Skopje, 9 April 2024 (MIA) – Foreign Minister and European Front’s presidential candidate Bujar Osmani Tuesday refuted and dismissed as fake news the accusations from the opposition that he allegedly concealed an important document from the EU, signed by 25 member states except Greece and France, stating they would allow free movement with personal documents bearing country’s old name until September.

“It's not true. This is part of that factory of fake news that was uncovered within VMRO-DPMNE. You know they've created a propaganda factory and fake news, and this is part of that factory, which I believe will be further exposed in the coming days. Regarding passports, for now, there are no issues with European countries. The problem is that the Ministry of Interior has changed the law and declared our passports invalid, and citizens cannot leave our borders. So, we haven't actually encountered any issues with the borders of EU countries. Citizens with our passports cannot leave our borders because they've been declared invalid according to our laws. However, regarding returns, we have taken all necessary measures to ensure that no one faces obstacles in coming back. And so far, I haven't heard of any citizen who failed to return to the country because they couldn't pass through EU member states,” stated Osmani in response to a journalist's question after today's debate in the Skopje Old Bazaar, as part of his presidential campaign.

According to him, the Ministry of Interior should explain why the passport issuance process is still slow and reiterated his offer to assist in expediting the process of issuing new documents with the new constitutional name.

He adds that what could be changed regarding personal documents has already been changed in terms of driving licenses and ID cards, while for passports, he says, it's a matter that directly violates the Prespa Agreement and the Constitution. A significant reorganization is needed for issuing passports to citizens, for which he is prepared to assist and even halt his campaign.

VMRO-DPMNE MP Antonio Miloshoski posted on Facebook a photo of a letter dated February 23, from the Italian Ministry of Interior, stating that upon the recommendation of the European Commission, 25 EU member states have decided to allow free movement with valid passports under the name Republic of Macedonia until the end of September 2024. 

"The Italian Ministry of Interior's correspondence underscores that the decision was taken to protect the right to freedom of movement, and after the end of September, the border police will receive additional instructions on how to proceed. During this same period, the conduct of Minister Osmani was highly questionable, as he concealed this information about the decision of the 25 EU members, which was and still is crucial for the free movement of hundreds of thousands of Macedonian citizens residing in the EU," Miloshoski said in his Facebook post.

Photo: MIA