NEWS OF THE DAY
Merkel: It’s worth giving North Macedonia a European perspective, but chances for setting a date are not good
Chances for reaching a consensus at the EU Summit for setting date for start of negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania are not good, assessed the German Chancellor in her statement today in the Bundestag, reports Deutche Welle.
– We have a responsibility towards these countries. I think it is worth giving North Macedonia and Albania a European perspective, said Merkel.
Enlargement on the agenda of the EU Summit tonight, France not giving in
President of the European Council Donald Tusk has set the agenda for the discussions at the two-day EU Summit. The enlargement will be discussed during the dinner, following the discussions on Brexit, which should be held sooner than expected, after Brussels and London achieved agreement a while ago.
According to a High Reprentative of the European Union involved in the preparation of the Summit, so far France is not showing signs of flexibility, but President Donald Tusk is determined to try to reach a compromise. However, this source warns that the risk of not reaching a consensus is real and should not be undermined.
Meeting Zaev – Timmermans: The country’s achievements should be acknowledged with a decision for start of negotiations
The European Union should now take a decisive step and decide on the start of the accession negotiations with Republic of North Macedonia, which will send a strong message also to other countries in the region that making difficult and responsible decisions, as well as deep reform processes, are an investment for a better future, assessed Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans at today’s meeting in Brussels.
Ashton: The EU has to reward North Macedonia for the Prespa Agreement
– I know that you want a clear European perspective and a timetable. You are working on the rule of law and the fight against corruption and crime because of yourselves, and I am sure that your future is in the EU and can’t wait for that day, said former High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, at today’s panel at the Belgrade Security Forum (BSF) titled “Sustainable solutions for the Western Balkans”.
FLASH NEWS
– President Stevo Pendarovski stated that top officials are lobbying to the last minute to receive a date for the start of negotiations and a formulation that will value the country’s efforts in the recent period. The final decision of the EU should be known tomorrow afternoon, but in case of a negative decision, the head of state considers that European integrations remain the only option for North Macedonia.
– The Prime Ministers of the member states of the Visegrad group last night requested from the President of the European Commission, Donald Tusk, to initiate a debate for start of accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania during the EU Summit that will be held today and tomorrow in Brussels. In the letter to Tusk, the Prime Ministers of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic express their dissatisfaction with the failure to reach a consensus for start of accession negotiations with the two countries during the meeting with the foreign minister of EU member states on Tuesday.
– The current political option has brought the country to NATO membership and negotiations with the EU. The coalition partners that stand behind the Government, have a consensus on the two strategic issues – membership in NATO and the EU. We have showed that we have results in both areas, stated today in Kumanovo the Minister of Defence Radmila Sekerinska.
– The Government condemned the hate speech of the former advisor for cooperation with international organizations, Ivana Jordanovska, who on her Tweeter account posted messages to French President Emmanuel Macron, to which the public strongly reacted. “To sum it up. F*ck you, President Macron. I know I’ll get the chance to say it to your face one day”, is said in Jordanovska’s tweet.
– Due to a request by prosecutor Lile Stefanova for postponement of the trial for the case of the PO on election irregularities “Titanic”, today’s hearing was postponed for October 22. Judge Osman Shabani informed that the prosecutor was absent due to official obligations in regards to a scheduled meeting with an EU assessment mission. Based on the notification, Judge Ognen Stavrov is also absent due to official duties.
– The Central Population Register has been launched. It is the only base in which real data will be kept in regards to the population of the Republic of North Macedonia. The data in the base will be collected from several institutions – the MOI, Ministry of Justice –Civil Registration Office and the Central Registry.
– Children from “Ranka Milanovik” are placed in small group homes. A new group home was opened today in Skopje, where children up to the age of 18 years will be living, who previously had been housed in the former facility “Ranka Milanovik” and who have an urgent need for support and rehabilitation. “Today as a country we can be proud, because finally the grey home in our country and social system goes down in history”, said Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Mila Carovska.
OPINION
Does Macron know?
Burst: XHABIR DERALLA
The French Number One also knows that the law on the PO has not been drafted and adopted because of the political structures that are linked to the organized crime in our country. The judicial reforms are also hindered by the same ones he is giving wings to with his opposing. They, on the other hand, are working off for super forces that have no good intentions for the Europe he wants to lead. His position is delicate, not to say bizarre – he could create much greater damage to Europe and France than he presumes. I have no doubt that he knows that as well. So, North Macedonia and Albania are not the issue. Something else is. It’s time to be European sincere and honest.
Dehran Muratov in cooperation with: Angela Petrovska, Diana Tahiri, Biljana Jordanovska, Маја Ivanovska, Xhabir Deralla
Translation: Natasa Cvetkovska
