Skopje, 5 January 2024 (MIA) – Air traffic in the country is safe, and the announced dismissal of the national air navigation service provider M-NAV management is to send a message that air traffic safety must never be compromised, Minister of Defense Slavjanka Petrovska said Friday.

"We want to send a message that passengers’ safety and the safety of the Macedonian sky must never, and will never be compromised," Minister Petrovska said about the management dismissal that was proposed on Thursday and is to be considered at the government's next session.

"At the same time, we call on all parties and political movements in the country to not use or abuse employment opportunities or the employees of this institution for personal gains. What is most important for the citizens and the public is that the air traffic in North Macedonia is safe, conducted according to Eurocontrol rules," Petrovska said.

She added that M-NAV management had failed to establish orderly work conditions in the institution.

"The incident at M-NAV, especially the failure to establish work order and discipline as well as the lack of proper dialogue between employers and the Union [of Air Traffic Controllers], has obviously caused outrage both in the public and in institutions.

"At the next government session on Tuesday, the Prime Minister, Minister of Transport and Communications and I have decided to propose a solution to dismiss all managers and management board members at M-NAV," Petrovska reiterated. ssh/mr