Skopje, 30 June 2023 (MIA) – The institutions should investigate the assertions as a result of which Ramiz Merko was placed on the blacklist of the United States. It is incomprehensible how investigators from the U.S. had information on something that happened here, while the relevant institutions in our country didn’t, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski in answer to a question from VMRO-DPMNE’s MP Bojan Stojanovski at Parliament’s Q&A session on Friday.

The MP asked if the Prime Minister would request the resignation of the Mayor of Struga, to which Kovachevski responded saying every elected official should act in line with the legislation and in the interest of the citizens, he reiterated that if he were to be placed on the U.S. blacklist, not only would he resign, but he would also consider it the greatest defeat in his personal and professional career. The PM said he believes the councilors in the Municipality of Struga should resign as well, if they haven’t been working in the interest of the citizens and have supported the Mayor’s decisions, noting that Merko spent the longest time in his post during DUI’s coalition with VMRO-DPMNE.

“If you take a look at the basis of the U.S. Department of State’s decision, he has been in a coalition with all political parties during his term, including yours, for the most of his career, then my message would be – if they haven’t been working in the interest of the citizens, which should be stated by the institutions, not only the Mayor of Struga, but all councilors who supported his decisions in the past should all collectively resign,” said the Prime Minister.

Photo: MIA Archive