Filipche: constitutional amendments with delayed effect could be supported, internal guarantees are "a VMRO-DPMNE game"
Filipche: constitutional amendments with delayed effect are acceptable if they strengthen the country\'s position before the EU; he called the proposed "internal guarantees" a political game.
Venko Filipche, leader of SDSM, said that the party would support constitutional amendments with postponed entry into force if that were acceptable to the European Union, but added that the EU does not support the idea of postponement. He made the remarks at a briefing with journalists, in response to a question whether SDSM would act constructively if a move were made to accelerate European integration.
"Anything that is acceptable to us and to Europe and will improve our negotiating position, we will support it," Filipche said, expressing openness to all solutions that would strengthen the country's position in negotiations with Brussels.
Filipche sharply criticized VMRO-DPMNE, claiming the party is deliberately spreading hysteria. He pointed out that the statement by Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski that the protocols are not part of the Negotiating Framework with the EU exposes such behavior.
According to him, the previous positions of Aleksandar Nikoloski and Mickoski, which offered conflicting interpretations, demonstrate a deliberate playing with citizens' emotions to block the European process.
When asked about the idea of "internal guarantees," Filipche replied with a counter-question: "What are those guarantees, that we are Macedonians?" and assessed that it is yet another game by VMRO-DPMNE.
On the possibility that Bulgaria might again block the process after the potential adoption of constitutional changes, Filipche said that cannot be stated with certainty: "Whether we will face an unprincipled blockade from Bulgaria – we do not know. What can we lose, what scares VMRO-DPMNE? They cannot take our language from us; it is recognized in the EU; as for the work of the Historical Commission, decisions there are made by consensus and an agreement has already been reached on four historical figures. No one can take our history from us," the SDSM leader said. He added that he met with European Council President Antonio Costa during his visit to Skopje and that the EU's position is clear: the constitutional amendments should be made, and if the country meets the membership criteria, there is no force that can stop it on the path to the Union. Asked about alleged behind-the-scenes activities mentioned by EU Ambassador Mihalis Rokas and about the statement by Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova that September 30 will be a key date, Filipche said he has no such information.
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