Skopje, 2 February 2023 (MIA) - Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski met Thursday with Laura Lungarotti, Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Western Balkans at the International Organization for Migration (IOM), who was accompanied by IOM Head of Mission in North Macedonia, Sonja Bozhinovska.

Minister Spasovski highlighted the excellent support and the strong partnership between the MoI and IOM, which came to the forefront during the migrant crisis, the Ministry of Interior said in a press release.

Spasovski and Lungarotti discussed several new draft-initiatives and activities that the IOM is planning to implement in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans in the coming period, related to effective migration management, repatriation and readmission.

Interlocutors reaffirmed their further engagement and commitment in the areas of migration management, including the fight against organized crime, migrant smuggling and human trafficking, through mutual support to the implementation of projects and activities, for the purpose of managing the challenges of illegal migration, repatriation and readmission, reads the press release.