The opposition calling for boycott of the upcoming census is the worst decision any political factor could make. It could harm the country, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Friday.

He accused the opposition of pushing the country into ‘an abyss’ and into remaining ‘an isolated country that doesn’t have any data, making it unable to make plans for the next 5, 10, 50 or 100 years.’

“Who wants a future planned on inaccurate data more than 20 years old? Who wants to have mistaken development plans? No one wants such a country for a partner and no investor will be willing to invest in a country without basic statistical data,” PM Zaev warned speaking at today’s meeting with the State Statistical Office Director, state and municipal officials ahead of the April census.

The census, he noted, is not only an operation that should give us a clear picture of the ethnic situation in the country, but it also covers many segments, facts, data allowing experts to plan the development and have an insight into the society backsliding.

“Census data is very important also for the local authorities and are key in planning community development,” Zaev said.

He noted that the census is the country’s obligation being a candidate to join the EU. “Statistics is one of the chapters in the first cluster of negotiations. In April, we all need to contribute to the issue and implement it successfully,” Zaev stated.

Also, the PM called on leaders at central and local level to play a key role in the census operation and said that the citizens by being part of the headcount will contribute to a better future. “It is our duty, our obligation toward the country, toward ourselves and our children,” Zaev stressed.

Under the legislation, PM Zaev said that the census will be exclusively a statistical operation in line with the international standards and practices, including that of the UN and Eurostat and it should not be treated as a ‘political issue.’