News
2/12/2019 09:59
Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs, Bujar Osmani, had
a meeting with the head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Clemens Koja.
Deputy Prime
Minister Osmani emphasised the important role of the OSCE Mission in the
Republic of Macedonia, especially in support of the Government's reform
processes, assessing that the past demonstrated neutrality and the contribution
that the Mission has given in overcoming the numerous challenges in the past
period, especially in the area of electoral reforms, and in general as well, in
the implementation of the principle of the rule of law, are of a great benefit
to the Republic of Macedonia.
"Electoral
reforms are among the key challenges for the forthcoming period, including the
implementation of all previous OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, especially in the
wake of the upcoming presidential elections, given that our priority is free, fair
and credible presidential elections" - stressed Osmani, pointing to other
reforms that are ahead of the country in the wake of the new European
Commission Progress Report in April. In this regard, he expressed his
satisfaction with the adoption of the new law on prevention of corruption and
conflict of interests that will contribute to the achievement of more efficient
prevention and fight against corruption, while at the same time expressing
satisfaction that it also strengthens the efficiency and independence of the
State Commission for Prevention of corruption, whose new members will also need
to monitor the electoral process in the part on funding of political parties
during the upcoming presidential election.
During the conversation,
the interlocutors also referred to the support and the assistance that the OSCE Mission in
Skopje provides to the Republic of Macedonia in order to fulfil the reforms in
other areas such as the judiciary, the media, the civil sector, etc., and they
also referred to the current challenges: on the implementation of Plan 18, the
preparation of the country's contribution to the European Commission's report, as
well as all of the other activities related to the final achievement of the
strategic goals of the Republic of Macedonia's EU and NATO membership.