Prime Minister Zoran Zaev threw his support behind the draft law on the use of languages which his Government proposed to the Parliament saying that it will be the final open issue from the 2001 Ohrid framework agreement.
"Reading the Ohrid framework agreement, which is transformed in the Constitution, this is the final legalistic issue that is closed in the form of a law. Therefore, when you go to close the open issues after the Ohrid framework agreement, we officially stand as a Government that this is the final open issue. But the Ohrid treaty has a spirit. This spirit is for equal representation of citizens in all institutions, even in the private sector and everywhere", Zaev said at a press conference on Tuesday, when asked if he has assurances from his ethnic Albanian coalition partners in DUI and the Alliance of Albanians that this law will indeed be the final open issue. The Ohrid framework treaty was adopted in 2001, to end the war with ethnic Albanian insurgents.
The debate on the law, which was a condition for DUI and AA to join Zaev's Government, began in the Parliament on Tuesday. When asked why did the Government propose the law in the urgent procedure provided for laws that are meant to align Macedonian laws with those of the European Union, instead of through the regular procedure, Zaev said that this is part of the 3-6-9 plan to reform Macedonia and open EU accession talks.
"It is part of the 3-6-9 plan and therefore it makes sense to put the EU flag on the law. Not only is it part of the 3-6-9 plan, it is part of the national program to align with the European laws. You know how highly Europe values differences which are seen as fundamental EU values and ti is logical that this is happening", answered Zaev.
