Reactions to SCPC Diplomatic Passports Issue Continue

The Foreign Ministry has confirmed that State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (SCPC) head Tatjana Dimitrovska was issued a diplomatic passport on the basis of approval by Timco Mucunski’s predecessor, Bujar Osmani.

“Regarding the other SCPC members, the Ministry will start additional consultations in order for the appropriate decision to be made on whether there are justified reasons for them, too, to potentially get diplomatic or official travel documents,” it said on Saturday.

Commenting on the matter, PM Hristijan Mickoski said assets and money of taxpayers shouldn’t be thrown around. On the other hand, the SCPC said a diplomatic passport was not a privilege, adding that it represented a right to carry out official activities.

It also stressed that such a passport would never be used for private purposes.

“The SCPC doesn’t grant this right to itself. It is granted by the law, adopted by Parliament, and by the Minister, who’s authorised, with a procedure according to the law,” the SCPC underlined.