New York, 26 September 2024 (MIA) – President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova in an interview with MIA says she cannot precisely answer whether the so-called French Proposal Plus and the government’s position, recently presented in Brussels, could be implemented. She notes that the Friendship Treaty with Bulgaria has no provision saying the Constitution should be amended, adding there cannot be one because it is related to the history commissions and their talks.

We can approach the Treaty differently, the President says. 

“I cannot give precise answer even though on the sidelines, I had a friendly meeting also with the president of Bulgaria, Mr Radev. Everyone has been saying we need to observe agreements. Anyone with any knowledge of international law and law in general knows that the Friendship Treaty has no provision saying the Constitution should be amended. There cannot be one because it is in connection with the infamous history commissions and their talks and negotiations. I have been emphasising: it’s not a direct answer to the question whether you will change the negotiating framework and whether you are aware that the negotiating framework cannot be changed. I say it is important how we treat the negotiating framework. If we make a friendly agreement that we will respect the Copenhagen Criteria and if we say Pacta sunt servanda all the while thinking of the Prespa Agreement, which clearly states what Macedonia means to the second party – a territory, which means people with their own history and language,” Siljanovska Davkova tells MIA. 

History, culture, language cannot be the subject to negotiations, according to her.

“Because we’re in fact reminding the EU of the fundamental values and principles of the EU’s constitutional law. Everything I have been talking about, cultural identity, national identity, agreements based on reciprocity, non-interference in internal affairs, respect of the dignity and integrity is part of the European constitutional law. We can find a different way to approach the agreement,” stresses Siljanovska Davkova.

President Siljanovska Davkova, you’re heading the Macedonian delegation at the 79th UN General Assembly. We saw a world completely divided both at the Summit of the Future, which adopted the Pact of the Future, and at the opening session of the General Assembly having in mind the wars in Ukraine, Gaza, Israel’s latest attacks on Lebanon, etc. What is your initial assessment of the General Assembly and how this could be reflected in the coming period? 

It’s early for a final assessment, however, the deep division among the nations at the General Assembly is evident, which only reflects the real division existing today in the world. Today, the General Assembly and the world are facing catharsis. This is the final call before celebrating the 80th anniversary of the UN. Why do I say this? Because, the UN in 1945 was established as a fundamental peace project and an anti-colonial project and nowadays, we’re facing a war. A similar thing is happening with the European Union, which was founded as the European Community to be a peace project. Both organizations were supposed to guarantee perpetual peace, Kantian peace. The UN even had won the Nobel Peace Prize. It means they have failed to meet their primary goal. They shouldn’t have allowed war to break out, because the role of the family, all nations, united nations, we, the nations, we the peoples, we the nations, was to prevent a war, but nonetheless, there is war. 

The UN has to face the necessity of undergoing profound reforms in the decision making and most notably in including all UN members in the process of making key decisions. The most radical and the strictest ones, and I am one of them, believe that only decorative changes will not extend the lifespan of the UN.

Could the UN start reforming amid the current conditions, also having in mind that the United States will hold elections on November 5?

I don’t believe it is possible in such a short time, but I remember the speech of Mr Guterres. He also called for profound reforms, we also remember the speech of the General Assembly president, who is also advocating for serious reforms. Some of the key countries are also in favor of reforms. What has deepened the division was the key issue – the attitude toward wars. The UN and the humanity have countless times promised there will be no more wars, but it is happening over and over again. 

What’s the position of our country being a small country in the global constellation? Should we change our foreign policy and our positions in order to protect ourselves as a small country? 

It isn’t only our obligation. Most UN members are small countries or developing countries, but their voice cannot be heard – with the exception of when they are elected as non-permanent Security Council members – and it is also not included in the decision-making process even though they make up the majority. We, coming from small countries, have been calling for the jurisdiction of the General Assembly to expand, saying the jurisdiction and the structure of the Security Council and the permanent members should be raised. The big countries have been proposing that the number of permanent members should increase as well as the number of those with veto. This isn’t the solution.

I have to mention, I’m against veto, but since the nations are united, they all should be equal in the decision making. I’ve already said, and I will say it tomorrow [Thursday], the Security Council should act as a global coalition government of nations. This now isn’t the case; the five dominant members have the final say. 

I understand the order of speeches – Brazil is the first one, followed by the United States and Turkey. All three heads of state talked about reforms in the UN, inclusivity of the process. While the others have 15 minutes for their speeches, they can speak how long they want. This is hypocritical and cynical of the UN’ equality. It’s not only the war between Russia and Ukraine and in Gaza, but we are also in war with nature. To be in war with nature is to say you are ready to commit suicide. 

There is also deepening poverty around the world. We’ve heard shocking figures that the five richest people on the planet have doubled their fortune while poverty is on the rise. There is also the issue of gender equality. It is high time that the UN elected a female secretary general.

I’ve been hearing that the Latin American continent was neglected, Africa is fully neglected. This means that key issues about the development of humanity are arising. There is no safe future without solving them. The UN must not act like the former League of Nations, which had failed to solve major issues. This is the final call.

You asked me about the US elections. We’ve seen there is almost a consensus on changes, but next year at the General Assembly we should present projections on reforms even though everyone follows the saying “The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must”. I think this should be revised. 

I didn’t have the time in my speech the day before yesterday to say the world needs Kant’s messages for perpetual peace, Woodrow Wilson’s messages for self-determination. 

I mentioned our case in which not only international law but also the law of obligation was forgotten, which mustn’t be allowed, as well as the violation of national rights. We should turn to Machiavelli and Thucydides less.

Here in New York now there is no better message than the one in John Lennon’s Imagine. Everything we stand for is in John Lennon’s song. 

Today you will address the UN General Assembly. What kind of message will you convey from Macedonia to the world? 

Actually, I will elaborate on this, as I will have 15 minutes tomorrow to present my message in Macedonian. Two days ago, we discussed the future of the world, but now I want to discuss the future of the world through the Macedonian language. Therefore, I will outline the fundamental theses - I will remind them of the tragic Macedonian story in which the UN played a role, reflecting everything we have experienced. I will reiterate our commitment to peacefulness and the importance of respecting international law through dialogue. I will point out the fundamental issues facing humanity, but now with greater argumentation, regarding peace and security. We have a Security Council, but the environment is unsafe, everywhere, even here in New York. 

The world has to demonstrate capacity for social dialogue, empathy, because the fortunes of the richest are not the result of knowledge and hard work, they are the result of injustice in profit logic, which has created a Darwinist society. The world should pay attention to the treatment of young people, the treatment of the third world, the treatment of women and also children. It must sign a pact with nature because by protecting nature, we’re protecting ourselves. Nature shouldn’t be the victim of profit logic, because no one has the right to attack seas, oceans, nature, plants, air, animals. There is no logic. 

What’s your position on the French Proposal +, the government’s position regarding the constitutional changes, which was recently presented in Brussels? Could it be implemented?

I cannot give precise answer even though on the sidelines, I had a friendly meeting also with the president of Bulgaria, Mr Radev. Everyone has been saying we need to observe agreements. Anyone with any knowledge of international law and law in general knows that the Friendship Treaty has no provision saying the Constitution should be amended. There cannot be one because it is in connection with the infamous history commissions and their talks and negotiations.

I have been emphasising: it’s not a direct answer to the question whether you will change the negotiating framework and whether you are aware that the negotiating framework cannot be changed. I say it is important how we treat the negotiating framework. If we make a friendly agreement that we will respect the Copenhagen Criteria and if we say Pacta sunt servanda all the while thinking of the Prespa Agreement, which clearly states what Macedonia means to the second party – a territory, which means people with their own history and language.

History, culture, language cannot be the subject to negotiations, because we’re in fact reminding the EU of the fundamental values and principles of the EU’s constitutional law. Everything I have been talking about, cultural identity, national identity, agreements based on reciprocity, non-interference in internal affairs, respect of the dignity and integrity is part of the European constitutional law. We can find a different way to approach the agreement. 

When will the Security Council hold its first session?

When I contemplated who should be appointed in the Security Council, the three members pointed out to me that it takes a long time. It took me a long time because I decided to find individuals who are qualified to respond to our modern challenges and imperatives – the EU integration process, disasters requiring climate action and knowledge and interethnic relations. I looked for people who are not party members, how are not politically involved and who are influential because of their knowledge. It is a hard thing to do. It’s easy to pick members in one day after being given the names by the parties. 

Upon arriving in the US, you visited members of the Macedonian community in St. Nikola church and the mosque in Freehold, New Jersey. You announced the establishment of a youth and diaspora council.

It was the first ever visit of a mosque by a president in the large Albanian community. Why the diaspora? The diaspora is the biggest Macedonian messenger. The diaspora is an unbreakable part of our tissue. Members of the diaspora are accomplished people on the competitive European and in this case, American stage. 

We need their knowledge, we need their influence and their help, while they need their homeland, which they will never forget. Even the issue of interethnic relations is differently solved here. I tried to manifest it in one day, which I believe it was recognized and well received. 

As for the young, there is no speech of mine in which I don’t forget to stress that young people are tired of the phrase that the future belongs to them and that they need to be included in the decision-making process, where they will interpret their interest authentically. What we need to do is to recognize the best in the US, Canada, Australia, in Europe. The decision for teaching Macedonian language is excellent as a way to maintain ties and include them in the educational process, because they will strengthen competitiveness and move the country up in all lists, including the Shanghai Ranking. 

Elizabeta Veljanovska Najdeska

Translated by Bisera Altiparmakova - Marusic

Photo: President's Office