Thimonier: No back-up plan for Prespa Agreement
“I think we shouldn’t put ourselves in such hypothesis, because in my opinion there’s no backup plan except to find ourselves in a state of blockade, which has been already affecting us and which has cost Macedonia a lot. But, it didn’t cost Greece a thing, which in fact is dealing with its own internal issues. It would be a particularly major problem for Macedonia. Life does go on, but it can go on in a better way on an already charted route, which takes time. The other alternative is to remain paralyzed on the road to the EU. It is the greatest risk. However, we don’t want to consider this thesis, because bold steps were made by the prime ministers of the two countries and we hope that the two national parliaments will manage to seize the historic moment,” Thimonier says in an interview with MIA when asked about the prospect of the agreement not being ratified by Greek MPs.
With respect to reform implementation, the Ambassador stresses that it is a serious process that requires inclusiveness and a functioning Parliament that would function at the level of a European Parliament in which ‘there is awareness and unity over state interests thus paving the way for unity in the society regarding the implementation of reforms.’
“The road is clear and marked. It involves an ambitious agenda and now, everyone in the institutions should mobilize over this issue. There is a lot of work that needs to be done. The society should rally around the implementation of reforms rather than simply be satisfied with the checking of an appropriate box in a form. Frankly speaking, justice should finally start functioning in a different environment and other institutions of vital importance, such as the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption – it needs to be respected rather than just serving as decoration. We will follow closely the actions of all stakeholders, because change does not involve a simple replacement, there should be a change that would result in real transformation. Nothing is worse than a picture which portrays ‘a replacement of colors.’ A structural, deep change is needed, a change of conduct. The expectations are great, which is why I believe that these things will undergo evaluation in June 2019 – the course of the reconciliation process in the country, what is the country’s political threshold, what the economy is like, etc. You need to do the job,” says Ambassador Thimonier.
MIA