The adopted wording of the Preamble to the Constitution has a strong emphasis on the civic legitimacy of Montenegro: Stemming from The decision of the citizens of Montenegro to live in an independent and sovereign state of Montenegro (…); The commitment of the citizens of Montenegro to live in a state in which the basic values are freedom, peace, tolerance, respect for human rights and liberties,. [...] The wording of the preamble and the emphasis placed on the Macedonian people was justified through the need to strengthen the identity of the Macedonian people and state in the context of a strong contestation of Macedonian identity by neighbouring countries (Ibid.). [...] The preamble to the constitution and the provisions on the language underwent substantial changes, whereas the provisions on the fundamental values of the constitutional order, the status of churches and religious communities, minority protection and the protection of cultural heritage were modified. [...] In the new preamble, the identity of the state was conceptualized differently; the dominance of the Macedonian people was downplayed and other groups were put on a more equal footing: The citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, the Macedonian people, as well as citizens living within its borders who are part of the Albanian people, the Turkish people, the Vlach people, the Serbian people, the Roman. [...] The opportunity of the constitutional change was used to slightly reformulate the preamble: The citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, the Macedonian people, part of the Albanian people, the Turkish people, the Vlach people, the Serbian people, the Romany people, the Bosniak people and others (Amendment XXXIV).
- Pages
- 33
- Published in
- Germany
