site.btaNerves Taut over ID Replacement in North Macedonia

As the deadline for replacing identity documents in North Macedonia draws near, tension in the country goes higher. Applicants' queues in front of the Interior Ministry in Skopje and outside specially established offices remain as long as ever. According to local media, people wait there for hours, and often, days.

Under the Prespa Agreement between Skopje and Athens, passports and driving licenses in North Macedonia should be replaced by February 12 with new ones carrying the name Republic of North Macedonia instead of Republic of Macedonia. After that date, exit from the country will only be possible on new identity documents. Old identity cards, which are for domestic use only, will remain valid after the replacement deadline.

Hristijan Mickoski, leader of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party, warned on Thursday: "The Ministry of Interior does not have the capacity to replace 2.5 million to 2.7 million passports so quickly in accordance with the commitments assumed under a legal decision adopted in 2021."

On Friday, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski told journalists: "The Interior Ministry has already issued 1,200,000 passports and we should thank its employees for working day and night, which they will continue to do."

President Stevo Pendarovski proposed to the government to extend the deadline for replacing identity documents. He said it would be necessary to amend two laws and to reassure Greece that the commitment under the Prespa Agreement will be honoured.

The President's Office said: "In the framework of the joint efforts of the state, President Pendarovski is ready to contribute by communicating with the President of the Hellenic Republic."

Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani met with Greek Ambassador in Skopje Sophia Philippidou on Friday, the Foreign Ministry reported. Among other things, they exchanged opinions on the North Macedonia government measures for the implementation of the Prespa Agreement.