08.07.2021 – 08:32
The Macedonian opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, has published the text of the resolution, which seeks to be approved by the Assembly of Northern Macedonia (RMV), following the example of Bulgaria. In the drafted text, VMRO-DPMNE demands that “negotiations with Bulgaria be conducted on an equal footing, respecting international law, without any conditions from one side or the other, and respecting the dignity of the Macedonian people.”
VMRO-DPMNE by Friday (09.07) will submit to the Assembly the Resolution on the red lines that the country should have in the negotiations with Bulgaria. The MP of this party, Timcho Mucunski, says that the Resolution should not be negotiated, as it is in favor of accelerating the European perspective and strengthening the state and national sovereignty of Northern Macedonia.
“There is nothing to negotiate. It is possible to discuss some details, some smaller issues, but I do not believe that here in the Assembly we can prepare something more competent than what has been prepared by the Academy of Sciences and the University of Skopje “, emphasizes Timcho Mucunski, VMRO MP -DPMNE.
The proposed resolution was also supported by the Social Democratic League of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, although initially, this party rejected it, accusing the leaders of VMRO-DPMNE, that through the resolution they try to benefit politically, because according to SDSM, “issues that have never been the subject of negotiations. “
Albanian parties skeptical of the resolution
The Albanian parties, the Democratic Union for Integration, which is part of the government, as well as those in opposition, the Alliance for Albanians and the Alternative, have spoken out against the resolution. They say they do not support any document that undermines the path to the EU and the breakdown of good neighborly relations.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, has said that the position of the DUI is that the VMRO-DPMNE Resolution risks turning the state consensus reached on Bulgaria into an ethnic issue, which is a great loss. for the state. “Our position is that this process should start from scratch, political parties should sit down, if a resolution is to be adopted it should be a product of the consensus of all and not be imposed by a political party. “I am afraid that the transformation from a state position to an ethnic position is one of the biggest damages that can be done”, says Osmani.
The Alliance for Albanians and Alternatives say that the final decision on whether or not to support the VMRO-DPMNE Resolution will be taken at the next meetings of party bodies.
Analysts for and against the resolution
Nikola Dujoski, an expert on international affairs, says that no one has a mandate to negotiate on issues related to identity, so he sees nothing wrong with adopting such a resolution by broad consensus. “No one has a mandate to negotiate for the name of our language or for the identity of Macedonians, but also of all those who live here. “No one can do that, because they do not have the mandate for such a thing, neither Zoran Zaevi, nor Hristijan Mickoski nor Ali Ahmeti or anyone else. We want Europe, but we want ourselves more”, says Dujoski.
A resolution proposed by the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party to draw red lines with Bulgaria could indefinitely block Northern Macedonia’s European integration process, says Muhamed Halili, chairman of the Council of Ambassadors.
“If SDSM also supports the proposal of VMRO-DPMNE, then it is clear that the European integration of our country is further difficult. “It is clear that the hopes for the opening of negotiations, ie the holding of the intergovernmental conference within this year, are fading”, says Halili./ DW
