Skopje, 28 May 2024 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova reiterated Tuesday that she would respect the Prespa Agreement but would also “retain the right to sometimes use the adjective or the name”.

“I urge that the Prespa Agreement is reread, especially the part referring to the change of documents for internal use which is an unknown phenomenon in the history of humankind, regarding the fact that this act is bound to the deadline of five years, but also to the opening of the first chapter and the chapters. Who decides about the opening of the first chapter? The European Union. So, they too should have done something for the fulfillment of the Prespa Agreement. I haven’t violated the Prespa Agreement, it is in place, I will respect it, but I retain the right to sometimes use the adjective or the name,” Siljanovska-Davkova told reporters.

Regarding the wreath she laid in Rome, which did not contain the country’s name, the President said she was personally in favor of including “R. N. Macedonia” on the wreath, but together with her Office they ultimately decided to just include her name, as the leader of the state-church delegation. 

“You know that those strips aren’t very long. We spoke in the Office, we had various opinions, for example, I was of the opinion it could say R. N. Macedonia, but ultimately, we decided that since I am heading the state-church delegation that this too could be some kind of solution. I know that there could be remarks, and I understand many of them,” the President said.

Over how her failure to use the country’s constitutional name could reflect on the relations with the neighboring countries, Siljanovska-Davkova said she doesn’t believe that a single statement can reverse the relations.

“The relations are the way they are since the relations can be good only when we’ve really made a step forward in the Euro-integrations, because if you change the name on the basis of a referendum question asking if you’re in favor of EU and NATO membership by accepting the Prespa Agreement, then that is an obligation that isn’t only for us,” she said.

Siljanovska-Davkova said it is good that the country is a NATO member, but noted that the fact the country faces another constitutional change in order to begin negotiations is not a step forward. “It would be logical,” she stressed, “for everyone to realize the tasks they’ve accepted”.

Asked about the written congratulatory message from the U.S. Department of State, which, according to media reports, was not sent due to Siljanovska-Davkova's failure to use the constitutional name at her inauguration, the President said she met with U.S. Ambassador Angela Aggeler the day before her inauguration and noted that “this is their decision that I can’t meddle in”.

“In my opinion, this isn’t a violation of the Prespa Agreement. I said this recently – I didn’t refuse to sign the statement, nor did I tear it, nor did I say I would launch a procedure for the annulment of the Prespa Agreement, even though such a procedure exists over there. I only verbally used my Socratic right to free expression just as many other presidents do, including the President of the United States – they too use abbreviations, otherwise I would have to self-censor myself. I also know that Macedonia is very often used by the TV channels as well, yet they also have projects funded by the state; we have a party financed by the state which contains Macedonia in its name, I am referring to SDSM,” Siljanovska-Davkova said.

Asked about the possibility of recognizing the State of Palestine, Siljanovska-Davkova said it is too early to consider such an issue.