Skopje, 8 February 2024 (MIA) — The cooperation between the EU Delegation and the Interior Ministry will continue with undiminished intensity, concluded caretaker Minister of Internal Affairs Panche Toshkovski and EU Ambassador David Geer at a working meeting Thursday also attended by Deputy Minister Nazim Bushi and Additional Deputy Minister Mitko Bojmacaliev.

According to an official press release, Toshkovski spoke about the Ministry of Interior's activities aimed at legal and professional organizing and conducting fair and democratic elections.

He also told the EU Ambassador about the caretaker government's refusal to greenlight all eight proposed management positions in the ministry's regional departments, approving of only seven instead.

Toshkovski also explained measures taken to ease procedures for issuing personal documents. He noted that the issuance of passports protected the human right of free movement. "With the impossibility of timely issuance of travel documents to citizens, this basic human right is being violated," he said.

The caretaker interior minister also pointed out that no country can cancel the validity of another country's passports.

"Considering that this process is under the competence of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the question remains open whether the Minister of Foreign Affairs will use this moment to inform the world's countries that the Macedonian travel documents cease to be valid on the date set in line with the Prespa Agreement," he said.

Ambassador Geer thanked the Ministry of Interior on the successful cooperation, especially in cyber security, and said the EU delegation was available to provide support throughout the election process if needed. mr/