Skopje, 6 November 2023 (MIA) - Deputy PM for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj says the constitutional amendments are a task that needs to be fulfilled and cannot be avoided.

"The adoption of the constitutional amendments remains to be our task. We cannot avoid it, as much as we delay it until after one election and then another. I believe we should complete it as soon as possible. We will work on ensuring 80 votes until the final day of this Parliament. I think that all lawmakers, MP groups and political parties should be aware of their own responsibility," Deputy PM Marichikj told TV24.

He recalls on the statement of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her recent visit to Skopje that the country has a good perspective to move forward and there is good foundation for development.

"Our task as a Government, which we undertook by endorsing the French proposal in the Parliament, is to implement the constitutional amendments," says Marichikj.

On the opposition's claims it does not accept the constitutional revision 'under Bulgarian dictate', he says discussions a year-and-a-half ago also involved claims that the Macedonian identity would disappear and that the French proposal would put the country in an extremely disadvantaged position.

"Our delay of the constitutional changes is the only thing that might put us in a disadvantaged position. If we reject them, everyone else will move forward and we will stand still, which is in fact going backwards. I am certain there will be new EU members, surely Moldova and Ukraine, in 2030. Which of the Balkan states will be in that group depends on their performance in the meantime. There is not much benefit from crying over injustice and our tough destiny. We have to learn our lessons, we have to move forward," says Osmani.

Our goal, he adds, is to be part of the group of states in the next enlargement round.

"No one will beg us, push us, or ask for anything. The rules are already defined. The negotiating framework is defined. Albania will not wait for us because there is no reason to wait. Serbia and Montenegro will move forward. They will all run towards the finish line. It is in our interest, in the people's interest, to not stand still but run towards the objective of membership in 2030," says Marichikj.

Photo: Secretariat for European Affairs