Skopje, 14 February 2024 (MIA) – Caretaker Prime Minister Talat Xhaferi has urged all political parties and leaders in the country, ahead of the elections, to be guided solely by the interests of the state and its citizens, to refrain from undermining the country's international standing, and to abstain from misleading the public with manipulations and misinformation, the government said in a press release.

“The issue regarding the use of the constitutional name of the country in passports is regulated by the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia and is part of an international agreement. Therefore, the alleged call to endorse a legislative solution that would prolong the validity of passports, following the example of the decision on driving licenses, is unserious, populist, and exclusively in the party interest. Calls for disrespecting the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia and for disregarding international agreements primarily harm the citizens by misleading them and tarnish the international reputation of the country,” Xhaferi noted.

The government has taken all necessary steps, and during yesterday's session, it adopted a decision enabling free replacement of valid driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates for citizens. Additionally, it facilitates the issuance of emergency travel documents without charge for all nationals residing outside the country who need to return to obtain passports, reads the press release.

Photo: Government