Dimitar Kovacevski officially handed over his position to the new Prime Minister of North Macedonia Talat Xhaferi, BGNES reported.
Xhaferi headed a technical government that will exercise the prerogatives of the executive in North Macedonia until parliamentary elections are held in May and a new government is formed.
The representative of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) is the first Macedonian prime minister of ethnic Albanian origin in history.
"For Skopje, there is no alternative to integration in the European Union," Talat Xhaferi emphasized at a joint press conference with his predecessor.
"There is no doubt that the main task of this government is the preparation and organization of free and fair democratic elections. That is why the government will comply with all laws to guarantee the highest European standards in the election campaign and the elections themselves. These elections must be held with full legitimacy of the electoral will of the citizens", emphasized the Prime Minister.
He stated that he will ensure the maintenance and promotion of partnerships with the EU, NATO and the US, especially in the current geostrategic moment.
"For us, the maintenance and promotion of North Macedonia's partnership within NATO and compliance with the common foreign and security policy of the EU have no alternative. The integration in the EU and the fulfillment of the obligations arising from the negotiations that have started and from the bilateral screening are at the forefront a place on the government's agenda," Jaffery added, assuring that the transitional government would work transparently and effectively for the benefit and well-being of the citizens.
"At no point will there be a lack of functioning, cooperation and inclusiveness in the work of the government. We will ensure that we work transparently, accountable and above all effectively in the service of the citizens. We may be from different parties in this composition of the government , but there is one thing that does not change - we are there thanks to you, your legitimacy and we protect your interests, creating the well-being of the citizens", noted the new Macedonian Prime Minister.
For his part, Dimitar Kovachevski said that "all initiated policies must be fully and continuously implemented".
"I see dedication in the work and concentration of everyone in the government. In this direction, I believe that the work will be at the highest level," said the former Macedonian prime minister.
Kovachevski called on the new cabinet and all the figures in it, regardless of their party affiliation, to work in the interest of the citizens, the economy, security and stability.
"Our government has managed to create a system that works in times of crisis, the policies are defined, the measures are clear, I expect everyone to show a clear political will to support and maintain economic and political stability and to hold peaceful, fair and democratic elections , as befits a NATO member state and a state that has started negotiations with the EU," he also said.
BGNES recalls that on January 28, the technical government was elected by the Macedonian parliament with 65 votes "for" and 3 "against". VMRO-DPMNE MPs were in the hall, but abstained from voting.
The two largest parties in the government coalition - Dimitar Kovachevski's Social Democratic Union (SDSM) and Ali Ahmeti's Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) - agreed late last year that Talat Xhaferi would be succeeded by SDSM MP Jovan Mitreski, according to the coalition agreement and the Pergino Agreement. The largest opposition party (VMRO-DPMNE) will have two ministers in the technical cabinet - of internal affairs and of labor and social policy and deputy ministers of finance, information society and administration and for agriculture.
Parliamentary elections will be held on May 8, Wednesday, along with the second round of presidential elections. The first round of the presidential election will take place on Wednesday, April 24. /BGNES
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