Parliament passes amendments to Law on Use of Flags of Ethnic Communities

Skopje, 18 July 2011 (MIA) - The Parliament passed Monday amendments to the Law on Use of Flags of Communities in the Republic of Macedonia, submitted by DUI.

63 MPs endorsed the amendments, 40 were against, with no abstentions. In line with the Badinter principle, 17 of 22 MPs from the smaller ethnic communities voted for the proposal.

The law amendments stipulate communities representing more than 50 percent of the population in a local self-government to hoist their flag alongside the national flag at public and local buildings. The local authorities decide when the community flag is to be used.

The amendments also foresee that the national flag is larger by one-third compared to other flags. The community flag will also be hoisted during official visits by high representatives of the international community and during days of local and international events.

The session agenda also includes amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, amendments to the Law on Judicial Council, amendments to the Law on the Council of Public Prosecutors, and the Law against Smoking.