The senior official of the US Department of State, James Rubin told the institutional leaders in North Macedonia on Tuesday that they should work resolutely in preventing the spread of disinformation.

He met with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovacevski, the First Deputy Prime Minister, Artan Grubi and the Minister of Defense, Slavjanka Petrovka, with whom he discussed Russian and Chinese disinformation and their impact on the security situation.

“It is clear that the main source of threat in this part of the world is disinformation generated by Russia… President Putin thought he could invade Ukraine and divide Europe, but he failed. This does not mean that Russia does not continue to spread the ‘poison’ of disinformation and division,” said Rubin.

Speaking about Russia, Rubin has said that he is sure that there are people in the Kremlin who do not want North Macedonia to progress on the road to the European Union.

“I am sure that there are people in the region, and in the Kremlin, who do not want progress in the process that will allow North Macedonia to move forward towards the EU. I’m sure they’re sitting somewhere thinking about what to do to make it a problem and all I can say is that the Government here will work with us to create a wider societal approach to tackling disinformation, such as institutions, laws, standards, etc.”

Macedonian Prime Minister, Dimitar Kovacevski said that North Macedonia has taken measures to deal with the harmful effects of disinformation, which, according to him, aims to instill fear and uncertainty in the population, to undermine their democracies in dishonest, manipulative ways, and to the detriment of the public interest and well-being of citizens, in spreading influences from third parties.

“The government remains determined in the fight against disinformation and is constantly creating partnerships in this global battle, with strategic partners, with independent fact-checking services, with local institutions, with media organizations and the media. Only with a joint and comprehensive approach of all stakeholders in society, we will be able to face the harmful actions of disinformation”, declared Prime Minister Kovacevski.

North Macedonian Minister of Defense, Slavjanka Petrovska spoke also on the dangers of Russian disinformation.

“Hybrid threats, including disinformation, aim to reduce our social resilience and cause internal divisions and citizens’ distrust on institutions and their effectiveness. Therefore, we must have a joint approach that unites the efforts of all societal stakeholders to face this challenge,” said Petrovska.

/a.p./