FM Dimitrov: Ivanov’s boycott is shameful and shying away from responsibility

The statement of President Gjorge Ivanov that he will not vote at the coming referendum is no surprise for us. Shying away from responsibility is shameful, and on top of that, uttered from across the ocean not in Macedonia,” said Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov on Monday.

FM Dimitrov referred to Ivanov’s past actions to pardon individuals charged with corruption, crime and abuse of office, and the failure to give the mandate to the party having a majority in Parliament, resulting in the April 27 events.

“He often claims to be defending the Constitution, but it cannot be defended by violating it. There is no presidential system in Macedonia, the country is a parliamentary democracy. The President is obliged to sign the Agreement with Greece, which the Parliament endorsed on two occasions. The referendum is the highest democratic means in every democracy. Many generations have been lost, 27 years have gone by, and people will now have a say on this. Abstaining from voting is shying away from responsibility. On top of this, he is not saying this here, but from across the ocean,” said Dimitrov.

According to him, only those who vote take part in the decision for the country’s future.

“You cannot sit at home and affect the decision. If there is only one vote ‘no’ and against the EU and NATO accession, we will bow to the decision. However, only the ones who vote can influence this decision. If a large majority of citizens says ‘yes’, even if the required turnout is not reached, we will take this into account, but the issue will go back to the Parliament. Therefore, not taking part in such a big decision is shying away from responsibility,” added Dimitrov.

He noted that everyone in Macedonia wants to join EU and NATO without solving the name issue, but one cannot say ‘I favor EU and NATO’ without elaborating how.