Skopje, 19 May 2023 (MIA) - The constitutional amendments are a precondition and are part of the deal with the EU, therefore they should be implemented, said Germany's Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Manuel Sarrazin.

In an interview with TV 21's Click Plus show, asked whether the country will succeed in making the constitutional changes within the given timeframe, he said that he cannot bet because every decision that the country makes must be respected.

"We think that there's a European deal on the table and this one has to be taken or to be decided against. But there will be no other deal on the table. How many MPs are going to vote for what, is not me to asses. But we are quite openly and frankly saying - ok, we are talking to everybody, and trying to put our arguments where we think it's for the sake of the European integration, from Germany, for North Macedonia to go on that path," Sarrazin said. 

He said that the country has lost enough time both at its own fault and the fault of the EU, so there is no more time to waste. Germany, he pointed out, will always respect the Macedonian culture, language and identity.

"A lot of people in North Macedonia are afraid that in this process Macedonian identity, Macedonian culture, Macedonian language, the existance of Macedonian people, as a concept, is under threat. And I can guarantee you and everybody in this country that for Germany this is important. We respect it. We respect the Macedonian language, we respect the Macedonian identity, we respect the Macedonian culture. We respect the Macedonian people. We respect the country of North Macedonia," said Manuel Sarrazin. 

Germany's Special Envoy also noted they are aware that trust in the EU is not the same, but called on the country to continue to trust because the EU is a clear strategic option for the country. 

As part of a working visit to the country, Sarrazin held separate meetings with MPs from different parliamentary groups, as well as with top state officials.