VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said that it is possible to recall the Parliament to ratify Macedonia’s NATO membership even after it is dissolved in February. His comments came Talat Xhaferi warned that the elections may postpone Macedonia’s NATO accession.

It has happened before, that Parliament was recalled in order to tackle urgent matters, Mickoski said, adding that it is possible Spain ratifies Macedonia’s NATO accession in early December, allowing the ratification of the protocol in Macedonia by late December or early January – even before the Parliament is dissolved on February 11th.

During the press conference today Mickoski would not be drawn into the spat about the implementation of the Prespa treaty, after Prime Minister Zoran Zaev announced that it will be stuck without EU accession talks, and then quickly reversed his position. Mickoski did warn that the lack of seriousness regarding the issue in the SDSM ranks is not good for the country.

The Prespa treaty is clear and it is clear what it requires. The VMRO-DPMNE position is also clear and we have nothing to add, Mickoski said. In a recent interview with Politika, he said that VMRO-DPMNE will overturn Prespa if it has sufficient majority in Parliament, and if not, it will “rectify the mistakes” after Macedonia has joined the EU.

Regarding the offer from Russian Ambassador to the EU Vladimir Chizov that Macedonia and Albania join the Eurasian Economic Union, which was likely made in jest, Mickoski said that the future of Macedonia is in the EU and reminded the press that during their recent meeting, all political leaders rejected the option of alternative arrangements following the failure of the EU to approve the opening of accession talks.

Any form of economic cooperation where our economy can benefit from better access would be done bilaterally between the states. Our basic strategic goal is full EU membership, Mickoski said.