Joint appeal to continue respecting the measures, on which the relaxation of the measures and public health depend

The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, together with the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations, Artan Grubi, the Minister of Health, Venko Filipce and the Director of the Commission for Relations with Religious Communities and Groups, Darijan Sotirovski, met with the Heads of the religious communities in the country - the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archbishopric, the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, Mr. Mr. Stefan and the Islamic Religious Community, Reisul Ulema Haji Shakir Efendi Fetahu.

It was concluded at the meeting that the undertaken measures for protection of public health gave results, which shows the reduction of the number of sick people and citizens who need to be taken care of in hospitals, which creates opportunities for a calmer celebration of the religious holidays Easter and Ramadan Bajram.

There is a common position that this situation does not mean relaxation, because of which the Government and the religious leaders of MOC-OA and the IRC appeal to all citizens to continue to respect the protection measures, because it will depend on whether there will be new relaxations of measures and curfew.

The Government and the Heads of the MOC-OA and the IRC, on the eve of the celebration of religious holidays, jointly point out that the discipline and individual responsibility of believers and citizens is of great importance, in terms of respecting applicable protocols, such as wearing a mask in open and closed space, keeping distance, non-grouping, the presence inside the religious buildings should not be more than 30-percent of the full capacity.

Prime Minister Zaev and government officials thanked Archbishop Stefan and Reis Shakir Fetahu for their contribution to tackling the pandemic.

It was agreed that the Government and the MOC-OA and the IRC will continue to advocate for the protection of public health, which will provide peace and prosperity in families and society.