Macedonia’s FM Resignation Spark Successor Speculations

Milsoski who is seen as close associate to Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski announced his resignation on Wednesday, saying that he wanted to spend more time with his family.

His leave comes at a time when Gruevski is forming his new government after his conservative VMRO DPME party won the June 5 snap polls.

“At this moment several names are in play. They are all prominent politicians and diplomats known to the Macedonian public” a well informed source in the Foreign Ministry told Balkan Insight under condition of anonymity.

One of them, mentioned as one of the most serious candidates is the experienced diplomat and former head of the UN’s General Assembly, Srgjan Kerim. Kerim is currently not holding any political office.

High on the list is Zoran Jolevski, country’s ambassador to United States and active participant in the UN brokered name talks with Greece. Sources say that his appointment as FM would be “impractical” as his empty space in the USA could further stall the already halted name talks.

The current Police Minister Gordana Jankulovska is also mentioned as possible candidate for the post. Jankulovska who led the police ministry in the past few years is also seen as Gruevski’s person of trust.

Vice Prime Minister for European Integration, Vasko Naumovski is also mentioned. He is most certainly going to leave the current post that according to the government talks will belong to the junior government partner, the Democratic Union for Integration. However, Naumovski is also mentioned as possible candidate for one of the ambassadorial posts.

Local media also speculate with the names of Gruevski’s foreign policy advisor Andrej Lepavcov and the current ambassador to Prague Igor Ilievski.

“VMRO DPMNE has both political and potential in staff to elect capable and good man for new Foreign Monster” Milososki told a press on Thursday. He insisted that he parted with the Prime Minister as a friend.

“I know that the Prime Minister is considering two or three options at the moment and I was consulted about them. I offered him my well intended recommendations but i restrain from mentioning any names” he added.

Milososki said that the new government, including the new Foreign Minister should be known to the public “In one week, the most”.

Milsoski, whose career as Foreign Minister was marked with the escalation of the long standing Athens-Skopje name dispute in 2008, remains a VMRO DPMNE legislator in the assembly.