(EXCLUSIVE DRONE FOOTAGE) SKOPJE HAS RISEN: 100.000 citizens on the streets, protesting for "United Macedonia" (PHOTO) (VIDEO)
Over 250 thousand people went out on the streets of 43 Macedonian cities, while it is estimated that around 100 thousand people covered the streets around Parliament in Skopje
Brussels four, led by EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn, was met yesterday in Skopje with protests from supporters of the movement "For United Macedonia" and the ruling VMRO-DPMNE, of former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. Over 250 thousand people went out on the streets of 43 Macedonian cities, while it is estimated that around 100 thousand people covered the streets around Parliament in Skopje.
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Hahn has traveled to Skopje with three MEPs in effort to help Macedonia to emerge from years of political crisis and heightened tension, especially after the December early parliamentary elections.
Macedonia doesn't have government, nor the president of the Parliament, three and a half months after those elections, and there were no local elections, because there were none who can declare them.
Hahn asked president Djordjo Ivanov to question his decision about not giving the mandate to opposition leader of SDSM Zoran Zaev, who would secure majority in the parliament with Albanian parties DUI and BESA.
The demonstrators chanted slogans such as "We will not give Macedonia" and "We will not allow albanisation of the state."
Ivanov believes that giving mandate to Social Democrats would threaten the sovereignty of the state and the ruling VMRO-DPMNE has asked Zaeva to give up from the "tyrannical platform", which Zaev accepted, which improves the position of Albanians in Macedonia.
It was announced earlier yesterday from the president's office, who is in official visit to Hungary, that he won't make it to the appointment with Hahn.
Ivanov, as Macedonian media reported, suggested Hahn to talk with the organizers of the demonstration, who are now well into their fifth week, and EU commissioner refused.
Ivanovic, coming from the ranks of VMRO-DPMNE, is under pressure of international community to give mandate to Zaev.
Planned appointment with the representatives of the Albanian party DPA, lead by Menduh Thaci, was canceled, and the reason is overcrowded schedule of Brussels four.
In the mean time, it was announced from DPA that they are supporting EU efforts to solve political crisis in Macedonia.
On the way from Skopje airport, to the headquarters of EU mission in Skopje, Hahn and other Members of the European Parliament were greeted by billboards and Macedonian flags, set by organizers of civilian initiative "For United Macedonia".
The billboards read "Macedonia will win," Cancel platform Tirana "," Show respect "...
(Telegraf.co.uk / Tanjug)