Skopje, 23 January 2023 (MIA) – I don’t justify violence of any type. I always condemn it and will continue to do so, just as I will condemn and oppose any provocation that comes from inside or outside, which hurts the feelings of Macedonians and awakens unrest between our citizens, such provocations are unacceptable, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski on Monday in response to reporters’ questions related to last week’s incident in Ohrid.  

He called for calmness and reason, also noting we should not be naive because “this is a classic distraction in a really perfidious way, to distract attention from our European future”.  

The PM stressed that he will not allow the country to “be separated from its European path”, and therefore he will insist that this problem be solved in the fastest possible way, because the country needs to continue towards the EU.  

“The most important thing is that those who initiated the events of last week and the events that preceded do not want to see Macedonia in the EU,” Kovachevski added.  

He urged the opposition VMRO-DPMNE to reevaluate, noting that there is a significant amount of information that last week’s events and the events that happened before, are related to its members and followers.  

“And that’s why I say that through such activities, our largest opposition party seems more and more like an extended arm of Levica. We don’t need what they are selling. I say there are two concepts. One concept is the concept of European Macedonia, the second concept is the concept of senseless nationalism, which left this country together with their actual leader. On the other hand, I will do my best, I will insist on a fast and efficient institutional implementation of every step today and in the future because we simply have to stay on our European path and the full integration of North Macedonia in the EU for the sake of the current and future generations,” Kovachevski pointed out.  

He expressed satisfaction with the institutions and the Ministry of Interior’s quick response after the Ohrid incident.  

“I believe the whole case will be cleared up quickly and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which has jurisdiction over this case, will act on it accordingly,” said Kovachevski.