Nikoloski: When we fight for the Macedonian language or the rights of Macedonians, we need great partners like the UK

The agreement with the United Kingdom, besides the financial, has a huge political weight because he will strategically provide Macedonia with strong support in international processes, Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski said in an interview with MRTV.

He noted that this is a historic event for which the benefits for the citizens of Macedonia will come in the years to come.

-We need to overlook that the UK is available to the greatest minds, its most valuable people to help it develop Macedonia. They put expert assistance in Macedonia in all areas where we need. Experts also make available public administration but also from the business community that should help Macedonia develop and Macedonian society to a higher level. We are talking about the second most powerful country in the world after the United States, we are talking about the only royal empire that has survived the world, talking about nuclear power, talking about a member of the Security Council, the WWII winner country and one of the top five economies in the world. So I think a better partner Macedonia cannot get – said Deputy Prime Minister Nikoloski, adding:

« We are struggling to recognize the Macedonian language or when we are struggling to recognize the Macedonian national minority in the neighboring countries and when we fight for the rights of the Macedonians or when we strive to hear it loudly, then we need great partners who would help us in this process and I think the UK is one such partner. »

He concluded that Macedonia had not had a 6 billion -euro deal so far, giving the United Kingdom’s relations and cooperation with the United Kingdom.

He added that the first tranche of funds would be between 2 and 2, 2 billion euros for projects and would be under the best conditions and with the highest maturity of the repayment under which Macedonia had ever received.

-I expect for a month-a half-half of today to be able to come up with accurate data to Macedonian citizens regarding how much funds we will use and under what conditions, but I can say that the first tranche will be between 2 and 2, 2 billion euros and I can say that it will be the best conditions Macedonia ever received for this large amount. One is to withdraw a million, two, five million euros, another is to withdraw two billion euros for the start, up to 6 billion euros of potential. Currently Macedonia cannot provide more than 175 million euros in the international financial market, it is the maximum we have received for an individual funding project, it is for Corridor 8 for the third section of the railway, that is the maximum. Now we are talking about 2, 2 billion euros and I guarantee we will get the best possible conditions with the longest maturity of the repayment that Macedonia ever saw- said vice-champion Nikoloski.

He emphasized that these funds are exclusively for project funding, ie for realization of capital projects carrying value added.

-We are not talking about throwing in the wind for liquidity, social assistance, etc. We are talking about projects that need to bring development in Macedonia and return the money several times in the coming decades. When working a project you need to have four steps to be successful. First you have a clear vision of the project and what it would bring. After that to make a legal framework for realization, on the basis of the legal framework to provide funding and on the basis of this, a contractor should be made in the best possible way and time. We have closed the second step right now, we have the projects, now we have closed the legal framework. The Government with the Government, besides the political part, we also need a legal framework for cooperation with the UK, as well as the legal framework for the implementation of the projects, because if you read the agreement you will clearly see which sectors will work projects. We are now going to the third phase, which is providing finances and when we secure the finances we will go into the fourth stage in the selection of contractor and completion of the projects – says Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski.