Skopje, 5 August 2024 (MIA) - We have information at our disposal, obtained from several channels, that the leadership of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), in an attempt to protect the capital gained in the past 20-22 years, will take steps towards destabilizing the country, said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski at a joint press conference with Kosovo counterpart, Albin Kurti, on Monday.

In response to a reporter's question regarding Mickoski's views expressed over the weekend that DUI is threatening the country's interethnic image and poses a threat to Macedonia's peace and stability as a country, the PM said he expects it to happen during the fall, but still, he added, time will tell whether the information he has is correct or not. 

"As a government, we have every right to defend the territorial sovereignty and integrity, as well as the citizens' peace. This is practically the goal of a state. We expect it to happen in the fall, based on the information we have, but time will tell whether the information is correct or not," Mickoski noted.

Asked what has changed in the position of the ruling VMRO-DPMNE regarding DUI's constructiveness, since the party supported amendments to the Law on Government, the PM said that any constructiveness towards improving living conditions is welcome, no matter the political party, but the Government is obliged to share information about "potentially deviant behaviour of groups or political parties." 

"Any constructiveness aimed at improving living conditions and standards, support to the reform process and support for the progress of citizens is welcome from any political party. Even at the time, if you recall my statement, I said it is unfortunate that the other political parties in Parliament, the SDSM-led coalition and Levica, did not support the legislative changes, only DUI did. I expect better reform laws in the future, meaning a better future and better standards for citizens, to be supported by all stakeholders, not only DUI, or the coalition led by SDSM, or other political parties, because at the end of the day we are paid by the citizens, and we should work in their interest. But, at the same time, when we receive information about potentially deviant behaviour of some groups, political parties, or anyone else, we are obliged to share it with the public. Otherwise, we would not be a Government that meets citizens' expectations," Mickoski stressed.

In an interview with "Fokus" over the weekend, Mickoski said that the essence of such moves is to protect the capital gained in the past 20 years in power, but he doesn't exclude the possibility that certain groups and structures can be manipulated, and then challenge the territorial integrity and sovereignty. ssh/nn/

Photo: Government of the Republic of North Macedonia