Skopje, 14 March 2026 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told an international conference on the institutional and clinical aspects and solutions after the Kochani fire in Skopje on Saturday that besides care for the injured and support for the families, the tragedy opened another important aspect - responsibility - saying that tragedies must not remain unanswered and the the society is entitled to know the truth.

"The families have the right to know what led to the tragedy and institutions are obligated to bring justice. Therefore, a process of institutional determination of facts and responsibility was launched immediately after the tragedy. This process must be thorough, professional and free of any pressure. When it comes to human lives, institutions must demonstate the highest level of professionalism and integrity. Justice is not an issue of politics but trust in institutiuons. When such a large-scale tragedy occurs, the state must show that the system is working, that shortcomings are identified and responsibility is assumed," said PM Mickoski.

However, the PM added, responsibility has a broader dimension and tragedies often display the deficiencies in the system.

"They show where institutions must improve, where procedures must enhance and where safety standards must be raised at the highest level. Besides the legal proceedings, the Kochani tragedy opened a process of institutional reevaluation. The state is obliged to seek for the truth and bring justice. We owe this to the victims and their families, but also future generations. That is why institutions will continue to work on fully determining the circumstances around the tragedy, so that justice is served, while strengthening the trust in institutions. A society can grow stronger after a tragedy only through truth, responsibility and institutional learning," said Mickoski.

He said a tragedy doesn't end on the day it happens, because it is ever-present for the families.

"From day one, the Government decided that the state will be there in the years to come and stand beside these families, because human dignity must be in the core of every public policy," underlined Mickoski.

The Skopje conference brings together officials, international experts and leading medical professionals from the region and Europe.

Photo: MIA