Skopje, 24 July 2023 (MIA) - Commenting on possible decoupling of North Macedonia and Albania if the constitutional amendments don't pass, as warned by foreign diplomats, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said Monday that it would be yet another historical mistake and injustice.

France’s Secretary of State for Europe, Laurence Boone, told MIA that the constitutional changes are part of the agreement made between North Macedonia and the EU to progress with an automatic beginning of the accession process. There is no further demand, she added, and if the constitutional changes are not adopted before the end of the year, the risk of decoupling North Macedonia and Albania does exist. 

"I wish happiness and success to Albania and all other countries, but if the bureaucrats allow that, they will make another historical mistake and injustice to this, perhaps, small nation, but a proud and dignified nation. We will fight to improve the poor conditions, which this criminal government has brought to the citizens," Mickoski said after Monday's meeting with representatives of the Economic Chamber of North-West Macedonia. 

As regards the constitutional amendments that are to officially enter parliamentary procedure on Tuesday, Mickoski said the party's position remains unchanged, and it is backed by the party's bodies and the parliamentary group. 

"Our position is clear and has not changed until now. I see no reason, under such pressure, for it to be changed. It is also backed by the party's bodies, by the parliamentary group, and we expect European behavior from our strategic partners, to sit down with a future government, to change some of those circumstances that are problematic and concern us," said Mickoski. 

He confirmed that the party will be present in the Parliament on Tuesday when the item will be put on the agenda, noting that members of the VMRO-DPMNE led coalition will vote against it.

"We will be present in the Parliament tomorrow, and when the item is put on the agenda, the members of the VMRO-DPMNE led coalition will vote against it. It will be the same at the session itself over these constitutional amendments submitted to the Parliament, from the working group led by Caca Nikolovska. For the constitutional amendments to begin, there is no need to have the content in the first step. It is obvious that these people want to serve Radev and Bulgaria more than the Macedonian people. We will not support the opening of an initiative which will currently mean opening of the Constitution," Mickoski added.  

Asked about reports that Xhaferi will open the session on August 18, adjourn and postpone it indefinitely, until he secures the two-thirds majority, Mickoski said there will be no such thing, because "if they thought it was a good political move, they could have done it a year ago."

"If we go back to a year ago, these very people said the changes will happen in September, then September passed, and then they said at the end of the year, then the end of the year also passed, and then they said in February. And, it's the end of July now. These politicians made a historical mistake for the future of Macedonia and the people. And now they are facing another historical mistake. I warn them not to make a mistake for the third time, which is starting a procedure without having support and will not have it. Hristijan Mickoski is not important here, but the citizens are," the VMRO-DPMNE leader said.  

Photo: MIA