Mogherini: All main political parties in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia need to define the way forward

The Constitutional Court ruling in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia offers a new opportunity to address a number of serious issues at the heart of the country’s prolonged political crisis, which needs to be done in an inclusive way, by all main political parties, stressed High Representative Federica Mogherini i and Commissioner Johannes Hahn i today.

“The Constitutional Court’s ruling clears the way for Parliament to reconvene and to cancel the 5 June elections,” Mogherini and Hahn said in a statement. “The way forward must be defined by all main political parties together, since it is only a mature dialogue, inclusiveness and commitment to democratic principles and to the necessary reforms and their implementation that will bring the country back on a Euro-Atlantic path.”

They called on all parties to preserve and respect last year’s Przino Agreement, underlining that it remains the best way to move the country out of the current crisis.

“Work should continue to prepare for credible elections as well as on the urgent reform priorities, through an inclusive process.”

Mogherini and Hahn urged political parties to address the serious concerns about President Ivanov's pardoning of a number of officials, calling for the April 12 pardons to be rescinded to preserve the principle of accountability, counteract serious concerns about impunity and avoid selective justice. It is a fundamental democratic principle that all citizens should be equal before the law.

They stressed that the parties must guarantee full support to the Special Prosecutor’s Office, whose work is central to the Przino Agreement.

“All sides should avoid interventions that risk undermining years of efforts within the country and by the international community to strengthen the rule of law. We call on all parties to find a common agreement that serves all citizens. Approaches which would not respect this principle are something that the EU cannot support and stand behind. An engaged opposition and civil society play critical roles in shaping and ensuring the government’s commitment to needed reforms,” Mogherini and Hahn concluded.