2004 - YEAR OF MAJOR POLITICAL UNREST, 2005 - YEAR OF SAFETY AND DEVELOPMENT, CRVENKOVSKI SAYS

"This year was expected to be a year of political stability, a year of strengthened interethnic understanding, a year of major progress in the process of our integration in EU and NATO and most of all a year dedicated to the economy. Today, we can conclude that the last and the most important did not happen," Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said in annual address before the Macedonian Parliament.
He said that this year was a year of major political unrest and new very serious tests facing our state building capacity and democratic potential.
"First of all we tragically lost our president of the state. Such a loss would be a strong shock and a major test for the institutions of countries with a far longer tradition and power than ours. For the first time since the existence of independent and democratic Macedonia, our citizens had the opportunity in only one year to go twice to the election pools, follow or participate to two political campaigns, and have three different governments. The highly intense political drama evolving over the Law on Territorial Organization lasted for five months and culminated with a nation-wide referendum. We were and are still witnessing major agitations and regroupings occurring among political parties pertaining both to the government and opposition. In other words, the initial projected priorities were modified, and the social energy and political capacity were redirected," Crvenkovski stressed.
He said that our goal and ambition should not be reduced only to a successful surmounting of endurance and state building tests. "The basic foundation, the indispensable prerequisites to all that matters in our country is to have good interethnic relations. The success at this level will provide us with a favourable environment to dedicate to other priorities. If we fail in this respect, all discussions on increased economic development, EU or NATO will be in vain," Crvenkovski said.
"In these three years after the conflict of 2001 we went a long and difficult way. We may say, without exaggerating that a huge progress was made. The work however is not fully completed. Risks not fully overcome," Crvenkovski said.
"Neither the government can remain in power nor the opposition come to power by playing on the radical nationalistic cart or by using that kind of rhetoric. This story in Macedonia has ended, was read by the citizens and definitely left to the past. This was demonstrated in the most direct way by the results from the referendum. Instead of discrediting the government policy in the area of interethnic relations, the referendum made this policy more legitimate and provided space to finalize the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement in a more peaceful atmosphere," Crvenkovski said.
"In terms of the normative part, we have the adoption of the Law on ethnic symbols. So it is not a new Law on state symbols, as it is sometimes misinterpreted in the public, but a Law on the use of symbols by the ethnic communities that are not majority. I am confident that the Government will make an assessment on the timing of the preparation and adoption of this law. On my opinion, the sooner the better. The adoption of a special Law on the usage of the languages of ethnic communities is not a direct obligation deriving from the Framework Agreement. Nevertheless, if well drafted, such a law would be useful in order to avoid any possible arguments during the adoption of separate laws regulating different fields. The realisation of the equitable representation in the public administration is an on-going process. A considerable progress has been achieved in the past period, however due to the nature of this issue, it will take a longer period of time to be fully completed," he said.
"In 2005 we will have a lot of work. I am confident that this country has both the will and capacity to successfully finish this work. The obligations are such in relevance and character that can not be considered as the responsibility or merit of only one coalition, one Government or one President. The efforts and the results can only be collective," Crvenkovski stressed.
"Macedonia peaceful, stable and secure. Macedonia with economic growth, with reduced unemployment and higher standard. Macedonia integrated inside and integrated in the EU and NATO. These are our common goals! These goals are worth uniting and working together for! If united, success is guaranteed!," Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said in the address before the Macedonian Parliament.
Besides the MPs also PM and members of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Macedonian Army officials, representatives of the scientific, cultural and educational institutions as well as heads of foreign diplomatic and consular missions accredited to the Republic of Macedonia participated at the session.