Popov: Only ‘Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts’ Represents Country and All Ethnic Communities

“There’s only one Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts that represents the country and all ethnic communities,” the institution’s head, Zivko Popov, said during Wednesday’s event to mark the Academy’s 57^th birthday.

As he also pointed out, the pressure to form a “monoethnic Albanian academy” is irrational and unfounded. Instead of “parallel” institutions being formed, the Academy’s President stressed, scientific-artistic societies or associations of citizens should be created.

Academicians are also unanimous when it comes to the stand that the official use of Albanian language, over which there is a case before the Constitutional Court, shouldn’t be abolished. They called for further regulating the law to include also the Venice Commission’s remarks.

Regarding the deals with Bulgaria and Greece, Popov believes that their consequences are evident and their end still cannot be seen. Following the painful compromises, Euroscepticism has been on the rise, he assessed.