Kovacevski demands that the opposition be part of the constitutional amendments, Mickoski says that there will be no change to the Constitution in such circumstances

Constitution / Photo: MIA

 Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski yesterday from Ohrid again called on the opposition parties to delegate their people to a working group for constitutional amendments in which experts in constitutional law will participate, formed in the Ministry of Justice, stressing that everyone should participate in making decisions important for our European path . The leader of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, also from Ohrid, said that there will be no constitutional changes in this parliamentary composition and in these circumstances.

Kovacevski said that he is not a politician who came to convince or dissuade someone of something, because everyone should have a clear vision and responsibility regarding the decisions that need to be made. He expressed hope that even in the opposition there is a democratic capacity, there are people who believe in the European future of the country.

- There are decisions that are strategic for the state, which all political parties should support. This has been done very clearly in the past through the examples of other countries. Here, let's just take the example of Croatia, or let's take the example of Slovenia, which also made strategic decisions with a broad state consensus that were not part of the daily political debate that took place in those societies and therefore quickly and qualitatively approached the European Union, says the prime minister.

Prime Minister Kovacevski pointed out that constitutional amendments are a process that is prescribed in accordance with the Law and Constitution in our country and that everyone should participate in making these decisions, including the opposition.

- Within the framework of the Ministry of Justice, a working group for constitutional amendments has been established, in which experts in constitutional law will participate, but in which experts from the opposition parties will also be invited to take part, just as on the first day of the start of the negotiations in in the first phase of the screening, representatives from the opposition were invited to participate in all working groups, Kovacevski pointed out.

As he said, it is not enough to just declaratively support a certain goal, but it is necessary to act with steps, with decisions, with determination and ensure a European future for all our citizens.

The Stabilization and Association Council at yesterday's meeting in Skopje, as Kovacevski reminded, sent very clear messages that our country is progressing in the European integration process.

- Of course, every country that accedes to the EU has obligations that it has to fulfill. One of the obligations that is before us is of course the adoption of the constitutional amendments that are part of the negotiation framework and which are only one of the decisions that should be taken by two-thirds in the Assembly. Before us there will be other decisions that are taken by two-thirds of the Parliament, and this refers to reforms in the rule of law, reforms in the governance of democratic institutions, reforms in public administration, as well as the Action Plan for the Promotion of Minority Rights, which currently it is at the highest possible level in our country compared to any other country in Europe, Kovacevski said.

The president of VMRO-DPMNE Mickoski, who was also in Ohrid, stated that there will be no constitutional changes in this parliamentary composition under Bulgarian dictate even in these circumstances. He said this in a comment regarding the Government's announcement on the formation of working groups for the preparation of the text of the amendments to the Constitution.

- There will be no constitutional changes in this parliamentary composition under Bulgarian dictation and in these circumstances. What the government is doing is a process that will eventually hit a wall, that is, it will end unsuccessfully. We warned that for what they are assuming as an obligation on behalf of all of us, they not only have no credibility, but also cannot physically pass it. Then you remember they made some reminiscences and reminders from the time of Prespa, but we warned them that it was a different time, that this was not the time when they could negotiate with certain blackmailed political former structures that unfortunately functioned in VMRO-DPMNE. There are no more like that now, said Mickoski.

He pointed out that the government announced that the process of constitutional amendments would begin in September-October 2022, and when that did not happen, they announced the end of the year in December, then in February, and now they are shifting the focus to May. June.

- It will not happen either in May or June, because we have a principled position from the very beginning. They created a problem that they cannot solve, they created a problem that we all have, and if they continue to further complicate it, they will all crash into a dead end, but unfortunately it will be a huge problem for all citizens and for Macedonia as country. But I promise you that there will be responsibility for all that they are doing, immediately after the new VMRO-DPMNE government takes over responsibility in the government, Mickoski said.

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the EU and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, said on Friday after the Stabilization and Association Council meeting that the future of North Macedonia and its citizens is within the EU, because only together we are strong enough. to face the challenges of the difficult geostrategic environment, and in order to reach the Union we need to continue moving forward both as a state and as a society.

- Moving forward means continuing with the adoption and implementation of reforms that introduce European standards and that bring concrete political and economic benefits to the people here, Borel emphasized at the joint press conference with Prime Minister Kovacevski and European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Oliver Varheyi.

Borel emphasizes that moving forward also implies improving relations with neighbors, which package includes creating conditions for the adoption of constitutional amendments.

According to him, this year is crucial after the agreement of July last year, when, as he said, the country got "the best deal you could get" and it is not realistic to expect a reopening and negotiation of the Negotiating Framework.

- On its basis, your future is in the EU. Now is the time for all political parties to take their responsibilities and sincerely work to continue this path, Borel added.

High representative Borel, answering a journalist's question whether in communication with VMRO-DPMNE he encourages it to support the inclusion of Bulgarians in the Constitution, said that "I am not only an optimist, but also an activist".

– I think we have to work for things to happen. North Macedonia has committed to change its Constitution, to include in it the citizens who live within the borders of the state and who are part of other nationalities, such as the Bulgarians, said Borel.

According to Borel, none of that is surprising, pointing out that even the youngest member state of the EU – Croatia, has at least 22 different communities in its Constitution.

- I think that your country already provides an excellent example of a multi-ethnic society. Therefore, the change of the Constitution will only further advance the fundamental rights, and I have no doubt that this will preserve the Macedonian identity, and at the same time advance the accession process, Borel said.

Borel emphasized once again that our identity is not threatened by joining the EU.

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