The Security Council of the Republic of North Macedonia held a session in the President’s Cabinet, which was attended by the Minister of Health, Venko Filipce and the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Vasko Gjurcinovski, besides the permanent Council members.
Unanimous conclusion of all members of the Council is that special recognition should be given to the citizens of Debar and Centar Zupa municipalities, where a crisis situation has been declared, who apply all the recommendations, all the measures in force in those two municipalities in a consistent and correct manner due to the declared crisis situation. There is maximum and complete mobilization of all health care personnel.
The Security Council, President Stevo Pendarovski said, estimated that there is no need to declare a state of emergency or crisis all over the country at the moment to deal with corona virus.
“The conclusion of the Security Council regarding the overall situation and what the Minister of Health has put forward as a possible assessment of the possible spread of the disease on our territory is that the response of the state at this time is appropriate, adequate to the risks we are exposed to, as evidenced by the assessments and comments of the World Health Organization, which to this day claim that we are surely the state in the entire wider region that best, most consistently implements the measures imposed by the World Health Organization.
The conclusion of the Council is, if need be, and according to tonight’s estimates, that there is no need, we can recommend, as a Security Council, the Government to declare a crisis situation in other municipalities, except in these two. General conclusion is that we do not need to rush to the bare declaration of an eventual higher level of some situation, such as a state of emergency or crisis throughout the territory, because, as I said, at this point, by all assessments of the competent ministry and Minister, the danger that such a thing can happen does not exist or if we put ourselves in such a newly proclaimed legal situation, does not mean that we will prevent a situation that we would not want to experience”, President Pendarovski said.
It is clear, he said, that the crisis will last, and we must allocate the resources we have toward real needs and real risks.
“Hence, on this occasion I would like to urge the citizens, on behalf of the Security Council, to strictly abide by all measures, because this is the best way to prevent the spread of the epidemic”, President Pendarovski said, sending a message to all citizens not to travel abroad if they do not have any pressing need, especially in countries at high, moderate or medium risk.
The President also appealed to our citizens working in other European countries or in other countries around the world, and over 150 have been affected by the virus so far, not return to their home country without any pressing need. They have the right to do so, the President said, but because of the situation, any transfer across several borders, across several territories, could bring them into contact with infected people.
All relevant institutions are monitoring the situation on the ground day and night and responding promptly and in a timely manner, the President said, and the Security Council will constantly monitor the situation.
