Skopje, 20 April 2023 (MIA) – The situation with migration is within the predictions, there hasn’t been an intensive increase since January because of the weather conditions. However, if we take 2022 for example, which saw a 30 percent increase in attempts to illegally enter the country, this is far from the average in the region and EU, where this percentage stood at 80 to 100 percent, said Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski in answer to a journalist’s question over migration at the joint press conference with Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens on Thursday.

“The good positioning and the activities aimed at detecting smuggling of migrants probably don’t make North Macedonia attractive for the migrants and because of the joint operation, I truly expect that together with the Frontex colleagues we will now work intensely in this area and achieve tangible results. But I’ve also said many times, this is not a solution to the issue of migration. We are only dealing with the consequences of migration. The solution should come from the source of the problem,” said Spasovski.

Regarding Wednesday’s incident, during which a migrant was shot, Spasovski said that all facts and arguments will be assessed by the relevant authorities.

“Yesterday we had an incident that occurred during the prevention of an attempt at migrant smuggling. We have arrested two persons for smuggling, who also tried to attack police officers and take the service weapon from one of the police officers, which is when the police officers reacted. So we are working to clear up the case together with the Public Prosecutor’s Office,” said Spasovski.

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