Skopje, 7 March 2025 (MIA) - Constitutional Court President Darko Kostadinovski held a tête-à-tête meeting with US Ambassador Angela Price Aggeler, followed by a working meeting with the Constitutional Court judges – Osman Kadriu, Naser Ajdari, Dobrila Kacarska, Tatjana Vasikj Bozadzieva, Jadranka Dabovikj, and Ana Pavlovska-Daneva.

Kostadinovski informed Aggeler about the key priorities of his mandate and the internal and external challenges the Constitutional Court has encountered in its work over the past period.

As reported by the Constitutional Court, Kostadinovski emphasized that there has been progress in transparency and, as an example, pointed out that preparations are underway for the full recording and live-streaming of the preparatory session for the Law on the Use of Languages.

“The court, in this capacity, is working intensively on restoring trust in the rule of law and increasing citizens' confidence in the Constitutional Court through actions that promote greater decisiveness, uncompromising procedures, transparency, and judicial activism. There has been progress in transparency and, as an example, pointed out that preparations are underway for the full recording and live-streaming of the preparatory session for the Law on the Use of Languages, that this is a highly sensitive issue, and that citizens will be given the opportunity to see and hear for themselves that decisions in the Court are made objectively and free from any influence,” Kostadinovski emphasized during the working meeting held Thursday at the Constitutional Court.

He said that the Court will stay resolute and "despite any attempts to politicize and ethnically manipulate its actions and decisions, it will steadfastly defend the Constitution and the human and citizen's rights and freedoms."

“The primary responsibility of the Constitutional Court is to safeguard the constitutionality within the legal order. This means that all acts and actions of all authorities must comply with the Constitution. It is time for everyone who has the country’s best interests at heart to make their publicly declared commitment to the rule of law a reality, not just empty or declarative statements,” Kostadinovski said.

Ambassador Aggeler, as stated in the press release, expressed the support of the United States for restoring confidence in the rule of law through transparent procedures and decisions made exclusively in accordance with the Constitution and the laws.

“Ambassador Aggeler encouraged the judges to resist any influence or pressure in their proceedings and, when entering a session, to set aside all other roles and, above all, to be constitutional judges, stated the Constitutional Court,” reads the press release.

The judges expressed their appreciation for the United States' ongoing support for the rule of law. Judge Prof. Dr. Pavlovska-Daneva emphasized the need for support from all relevant parties to facilitate the recording of sessions where judges discuss and develop cases.

"It is especially important for us that you publicly express support for transparent procedures. Yes, we are aware that in many countries, such a method of conducting proceedings with live recordings is not the case, but let's not forget that the fundamental difference is that they have a completely different constitutional culture,” Judge Pavlovska-Daneva said.

Judge Osman Kadriu welcomed the long-standing support for the rule of law from the US Embassy in the country.

Photo: Constitutional Court