Skopje, 21 February 2023 (MIA) – Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski and Public Security Bureau director Sasho Tasevski met Tuesday with British Ambassador to North Macedonia, Matthew Lawson and representatives of the UK Home Office.

Minister Spasovski noted that North Macedonia recognizes the value of intense police cooperation and the effective and efficient exchange of information, the Ministry of Interior said in a press release.

Highlighting the cooperation between North Macedonia and the UK, Spasovski said cooperation is achieved through the exchange of operative information, data and knowledge.

“I would highlight the suppression of criminal trends such as cyber crime, human trafficking, illegal migration and drug trafficking,” said Minister Spasovski.

Interlocutors discussed the initiative to conclude a bilateral agreement for exchange of criminal records, i.e. a draft memorandum sent through the British Embassy in the Republic of North Macedonia.

“The draft Memorandum of Understanding between the MoI of the Republic of North Macedonia and the Home Office of the United Kingdom to exchange information from criminal records of citizens of North Macedonia and the United Kingdom in the absence of another legal framework to exchange records and information is an excellent way to formalize our further bilateral support in terms of criminal records exchanges for citizens of either country,” said Spasovski.

The expert group from the UK will continue to meet with representatives from various MoI sectors, reads the press release. dk/ik/