President Stevo Pendarovski has decided to deploy the Army, along with the border police, in safeguarding the country’s southern and northern borders.
The decision was reached after the Government declared a state of crisis on part of the territory of North Macedonia due to increased risk of migrant entry and transit, as well as to protect public health from illegal migration amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and following the Government’s proposal that Army members be deployed in managing the state of crisis, the President’s Office said in a press release.
According to the Government’s decision, the state of crisis will be in force for up to 30 days, starting April 1, 2021.
In addition, the Government has tasked the Main HQ within the Crisis Management Center with preparing an action plan for the prevention and management of the situation at North Macedonia’s southern and northern borders, as well as a review of the available human and material-technical resources and a plan on coordinated action.
The Government also charged the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Defense, the Army of North Macedonia, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, the Health Ministry, the Crisis Management Center and the Protection and Rescue Directorate, along with other relevant state institutions to make available all resources and capacities for managing the state of crisis.