Development of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, along with Brussels agreement, influenced on relaxation of relations of Serbia toward Macedonia, said Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki.
He said to Politika that two open issues between Serbia and Macedonia, relations between Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) and unrecognized Macedonian orthodox church (MPC), and different positions toward Kosovo, ‘have only partially changed’. Poposki said that SPC still has difficulties with recognizing MPC, notwithstanding that, as he said, everyone would probably be happier if relations would be, beside spiritual, and canonically recognized.
I am personally not keen to think that two states should deal with spiritual topics. For sure that not a single Macedonian, no matter whether he is a religious person or not, is not thrilled when that institution is disputed, having in mind that it also bears and the character of identity, explained Poposki. That is frequently interpreted as a ‘wider negation of Macedonian identity, while in essence it should be exclusive issue for church to deal with’.
“I don’t think that the problem is insurmountable, however I am not convinced that we couldn’t live and without a solution, particularly if it would be detrimental for wider Macedonian interests,” concluded Poposki.
