SKOPJE – Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov has decided not to sign the decree promulgating the law ratifying the Final agreement for the settlement of the differences as described in the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 817 (1193) and 845 (1993), the termination of the Interim Accord of 1995, and the establishment of a strategic partnership between the parties, MIA learns.
“I have no mandate to sign the bill promulgating the law. One of the pillars of my election programme back in 2014 was to not accept a change of the Constitution towards changing the country’s constitutional name. I do not accept ideas or proposals that would endanger the Macedonian national identity, the individuality of the Macedonian nation, Macedonian language and the Macedonian model of coexistence. I was elected President based on this programme,” reads the decision, MIA reports.
“The agreement has no constitutional ground and is not ratified in compliance with the Constitution. Article 118 of the Constitution reads that international agreements ratified in line with the Constitution are part of the internal legal order,” he adds.
He further elaborates that the agreement does not comply with Articles 51, 118 and 119 of the Macedonian Constitution.
The Parliament ratified the name agreement on June 20. In case of a presidential veto, the law goes back to the Parliament for a second vote, requiring an approval of least 61 our of 120 MPs. If endorsed, the law is again forwarded to the President, who is obliged by the Constitution to sign it.