Skopje, 20 August 2021 (MIA) — The Government has so far agreed to temporarily take in about 650 Afghan employees in humanitarian, democratic and peacekeeping international missions and their families; human rights activists; journalists; interpreters; students; and other citizens who supported NATO forces in Afghanistan over the past 20 years, including the Macedonian Army, according to an official press release. The decision was announced earlier on Friday after a meeting between Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and officials involved in the international rescue mission. They discussed details regarding the accommodation of people in hotels and motels until they continue to their final destinations in the United States or other countries. The costs of their stay will be covered by international organizations, the press release notes. PM Zaev told meeting participants that the last request approved by the government had been submitted by the International Federation of Journalists, which asked the country to take in 15 journalists, media workers and their families, bringing the total number of Afghan media workers and their family members to sheltered by our country to 80. “In such humanitarian crises,” Zaev said, “there is no other right response except to help immediately with all available capacities. We are rescuing a peaceful population, which has nurtured democracy in Afghanistan for 20 years and who helped and supported our Army in peacekeeping missions there.” In person and on behalf of the Government, he expressed his gratitude to all organizations involved in the rescue mission, which has also safely evacuated all Macedonian citizens from Afghanistan. They are expected to arrive home very soon, the release adds. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior are coordinating the arrival of the Afghan refugees, who will be provided additional assistance by the Red Cross and other international organizations. mr/