Zaev: Pendarovski is a confirmation of the concept of a society for all in progressive Euro-Atlantic North Macedonia


 North Macedonia needs a president who will offer solutions committedly and responsibly and will support fast track that brings the country forward towards a secure future in NATO and EU. A president, who opposes divisions and isolation and promotes North Macedonia as a global and just country, who will be a constructive and principled partner in the reforms, integration and economic processes, SDSM leader and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Sunday in his opening address of party’s 23rd congress.

He pointed out that Stevo Pendarovski is that president, a person with integrity and has professional and political experience. His long-standing career in politics and academia, his undisputed moral profile and his clear vision of the future of our country, are a proof that we have the best candidate to be president and the supreme commander of our armed forces, he added.

“Pendarovski is a confirmation of the concept of a society for all in progressive Euro-Atlantic Republic of North Macedonia. The victory of Stevo Pendarovski in the upcoming elections will be another victory on our common path. We remain committed to reject the policy of pessimism that claims nothing can be done. We remain committed to rejecting hate speech. We remain committed to building an inclusive society and a better future for all…,” Zaev underlined.

“We all Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Roma, Vlachs, Bosniaks have united for a joint candidate for president for the first time in our country and all others stand together for our country to have president for all our citizens,” Zaev said.

Zaev said that SDSM confirmed its statehood role and responsibility in the crucial events of the history of our modern state.

“Our party and its leaders and members, has never step back from the challenges. Party always took responsibility, made decisions, and implemented rational policies that proved to be historic. This happened in 1991, when together with the citizens of our country we participate in the process of proclaiming the independence of our country. We acted the same also in 2001, when we took the responsibility to stop the inter-ethnic conflict, and by dialogue and by the Ohrid Framework Agreement, we started to build the new value of our social community – ‘One society for All’ concept. This was the case in 2005, when we gave strong impetus to European values and our commitment to EU membership and we were granted EU candidate status. The same happened in 2015, when with Macedonian citizens in the camp of freedom with the colorful revolution we walked through the streets of our cities. When patiently and wisely through political processes we believed in freedom, truth, justice, equality, progress and when we joined social democratic values with civilizational values in order to liberate the captive state. This was the case both in 2017 and 2018, when on April 27 we resisted the violence and when the new government coalition decided to reach a friendship agreement with Bulgaria and resolve the three-decade-long dispute with Greece,” Zaev said. The selected presidential candidate is expected to deliver a speech.