Mickoski: Zaev’s plan is not reaching an agreement, we leave room for continuation of the talks

Mickoski said Zaev’s proposal was the establishment of a prosecutor’s office for high-level corruption, led by a person nominated by the largest opposition party, also including the ten prosecutors assisting Special Prosecutor Katica Janeva. According to him, Zaev also pushed for a safeguard which said that if the ruling authorities fail to accept the opposition’s nominee, then the Council of Public Prosecutors would select a prosecutor from the ten prosecutors coming from the Special Prosecutor’s Office.

“In practice, Zaev’s offer was a new SPO led by one of Janeva’s assistants as an offensive tool, another prosecutor’s office led by Ruskoska as a defensive one, all managed by State Public Prosecutor Jovevski,” said Mickoski.

He added that VMRO-DPMNE agreed on the establishment of a prosecutor’s office for high-level corruption, headed by a prosecutor nominated by the opposition, including jurisdiction for prosecution of elected and appointed officials.

“But, the law on the SPO must be observed, and it says that the mandate of the prosecutors ends once the term of the Special Prosecutor ends,” said Mickoski.

He said the PM refused their proposal that the new prosecutor focuses on elected and appointed persons, regardless of the time when the crime had been committed, adding that the meeting failed because Zaev urged amnesty for all.

However, Mickoski said, agreement is possible at any time if Zaev demonstrates will not to protect crime.

“Will there be agreement by September 15? This is not up to us. Either we have a deal based on the law or there will be no agreement at all,” stressed the VMRO-DPMNE leader.