Skopje, 21 March 2023 (MIA) - The State Department Report on Human Rights Practices is very important and such documents should be used to improve all societal aspects, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski on Tuesday.

"There are many messages in the report, some of which we have already addressed. It specifically notes the progress made in many areas. These reports should be used to improve all societal aspects, especially those that are closely monitored," PM Kovachevski told reporters.

On freedom of expression, the PM said attacks on journalists are now treated as assaults on an official, as per the recent changes in the Criminal Code.

He said trust in the judiciary is another field that the society should work on, primarily the judicial authorities, adding that trust would be restored through the realization of many activities, including the vetting process supported by the United States and the European Union.

"In the meantime, the preventive mechanisms at disposal include adoption of legislation, such as the law on confiscation or seizure of unlawfully acquired property, electronic distribution of cases in courts and prosecutor's offices, provisions related to residence of sentenced persons, evaluation of performance of judges and prosecutors etc," said Kovachevski.

Regarding the penitentiary system, he said efforts are invested with the support of the EU, the European Central Bank and other financial institutions to improve prison conditions.

Kovachevski added that a public procurement procedure on construction of new prison facilities would be conducted at the start of the second quarter, for the purpose of overcoming the overcrowding problem in the Idrizovo prison.