Monday, 8 May 2017
SEPARATE MEETINGS OF PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER XHAFERI WITH AMERICAN AND FRENCH AMBASSADOR
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Talat Xhaferi, held an official meeting with US Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Jess Baily who extended cordial congratulations to Mr. Xhaferi on being elected President of the Assembly, seeing this as a first and crucial step towards consolidating and stabilizing the political situation in the Republic of Macedonia. In terms of achieving this goal, Ambassador Baily emphasized that the US Embassy works in coordination with the EU delegation to the Republic of Macedonia since activities to follow are crucial for the future of the country.
Ambassador Baily underscored the formation of a new Government as the next step in the line of other important steps to follow for the future of the Republic of Macedonia, while Parliament Speaker, Mr. Xhaferi informed about the measures taken in this context regarding the procedure prescribed by the Constitution, the Law on the Assembly and the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, and he stressed his obligation to act responsible and to carry out all his competences after having received a proposal on the composition of the government and the working program thereof.
The two interlocutors exchanged constructive opinions on other current and sensitive issues related to the deplorable events of 27 April, the newly arisen circumstances and certain perceptions upon assuming the position of President of the Assembly, the modalities for solving and overcoming those circumstances as well as the place, role and function of all state institutions, especially the top three institutions in the upcoming period.
They voiced their expectation that a sense of high political awareness and responsibility will prevail on both sides over certain imposed and provoked conditions in order to ease tensions and to pave a calm way towards establishing the democratic processes in the country.
During talks, special emphasis was placed on the expectations of both the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and the international community that the country will continue on its path towards the EU and NATO as soon as possible, and the Ambassador underlined the unreserved support of the US in this context.
In addition, the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Talat Xhaferi held an official meeting with French Ambassador to Macedonia, Mr. Christian Thimonier, who on behalf of the President of the French National Assembly and on behalf of the President and members of the Parliamentary Friendship group with the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia extended cordial congratulations on being elected Parliamentary Speaker. He also re-affirmed his belief that this is the first of many future steps towards finally forming a new government as the highest democratic expression of the majority of citizens in the Republic of Macedonia.
Interlocutors shared their views on potential objectionable steps in this line, where Mr. Xhaferi re-affirmed his position that the place for having debates and facing the political opinions and stances is the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia since it is a legitimate body of the Macedonian citizens, and all other positions expressed by representatives of high state institutions must not impede the completion of the already commenced democratic processes for which no alternatives exist. In this line, the procedure for forming a new government will mark the start of the responsibilities of the new Parliament Speaker, pursuant to the Constitution, the laws and the Rules of Procedures of the Assembly.
Interlocutors also exchanged opinions on the current position of the Republic of Macedonia at a regional and international level, where it was underlined that France will continue to offer strong support for the Republic of Macedonia on its path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration.