Gashi will not attend Mechkin Kamen — will commemorate Ilinden in Egypt

The Speaker of the Assembly, Afrim Gashi, announced that this year he will again not personally attend the Ilinden commemoration and that he will follow the observance from Egypt. He explained that his absence, for the second time in a row, is justified, and that as the head of the legislative house he has continued to participate in the events through a delegation and organization.

Gashi pointed out that earlier he had sent the key messages from in front of the legislative building and that there is no need for additional reactions because of his absence. He also assessed that the event in Egypt was equally important for the country.

In his statement Gashi said: "Afrim Gashi, President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia: The delegations at the Ilinden commemoration usually rotate by agreement. This year, on the occasion of the 123rd anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising, the government's delegation led by Prime Minister Mickoski will attend in Pelince, from where the prime minister will send the key messages, and the President of the State, by protocol, will remain in Skopje; the Assembly delegation led by Antinio Milosevski will be at Mechkin Kamen."

Members of Parliament go on vacation, unresolved laws remain

After the commemorations, the elected representatives officially enter vacation until August 21, a period during which there will be no plenary sessions nor sessions of Assembly bodies and committees. This has left several laws to be resolved after their return from holiday, among them the Law on Higher Education and the draft law on "Skopje European Capital", which yesterday sparked confrontations between MPs.

Also, the Law on Fair Representation will need to be adopted — a matter for which DUI insisted on a vote to prove that they have the "big Badinter" and that without them such legislative solutions cannot pass. Gashi emphasized that he has been granted the procedural right to convene the sessions for these laws when he decides.

Regarding the inquiry that DUI announced about the incident with Minister Stoilkovic during the reconstruction, Gashi stated: "Afrim Gashi, President of the Assembly: Regarding the inquiry which DUI announced about the incident with Minister Stoilkovic during the reconstruction, for which they alleged that their MPs were attacked by the minister, Gashi pointed out that the initiative has not yet reached him, but that personally he does not feel responsible because everything that happened was during the recess and outside the session."

The Speaker reiterated that the allocation of delegations is a procedural practice and that government, presidential and Assembly representatives will carry out their duties from different locations on the day of the commemoration.

Photo: press material from the event