Pendarovski says that if the Prespa agreement is cancelled, North Macedonia will withdraw from NATO

President of North Macedonia and candidate for a second term, Stevo Pendarovski, when asked during his pre-election rally in the town of Vegeli, how he would comment on the announcements of VMRO-DPMNE presidential candidate Gordana Jankulovska about the possible cancellation of Prespa. The agreement said, “We will exit NATO. If the Prespa agreement is cancelled, we will be excluded from… the organization”.

Stevo Pendarovski pointed out that if Gordana Seljanovska's candidates believe that the country alone is capable of ensuring the security of its citizens and its borders in a different and better way, then it should say so.

“However, I think this is a dangerous adventure,” Stevo Pendarovski added.

In addition, Stevo Pendarovski described the possible cancellation of the Prespa Agreement as “the greatest political folly and a tragedy at the same time”, because, as he said, “we will be left alone. It is no coincidence that all political leaders have systematically pushed back.” “For NATO membership here and for 30 years, the goal has been to have permanent security.”

It should be noted that in the opposition's election campaign, and in view of the presidential and parliamentary elections in North Macedonia, some references were made to the Prespa Agreement and its implementation.

The candidate of the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE for the presidential elections, Gordana Siljanovska, considered that the issue of the Prespa agreement remains “open”, while, in her words, she will not use the country’s new name, North Macedonia.

Gordana Seljanovska expressed the same views during the last presidential elections held in May 2019, as a candidate for the VMRO-DPMNE party. In those elections, Seljanovska was defeated by the country's current president and candidate of the ruling Social Democratic Party, Stevo Pendarovski.

Seven candidates are participating in the presidential elections scheduled for April 24. In order to be elected President of the Republic of North Macedonia in the first round, he must obtain more than 50%, which is almost impossible, so there will be a second round, on May 8, between the first two rounds of the first round. . The second round of presidential elections will coincide with the country's parliamentary elections.

VMRO-DPMNE's candidate, Gordana Seljanovska, will almost certainly go to the second round of the presidential election, with the most likely contender being Stevo Pendarovski.

USA: North Macedonia adheres to the spirit of the Prespa Agreement

Meanwhile, a representative of the State Department told Voice of America, in its local edition, that the United States expects North Macedonia to adhere to the spirit of the Prespa Agreement and that the debate be based on facts.

“Just as the United States remains committed to the Prespa Agreement, we expect North Macedonia to live up to that spirit and for the public debate to remain fact-based and rooted in a commitment to North Macedonia’s future in the European Union,” Doula said. When the ministry spokesman was asked whether the United States was concerned about the possible undermining of the Prespa Agreement.

Source: AMPE