Skopje, 12 March 2024 (MIA) - Measures by EU and regional countries related to passports aim to facilitate this transitional period. The Ministry of Interior should not try to find an alibi or a solution that would delay implementation. Let's focus more on better organization of the passport issuance system and less on politics, said Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani on Tuesday.

FM Osmani told a press conference that Montenegro had decided not to recognize the old passports but he recently met with his counterpart and agreed that Podgorica would try to follow the example of other EU states and Switzerland.

"Switzerland has clearly said they recognize the old documents. Montenegro has informed us they accept the old passports, provided they are not expired. These are measures aimed to facilitate this transitional period. I think the Ministry of Interior should not try to find an alibi or a solution that would delay implementation. Let's focus on better organization of the passport issuance system and less on politics. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is here to help, we have reorganized our diplomatic-consular offices, sent additional diplomats and base stations there, work in two shifts and on weekends. This should be our focus in order to increase the number of issued passports. We will work in parallel to make things easier for citizens but we should not hope that the rules of the game might change," said Osmani.

MIA file photo