Skopje, 8 February 2024 (MIA) — The Ministry of Internal Affairs will work legally and professionally toward organizing and conducting fair and democratic elections, caretaker Minister of Internal Affairs Panche Toshkovski told the head of OSCE Mission in Skopje Kilian Wahl at a meeting Thursday also attended by Deputy Minister Nazim Bushi and Additional Deputy Minister Mitko Bojmacaliev.

According to an official press release, Minister Toshkovski and Ambassador Wahl discussed the work of the Interior Ministry. 

Toshkovski told Wahl the caretaker government had approved only 14 of 15 the proposed management positions in the ministry and expressed concern that this "put a stain on this process" at its very first session, the release says.

The interior minister also spoke about the delays in the issuance of personal documents and steps taken to mitigate the situation.

The OSCE Ambassador thanked the Ministry of Interior on the successful cooperation and said the OSCE Mission would remain a strong partner and supporter of policies that contribute to the stability and security of the state and the region.

"The ambassador also highlighted the importance of the upcoming elections and expressed the expectation that they will be fair and democratic," the release adds. mr/