Skopje, 29 November 2021 (MIA) – Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Alternativa leader Afrim Gashi reached during a meeting held at Skopje’s MPs Club on Monday an agreement over the program aspect of possible future cooperation expressed through Alterantiva’s political and executive participation in the government. Interlocutors, the government said in a press release, agreed that the country must retain its reform and Europe-oriented direction, stressing the importance of institutions’ stability. This, the release added, is the only way to ensure the best solutions for the biggest current challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the global energy crisis. “Talks on taking over and sharing responsibilities in the best interest of citizens and country have started and interlocutors discussed possible officials who will potentially take over duties and responsibilities of ministers, deputy ministers and other officials within the executive branch,” the press release stressed. Parties will resume consultations in coming days and another meeting will be held by PM Zaev, Alternativa leader Gashi and their teams. Declining to comment, PM Zaev ahead of the meeting said a press release will be issued once it is over. “We cannot comment before the meeting,” Zaev briefly told reporters when asked about Alternativa’s demands to join the government. Ahead of Monday’s meeting, Alternativa leader Gashi said the party is committed to giving a chance for solution to the political crisis in addition to the energy and health crisis and to helping the country not to lose the historic chance for opening negotiations for EU membership. “We’ll see what the concept is of the prime minister and his partners and what they expect from our contribution to the future government. If we manage to establish a new concept, bigger changes, I think Alternativa is prepared to help,” stated Gashi. Asked about the number of ministerial positions he expects his party to get, Alternativa’s leader stressed that this has never been important for the party, preferring to discuss political criteria. Moreover, he reiterated that his party is against swift snap elections. Questioned whether Alternativa will accept SDSM’s Dimitar Kovachevski, who is currently serving as Deputy Finance Minister, as the new PM-designate, Gashi briefly told reporters that the party’s top priority is reaching agreement over the concept. “Talks are underway with SDSM and other partners and it’s very important for us to agree on a concept. It would be irresponsible of us to make demands from another party over who the PM-designate or PM should be. It’s up to SDSM, as the largest party, to choose its leader and PM-designate,” Gashi noted. Zaev and Gashi held their first meeting on November 19. On Friday, the Alternativa central presidency authorized Gashi to engage in talks with all political stakeholders, the PM and the possible new PM-designate regarding their concept for a way out of the political crisis. In addition, the SDSM central board verified Zaev’s resignation from the president’s post and authorized him to conduct the negotiations over the parliamentary majority.