Gostivar, 12 June 2023 (MIA) – The Macedonian opposition's condition of a delayed entry into force of the constitutional amendments is unfeasible, because it is contrary to the EU negotiating framework, assessed the leader of the Alliance for Albanians (AA), Arben Taravari, on Monday.

According to Taravari, the constitutional amendments should enter into force no later than the holding of the Second Intergovernmental Conference.

AA’s final position, according to Taravari, will be known by the end of the week, when the party’s leadership meets. He said he believes the exchange of offers and counteroffers between the two largest Macedonian parties, directly impacts the interest of the Albanians as well.

“The Alliance for Albanians is carefully analyzing the new situation and by the end of the week the party’s leadership will meet, and we will come out with a position,” said Taravari at a press conference.

Taravari welcomed the willingness of the opposition to vote for the amendments, but said the conditions they have set are confusing and unrealistic.

“Our negotiating framework, approved by the 27 EU member states, explicitly conditions the opening of negotiations with the adoption of the constitutional amendments. So, first we adopt the amendments, and then open negotiations,” stressed Taravari.

Regarding VMRO-DPMNE’s condition requiring that certain Albanian parties leave the ruling coalition, the AA leader said his party is more interested in the conclusion of the European process and the citizens’ perspective than the electoral calculations of some political parties.

“The Alliance for Albanians decided to join the Government because of the process, but we will adapt based on the new circumstances, whether in or outside the Government. For us, it is only important that this process ends, and we will contribute to this, without conditions and without blackmail,” said Taravari.

The leader of the Alliance for Albanians said that one of the party’s main goals will be their request for the scrapping of the term “20 percent” from the Constitution, a term which he said, “negates the Albanian identity”, and the adding of the Albanian language to the Constitution, stressing that the time is right for this change.