Skopje, 22 June 2023 (MIA) – Academician Vlado Kambovski said Thursday the issue of constitutional amendments does not deserve to cause such an uproar in the public, because with the initiative adding the Bulgarians to the Preamble of the Constitution “we are knocking at an open door.” They, he stressed, are already a part of the Constitution as a community, because the Preamble includes a general clause which refers to other peoples, i.e., communities.

“I think a dialogue with rational arguments is necessary. We can’t be led by emotions or fears, especially over the constitutional amendments, an issue that doesn’t deserve to cause such an uproar and emotions among the people. With this initiative we are knocking at an open door, because the Bulgarians are already a part of the Constitution as a community, because the Preamble already includes a general clause which refers to other peoples, i.e., communities. While in the separate provisions referring to the rights of the members of communities there is complete equality of all communities, regardless if they’re recognized or not,” said Kambovski.

The Academician pointed to international conventions which, he said, note that a community, whether national, ethnic or religious, exists regardless if it is formally recognized by the Constitution or other acts in the country.

“Through a rational, clear-headed dialogue, without political calculations, manipulations or needless populism, we should hear the wise voice of the scientific public and debate with arguments, in the general interest of the Macedonian people and all citizens who live in the Republic of North Macedonia,” said Academician Kambovski in a press statement ahead of the beginning of the conference on the acceleration of the EU accession process held at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU).

Photo: MIA Archive