30:29.265
acknowledging and accepting
the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

00:30:29.386 --> 00:30:34.907
This allowed the Prime Minister
of Albania, the president of Serbia

00:30:35.048 --> 00:30:40.398
and myself to attend the largest
fair in Italy together yesterday

00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:43.437
as member states
of the Open Balkan,

00:30:43.558 --> 00:30:48.720
which is based
on the European Union's principles

00:30:48.841 --> 00:30:52.120
and whose aim is
integration into the EU

00:30:52.366 --> 00:30:54.609
and economic cooperation.

00:30:54.730 --> 00:30:57.407
This would not
have been possible

00:30:57.528 --> 00:31:02.087
if we wanted
to attend the fair individually.

00:31:02.208 --> 00:31:06.484
Relations with Greece
are also at a very high level.

00:31:06.605 --> 00:31:11.085
Here I would like to illustrate
a historical timeline

00:31:11.206 --> 00:31:13.917
of the most
important events.

00:31:14.215 --> 00:31:19.554
After every
big national decision

00:31:19.675 --> 00:31:26.957
our country became
stronger and more advanced.

00:31:27.324 --> 00:31:31.761
In 2001, when there was
armed conflict in our country,

00:31:33.215 --> 00:31:40.594
our political leadership
was sensible and strong enough

00:31:40.715 --> 00:31:44.308
to form
the Ohrid Framework Agreement,

00:31:44.587 --> 00:31:51.040
which gave us a functional,
multi-ethnic democratic state.

00:31:51.517 --> 00:31:56.595
And the state
solved its internal problem.

00:31:57.869 --> 00:32:00.876
Today,
the Ohrid Framework Agreement,

00:32:00.997 --> 00:32:07.970
its use and the institutions
that were built based on it

00:32:08.091 --> 00:32:12.822
can be seen in the report by the
United Nations Secretary-General

00:32:12.943 --> 00:32:18.344
as an example of solving
open identity issues in a state.

00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:27.411
The second brave decision that was
made by our political leadership,

00:32:28.473 --> 00:32:36.473
the government majority
that I represent,

00:32:36.990 --> 00:32:40.193
was the Prespa Agreement.

00:32:40.529 --> 00:32:43.481
It was a very hard
decision to make,

00:32:43.602 --> 00:32:46.544
but it also made
Macedonia stronger.

00:32:46.665 --> 00:32:51.528
After signing the Prespa Agreement
we became a member of NATO.

00:32:51.649 --> 00:32:54.653
The importance
of being a NATO member

00:32:54.774 --> 00:32:58.545
can be seen today
with the war in Ukraine,

00:32:58.666 --> 00:33:00.756
where Finland and Sweden,

00:33:00.877 --> 00:33:04.639
two of the most
developed countries in Europe,

00:33:04.760 --> 00:33:08.332
want to become
members of NATO,

00:33:08.453 --> 00:33:13.515
the largest
defensive alliance in the world.

00:33:13.636 --> 00:33:16.061
This is how Macedonia

00:33:16.182 --> 00:33:19.788
became a factor of stability
in the Balkans.

00:33:20.002 --> 00:33:26.620
The third big decision
was accepting Europe's proposal

00:33:27.643 --> 00:33:30.314
to begin
negotiations with the EU

00:33:30.435 --> 00:33:35.190
based on good neighbourly relations
with Bulgaria.

00:33:35.311 --> 00:33:40.157
This also made us stronger.
After 17 years of waiting

00:33:40.278 --> 00:33:44.339
North Macedonia
started negotiations with the EU

00:33:44.460 --> 00:33:46.666
and the screening process.

00:33:47.710 --> 00:33:51.042
This was put on hold
for 17 years

00:33:51.163 --> 00:33:55.788
because the country
was led by politicians

00:33:55.909 --> 00:34:01.687
who were not brave enough
to make a visionary state decision.

00:34:02.652 --> 00:34:08.176
We will accept
the constitutional changes

00:34:08.297 --> 00:34:12.886
that are part
of these negotiations.

00:34:13.066 --> 00:34:17.534
The country will once again
be made stronger and victorious

00:34:17.655 --> 00:34:20.908
because,
what will automatically follow

00:34:21.029 --> 00:34:24.619
are the second
Intergovernmental Conference,

00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:27.482
opening clusters,
societal reforms

00:34:27.603 --> 00:34:31.166
and fully-fledged
EU membership,

00:34:31.322 --> 00:34:38.290
for which we have the support
of all EU Member States.

00:34:38.411 --> 00:34:42.258
Regarding Bulgaria,
our relations have actually

00:34:42.379 --> 00:34:47.628
risen to an institutional
level of communication.

00:34:47.749 --> 00:34:50.526
Our governments
are communicating,

00:34:50.647 --> 00:34:54.150
as are our institutions
and our presidents.

00:34:54.343 --> 00:34:57.686
Looking back,
a large number of issues

00:34:57.807 --> 00:35:03.225
that were important to our citizens
and for coping with the crisis

00:35:03.346 --> 00:35:07.460
were solved with the
Bulgarian president and government,

00:35:07.733 --> 00:35:10.123
such as gas supply,

00:35:10.244 --> 00:35:18.022
the liberalisation of the gas
market, which ran across Bulgaria,

00:35:19.022 --> 00:35:23.608
and the smooth functioning
of cross-border capacities

00:35:23.804 --> 00:35:27.940
for supplying electricity
during the whole winter,

00:35:28.061 --> 00:35:30.999
when we had
an electricity shortage.

00:35:31.381 --> 00:35:35.537
We came to all these agreements
and they were all honoured,

00:35:35.658 --> 00:35:38.529
and we cooperated
in other areas as well.

00:35:38.650 --> 00:35:43.372
The problem was that Bulgaria
had no political government

00:35:43.493 --> 00:35:45.767
but a technical government.

00:35:45.888 --> 00:35:50.538
Their election concluded yesterday.
As their neighbours

00:35:50.659 --> 00:35:54.505
we want Bulgaria
to have a political government

00:35:54.626 --> 00:35:56.883
that would
completely comply

00:35:57.368 --> 00:36:01.734
with the values and principles
of the European Union

00:36:01.855 --> 00:36:06.275
and the principle of expansion
of the European Union,

00:36:06.626 --> 00:36:10.321
and we hope
that it will build good relations

00:36:10.442 --> 00:36:15.690
with all of its neighbours,
as it did with our country.

00:36:15.892 --> 00:36:21.554
We hope that such a European
government in Bulgaria will,

00:36:21.675 --> 00:36:24.765
like Slovenia and ourselves,

00:36:25.543 --> 00:36:28.831
support the whole
of the Western Balkans

00:36:29.000 --> 00:36:32.192
and strive
for its accession to the EU,

00:36:32.313 --> 00:36:34.817
because that
is the only option

00:36:34.938 --> 00:36:40.109
for the prosperity and stability
of these countries. Thank you.

00:36:44.523 --> 00:36:48.179
It is good that the election
in Bulgaria has passed.

00:36:48.300 --> 00:36:52.481
As we know, pre-election times
can be inappropriate

00:36:52.602 --> 00:36:55.090
for solving such issues.

00:36:56.504 --> 00:37:00.996
As of yet there is still
no government in Bulgaria,

00:37:01.652 --> 00:37:06.113
but we will have a dialogue with
whatever government is elected

00:37:06.234 --> 00:37:10.957
and the sole topic will be the
importance of European integrations.

00:37:12.782 --> 00:37:15.539
Bulgaria is already
aware of this,

00:37:15.769 --> 00:37:18.704
as it is striving
to enter Schengen.

00:37:20.274 --> 00:37:23.789
And as a country
that knows what it is like

00:37:24.360 --> 00:37:28.806
to be excluded from the process
of further integration

00:37:29.758 --> 00:37:31.930
when it is entitled to it,

00:37:32.051 --> 00:37:36.305
I believe it will be sympathetic
to North Macedonia.

00:37:38.019 --> 00:37:40.104
I think
the message is clear

00:37:40.225 --> 00:37:44.999
that there is no other way
for Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

00:37:45.120 --> 00:37:49.058
The process is one and the same,
not two different ones,

00:37:49.179 --> 00:37:52.910
simply because
one may now be ahead.

00:37:54.134 --> 00:37:57.720
This will be
our discourse in Brussels.

00:37:59.251 --> 00:38:04.102
Regarding the other things,
the North Macedonian government

00:38:04.223 --> 00:38:07.570
informed us of something
important today.

00:38:07.691 --> 00:38:11.286
They told us
that the constitutional changes

00:38:11.407 --> 00:38:17.204
that are expected by the EU as per
the agreement are a positive thing.

00:38:18.224 --> 00:38:21.608
They are good
for the further development

00:38:21.729 --> 00:38:26.067
of the position of the minorities
in North Macedonia.

00:38:27.318 --> 00:38:29.739
Or rather
parts of the nation,

00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:34.622
as it is being expressly
formalised in their constitution.

00:38:35.193 --> 00:38:39.770
They also told us that they have
one of the most advanced systems

00:38:39.891 --> 00:38:43.677
for strengthening and protecting
minorities in Europe.

00:38:44.357 --> 00:38:47.364
We will gladly
share this information

00:38:47.485 --> 00:38:52.794
in all European integrations
precisely for this very purpose,

00:38:53.810 --> 00:38:56.314
namely that
North Macedonia has been

00:38:56.435 --> 00:38:59.314
one of the most
progressive countries

00:38:59.877 --> 00:39:03.077
and that it intends
to stay on this path,

00:39:03.908 --> 00:39:10.826
and that with its
fully-fledged accession to the EU

00:39:10.947 --> 00:39:15.994
these minorities will receive
access to their home countries.

00:39:16.556 --> 00:39:20.190
Whoever wants
to protect their minorities

00:39:20.549 --> 00:39:26.386
will support North Macedonia on its
path to Euro-Atlantic Integrations.

00:39:26.635 --> 00:39:29.385
I think
this is a clear conclusion

00:39:29.506 --> 00:39:33.189
and that there is only
optimism on this path.

00:39:33.415 --> 00:39:35.282
I believe
everyone will see

00:39:35.403 --> 00:39:38.415
that this is the only way
for them as well.

00:39:39.174 --> 00:39:42.470
We will speak more
of domestic policy tomorrow,

00:39:42.591 --> 00:39:45.884
but I will reiterate
that the healthcare reform

00:39:46.005 --> 00:39:47.868
is key to this government,

00:39:47.989 --> 00:39:52.486
and in the coming months we will
talk about it daily, if needed.

00:39:52.705 --> 00:39:58.038
We want to show the first results
of our activities in this area

00:39:58.392 --> 00:40:01.470
and we will
present them this week.

00:40:01.719 --> 00:40:05.398
There will be time enough
for everything else

00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:07.687
and Minister Klemenčič ...

00:40:09.515 --> 00:40:13.773
I'm kidding, that's what we call
Minister Klemen Boštjančič.

00:40:13.894 --> 00:40:16.265
He still has all our support.

00:40:16.386 --> 00:40:20.859
We cleared this up last week, so,
for me, this issue is closed.

00:40:21.249 --> 00:40:24.170
I have nothing
to add to this today,

00:40:24.291 --> 00:40:27.382
nor will I have in a month.
Thank you.

00:40:27.503 --> 00:40:32.234
And the reconstruction? -We aren't
discussing other things yet.

00:40:32.742 --> 00:40:36.790
Journalists may ask about it,
but I have nothing to add.

00:40:37.609 --> 00:40:41.109
Thank you, the press conference
is thus concluded.

00:40:41.230 --> 00:40:45.422
Thank you for your attention,
have a nice day.