Skopje, 12 December 2023 (MIA) - We would be pleased to see the announcements of a clear call to all political parties in the Parliament to give their support to the constitutional amendments and don't block their own country. We completed the screening and we are working to have 80 lawmakers on board. However, we will not put pressure on MPs but continue to explain since this is a task for the incumbent but also for the next parliamentary composition, says Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj.

Deputy PM Marichikj was quizzed by Sitel over the conclusions adopted earlier today by the General Affairs Council, which note that North Macedonia will continue the EU negotiations after adopting the constitutional amendments, as stated in the Negotiating Framework and the Council conclusions of July 2022.

"I expect a validation of the screening, confirmation of the stage of the accession negotiations we are in, as well as reaffirmation of the commitment to schedule the second intergovernmental conference and open the first cluster immediately and without any further political decisions once the constitutional amendments are adopted," says Marichikj.

According to him, it is very important that the policy of blocking one's own country is defeated at the elections, unless it is defeated in the Parliament prior to the polls.

"I expect this policy of blocking your own country to be defeated at the elections by the European front and this coalition, leaving those who have been blocking their own country for year-and-a-half without any arguments," adds Marichikj.

The Deputy PM notes that Albania might not get the consent from all member-states for scheduling the second intergovernmental conference but it is a matter of time "if not now, then in a few months".

"Our blockade is called VMRO-DPMNE and they cannot shun from this responsibility. Let me ask again, is it worth blocking your own country on the EU path only because of the incorporation of several communities in the Constitution Preamble. The claims that we would lose our language, we would lose our identity, that something bad would happen have burst like a bubble," says Marichikj.

He asks if there is a country that has given up on the Euro-integration process due to "potential future imaginary blockades by some countries".

"That is why I believe this to be a fear of taking a political decision or a strategy of not bringing the country into the EU. Whichever it is, it's detrimental for the state," says Marichikj.

The Deputy PM endorses Talat Xhaferi for the post caretaker PM, because of his knowledge and experience, both in politics and life, adding "he will undoubtedly get our support".

Photo: Screenshot