“Although independent, it appears that Macedonia is still a slave to the divisions; although it is an independent and sovereign country, solutions to internal issues are still sought abroad; and although it is united in the ethnic and confessional diversity, it is still deeply divided,” said the President of Macedonia George Ivanov in his address from Mechkin Kamen in Krushevo, at the celebration of the Republic Day- August 2. Mr. Ivanov stated that “Macedonia is once again facing a pivotal change.”
-The string that ties all of our Manifestos and all of our Ilindens is the call for unity towards accomplishing a higher objective. To those who fought on Ilinden, that objective was freedom. To the patriots of ASNOM, the purpose was to build a state. For us today, it is independence and sovereignty. For our children, for the young, it is going to be the prosperity and well-being of a European Republic of Macedonia. However, today we are behaving as if we forgot the lesson that has cost us dearly. We behave as if we forgot our accomplishments. Our freedom, our independence and statehood were won when we were united. Also, everything that we have lost before, every perspective, chance and opportunity, we have lost in disunity- stated Ivanov.
The President pointed that the dissociation is “consequence of the blockades to the European and Atlantic integrations,” and added that “in only six years we have had three political crisis, each one more serious and more deep than the one before.”
Ivanov said that because of the protracted absence of a political dialog “there was a serious danger that we let the European perspective out of hand.”
– More than 80 percent of the citizens support Macedonia’s membership to NATO and the EU. Not one political party can gain as many votes at the moment as there are people who support the NATO and the EU. Because to the citizens, NATO means security and the EU means prosperity. Together they mean peace- said Ivanov, adding that the citizens of Macedonia are expecting of their representatives in the Government and in the opposition, to enable them a better life in a European Macedonia.
He expressed gratitude to the engagement of the EU and the United States towards resolving the political crisis, pointing that “their recommendations must be understood in all seriousness,” and called on the political parties to respect the Agreement.
– It is sad that we have found ourselves in the situation where others are caring more about us than ourselves. Why can we not learn that the solutions that we reach ourselves, through dialog, in the institutions that we created ourselves and whose representatives we have chosen in a democratic manner, are the best for us? That is the idea of sovereignty. The political crisis reminded us about our strategic goals. It also reminded us that with sovereignty comes responsibility. And we are behaving very irresponsibly- said Ivanov.
The President also proclaimed that it is “high time” for us to be appointed a date when we begin negotiating our membership to the EU. “The name issue should be placed as the 35h chapter in the negotiations.”
– It is high time that NATO should respect the verdict of the International court of justice and hand us the long-deserved invitation to join the organization- said Ivanov.
He emphasized that the events in Kumanovo on May 9, as well as the problem with the migrants, caused the need for reforms in defense and security.
– Just like Kumanovo reminded us that we must keep our peaceful coexistence, the migrants reminded us that we are part of a corridor. This is why, as the President and Commander in chief, I am involved in the initiating of reforms in the security and defense forces. It is inevitable that there is further cooperation between these important institutions and better transparence and civil control over the National Assembly. The sovereignty of the state is kept at its borders- said Ivanov.
