Iran Press/ Europe: North Macedonia’s parliament on Saturday gave Skopje’s government the go-ahead to resolve a dispute with neighboring Bulgaria, paving the way for EU membership talks to begin.
There were 68 votes in favor of the proposal in the 120-member chamber, with the leftist coalition, which has 61 seats, getting the backing of small ethnic Albanian parties. Opposition lawmakers left the chamber in protest, abstaining from the vote.
Under the French compromise, which is a hard sell in the country, North Macedonia must commit to changing its constitution in order to recognize a Bulgarian minority in the country and introduce other new measures to protect minority rights and banish hate speech on the basis of Bulgarian demands.
The deal would also unblock the start of negotiations for neighboring Albania, another EU hopeful. 219
