Latest News & Developments

[Gocka]

As always the details about anything that happens in ROM is sketchy, but I think it probably was racially/politically motivated. As soon as we know more we will speak out about this and try to make sure as many Macedonians as possible know what happened.

What do you know about this case LOM?
I've only just stumbled across it.



PS: This was retweeted by Antonio Miloshoski

Marina Gjorgjijovska
@Marina_Gjorgji

Крвта на #Саздо е на вашите раце #ШАРЕНИ
#УБИЈЦИ
#БранитеУбијц

https://twitter.com/Marina_Gjorgji/status/1016250591641825280

I'm asuming the "Krvta e na vashite ratce" is directed at the current government.

[Liberator of Makedonija]

What do you know about this case LOM?
I've only just stumbled across it.



PS: This was retweeted by Antonio Miloshoski

Marina Gjorgjijovska
@Marina_Gjorgji

Крвта на #Саздо е на вашите раце #ШАРЕНИ
#УБИЈЦИ
#БранитеУбијц

https://twitter.com/Marina_Gjorgji/status/1016250591641825280

I'm asuming the "Krvta e na vashite ratce" is directed at the current government.

Very little, just that he was supposedly attacked by Shkupi fans but there seems to be a bit of misinformation being sent around so I have no idea what the real situation was and I doubt we will know for a fair while.

[maco2envy]

Greece decides to expel Russian diplomats

http://www.ekathimerini.com/230551/article/ekathimerini/news/greece-decides-to-expel-russian-diplomats

The Greek government has decided to expel two Russian diplomats, and ban the entry into Greece of two more, accusing them of intrusion into domestic affairs and illegal acts against Greece’s national security, Kathimerini has learned.

More specifically, Athens is accusing the Russian diplomats of efforts to extract and circulate information, and to bribe Greek state operatives, which have failed.

The case brings to the forefront the tension that seems to have been brewing between Athens and Moscow over the last two years, for reasons that have to do with regional security.

According to high-level Greek diplomatic sources, Athens is calling for the immediate expulsion of two personnel, including the Russian Embassy official Victor Yakovlev, and the expulsion of two more.

The same sources note that the initiative follows numerous coordinated efforts to expand Russian influence in Greece including, among others, the activities of the Imperial Orthodox Palestinian Society.

Despite this latest development, the same sources note that Greece continues, in line with its long-standing policy, to want good cooperative relations with Russia and to promote friendship between the two peoples, but they add that this can only be the case if both countries respect each other’s sovereignty.

They also point to the careful stance Greece took in the Skripal affair when it did not follow other Western countries that expelled Russian diplomats, a position that was welcomed by Moscow.

The same sources note that despite the efforts by the Greek government to keep relations with Russia on a good level, lately various circles that are connected to Russian interests have been meddling in Greek domestic affairs.

Through monetary rewards they are trying to influence municipalities, metropolitans in the Greek Orthodox hierarchy, and to gain influence in Mount Athos.

They point to the effort by Russia to intervene in a sensitive domestic issue like the agreement between Greece and Macedonia over the name, and by doing so negatively affect Greece’s role in the Balkans.

They add that the decision for the expulsions is confined to the specific four persons, and does not change the broader good intentions of Greece toward Russia.

They add that any “responsive moves” by Moscow will only lead to further deterioration of relations. At the same time they point to the fact that no member of the Greek diplomatic and consular services in Russia has behaved outside the strict lines of their mission.

[Soldier of Macedon]

They point to the effort by Russia to intervene in a sensitive domestic issue like the agreement between Greece and Macedonia over the name, and by doing so negatively affect Greece’s role in the Balkans......any “responsive moves” by Moscow will only lead to further deterioration of relations.

Greece has never forgiven Russia for recognising Macedonia by its national name. The fact that Russia seems to generally take the side of Macedonia on the "name issue" is also a point of contention for them. Good. I am sick of watching Greeks pretend they like Russians just because they're Orthodox when most of them probably look down on the latter as a bunch of 'Slavs'. At least all of the current political tensions in Europe make it more difficult for certain worms to conceal their true positions. As for Greece threatening Russia? LOL.

[maco2envy]

It would be interesting to know what type of "influence" Russia was trying to impose in Mount Athos.

[Bill77]

Zaev government now plans to appoint a new SEC. Another step toward a Fake Renaming Referendum. And yet no comment from OSCE_Skopje about SDSM decision to appoint the State electoral commission with just a party line vote.

Just you wait and see Zaev. Next time you walk in a public event, you will get booed and that will teach you.

The Government proposes SEC to be elected without the opposition

http://english.republika.mk/the-gove...he-opposition/

Sorry SOM, Unable to copy and paste the whole (but very short) article for some reason.

[maco2envy]

They must be afraid of losing the referendum for them to be doing this, especially after the NATO celebration turnouts.

[Gocka]

The yes vote has a slight edge, but it looks like they want to make sure.

[Phoenix]

Zaev government now plans to appoint a new SEC. Another step toward a Fake Renaming Referendum. And yet no comment from OSCE_Skopje about SDSM decision to appoint the State electoral commission with just a party line vote...

Zaev is hell bent on pushing through this process, even though the opposition APPEARS to be against the new name and associated changes, the President APPEARS to be dead against it...numerous law and constitutional 'experts' APPEAR to be against it...some argue that more than 50% of the population APPEAR to be against it...and the diaspora is absolutely against it...and yet he’s operating by hook or by crook...fucken amazing...only in the Banana Republic.

[vicsinad]

Заев: Разговараме за прашањето „Дали сте за членство во ЕУ и НАТО со прифаќање на Договорот со Грција“

https://fokus.mk/zaev-razgovarame-za-prashaneto-dali-ste-za-chlenstvo-vo-eu-i-nato-so-prifakane-na-dogovorot-so-grtsija/

[Risto the Great]

As a long time seller of arse (being self employed) ... At least negotiate a little. Something like "are you for IMMEDIATE membership in EU and NATO if we proceed with the bullshit agreement?" Not that I'm supporting it on any level. But surely put we don't all have to look like idiots.

[maco2envy]

Is the referendum legally binding or not?

[vicsinad]

According to the Constitution, over half the voting-age population has to vote to make it legally binding. However, who knows what Zaev will say about it.

[Tomche Makedonche]

According to the Constitution, over half the voting-age population has to vote to make it legally binding. However, who knows what Zaev will say about it.

According to the below article, that aspect, whether it will be a referendum (binding) or a plebiscite (non-binding), is still up for debate

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/arti...ock-07-17-2018

Macedonia Leaders to Hold Showdown Meeting on Referendum

Leaders from Macedonia’s government and opposition are expected to meet on Wednesday to air their conflicting views in an attempt to clear the path to a historic referendum in autumn on changing the country’s name.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has set up a meeting with leaders of the opposition and other parliamentary parties for Wednesday afternoon, aimed at ending the opposition's informal blockade of the planned referendum on the name deal with Greece which is aimed at clearing the country's way towards NATO and EU membership.

“Due to the extraordinary political momentum... all leaders of parties that have more than one MP are invited to attend,” the government said on Tuesday.

The main opposition right wing VMRO DPMNE party - which opposes the name deal with Greece - did not confirm on Tuesday whether its leader, Hristijan Mickovski, will attend.

The main task at hand, Zaev said, will be to iron out views on the referendum date, the referendum question and its character - binding or consultative.

The aim is for all the overdue preparations for the referendum to wrap up by Friday in order not to miss the planned dates of September 23 or October 7, he added.

The opposition VMRO DPMNE party has been dragging its feet for several weeks over the formation of a new election commission, tasked with holding the referendum.

But the opposition was caught off guard on Tuesday when the government proposed and the parliament majority adopted, at the first reading, proposed changes to the Electoral Law in order to circumvent their blockade.

According to the proposed changes, the appointment of the electoral commission will no longer require a two-thirds majority, but a simple majority of the 61 MPs in the 120-seat parliament, which the ruling parties has.

It will also no longer require a preceding session of the parliament's commission on appointments, which is being presided over by the opposition, which has been refusing to set up a session.

The changes caused an uproar among opposition MPs on Tuesday, who accused the government of obstructing democratic procedures.

One principal aim of the historic agreement with Greece, signed on June 17, was to ensure that Greece ended its longstanding blockade of Macedonia’s membership of NATO and the EU.

Under the deal, Macedonia agreed to change its name to Republic of North Macedonia, while Greece would lift its veto.

But for the deal to be fully implemented, Macedonians must show they support it in a referendum that the Social Democrat-led government of Zaev wants to be held in late September or early October so that there is time to adopt the required constitutional changes by the end of the year.

The right-wing opposition however, strongly opposes the name agreement, describing it as ‘treason’ and a ‘defeat for the nation’.

But the VMRO DPMNE party has also never said outright it will not participate in the referendum, saying that this will depend on the details agreed.

If this party decides to boycott the plebiscite, the risk of it failing because of not meeting the required threshold of more than 50 per cent of voters would drastically increase.

[Tomche Makedonche]

On another note, can't help but laugh at the following from the above article:

But the opposition was caught off guard on Tuesday when the government proposed and the parliament majority adopted, at the first reading, proposed changes to the Electoral Law in order to circumvent their blockade.

According to the proposed changes, the appointment of the electoral commission will no longer require a two-thirds majority, but a simple majority of the 61 MPs in the 120-seat parliament, which the ruling parties has.

It will also no longer require a preceding session of the parliament's commission on appointments, which is being presided over by the opposition, which has been refusing to set up a session.

The changes caused an uproar among opposition MPs on Tuesday, who accused the government of obstructing democratic procedures.

Good old Macedonia, where if you're in power and the laws don't suit your needs, you can just go ahead and change them at your leisure without consequence. Macedonians are so lucky they finally got rid of authoritarian government, corruption and a captured state.