Skopje, 12 February 2024 (MIA) - The caretaker Minister of Interior, Panche Toshkovski, said that approximately 525,000 driving licenses with the country’s new constitutional name have been issued.

Toshkovski told TV Telma’s Top Tema show that in the country, by the end of the year, over 272,000 such documents containing the old name need to be changed, but they are still valid according to the date of issuance.

He added that now, with the legal amendments regarding traffic safety, they will be valid until December 31, 2024.

He also informed that 350,000 stickers with the new “NMK” designation have been distributed to stations for technical inspection. Citizens are required to place these stickers on their vehicle registration plates as without them, they will not be able to exit the country. This obligation arises from the Prespa Agreement and comes into effect tonight at midnight.

When asked whether this will result in wasted funds or necessitate a change in the Regulation of 2019, amended in 2020 and 2023, which prohibits the Minister of Interior from either distributing or affixing “NMK” stickers, Toshkovski replied that the Ministry of Interior services are currently working on a new regulation.

"I hope that by the end of the show, it will be ready and immediately signed. The director of the Official Gazette is also informed, this regulation will be amended," Toshkovski noted.

Photo: MIA archive