Skopje, 20 August 2023 (MIA) - There is no civil and political consensus for the constitutional changes, because they are the result of the Bulgarian unprincipled demands and beyond the Copenhagen criteria, MP and Democratic Union leader, Pavle Trajanov, said at Sunday’s press conference.

Underscoring that the Democratic Union is firmly committed for the country to become a full EU member, Trajanov said that he has sent a request to the EU and to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, for the Council of the European Union to adopt a decision obliging Bulgaria to implement the judgments of the International Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, to allow the registration of the associations of Macedonians in Bulgaria to foster their identity, language, culture and other characteristics, with which will ensure reciprocity.

“Secondly, the Council of the European Union should leave bilateral issues out of the negotiating framework, or at least adopt a decision that would provide guarantees that bilateral issues cannot be a basis for blocking Macedonia on the path to the EU. Thirdly, the Council of the European Union should make a decision that the Macedonian language will be the official language after Macedonia's accession to the EU. I expect all political parties, President Stevo Pendarovski and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia to back these three key demands,” Trajanov said.

In regard to the constitutional changes proposed by the Government, the Democratic Union leader said that the Government accepted the negotiating framework “without expert analysis, broader civil and political consensus and a framework that incorporates bilateral issues imposed by Bulgaria, issues that open historical, educational, linguistic, cultural and identity dilemmas, which essentially deny the historical continuity of the Macedonian people and the authenticity of the Macedonian language.”
 
“Through the Commission on Historical and Educational Issues and the annual protocols, which are an integral part of the negotiating framework, the Macedonian character of historical events, Macedonian revolutionaries, and even the Ohrid Archbishopric are disputed. In essence, the roots of the Macedonian people are being "cut", which calls into question their future and prosperity,” Trajanov said.

According to him, Kovachevski, Osmani and Marichikj, as well as DUI and SDSM, "create a huge manipulation that the EU supposedly recognizes the Macedonian language."

“But the truth is that no document states that after Macedonia's accession to the EU, the Macedonian language will be an official language in the EU. In the conclusions of the Council of the EU, it is only stated that the translation of materials (directives, decisions, etc.) will be done in Macedonian language, but also that Bulgaria and Macedonia have the right to make their own unilateral statements about language, which are an integral part of the package of EU documents and decisions related to Macedonia's European integration processes,” Trajanov said.

Due to insufficient support for constitutional changes, he proposed the dissolution of Parliament and early elections, which, he said, “are in our national and strategic interest.”

“I want to send a crystal clear message and call to SDSM and DUI: If you are for stability, for a modern and European Macedonia, you who have threatened the national interests and European integration of Macedonia, to support the elections,” Trajanov said.

Photo: MIA archive