Ratification

With 153 votes “for”, the Hungarian MPs unanimously ratified the NATO Accession Protocol for the Republic of North Macedonia. The President of the Parliament of the RNM, Talat Xhaferi, attended the act of ratification upon the invitation of the President of the National Assembly of Hungary, Lazslo Kover.

Support

President Stevo Pendarovski, within the framework of the official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany, met with the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier. At the meeting, both Presidents exchanges views on the overall bilateral relations between the Republic of North Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Germany, the situation in the region, as well as the aspirations of our country for membership in the EU and NATO. President Steinmeier reaffirmed the firm support of Germany for the integration of North Macedonia in the European Union and NATO.

Tobacco action

The Financial Police officially stated that the action in the village of Ljuboten is carried out on suspicion of smuggling of excise goods and customs fraud.

“We expect and request cooperation and understanding from the citizens in the areas where the activities are being carried out, all in the interest of clearing the case”, is said in the official statement. They haven’t given more details, but unofficially we have learned that the Financial Police accompanied by the MOI are searching for illegally imported tobacco from foreign countries.

The unannounced action of the Financial Police surprised the residents, but they were also angry from the manner in which they were conducting the action.

Denial

The Center for Investigative Journalism SCOOP – Macedonia, published an article titled “Carovska is richer for 1.3 million euros, Sekerinska bought an Outlander motorcycle”. The article states that Minister of Labour and Social Policy Mila Carovska has increased her property six times in just one year.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy requested an apology from SCOOP Macedonia, because, as they explained, they had timely and fully informed the Center for Investigative Journalism SCOOP – Macedonia about the property of the Minister, while the information presented by this media outlet is tendentious and entirely untrue. The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy clarified that it does not at all concern newly acquired property, rather reporting property of her parent in the property list, with whom the Minister does not live in the same household. This was done for greater transparency, although it should not be reported according to the Law.

CIVIL in action

Najcevska, Maksuti, Bacovska, Tahiri, Muratov, Zdravevska, Deralla and others will be part of tonight’s multimedia event and panel discussion of CIVIL on the topic “The citizens for the country or the country for the citizens?!”, in the Mobile Gallery of the Center of Contemporary Arts, City Park, starting at 8.00 pm. (Non)transparency and (non)responsibility in the political processes, the rule of law, human rights, the media and citizen participation are just some of the topics that will be discussed in the City Park tonight.

Projections of videos and presentations about the Civic Lenses project, as well as on (non)transparency and (non)responsibility in the political processes, the rule of law, human rights, media and citizen participation will be held from 8.00 – 9.00 pm, after which there will be a panel discussion.

 B. Jordanovska