Skopje, 30 October 2023 (MIA) — Deputy Prime Minister of Good Governance Policies Slavica Grkovska said it was "unnaceptable that the Code was violated" after news surfaced that DUI's leader Ali Ahmeti was carrying out political party activities in Deputy Prime Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations Artan Grubi's office but that as a government member, she had "no mechanism to act" on this violation.

Deputy PM Grkovska was responding to a reporter's question on what the government would do regarding Ahmeti's posting photos on social media from his recent meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue Richard Grenell that had been held in fellow party member Grubi's office.

Pointing out that party and state activities needed to be kept separate, Deputy PM Grkovska said politicians should contribute to raising democratic awareness.

She was giving a statement to the media after attending Monday a book launch for a publication on the media's role in democratic institutions, rule of law and reforms in public administration.

"I have not seen it [the social media post], but if it is true, we will act according to the Code. Given that Ali Ahmeti is an Member of Parliament, and government ministers answer to MPs, it would be inappropriate for me to issue a warning because I do not have that mechanism as a government member," Grkovska said.

"Be it as it may, it is unacceptable because party and state activities have to be kept separate," she said, adding that the book launch she had attended was aimed at promoting democratic culture, which she said "presidents of political parties and politicians should be an example of and contribute to raising democratic awareness." mr/