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Greek concern over constitutional proposals
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The government of Macedonia submitted draft constitutional amendments to Parliament on Friday that would formally rename the country “North Macedonia” under the name deal signed with Greece, but Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos has reportedly expressed reservations about an article that hints at a Macedonian people.
Pavlopoulos reportedly objected to Article 36 which retains references to a Macedonian “people and identity” and the need to protect the Macedonian “people” living outside the country.
Pavlopoulos has insisted that Macedonia must make a written commitment that the name deal signed in June does not recognize a Macedonian nation but rather a citizenship.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev presented the proposal at a press conference after a meeting of his cabinet and said there is nothing disputable in the four proposed amendments which, he said, are in compliance with international standards.
The first amendment proposes the replacement of the phrase “Republic of Macedonia” with “the Republic of North Macedonia” in the country’s constitution.
The second amendment proposes the addition of the Ohrid Framework Agreement of 2001 as the country’s constitutive element.
Moreover, in agreement with the Greek side, the constitution’s preamble will also include changes to the references made to the 1944 Anti-Fascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) so that any wording deemed irredentist is removed.
The proposed third amendment includes a reference that Macedonia respects the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring countries.
The next plenary session of the Parliament to ratify the constitutional changes will take place on December 1.
A month later the third and final vote to ratify the constitutional review will take place, meaning the name deal will be ratified by Macedonia by mid-January at the latest.
URL:
The government of Macedonia submitted draft constitutional amendments to Parliament on Friday that would formally rename the country “North Macedonia” under the name deal signed with Greece, but Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos has reportedly expressed reservations about an article that hints at a Macedonian people.
Pavlopoulos reportedly objected to Article 36 which retains references to a Macedonian “people and identity” and the need to protect the Macedonian “people” living outside the country.
Pavlopoulos has insisted that Macedonia must make a written commitment that the name deal signed in June does not recognize a Macedonian nation but rather a citizenship.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev presented the proposal at a press conference after a meeting of his cabinet and said there is nothing disputable in the four proposed amendments which, he said, are in compliance with international standards.
The first amendment proposes the replacement of the phrase “Republic of Macedonia” with “the Republic of North Macedonia” in the country’s constitution.
The second amendment proposes the addition of the Ohrid Framework Agreement of 2001 as the country’s constitutive element.
Moreover, in agreement with the Greek side, the constitution’s preamble will also include changes to the references made to the 1944 Anti-Fascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) so that any wording deemed irredentist is removed.
The proposed third amendment includes a reference that Macedonia respects the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighboring countries.
The next plenary session of the Parliament to ratify the constitutional changes will take place on December 1.
A month later the third and final vote to ratify the constitutional review will take place, meaning the name deal will be ratified by Macedonia by mid-January at the latest.
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