Taking as the points of departure the historical, cultural, spiritual and statehood heritage of the Macedonian people and their struggle over centuries for national and social freedom as well as the creation of their own state, and particularly the traditions of
statehood and legality of the Krushevo Republic and the historic decisions of the Antifascist Assembly of the People's Liberation of Macedonia, together with the constitutional and legal continuity of the Macedonian state as a sovereign republic within Federal Yugoslavia and freely manifested will of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia in the referendum of September 8th, 1991, as well as the historical fact that Macedonia is established as a national state of the Macedonian people, in which full equality as citizens and permanent co-existence with the Macedonian people is
provided for Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Romanics and other nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia, and intent on:

· the establishment of the Republic of Macedonia as a sovereign  and independent state, as well as a civil and democratic one

· the establishment and consolidation of the rule of law as a  fundamental system of government;

· the guaranteeing of human rights, citizens' freedoms and  ethnic equality;

· the provision of peace and a common home for the Macedonian  people with the nationalities living in the Republic of  Macedonia; and on

· the provision of social justice, economic wellbeing and  prosperity in the life of the individual and the community,

the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia adopts

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

BASIC PROVISIONS

Article 8
The fundamental values of the constitutional order of the Republic of Macedonia are:
· the basic freedoms and rights of the individual and citizen,  recognised in international law and set down in the Constitution;
· the free expression of national identity;
· the rule of law;
· the division of state powers into legislative, executive and judicial;
· the legal protection of property;
· the freedom of the market and entrepreneurship;
· humanism, social justice and solidarity;
· local self-government;
· proper urban and rural planning to promote a congenial human
     environment, as well as ecological protection and development;  and
· respect for the generally accepted norms of international law.

Anything that is not prohibited by the Constitution or by law is  permitted in the Republic of Macedonia.
 

II. BASIC FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND CITIZEN

1. CIVIL AND POLITICAL FREDOMS AND RIGHTS

Article 9.
Citizens of the Republic of Macedonia are equal in their freedoms and rights, regardless of sex, race, colour of skin, national and social origin, political and religious beliefs, property and social status.
All citizens are equal before the Constitution and law.

Article 11.
The human right to physical and moral dignity is irrevocable.
Any form of torture, or inhuman or humiliating conduct or punishment, is prohibited.
Forced labour is prohibited.

Article 17.
The freedom and confidentiality of correspondence and other forms  of communication is guaranteed.
Only a court decision may authorise non-application of the  principle of the inviolability of the confidentiality of  correspondence and other forms of communication, in cases where  it is indispensable to a criminal investigation or required in  the interests of the defence of the Republic.

Article 18
The security and confidentiality of personal information are guaranteed.
Citizens are guaranteed protection from any violation of their  personal integrity deriving from the registration of personal  information through data processing.

Article 25
Each citizen is guaranteed the respect and protection of the  privacy of his/her personal and family life and his/her dignity  and repute.

Article 26
The inviolability of the home is guaranteed.
The right to the inviolability of the home may be restricted only  by a court decision in cases of the detection or prevention of  criminal offences or the protection of people's health.

3. GUARANTEES OF BASIC FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS

Article 50
Every citizen may invoke the protection of freedoms and rights  determined  by the Constitution before the regular courts, as well as  before the Constitutional Court of Macedonia, through a procedure  based upon the principles of priority and urgency.
Judicial protection of the legality of individual acts of state administration, as well as of other institutions carrying out public mandates, is guaranteed.
A citizen has the right to be informed on human rights and basic  freedoms as well as actively to contribute, individually of jointly  with others, to their promotion and protection.

 Article 51
In the Republic of Macedonia laws shall be in accordance with the Constitution and all other regulations in accordance with the  Constitution and law.
Everyone is obliged to respect the Constitution and the laws.