After meeting with leaders of Alliance for Albanians (AA) and Alternativa coalition, Zijadin Sela and Afrim Gashi, in Parliament on Monday, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said they’ve made a major step forward in talks, pointing out that legal solution to the citizenship issue could be finalized by the end of the week based on expert analysis.
“Talks focused on all outstanding issues in terms of the draft-law from the Alliance for Albanians and Alternativa, and mechanisms have been identified to find a solution. I wouldn’t go into the details at this point as experts need to put them on paper and analyze them now, so that we can process the legal solution,” Zaev said.
He noted that Alliance for Albanians and Alternativa will inform VMRO-DPMNE and Levica, as these two parties have also filed amendments to the citizenship law.
“Detailed discussions took place in terms of number of people who have no citizenship, or people who have not obtained citizenship by marriage, people who seek citizenship due to returning to the country, and based on this we looked at all important issues, and wrapped up on dominant European practices. A stay of eight years is required to obtain citizenship in our country. Some European countries require five years, others seven, or ten years. We’ll find an average and a decision will be made in line with the European Union,” said Zaev.
In response to a reporter’s question, the PM gave an approximate number in terms of people who apply for citizenship. “About 2,727 applications from approximately 3,200 people of whom 1,500 don’t live in the country. There are 800 so-called ‘phantom’ citizens, who were born here but never obtained citizenship,” said Zaev.
As regards obtaining citizenship on all other grounds, he added, including due to economic reasons, reasons of national interest, marriage, etc., these are all over 1,500 out of the 2,700 applications, and these are people who live outside the country but have the right to be citizens of North Macedonia.
“All these details to the solution have been identified. In the end, the important thing is for all of us to stand together and unblock the laws,” Zaev pointed out.
According to him, the major step forward made at Monday’s meeting also means unblocking the laws, primarily in terms of the fifth set of measures. The PM expressed expectation that this would happen
