Macedonian referendum

US official voices hope North Macedonia will proceed with EU membership bid

A senior US State Department official on Friday voiced hope that North Macedonia will be able to approve politically difficult constitutional changes that would help its bid to join the European Union.

Gabriel Escobar, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Balkan policy, said during talks in the capital Skopje that the US strongly backs the country's EU accession bid.

Towards the EU: North Macedonia starts the Debate for including Bulgarians in the Constitution

With 70 votes "for", 47 "against" and not a single "abstention", the Macedonian deputies adopted the agenda of their 123rd meeting with a single item - the changes to include Bulgarians in the constitution, which should open the way to negotiations with the European Union.

No One in the Macedonian Government is Satisfied by the Compromise with Bulgaria

"It makes no sense to hold a referendum when, regardless of the result, the opposition VMRO-DPMNE does not plan to vote. Only one referendum makes sense - whether you are in favor of EU membership or not, all the other questions are a way of getting around the only real question. No one in the government is satisfied with the compromise that was made with Bulgaria".

North Macedonia Opposition Chief: Bulgarian Guarantees Needed for Constitutional Change

North Macedonia's opposition would support a constitutional change as a concession to Bulgaria, but only if Bulgaria guarantees that is all it wants to end the two countries' dispute, the head of the VMRO-DPMNE party, Hristijan Mickoski, told BIRN.

North Macedonia’s Opposition Claims New Parliament Majority

Opposition leader Hirstijan Mickoski's right-wing VMRO DPMNE party, their Albanian coalition partners Alliance for Albanians and Alternative, alongside the small opposition Levica party, and the ethnic Albanian BESA party, who has just defected from the current government ranks, came together to form a new majority in North Macedonia's parliament.

North Macedonia Must Avoid Snap Elections: Albanian Party Leader

Bilall Kasami, leader of ethnic Albanian party Besa (Pledge of Honour), told BIRN in an interview the day after he was confirmed as the mayor of Tetovo that North Macedonia should avoid new snap elections after his coalition government partner Social Democratic Prime Minister Zoran Zaev resigned following his party's poor performance in the weekend's municipal polls.

North Macedonia Opposition Demands from PM Zoran Zaev to Reveal Details of Talks with Bulgaria

North Macedonia's largest opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, has set up roadblocks in Skopje and about 10 other cities across the country, demanding the government release details of a roadmap being negotiated between Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Bulgaria, Skopje Diem reported.

North Macedonia’s Premier Ready to Bend Knees to Sofia But Not Sacrifice Identity and Language

North Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said he is ready to beg for a solution in Sofia, but is not prepared to sacrifice the Macedonian identity and language, adding that if the dialogue with Bulgaria is successful, talks may be held as early as 23 June.

US Ambassador to North Macedonia Wants to See EU Accession Talks As Soon As Possible

"At a meeting with [Prime Minister] Zoran Zaev I emphasised that we value our bilateral partnership with North Macedonia and want to see EU accession talks as quickly as possible. We see a positive way forward and are pleased with the ongoing conversation by both Bulgaria and North Macedonia to move North Macedonia EU accession forward," tweeted US Ambassador Kate Byrnes.

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