Skopje, 22 February 2024 (MIA) - VMRO-DPMNE's proposal on amending the Law on Travel Documents is unserious and directly contradicts the Constitution and unfortunately, it will not be of help to the citizens. Instead, there should be talks with the company that provides the passport booklets in order to achieve a dynamic that would allow completing the entire process this summer, First Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs in the caretaker Government, Bojan Marichikj, said.

"We would seriously consider it if it is of help. But if we extend the validity of passports so that they are valid at home, but citizens cannot use them outside, I believe that would put citizens in an even more difficult situation than the one they are in now. Instead, the Government discussed and asked the Ministry of Interior to talk to the company that has the tender for providing passports booklets, to create a dynamic in which as soon as possible, during the summer, the procedure for all passports will be completed. All else is legal uncertainty for citizens," Marichikj said in a media statement after a signing ceremony for five grant agreements under Japan's Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).  

He pointed out that the situation was different for driving licenses and vehicle registration certificates, because they are used on the territory of the country. But regarding the passports, a serious legal uncertainty could be created where the citizens would not know at which airport or at which border crossing they would be stopped if they do not have the new travel documents.

"We know that some countries show more tolerance, others don't, but our task is to speed up the process as much as possible so that every citizen who has applied gets a passport. Let's not forget that international agreements cannot be changed by law according to the Constitution, and our Constitution is clear, all the obligations that are implemented derive from a constitutional law, not from the will of a political party. That's why I call for responsibility from everyone. I am sure that the entire team at the Ministry of Interior is doing everything they can and should continue to do everything they can, and the Government is available to help, so that the citizens get a valid passport, a passport with which they can travel freely," Marichikj said. 

Regarding the dynamics of issuance of new passports, the answer, he said, should be given by the Ministry of Interior, because they have an accurate insight into the dynamic. But it is worth making efforts to complete the process as soon as possible, to make a serious step forward in issuing passports by summer.

Photo: MIA archive