Skopje, 15 May 2023 (MIA) - Washington sent a direct message to the opposition to support the country's European path, to support constitutional amendments and not to block crucial laws, government officials told a press briefing on the government delegation's visit to the United States.  

In the United States, the government officials point out, we received unequivocal and strong support for continuing the country's European path, which means implementing the constitutional amendments, i.e. adopting the amendments and continuing the negotiations as set forth in the negotiating framework.

The United States, through its top officials, underscores the support we have in continuing on the European path, as well as its unequivocal support in making the necessary decisions in our Parliament, and that message was also direct to the opposition - ideological differences cannot be an obstacle for the country's progress and for making decisions that are important for the citizens, not for the political parties, and least of all for their leaders because someone's personal career is much less important than the future of the country, government officials note.

They add that the European integration process is an irreversible process that has begun, and can neither be reversed nor taken in another direction.

"It can only be slowed down for personal interest, we already had such a slowdown for 11 years, and we realized it benefited no one. And, it was of the least benefit to those who stalled the process. That's why concern was expressed because of the blockade that the opposition is making in the Parliament, not only in this process, but also in other processes," add the government officials. 

According to the Government, this is the first time that the blockade doesn't come from the outside, but from the inside, from the opposition, and this should be clearly stated because de facto, it is against all the processes that move the country forward. The government officials point out that this is not a process of one person or one party, but decisions and processes on which the future of current and future generations depends.

The Government notes that there are individuals in VMRO-DPMNE, MPs and representatives of the leadership, who don't follow the same line of thinking as the current leadership and who want the country to continue on its path to the EU and those individuals, it adds, should be encouraged.

In addition, government officials point out that VMRO-DPMNE and other opposition parties should be part of making this decision because not being part of such decisions is unworthy of a political party, which, they say, has existed since day one of the country's independence.

The Government adds that no direct discussions have been held with opposition MPs, but it is the responsibility of every individual to make decisions in the interest of the citizens.

Photo: MIA archive