Zaev: We have consensus on many issues with the opposition, including the referendum

So far, we have had a good dialogue with the opposition and consensus on many important issues, and this has been confirmed because the MPs voted together for two-thirds and laws with a simple majority. We recentlywe elected the new OTA Director together, and that’s good, hopeful. Even for the referendum, Mickoski is not aware that we have a consensus, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told TV Telma late Tuesday.

The first constitutional change refer to including the geographic qualifier; the second is related with the Preamble, namely strengthening of the constitutive elements of the statehood via the historic decisions of the Anti-Fascist Assembly of the People’s Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) on self-determination, sovereignty, independence, as well as the visions of freedom and democracy, Zaev said.

Other changes are related to Article 3, namely emphasizing the firm commitment to the principles of the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity, as it is the case with the constitutions of all EU members, and Article 49 of the Constitution that refers to the diaspora, the PM said.

“I believe these changes to the Constitution may be done with one amendment, but law experts will have the final say on the matter,” Zaev said.

It’s not honest for the wording of these changes to be written before the upcoming referendum on the name deal in Macedonia, Defense Minister Radmila Sekeriska said.

“We are ahead of fully transparent process that is to take place at the Parliament. But we can confirm now that the Macedonian nation will not be erased from the Preamble of the Constitution,” she said in response to speculations that effect.

Zaev once again pointed out that the Prespa Agreement was a fair and just solution to the name issue, based on facts.

“It confirms our Macedonian identity and language. The agreement put an end to a long-lasting dispute and opened the ‘iron doors’ of EU and NATO for Macedonia,” Zaev said.

Vice Prime Minister for European Affairs Bujar Osmani referred to the economic benefits of the EU membership status.