Addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today, Timcho Mucunski, North Macedonia's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, reaffirmed his country's steadfast dedication to European values, human rights, and the rule of law.
Minister Mucunski emphasised that while the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe is a significant milestone, European countries must remain vigilant in safeguarding their values. He called for continuous improvement of the multilateral system to address emerging challenges.
"The 4th Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik reinforced our unity and commitment to our core principles. We now have the Reykjavík Declaration to guide us and a real growth budget to implement it. We particularly value the adoption of the Principles for Democracy, to address democratic backsliding and a renewed focus on strengthening the Court of Human Rights and ensuring the execution of its judgments. As we face complex challenges ahead - democratic backsliding, extremism, climate change, and new technologies - the Council of Europe must continue to play a vital role. These issues all have a human rights dimension, and for this, we need strong internal cohesion within the organisation. Furthermore, it is crucial not to be silent when fundamental values are threatened, if we want to maintain the political relevance of our organisation," the Foreign Minister stated.
He also praised Lithuania's Presidency of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, highlighting its focus on gender equality, freedom of expression, and combating violence against women, disinformation and corruption. He reaffirmed North Macedonia's intention to work closely with future presidencies, noting the country's upcoming chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers in November 2027.
Reflecting on the war in Ukraine, he strongly condemned Russia's aggression, reaffirming North Macedonia's unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and highlighted the country's support for the Enlarged Partial Agreement on the Register of Damage Caused by the Aggression as well as for efforts to establish a compensation mechanism and a special tribunal for the crime of aggression.
"While defence is crucial, diplomacy remains the key to achieving lasting peace, grounded in international law and respect for Ukraine's independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders," the Foreign Minister underlined.
Turning to North Macedonia's EU integration process, Minister Mucunski expressed frustration over the prolonged candidacy status. Despite two decades of efforts, reforms, and sacrifices, the path to EU membership remains obstructed by what he described as "increasingly unjust obstacles." Acknowledging the emotional toll this has taken on the people of North Macedonia, he reaffirmed the country's commitment to European values and expressed determination to persevere: "The path may be long, but we remain committed to the values that Europe represents, and we will keep pushing for a process that is fair, transparent, and based on mutual respect," the Foreign Minister concluded.
