(ANSA) - SKOPJE, 16 LUG - North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski announced Saturday that Skopje had reached a compromise with Bulgaria in a long-running dispute, allowing them to start European Union membership talks. "Finally, after 17 years, we are starting the process of accession negotiations with the European Union," Kovacevski told reporters after a meeting of the government. dd/jj/raz / On 19/7 EU intergovernmental conference Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said he will travel to Brussels on July 19 for the Intergovernmental Conference that will mark the opening of negotiations on North Macedonia's accession to the EU. Speaking to reporters at the end of a government session following parliament's approval of the French mediation proposal to break the stalemate with Bulgaria, Kovacevski reiterated that the negotiating framework includes the protection of Macedonian language and national identity, with historical issues with Bulgaria remaining outside. (ANSA).