SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE Trade Accusations over Resolutions on Ukraine Issue

According to SDSM, North Macedonia’s decision to abstain from voting on the two resolutions on Ukraine on Monday is scandalous.

“Such decisions indicate full amateurism in employing the country’s foreign policy. With just a single move, the Government has caused double damage to the strategic partnerships with the EU and with the US. SDSM’s stand on the war in Ukraine is clear, solid, and aligned with the EU’s: Russia is an aggressor and has carried out an unjustified and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, a sovereign and independent country”, the party said.

In the press-release, SDSM also said the strategic partnership with the US was essential and that it should be constantly built and strengthened.

“At the same time, Macedonian diplomacy must remain focused on our key state interest – EU integration. The US is one of the most important strategic partners. That partnership should be in the function of speeding up and successfully completing the EU integration process”, Venko Filipce’s party also said, stressing that PM Hristijan Mickoski ran foreign policy without broader coordination and consultations over important issues, therefore making huge mistakes.

In response, VMRO-DPMNE said Venko Filipce’s party was so desperate it was jealous of its own country.

“Party leader Mickoski has advanced Macedonia’s cooperation with the US”, it said, adding that the Government’s vote had been completely in line with that country.

According to VMRO-DPMNE, SDSM is actually a party of communists.

“SDS[M] was falsely presenting itself as a friend of the US and using the people’s pro-West sentiment. However, both citizens and our strategic partners are seeing that now. The VMRO-DPMNE-led government is strongly committed to strengthening the transatlantic partnership. Whether SDS[M] likes that or not, that will continue”, it underlined.

Commenting on the matter, PM Hristijan Mickoski said the decision regarding the so-called European resolution didn’t mean his country was not aligned with with the EU’s foreign policy, stressing it hadn’t been about a resolution of that type.

As he also pointed out, the only resolution passed as binding at the Security Council is the US one, co-sponsored by his country.