NEWS OF THE DAY: Zaev: Bulgaria is not demanding a change to the Constitution and the solution is not through a new agreement

Bulgaria is not demanding from North Macedonia a change to the Constitution and the solution is not signing a new agreement. We already have an agreement and should resolve issues through joint commissions, stated today Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in a reply to a journalist question on whether a new agreement between North Macedonia and Bulgaria is being considered and whether Sofia has demanded a change to the Constitution.

We already have an agreement. That is the Treaty of Friendship and Good-neighbourliness with Bulgaria. Through this agreement, historical chapters are being resolved that should be part of our common celebration through which we will build friendship, and that is like a part of our common history. The agreement that is signed, signed both in Macedonian and Bulgarian, speaks about both peoples. Our Macedonian language and Macedonian people are included in the UN and recognized worldwide, because there is still dilemma in the narrative of friendly Bulgaria “we recognize the reality of the existence of the Macedonian language and Macedonian people”. I expect a step forward and expression of enormous friendship, the Bulgarian people feel this towards the Macedonian people, the Macedonian people feel this towards the Bulgarian people, I expect a clear unequivocal statement for confirmation of our Macedonian language and Macedonian people. There is neither the need, nor do states recognize the identity, nor are states called on to recognize the identity, said Zaev.

STATEMENT OF THE DAY

The values and principles of the Union, according to Nikola Dimitrov, depend on how the EU will proceed towards the right to self-determination of the Macedonian people.

“How the European Union will approach this issue – the right of the Macedonian people to self-determination – will have an influence on whether we will continue to see the Union as a community of values and principles”, stated Dimitrov, in relation to the challenges the country is facing in light of the first intergovernmental conference.

CIVIL ACTIVITIES

CIVIL continues with the series of seminars on transparency, anti-corruption and responsible political processes. The call is underway for the two-day regional seminar “Civic Lenses: Citizens participate, observe and report” that will be held in Struga at Hotel “Beograd”, in the center of the city, on October 24 and 25 (Saturday and Sunday), starting at 11.00 am. All interested citizens from the municipalities of Ohrid, Struga, Centar Zupa, Vevcani, Debar, Debarca, Resen and Kicevo can participate. The number of participants is limited to 20, and for this purpose CIVIL has provided a large space in line with the Covid-19 protection measures for maximum compliance to the covid safety protocols.

 PARTICIPATION REGISTRATION

This seminar is a great opportunity for all citizens who would like to cooperate in CIVIL’s projects, initiatives and activities.

The Mayor of the Municipality of Ohrid, Konstantin Georgieski, responded to the call of Green CIVIL for opening the topic on green values, social justice and antinationalism. Georgieski: I think that we all have insufficient knowledge or know very little in regards to let me say proclamation of ideas – one society for all or every person is important. In these last several years, political parties have not turned so much to promoting that concept, which is defined as a European concept of progress. However, much more work is needed in the area of promoting the social and economic segments in our multi-ethnic country. Only in this way we will have higher living standards, better living conditions, better education and a better health care system.

The Mayor of the Municipality of Vevcani, Saso Jankoski gave his views for CIVIL Media about the current political situation in the country after the early parliamentary elections, prospects on the 2021 local elections, as well as about the progress towards EU integration.

Jankoski: In terms of the political situation after the early parliamentary elections, I think that it is the same as it was before them. Personally, that is what I expected with such an unconstructive opposition. To be more honest, I expect even greater obstruction by them, both at the state and local level. This will be the case as long as party interests are put over state interests. An excellent example is not respecting the gentlemanly 100 days of government without criticism. I also expect for the senseless problem with the Republic of Bulgaria to soon be overcome, without at the same time going into our history and nationality.

The Mayor of the Municipality of Delcevo, Goran Trajkovski, also replied to the call of Green CIVIL for opening the topic on green values, social justice and antinationalism. Trajkovski: I believe that politicians know about green values, but the question is how much do they apply them or work on their application or, on the other hand, have preconditions for their implementation. We all want a society without prejudices, a healthy environment, a better quality of life for the citizens, but at this level of social development, we will need more time to reach the desired level.

FLASH NEWS

The Macedonian language is recognized around the whole world and its distinctiveness is included in the identity card of our country, in the great family of nations and of UN member states. As equal with all international languages, it is used freely around the world, said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev today at the “Krste Misirkov” Institute at the opening of the International Science Conference “The Macedonian language – source scientific research (home and abroad)” and said that with such conferences a strong message is sent out for fostering, protecting and promoting, affirming and supporting the use of the Macedonian language. He stressed that the government is dedicated to fostering and promoting it and therefore has proclaimed May 5 as the Day of the Macedonian Language.

EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Yiva Johansson confirmed for MIA that she is in contact with the Bulgarian government for finding a solution to Sofia’s blockade of the Frontex agreement with North Macedonia, reported MIA correspondent from Brussels.

Amendments to the Law on prevention and protection against discrimination in the area that regulates the procedure for election of the Commission for prevention and protection against discrimination were in the center of the public debate organized today by the Parliamentary Committees on European Affairs and Equal Opportunities.

Within the framework of the working visit to the Republic of Croatia, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani today met with his Croatian counterpart Goran Grlic Radman. As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, the bilateral relations have been assessed as dynamic and friendly, with an intensive political dialogue at the highest level, through successful cooperation in numerous areas of mutual interest.

Croatia strongly supports North Macedonia as an EU candidate- country and expects for the Intergovernmental conference to be held by the end of the year for the opening of the negotiations, said Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic at today’s meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani in Zagreb. According to Plenkovic, Croatia is prepared to continue assisting the country in the reforms and in meeting the necessary conditions for EU membership.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev today stated that he condemns provocations of any kind, if there had been such at the wedding of the Mayor of the Municipality of Center, Sasa Bogdanovic, who this weekend got married in Gracanica in Kosovo.

D. Muratov

translation: N. Cvetkovska