President Branko Crvenkovski put a veto on the amendments to the Law on Foreign Affairs, which the Assembly ratified on 31 July this year. The president informed Assembly Chairman Trajko Veljanoski about this yesterday with a letter. In accordance with the agreement reached at the meeting with the assembly chairman, President Crvenkovski yesterday signed the edicts for declaring 52 laws, but he did not sign the edict for the Law on Foreign Affairs, the media report.

The Foreign Ministry stated that it is sorry that the president made such decision, and it rejected President Crvenkovski’s explanation that he received the proposed amendments to the law late and that he did not have time to react.

“We are sorry that, six months after the joint initiative for betterment of this law, we have still not received constructive proposals and suggestions from Crvenkovski’s Cabinet. Crvenkovski received the proposed amendments in winter. We waited six whole months for him to give a proposal and state his remarks. We ask, must an ambassador be appointed from among the Foreign Ministry personnel, even if he or she is not sufficiently qualified for this post? Is it not better for the president and minister to agree on some eminent individual who is competent to represent Macedonia in the world?” the Foreign Ministry stated.

One of the main reasons why Crvenkovski did not sign the edict for this law is the amendment that foresees reduction of the minimal number of ambassadors who are designated from among the Foreign Ministry’s professional cadre, from at least two thirds to at least one quarter.