Skopje, 8 November 2023 (MIA) – The political polarization and blockade of Parliament, which have slowed down the country’s reforms, according to Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, are the main remarks in the European Commission’s Report. The Minister pointed to the opposition as the culprit, which, he said, has blocked the adoption of legislation and reforms in Parliament.

“The Report clearly states that the political polarization, the blockade of Parliament has made it impossible to adopt numerous laws and reforms that would address the weaknesses identified by the EC, and this really is a serious message to all political parties. Not only to the Government, but also to those from the opposition who have been blocking Parliament for years because of party interests, thereby not allowing important legislation to be adopted. However, of course, there are also possible flaws that can be detected in the judiciary or other institutions,” said Osmani in answer to media questions after a joint press conference with NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, Javier Colomina, on Wednesday. 

Osmani said there is no better way to fight corruption than by opening Chapter 23 and 24, “anyone who is obstructing the opening of 23 and 24 is obstructing the fight against corruption,” he said.

The Foreign Minister said the cause that led to such a Report is what matters.

“It is the cause that matters. For example, with causal therapy you treat the issue, not the symptom. What we are seeing as identified weaknesses are symptoms of a cause, and the cause is the political polarization, i.e., the attempt to place party interests above the national interests,” said Osmani.