Skopje, 25 September 2023 (MIA) - The law on amnesty for minor offenses is expected to be presented at Tuesday's government session, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Monday in response to reporters' questions over the amnesty laws and the Criminal Code. 

Kovachevski pointed out that the law on amnesty for minor offenses has been presented at a government session, but due to technical alignment with the legislation sector, time has been left until Tuesday's government session.  

"Once it is harmonized, it will be submitted to the Parliament, and then it will be up to the MPs whether it will be adopted, what form it will be adopted in and when it will be adopted," said Kovachevski.  

Asked why is the Criminal Code signed by the Deputy Minister of Justice and not by the Minister of Justice, PM Kovachevski said that according to the law on government, it can be signed either by a minister or a deputy minister, depending on who has been involved in the process. 

"I cannot speak on behalf of others. The decision was made unanimously by the government and was passed in the Parliament and is in line with the legislation of the European Union," said Kovachevski.  

He stressed that everything has been done in line with the law and in line with the procedures, and added that he doesn't see anything controversial thereof, also pointing to statements by experts who have confirmed that the alignment has been done in accordance with the laws. 

Kovachevski noted that the European Commission has pointed to the use of the 'EU flag' in passing the amendments, adding that "there is a Table on alignment with Directive 2014/42/EU, etc., so there is a corresponding Table in terms of the alignment". 

Asked about the VMRO-DPMNE rifts, Kovachevski said he wouldn't like to comment on dynamics in other political parties.

"I have said several times that the key thing in the country is that we all unite to build a European state, open the path to full-fledged EU membership together in the Parliament.  We started the screening process a year ago. It has been very successful, and that's why no one is asking questions. If it had gone poorly, there would have probably been questions about the screening. However, it is successfully carried out," Kovachevski said. 

He pointed out that a decision is pending in the Macedonian Parliament over a two-thirds majority on the constitutional amendments, in order to open the chapters and clusters. Kovachevski is optimistic that as soon as the clusters are opened, the first chapter will be closed in February 2024, because in that part the country is ready institutionally, legally, and in terms of the personnel potential available to respective institutions.

"I have always believed that there are people in the opposition who want to see the country as an EU member state. If there is anyone who has seen the mistake of isolating the country, it is VMRO DPMNE," said Kovachevski. 

He noted that making strategic decisions for the country requires making difficult decisions, and according to him, the country has had the most difficult path to NATO membership, and now in terms of the EU as well.

Photo: MIA archive