Zaev: Rules of procedure are clearly defined, process to be completed in January

PM Zoran Zaev expects that all deadlines in the process of adopting constitutional amendments will be met, which are an obligation according to the Prespa Agreement.

“The rules of procedures deadlines are clearly defined. If we adopt the draft amendments at government’s session on Nov. 5 and we forward them to the parliament, then the session should be scheduled within 30 days. According to the rules of procedure, the session will be scheduled within 30 days, and afterwards the Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Issues and the Legislative Committee will open a discussion. The set deadlines are clearly defined in the rules of procedure and all the discussions are led within deadlines, therefore we can plan dates for the second half of January,” PM Zoran Zaev told reporters on Tuesday after addressing the High-Level Think Tanks Symposium of China and Central and Eastern Europeans countries.

He assessed Monday’s working meeting with the new MP group of VMRO-DPMNE and the coalition as good, at which concrete suggestions were made, and he believed that would be included in the texts of draft amendments.

He added that they will consult them once again in regard to what they suggest, and if they agree, they will continue with the next steps.

Zaev said that also the Greek side was consulted in regard to process of constitutional amendments.

“You all know that the Greek side was also consulted. It is not an obligation arising from the Prespa Agreement, however in the spirit of partnership and friendship we want to present what the Macedonian Parliament will decide in the coming period, because it is a draft phase and during the discussion on draft amendments, the very amendments can be supplemented. I believe that by Friday we will make all necessary consultations,” Zaev underlined.

Zaev said that he regularly communication with the Greek Prime Minister Tsipras and that they do not expect the process to be prolonged, because, as he said, neither they nor we, we benefit from it. The sooner we complete the obligations in the Parliament, the better it would be for the citizens of Greece to see the benefits of the Prespa Agreement.

He said he did not believe that opposition will obstruct the process in the parliament, as he believed that there is no need for this.

“There is no need for this, although there are certain speculations in this regard. I personally do not believe that this will happen, because I do not see the rationally of the obstruction due to clearly defined deadlines within such procedure,” Zaev said.

He said he was confident that all opposition lawmakers will be included in the process of reconciliation, because the number of 80 MPs is not enough. And they also know that this is a historic moment for Macedonia.

Commenting Monday’s statement by Deputy PM Osmani that some of those involved in the events of April 27 may have been collateral damage thus not excluding amnesty for them, Zaev said that he is committed to the process of reconciliation.

“Everyone can have its own viewpoint, we are democratic government. I respect the way of consideration, the commitment to achieve the ultimate goal, and this is a kind of national unity – inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic that we need in Macedonia. I’m talking about reconciliation and not about amnesty. Coordinative body in the parliament will work on overall current reconciliation, but also the perspectives in Macedonia. One thing I know that the events of 27 April are a great opportunity to build this reconciliation,” Zaev underlined.