SKOPLJE SKOPLJE, June 28 (Hina) - Robert Badinter, a French expert on constitutional law and member of a European Union arbitration commission, who has been visiting Skoplje since Tuesday, on Wednesday met Macedonian Prime Minister
Ljubco Georgijevski and held separate meetings with representatives of the Social Democratic Alliance, the Democratic Party of Albanians and the Party of Democratic Prosperity. A statement issued by the prime minister's cabinet said Badinter believed the Macedonian constitution was one of the most democratic constitutions in Europe. Social Democratic Party president Nikola Popovski said Badinter believed Macedonia should not give up the civil and unitary character of the state because introducing democratic mechanisms based on ethnicity was not in line with European standards. Party of Democratic Prosperity president Muhamed Halili said the meeting focused on some constitutional solutions and
SKOPLJE, June 28 (Hina) - Robert Badinter, a French expert on
constitutional law and member of a European Union arbitration
commission, who has been visiting Skoplje since Tuesday, on
Wednesday met Macedonian Prime Minister Ljubco Georgijevski and
held separate meetings with representatives of the Social
Democratic Alliance, the Democratic Party of Albanians and the
Party of Democratic Prosperity.
A statement issued by the prime minister's cabinet said Badinter
believed the Macedonian constitution was one of the most democratic
constitutions in Europe. Social Democratic Party president Nikola
Popovski said Badinter believed Macedonia should not give up the
civil and unitary character of the state because introducing
democratic mechanisms based on ethnicity was not in line with
European standards.
Party of Democratic Prosperity president Muhamed Halili said the
meeting focused on some constitutional solutions and the two sides
were able to bring their views closer about some issues but, he
added, Badinter's views mostly do not correspond with ours and the
reality in Macedonia. Badinter represents the French concept of the
functioning of the state, which is not applicable in our
conditions. We want a solution which will include the equality of
the Albanian language in all institutions as well as the equality of
Albanians in relation to Macedonians, Halili said.
Badinter is expected to hold another meeting with all participants
in the Macedonian political dialogue. They will be joined today by
Max van der Stoel and Francois Leotard, the newly-appointed EU
permanent representative in Macedonia.
A group of four Albanians from the village of Radusa was arrested
yesterday on suspicion of wounding five police officers in last
week's attacks on Macedonian forces and opening fire on a passenger
train travelling from Skoplje to Kicevo.
Albanian guerrillas from the village of Nikustak continued
attacking Macedonian forces during the entire day on Wednesday. It
seems that Nikustak, where the Kosovo Force (KFOR) is believed to
have transferred terrorists from Aracinovo, is the new stronghold
of Albanian extremists, Macedonian Television reported.
(hina) rml