The working groups of the political parties currently working on the Przino Agreement will enjoy some rest until the Belgian expert and facilitator in the negotiations, Peter van Hoyt returns on Monday as Peter van Houte will be spending the weekend in his native Belgium.
At the beginning of next week everyone returns to the negotiating table and will again be discussing topics such as the media and election laws.
Yesterday, talks on regulation of the media field already began at the Deputies Club in Skopje,
At yesterdays meeting Mr Richard Bailey, an expert in his field held a presentation on the British Broadcasting Service (BBC) a presentation for the English media service “BBC”. He offered solutions on how to handle the political pressure being on the media in Macedonia.
At the meeting of the working group were representatives of AJM and MAN. They presented their requests and expectations from the negotiations. The President of AJM Naser Selmani said that the Association had five suggestions on how to reach a solution to the chaotic situation in the media. Among other things, he called for the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Pesevski, a change in the selection process of program management of the public service and the to put an end to political commercials and political advertising on private television stations.
Ivona Talevska from MAN noted that their association had several requirements. They sought an increase in the punishment for people responsible for smearing campaigns against journalists insult and changing the method financing of public media service. She added that portals should also be involved and protected by existing laws which apply to the media.
The chairman of working group from the SDSM, Robert Popovski, said that the question of the media should soon be resolved.
“The situation with the media is crucial in holding fair and democratic election. So we are adamant that the issue will be settled by October the15th, for the media to have enough time to settle down before the elections scheduled for April 2016. If this is not resolved, we will not be able to get away from their rosy outlook on life”, said Mr Popovski.
Working groups, except for the media, will simultaneously discuss the issues related to the elections or who and how will be selected as member in the SEC (State Election Commission), decision-making in this committee, the vote of the Diaspora and the ‘clean-up’ of the electoral list.
So far it is only known that the parties agreed on the election of members of the SEC and accepted the proposal, under which they will choose officials by using SDSM’s formula “three plus three plus three”, which means three members will be proposed by the government, three from the opposition, and three experts who will be elected by a two-third majority in Parliament.
Political parties are still far from achieving any solution as to the Diaspora’s vote. The issue of the Diaspora left parties firm, and not prepared to budge from their view point. VMRO-DPMNE wants the current principle of the Diaspora voting in three constituencies to remain the same, while SDSM requires that they should be able to vote, but with the same voting rights as the voters living in Macedonia.
Political parties managed to reach the deadline for the law and the selection of a Special Public Prosecutor.
