Skopje, 25 July 2023 (MIA) - Nikola Micevski, coordinator of the VMRO-DPMNE parliamentary group, on behalf of 44 MPs of the opposition party, presented their position against the draft constitutional amendments on Tuesday. They also voted against the agenda of the Constitutional Committee's session.

Micevski stressed that they do not accept constitutional amendments under a dictate, pressure, and impositions, and that they will never support it, because according to VMRO-DPMNE, it is a direct violation of the sovereignty of a country.

"Constitutional amendments under a dictate, pressure and impositions are impossible, and we will never support it, because it is a direct violation of the sovereignty of a country. Sovereignty comes from the people, and the vast majority of them, over 80 percent, say "no" to this kind of violence by the government. Sadly, the tragic truth that is visible even today in front of the entire Macedonian public, it that we have a blind and deaf government," Micevski said.

He emphasized that people should not be fooled by the statements that this is an opportunity that cannot be missed and that this would make a difference between the Macedonian and Bulgarian people.

"Anyone who, without these changes, cannot see the difference between the two nations and their separate thousand-year history cannot be a part of this session and Parliament, the holy home of people's will, justice and dignity. No, gentlemen, this is not an opportunity for the progress of the whole country. This is a chance for them to profit off the backs of the Macedonian people and Macedonia," Micevski stressed.

Now, according to him, things are different, and the people are aware that they should not have high expectation over their big promises, unfortunately only bitter disappointments.

"Has there ever been any change for the better in the past few years and months in the rhetoric or the actions of our eastern neighbor. The answer is no. We see only new disparagements, negations and demands to change textbooks, historical events and narratives. Requests to control speech and thought-media, the written word, and the creation of cultural art. Attempts to censor both thought and history. To censor our existence. Instead of the economy and infrastructure, they try to "forcibly Bulgarize the Ilinden Uprising." That is the future the Government wants to happen with the constitutional amendments," the party coordinator said.

He stressed that constitutional amendments which they demanded, at the end of the EU integration process would have been a guarantee that that path would have had no hidden intentions for the reunification of the Macedonian people, or as some people in Sofia say "killing Macedonianism."

"If by the end of the process constitutional amendments are made, we would have had some assurance that we would not have been blocked for topics such as history, textbooks, made-up and non-existent hate speeches, or similar topics that Sofia wants to impose, but the process would be conducted exclusively according to the Copenhagen Criteria," Micevski pointed out.

Addressing Government MPs, he said that it was unfortunate that they accepted Macedonia be brought before the fait accompli without a fight.

"A few days ago, a declaration was read in the Sofia Parliament about an allegedly incorrect and fabricated Bulgarian character of the holiest Macedonian Ilinden Uprising. One of the foundations of this country. And you brought it down, the identity protectors. The second one was called ASNOM- and you massacred it in the Constitution. Is this how you act, pretending to protect the national interest while you sell them off in order to protect your own personal interests, businesses and privileges. Now I see, I hear, and I cannot believe, that SDSM announced that they will submit a new declaration for the Ilinden Uprising! The same ones who last year refused to adopt the Goce Delchev declaration because it was not needed and would cause harm, now they want to submit a declaration on the Ilinden Uprising? Why, colleagues, if the identity is already protected?" asked Micevski.

According to him, this is illogical and that MPs should apologize to the people of Ilinden "for the betrayal you caused to their struggle."

Micevski said that after his address, they have nothing else to add, and asked constitutional amendments be brought to a plenary session after the shortened deadlines. He repeated that the governing SDSM refused their offered hand and voice of reason.

"That is why these amendments are doomed to fail. And do not even try to make new classifications on who was more pro-European, and who wasn't, don't try to label and divide in any way, that doesn’t work any more," Micevski added. ssh/sk/

Photo: MIA archive