site.btaNorth Macedonia President Expects Her Country's European Partners to Unblock Accession Negotiation Process with EU

Addressing the UN General Assembly here on Thursday, North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova called for understanding and a fair unblocking of the negotiation process for her country's membership in the European Union, rejection of double standards and respect for the principles and values enshrined in the EU's basic documents. "The unification of Europe is like an unfinished symphony without us. The European Union is not only a political system, but also a political philosophy that most Macedonian and Balkan political actors and citizens believe in. Integration is a powerful motive and a key force for democratic development", she said, adding that North Macedonia has been waiting for the start of negotiations with the EU since 2005, "encouraged by international representatives with the motive: 'only this condition', 'only this concession', 'only this constitutional amendment'".

"As a professor of constitutional law and as a former member of the Venice Commission, I know that what is legal is not always just and legitimate, because in the case of my country, it was not acted in accordance with international and national law, i.e. the right of self-determination of every people, guaranteed by the UN Charter, was 'forgotten'," Siljanovska said.

 She recalled that "as one of the six constituent Yugoslav republics," North Macedonia participated in the creation of the UN, and when it was admitted to the UN in 1993, under the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, it faced "great injustice and still faces it." 

 "In 2018, the Prespa Agreement was signed and ratified, followed by an unsuccessful referendum and constitutional changes that saw the Republic of Macedonia formally and legally become the Republic of North Macedonia. But not only did EU membership not materialise, but Macedonian citizens now face a new, again 'last condition', for another constitutional change, not for membership, but for the start of negotiations, and for the second time," Siljanovska told the UN General Assembly.

In her words, "where there is a veto, there is often no justice", and the veto itself has become a tool for the bilateralisation of European integration. 

"In the conditions of conflict on European soil, the stagnation of European integration not only demotivates Macedonian citizens and slows down reforms, but also destabilises the region of Southeastern Europe, leaving room for the penetration of malignant influences," she argued.