PM Zaev accepts proposals from VMRO-DPMNE independent MP group
Prime Minister Zaev accepted the proposals of the independent MP group of VMRO-DPMNE and Coalition for Better Macedonia and the Government will incorporate these proposals in the draft-constitutional amendments it is set to forward to the Parliament today, said MP Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska.
Kanceska-Milevska told a press conference their request for safeguards of the identity would be incorporated in Article 49 of the Constitution, reading ‘the Republic shall protect, guarantee and maintain the historic and cultural heritage of the Macedonian people’.
The Government also accepted their proposal for unconditional annulment of all amendments if Greece fails to ratify the Prespa Agreement and again prevent Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
“Our amendment will read, ‘These amendments represent an integral part of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia and enter into force on the day of the entry into force of the Final Agreement for the settlement of the differences as described in the UN Security Council 817 and 845, the termination of the Interim Accord of 1995 and the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two parties, and ratification of the NATO accession protocol by Greece,” said Kanceska-Milevska.
With regards to the request for gradual change of the name Republic of North Macedonia for internal use, she said the draft-amendment would be incorporated in the Constitutional Act.
“It reads that the name use and terminology for internal use shall be carried out in line with the Agreement, with the adaptation of all official documents and public administration materials for international use and documents that can be used outside of the country to be carried out within five years upon the constitutional amendments’ entry into force. Documents exclusively for internal use shall be adapted to the constitutional amendments through the opening of each chapter in the EU accession talks and finalized within five years thereafter,” said Kanceska-Milevska.
She expects an inclusive process and urges all MPs to engage in the public debate in this stage of the constitutional revision.
The MP group has also filed an initiative to the Parliament Speaker for establishment of an inter-party parliamentary body for reconciliation and integration. A meeting with Xhaferi on Monday will define the body’s composition, expecting VMRO-DPMNE to take part in it and discussions on the amnesty law in this commission.
MP Vladanka Avirovikj, who comes from the Socialist Party, said she would continue to articulate the party’s interests in Parliament.
“These processes are very difficult and time will tell if the ‘labels’ attached to the MP have been justified or not. It is time for Macedonia to finalize its Euro-integration processes and not risk being left aside,” said Avirovikj.
Group members also said they would not vote for the termination of the MP mandate of former VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski.
The draft-constitutional amendments that the Government adopted on Friday have been forwarded to the Parliament and are already checked by the staff.
Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi has scheduled the plenary session on December 1, while the Committee on Constitutional Issues will start its work on November 7.
The Speaker’s Office said the draft-constitutional amendments will be sent to all MPs once their checkup is completed.
This is the second stage of the process for constitutional revision arising from the Prespa Agreement, which is to be completed by a Parliament vote that requires a simple majority of 61 votes.