The president of North Macedonia and candidate for a second term, Stevo Pendarovski, when asked during his pre-election rally in the city of Vegeli, how he comments on the announcements of VMRO-DPMNE presidential candidate Gordana Jankulovska about the possible cancellation of the Prespa Agreement, said that “we will leave from NATO if the Prespa Agreement is annulled, we will be excluded from the organization”.
Stevo Pendarovski noted that if Gordana Silianovska’s candidacy believes that the country alone can guarantee the security of its citizens and its borders in a different and better way, then it should say so.
“However, I believe this is a dangerous adventure,” added Stevo Pendarovski.
In addition, Stevo Pendarovski characterized a possible cancellation of the Prespa Agreement as “the greatest political folly and at the same time a tragedy”, because as he said “we will be left all alone. It is no coincidence that all political leaderships have been systematically pushing for NATO membership for 30 years, the goal was to obtain permanent security.”
It is noted that in the election campaign of the opposition, in view of the presidential and parliamentary elections in North Macedonia, some references are made to the Prespa Agreement and its implementation.
The candidate of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE in the presidential elections, Gordana Silianovska, considered that the issue with the Prespa Agreement remains “open”, while she, as she said, will not use the new name of the country, North Macedonia.
Gordana Silianovska had expressed the same views during the last presidential elections held in May 2019, as a VMRO-DPMNE candidate. In those elections, Silianovska was defeated by the current president of the country and candidate of the ruling Social Democratic Party, Stevo Pendarovski.
Seven candidates are participating in the presidential elections to be held on April 24. In order to be elected president of the Republic of North Macedonia in the first round, he must receive more than 50%, which is almost impossible, so there will be a second round, on May 8, between the first two of the first round. The second round of the presidential elections will coincide with the parliamentary elections in the country.
It is considered almost certain that the candidate of VMRO-DPMNE, Gordana Silianovska, will go to the second round of the presidential elections, with the most likely opponent being Stevo Pendarovski.
USA: North Macedonia to observe the spirit of the Prespa Agreement
In the meantime, a representative of the State Department told the local edition of the Voice of America that the US expects North Macedonia to uphold the spirit of the Prespa Agreement and that the public debate be based on facts.
“Just as the United States remains committed to the Prespa Agreement, we expect North Macedonia to uphold that spirit and for the public debate to remain fact-based and rooted in a commitment to North Macedonia’s future in the EU,” said a State Department spokesman when asked if the US was concerned about possible undermining of the Prespa Agreement.
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