After the announcements of the Government for the change of the national crest, public speculates that it is an introduction for the change of the flag as well.
The Government denied this and said that so far it was not discussed, but they didn’t disclose whether there are such plans for the future.
– We haven’t talked about it – said Government spokesman Aleksandar Gjorgjiev. Asked whether the Government has plans to discuss that in the future, Gjorgjiev briefly commented “I already told you the answer.”
Heraldry experts of Macedonian Heraldry Society (MHS), who welcomed the change of the Coat of Arms, feel that the flag should not be changed. Petar Gajdov, vice president of the Society, believes that the flag shouldn’t be changed along with the Coat of Arms.
– My personal opinion is that there is no need to change the state flag along with the Coat of Arms. So far, through public debate and explanations by our colleagues, as well as professors and historians, it was repeatedly explained the need to change the Coat of Arms. Hence, the focus is only directed towards the Coat of Arms and it was discussed from expert point of view, as well as from aspect of heraldry standards – says Gajdov.
His colleague and president of MHS, Jovan Jonovski, who said that it would be too much if the flag is also changed, has the same opinion.
– We already changed the flag once, and I think now there is no need for that – Jonovski told us.
The new Coat of Arms will be composed of an angry red lion on a yellow shield.
Macedonian flag was changed on 5th of October 1995.
The Government at the time entrusted architect Miroslav Grchev to prepare designs for the new national flag. The Assembly didn’t discuss the Coat of Arms, although it was in the plan, and the last proposal of Grchev, i.e. the design where the sun rays are on the entire surface of the flag, was accepted for a new flag.
In the period from 1991 to 1995, the Vergina Sun was used as a symbol of the flag, on which Greece vehemently opposed.
The first draft of the flag of Macedonia, i.e. the one with the Vergina Sun, was submitted to the Assembly by Todor Petrov on 6th of August 1992.
This flag is still used by the Macedonian community and organizations in Macedonia and abroad.
