Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov Defied Thursday the EU high Representative for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini who called him to entrust the mandate to Zaev, as the constitution says.
“I asked the President to reflect on the way forward, to reverse his decision in the interest of all citizens of this country; and as the Constitution says, I quote: “entrust the mandate to a candidate belonging to the party which has the majority in the Assembly.”,” Mogherini said, speaking to reporters following the long meeting with President.
But, in a press release issued later by Macedonian Presidency Ivanov said that, according to the Constitution, he will not appoint a mandate holder “anybody who negotiates on a platform of a foreign country that is used to blackmail Macedonia, to jeopardize its sovereignty, independence and unitary character.”
“This platform presented post-election violates the Constitution and the Ohrid Framework Agreement and puts Macedonia in a subservient position and in a position of dependence toward a foreign country. The citizens voted for European reforms and not of a foreign platform revealed post elections,” the Presidency, quoted by “Mia” said, referring to Albania.
But, Mogherini said that Macedonia is not exposed to external threats but to some serious internal problems and it is up to the leaders of this country to take responsibility and to bring the country out of this.
The issue of Albanian language becoming official language in Macedonia has caused rifts between parties in the country. Former Prime Minister and VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikolla Gruevski and President Ivanov refuse the language saying its Tirana’s agenda, despite some 25 per cent of Macedonia’s population being Albanian nationals.
SDMS leader Zoran Zaev enjoys Albanian parties support to form the new government on the condition of Albanian language becoming official language together with Macedonian. He is waiting the mandate to form the new government, but the President is refusint to entrust the mandate./tvklan.al
