Orhan Murtezani began his duties today as Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of North Macedonia to NATO.

In a public statement, he described the position as a new stage in his career, but also as a continuation of his commitment to strengthening the country’s role within the Euro-Atlantic family.

“A new position, the same responsibility,” Murtezani wrote, underscoring that his objective is for North Macedonia to remain a secure state, a reliable ally, and a country with a strong voice and a distinctive contribution to NATO.

He noted that, at a time when security cannot be considered guaranteed, NATO membership entails not only privileges but also responsibilities.

Murtezani emphasized that this marks a new professional chapter for him, while his commitment remains the same: for North Macedonia to be secure, a reliable partner, and an active state in the Euro-Atlantic family.

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Western Balkan carriers will wait until September 1 for the European Union’s position on the problem they are facing. If the decision is not acceptable, they warn that they will stage protests and block border crossings.

This position emerged from today’s working group meeting, attended by representatives of the transport sector from Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Biljana Muratovska of MAKAM TRANS said that following the protest held in January, the European Union had promised to supplement its visa strategy, but according to her, that commitment is not being honored.

“And this is the strangest thing: they acknowledge that we are professionals, that we are not migrants, that we are not criminals, yet they continue to count our days. This is discrimination, because all the documents signed bilaterally with the European Union state that there should be free movement of labor and free movement of goods, while we face obstacles,” Biljana Muratovska of MAKAM TRANS stressed.

Serbia’s representative, Nexho Mandiq, said that time spent in Schengen Area countries should be calculated in hours rather than days. As stated, a stay of just 5 minutes cannot be recorded as a full day.

Mandiq added that some carriers are already avoiding trips and border crossings because they fear they could be deported or fined, Zhurnal.mk reports.

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More than 10,000 opposition amendments have blocked the Assembly’s adoption of the new Electoral Code. Efforts to resolve the issue are expected to gain momentum in September, while the parties continue to hold opposing positions.

VMRO-DPMNE expects the new Minister of Justice, Jeton Shasivari, to intervene through talks with the SDSM. The latter opposes the possibility of the diaspora voting electronically. At the same time, the European Union is calling for the law to be adopted.

University professor Bashkim Selmani believes that the political parties must reach an agreement on this important European requirement in order to demonstrate to Europe not only the conduct of a fair electoral process, but also the functioning of the rule of law.

According to Selmani, the EU aims for candidate countries to hold credible and competitive elections, have functioning democratic institutions, equality among political entities, and transparency in their financing, which is currently lacking. He also stressed the need for transparency directly linked to free voting and European standards. For this reason, the EU considers electoral reform an essential part of consolidating the state and the rule of law, as well as ensuring the functioning of democracy and democratic institutions, with the aim of advancing European integration.

Selmani emphasized that the Electoral Code represents not only a law defining the organization of elections, but also a contract of trust between citizens and the state. According to him, fair rules produce fair results and strengthen democratic legitimacy, which is assessed not only on election day, but also through the quality of the rules that guarantee the process.

However, the possibility that an agreement may be delayed has not been ruled out. September is also expected to bring the Constitutional Court’s assessment of an initiative by the “Left” party concerning the financing of political parties’ campaigns. The electoral model with six constituencies also remains a contentious issue.

Professor Bashkim Selmani said that the risk of postponement exists, as political differences over important issues, including diaspora voting, the electoral model, and several other provisions, have yet to be overcome. He recalled that in recent weeks there had been reports of a slowdown in the parliamentary procedure as a result of the large number of amendments submitted.

The Assembly failed to adopt the new Electoral Code last month as part of the ten-point reform agenda. No new deadline has currently been set for reaching an agreement, while OSCE recommendations call for legal changes not to be made too close to elections.

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The European Union has stressed that support for clarifying the fate of missing persons remains a particularly important part of the dialogue conducted under its mediation.

On July 28, forensic specialists from EULEX’s Forensic Medicine Team assisted their counterparts from the Kosovo Institute of Forensic Medicine in assessing a site in Zubin Potok. The aim was to determine whether an unmarked grave containing missing persons might be located there, a European Commission spokesperson confirmed.

The European Commission spokesperson clarified that EULEX does not conduct criminal investigations of any kind, as responsibility for them lies with the Kosovo authorities.

According to him, the Joint Commission on Missing Persons was established within the framework of the dialogue, based on the 2023 Declaration on Missing Persons. The commission is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the declaration, contributing to clarifying the fate of those who remain missing, and providing families and relatives with answers about their loved ones.

He reiterated that support for shedding light on the fate of those still considered missing from the conflict remains one of the most important elements of the European Union-facilitated dialogue.

The EU also announced that, in support of these efforts, it has provided funding to the Kosovo Institute of Forensic Medicine.

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Bujar Osmani, deputy leader of the Democratic Union for Integration, has reacted to the appointment of Arben Fetai as the new representative in Brussels, raising questions about the necessity of the position.

He stressed that North Macedonia already has a Permanent Mission to the European Union, headed by an ambassador and consisting of dozens of diplomats who work with European institutions every day.

According to Osmani, it remains unclear what the new representative’s mandate will be and what duties he will perform that cannot be carried out by the ambassador, the Permanent Mission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of European Affairs.

The DUI deputy leader said that establishing a parallel political channel in Brussels diminishes the importance of the state mission, undermines the ambassador’s authority and creates confusion over who represents the country before the institutions of the European Union.

Osmani wrote that the European integration process requires strong institutions, a clearly defined hierarchy and professional diplomacy. He added that public positions should not be created for political appointments while existing institutions are treated merely as decoration.

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Michalis Rokas, the European Union ambassador to North Macedonia, stated today that the Union is fully committed to the country’s European future and leaves no room for doubt that it will be part of the EU. Speaking before the National Council for European Integration, in a session dedicated to key aspects of the process, Rokas underlined: “You should have no doubt that the European Commission is fully determined to see your country as a full member of the EU.”

The ambassador noted that the enlargement process is experiencing a key moment, with positive developments on a daily basis. He recalled the recent intergovernmental conferences with Albania, Ukraine, Moldova, and Montenegro, where new negotiating chapters were opened and closed. According to him, this marks a new phase in the enlargement policy, with particularly noticeable progress in the case of Montenegro.

Rokas also mentioned that discussions within the EU have included an analysis of the costs of enlargement. A study based on the example of Montenegro shows that the expenses would be less than one euro per day per citizen, which proves the financial sustainability of the process.

The ambassador stressed that France and Germany have been the promoters of this initiative, which aims to accelerate accession and the fulfillment of necessary conditions, while at the same time candidate countries gradually gain more access to the EU’s internal market. “This is precisely what we are working on in parallel in this process,” he added.

Speaking about North Macedonia, Rokas assessed that the country has demonstrated the ability to implement reforms. He welcomed the commitment of the Assembly and the adoption of a series of laws, adding that with the assistance of the EU Delegation, the institutions can successfully prepare for membership. “Without a doubt, the country has shown that it possesses the capacity for reforms. I welcome the work completed in Parliament, especially for the laws adopted in this chamber. With the support of the Delegation, we believe we will prepare you for EU membership,” Rokas stated.

Finally, the ambassador emphasized that there are three key areas in which the country must maintain full commitment, singling out the rule of law. He warned that there is no room for compromise in these spheres, because they constitute the fundamental criteria upon which the entire membership process is built.

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According to Mickoski, criticism may continue, but it will not prevent him from speaking publicly about the situation in the judiciary, regardless of the number of reports published. He also referred to the request mentioned in the report to increase the budget, stressing that the judiciary and the prosecution will not receive more financial resources.

“It is my duty to openly call on judges and prosecutors to deliver justice, and I will continue to comment in that direction, no matter how many reports they want to publish. Yes, I will continue until we see progress in delivering justice. That is the first thing; secondly, they will not receive more money, they will not receive money, even though the Law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office also requires that an amount of 0.5% of the Budget be allocated. They will not receive it because they have not deserved it,” Mickoski said.

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In a post on his Facebook profile, Mickoski said he was convinced that the pace of implementation would put the country ahead of many others, despite attempts to slow the process through the blocking of the Electoral Code.

“Our determination remains unchanged; reforms will continue because they are in the interest of the state, institutions and citizens,” Mickoski wrote.

He also announced that he would attend the celebration of the birthday of the VMRO-DPMNE Municipal Committee in Bitola.

President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, like the prime minister, has also said that she expects a positive response from the EU, assessing that North Macedonia is a leading country in implementing reforms.

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In an interview with Kanal 5 television, she said that on September 30 the European Commission will present for the first time the model on which the continuation of the enlargement process will be based. In October, she said, the European Council is also expected to discuss these issues.

“These are precisely the important moments for us to proceed with the possible steps on which agreement is being reached,” the president said.

Regarding relations with Bulgaria, Siljanovska-Davkova said that her recent contacts with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev had created opportunities for more intensive dialogue and for finding joint solutions.

“The conclusion is that a great deal of commitment and goodwill is needed to move forward. We must invest jointly to reach a solution,” she said.

She stressed that Bulgaria presents a unified position in foreign policy, regardless of its internal political differences.

“We are truly an interesting phenomenon, unlike Bulgaria, which speaks everywhere with one voice, even when it is not right,” Siljanovska-Davkova said.

Referring to European integration, the president said that constitutional amendments do not, in themselves, guarantee that North Macedonia will not face further obstacles on its path to the European Union.

According to her, the reason for blockades that may emerge later lies in the Second Protocol between Skopje and Sofia, elements of which are part of the negotiating framework and the EU conclusions.

“The path will certainly open at some point, but then another obstacle will emerge. The source of the obstacles must be removed, and that is Protocol 2,” the president stressed.

She reiterated that North Macedonia is seeking a solution that would avoid the bilateralisation of the European integration process. According to her, the European Union has mechanisms to prevent blockades based on identity issues.

Siljanovska-Davkova noted that no one can guarantee that a member state will not impose a new veto in the future. However, she said the EU can establish rules to ensure that the European integration process is not blocked by issues unrelated to membership criteria.

She added that the country remains committed to the reform agenda and is prepared to move at the pace of states advancing more quickly towards European Union membership.

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In meetings with the Mayor of the Municipality of Kičevo, Aleksandar Jovanovski, and the municipal council, the talks focused on the benefits of EU membership, as well as the impact of the Union’s financial assistance in this region.

Asked by journalists about the lack of activities and facilities for young people in this area, Rokas said the issue should be addressed jointly and through an inclusive approach. According to him, otherwise the wave of migration will continue to grow.

“It is true that if young people have no other options, if they have no cinema, no sports halls, no place where they can have fun, other than casinos and betting shops, I think they are left with no choice but to migrate, which is another very major social issue. The government must work to find solutions and respond to this. The European Union provides support through youth measures. It also tries to ensure quality education for young people. The European Union works with the Ministry of Education with the aim of preparing good laws that will also create good conditions for education. We also have ERASMUS+ here, which also helps young entrepreneurs open various start-ups,” said EU Ambassador Mihalis Rokas.

For his part, the Mayor of the Municipality of Kičevo, Aleksandar Jovanovski, said Rokas’s presence sends a clear message of cooperation and support.

“With his very presence, Mr. Rokas brought me a message, and the EU is also sending a message to us as a nation, as a state, as a municipality: an outstretched hand for joint cooperation, the advancement of our relations, mutual assistance, and the improvement of living conditions in our municipality and in our country in general,” emphasized the Mayor of the Municipality of Kičevo, Aleksandar Jovanovski.

EU Ambassador Rokas’s stay in Kičevo is part of an informational initiative aimed at bringing the European Union and the country’s integration process closer to local communities. As part of this visit, he also held a meeting with representatives of civil society and took part in an open discussion with the citizens of Kičevo. /rtvm2

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