Skopje, 19 February 2024 (MIA) - Caretaker Minister of Interior Panche Toshkovski, Deputy Minister Nazim Bushi and additional Deputy Minister Mitko Bojmacaliev held Monday a working meeting with French Ambassador Cyril Baumgartner, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said in a press release. 

Toshkovski extended gratitude for the cooperation between the police authorities of the two countries, as well as for the overall support from the Embassy of the French Republic, particularly in the area of ​​training for police officers.

"Minister Toshkovski briefed Ambassador Baumgartner on the functioning of the Ministry of Interior in the caretaker Government, highlighting its major responsibility in conducting the upcoming elections. In that regard, the Interior Ministry's role is to act legally and professionally in organizing and conducting a fair and democratic election process. In that context, Minister Toshkovski pointed to the impossibility to appoint a head of the Tetovo police in accordance with the law, which violates the possibility of being a guarantor of the election process for that area," reads the press release.  

Toshkovski explained the measures taken in order to ease the procedure for the replacement of personal documents, so that citizens can obtain their documents in a dignified way. In that context, he pointed to observing legal procedures regarding the validity period of travel documents, in order to protect human rights in terms of free movement of citizens.

Ambassador Baumgartner highlighted cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, noting in detail the projects, trainings and experts where the French Republic provides the main support, with the aim of strengthening the capacities of the Macedonian police.

"Additional Deputy Minister Bojmacaliev extended gratitude for the cooperation with the French Republic so far, particularly in the area of joint trainings for MoI employees, noting that the MoI in the current composition of the caretaker Government operates for the time being professionally and legally, without political influences, thus reaffirming the commitment to organize fair and democratic elections," the press release adds. 

Photo: MoI