UMDiaspora Urges Macedonian Citizens to Exercise Their Right to Vote

Read this Press Release in Macedonian by clicking HERE.

Release No. 06-06/30

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United Macedonian Diaspora encourages all Macedonian citizens to vote en masse in the upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for July 5, 2006.  As stated in our previous press release, these elections are of paramount importance to the Republic of Macedonia.  We urge Macedonian citizens to practice their civil duty and take an active role in shaping their future.  The right to vote is guaranteed for every citizen by the Macedonian Constitution, and is a right that should not be taken for granted, regardless of personal views towards governments past and present.  The significance of these elections cannot and should not be underestimated; Macedonia’s road towards Euro-Atlantic integration is of crucial importance. 

Furthermore, the United Macedonian Diaspora calls on all political parties and individual citizens to restrain from any potentially violent incidents such as those which have thus far marred the election campaign, particularly amongst the ethnic Albanian political parties.  These acts threaten to harm Macedonia’s image within the international community and cannot be tolerated in a NATO and EU candidate state.  In addition, we urge and expect the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the Public Prosecutor to fully investigate allegations of electoral misconduct and to bring to justice those responsible for any infringements of the electoral process.  

The international community has repeatedly made clear that these elections will determine the pace of Macedonia’s integration into Euro-Atlantic institutions.  Failure to hold free, fair, transparent, and peaceful elections will reverse more than a decade of progress and will endanger the stability of the state.  The United Macedonian Diaspora believes these elections present another opportunity for Macedonia to continue its transition towards full-fledged democracy.  To this end, the United Macedonian Diaspora is prepared to work with any Macedonian government to intensify the strong bonds of solidarity among Macedonian Diaspora communities across the world.

Founded in 2004, United Macedonian Diaspora is an international membership organization based in Washington, D.C. addressing the interests and needs of Macedonians and Macedonian communities throughout the world.

For more information about United Macedonian Diaspora the public is invited to contact the D.C. office at (202) 294-3400, or e-mail at info@umdiaspora.org     

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