Interior Minister Gordana Jankuloska met Wednesday with the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission to Macedonia, Geert-Hinrich Ahrens to share views on the upcoming local elections and the ministry's competence.

Ambassador Ahrens voiced his concerns over the announced election boycott by the opposition and its consequences, MoI said in a press release. Jankuloska presented the ministry's position telling him that "everybody has the right to boycott elections, but no one is entitled to hinder the right to vote that the remaining citizens of Macedonia have."

It was underscored that the MoI would engage all of its capacities to prevent any threats or incidents from happening thus enabling the citizens to exercise their democratic right and to elect their local authorities.

At the meeting it was noted that the MoI had already set up an operational headquarters in charge of preparing activities for the election campaign and election day, stated the press release.