Macedonia's Assembly, "Sobranje" - at the proposal of the government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev - decided late on October 19 in a two-thirds majority vote to support the motion for constitutional change under the Macedonia-Greece ("Prespa") agreement that would change the former's name to "The Republic of North Macedonia."
Currently, the country's name official is "the Republic of Macedonia" - but the EU, including Greece, and the UN, recognize it as "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FRYOM)."
The implementation of the agreement is the condition of Athens to unblock Skopje's NATO and EU accession processes, stalled for many years due to the decades-long name dispute between the two nations.
The decision reached in the Macedonian Assembly late on Friday caused a storm of positive reactions in the United States and the EU, but also the dissatisfaction in the ranks of the largest and the most influential opposition party VRMO-DPMNE.
The decision was possible thanks to a number of opposition members of the Assembly ("deputies") switching sides during the preceding two days, and joining the ruling coalition to provide a two-thirds majority.
Some deputies claimed they were pressured to vote in favor of the government initiative, while others said they were pressured to vote against, or miss the Assembly session altogether.
Some local media speculated that those opposition deputies who voted for the government's initiative received money in exchange. The fact remains that four VMRO-DMPNE deputies had been released from the house arrest, where they had been placed as suspects in the Assembly rioting of April 27 this year, when ethnic Albanian Talat Xhaferi was elected as president of this institution to much protest.
On Monday, the weekly Fokus is reporting said that some of those Macedonian deputies who voted to start changing the Constitution to implement the Prespa deal are now under 24-hour police protection, for their own safety.
The article said that they include not only the now former VRMO-DPMNE deputies - that were expelled from the party as soon as they voted in favor of the government's initiative on Friday - but also those from the ruling majority, and they they have all been received threats.
The vote was the first of three stages in the constitutional change process. The second phase will formalize the draft of the amendment, which requires a simple majority of 61 votes in the 120-seat Assembly.
The third phase once again requires a two-thirds majority, i.e. the support of 80 deputies, Beta agency said.
Even when there is an agreement between the parties, Russia refuses to respect it. Greece will not be happy about Russia's stance. Orthodox brotherhood indeed. This should also be an eye-opener for Vucic and friends. Even if they ultimately find an agreement with Kosovo, Russia may still get in the way and not respect the terms of that agreement. Contrary to what they are now saying.
(Reader, 23 October 2018 19:50)
Horrible.. you dont know what means in NATO or EU. Macedonia is rich country, not with money but with soul and sobering. On the other hand, Macedonians voted for Zoran again VMRO. Look now where he has taken the people who voted for him.
I am pissed... Macedonia stands up!!!!
(Danilo, 23 October 2018 14:23)
Could it be more obvious that the West just made a Mockery of Democracy in Macedonia. Name change completely against the will of most of its citizens. Here is what to expect from joining Nato and EU
Western "democracy" at work. Blackmail politicians to get your way.
(Zoran, 22 October 2018 11:07)
Move to russia , North Korea or Cuba . Bye bye
(Who, 22 October 2018 22:24)
===…==
Situation isn't better over there either but Serbs don't claim it to be while Albanians always praise the west for it's "democracy".
That was the point Zoran was making.
(Peggy, 23 October 2018 00:06)
Russians tell others what we do in Russia is our problem. Who cares what they think what North Macedonia does. They're an evil country.
(Avni, 22 October 2018 10:57)
Russians tell others what we do in Russia is our problem. Who cares what they think what North Macedonia does. They're an evil country.
(Avni, 22 October 2018 10:57)
Could it be more obvious that the West just made a Mockery of Democracy in Macedonia. Name change completely against the will of most of its citizens. Here is what to expect from joining Nato and EU
Horrible.. you dont know what means in NATO or EU. Macedonia is rich country, not with money but with soul and sobering. On the other hand, Macedonians voted for Zoran again VMRO. Look now where he has taken the people who voted for him.
I am pissed... Macedonia stands up!!!!
(Danilo, 23 October 2018 14:23)
Western "democracy" at work. Blackmail politicians to get your way.
(Zoran, 22 October 2018 11:07)
Move to russia , North Korea or Cuba . Bye bye
(Who, 22 October 2018 22:24)
===…==
Situation isn't better over there either but Serbs don't claim it to be while Albanians always praise the west for it's "democracy".
That was the point Zoran was making.
(Peggy, 23 October 2018 00:06)
Even when there is an agreement between the parties, Russia refuses to respect it. Greece will not be happy about Russia's stance. Orthodox brotherhood indeed. This should also be an eye-opener for Vucic and friends. Even if they ultimately find an agreement with Kosovo, Russia may still get in the way and not respect the terms of that agreement. Contrary to what they are now saying.
(Reader, 23 October 2018 19:50)
Russians tell others what we do in Russia is our problem. Who cares what they think what North Macedonia does. They're an evil country.
(Avni, 22 October 2018 10:57)
Even when there is an agreement between the parties, Russia refuses to respect it. Greece will not be happy about Russia's stance. Orthodox brotherhood indeed. This should also be an eye-opener for Vucic and friends. Even if they ultimately find an agreement with Kosovo, Russia may still get in the way and not respect the terms of that agreement. Contrary to what they are now saying.
(Reader, 23 October 2018 19:50)
Could it be more obvious that the West just made a Mockery of Democracy in Macedonia. Name change completely against the will of most of its citizens. Here is what to expect from joining Nato and EU
Western "democracy" at work. Blackmail politicians to get your way.
(Zoran, 22 October 2018 11:07)
Move to russia , North Korea or Cuba . Bye bye
(Who, 22 October 2018 22:24)
===…==
Situation isn't better over there either but Serbs don't claim it to be while Albanians always praise the west for it's "democracy".
That was the point Zoran was making.
(Peggy, 23 October 2018 00:06)
Horrible.. you dont know what means in NATO or EU. Macedonia is rich country, not with money but with soul and sobering. On the other hand, Macedonians voted for Zoran again VMRO. Look now where he has taken the people who voted for him.
I am pissed... Macedonia stands up!!!!
(Danilo, 23 October 2018 14:23)