Skopje, 7 June 2023 (MIA) - This democratic dialogue should take place at all levels. It is good that the position presented this morning by VMRO-DPMNE vice-president Timcho Mucunski is different from what I heard at today's meeting, which is that VMRO-DPMNE is not against the constitutional amendments, and this is the conclusion from the meeting, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski after his meeting with VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski on Wednesday.

\PM Kovachevski said such decisions are taken by all political parties and the society as a whole, not a process of one person, one party, one government.

"There is a clear distinction made on whether we will integrate the country in the EU or isolate it, and I believe it is good that the dialogue continues so that we eventually build a common stance that it is best for the country to integrate in the EU. The Government's goal is to make the Euro-integration process a success. This is a strategic goal of our EU and NATO partners. Everyone has said now is the time for Union enlargement and the accession of the Western Balkans," said Kovachevski.

According to him, the constitutional amendments and incorporation of parts of other nations in the Preamble represent a step forward on the European path.

The PM proposed that parties endorse the constitutional amendments together, since this is the right solution that citizens want from them.

"I proposed to Mickoski that we all together vote for the constitutional amendments. Once we endorse them, we can hold elections. I have realized they find it important to be part of the ruling authorities, and for the sake of demonstrating that the Government is not oriented to scoring political points for its own benefit and that we are not guided by the partisan interest, and that we are not focused only on the result of the next elections, I proposed that we jointly vote for the opening of the Constitution through a two-thirds majority, with VMRO-DPMNE joining the government the next day, and SDSM giving half of its departments to VMRO-DPMNE representatives," said Kovachevski.

In this way, he added, we would have a government that unites all political parties that push for European integration.

"This government would complete the process of constitutional amendments and the ongoing screening, followed by the opening of chapters as the second stage of the negotiating process, even closing 2-3 chapters, and then administer the next elections. In addition, although this is ensured in the negotiating framework, the transitional and final provisions of the constitutional amendments would include a section which reads that they would enter into force at the time of the second intergovernmental conference, which is already scheduled," said Kovachevski.

According to him, everything else goes beyond the negotiating framework, since it has been adopted by all 27 EU member-states.

"Mickoski claimed that some parties should not be part of the government but the fact of the matter is that we need a unifying government with a clear goal. This will be a government of unification and European integration, not one of isolation and destabilization. Different scenarios can lead to other developments in the society," said Kovachevski.