North Macedonia Interior Minister Panče Toshkovski rejects army and police guarding water supply
At a media conference in the Crisis Management Center in Skopje, Interior Minister Panče Toshkovski said that water‑supply systems must not be secured by the army or the police. He explained that the water from the Gostivar pipeline is authorized only for technical use and is not fit for drinking or food preparation.
Toshkovski emphasized that municipal institutions and communal utilities are the legally responsible entities for operating and protecting water infrastructure, not security forces. Police are present on the ground, but their task does not include safeguarding pipelines. He dismissed opposition proposals to involve the army, urging the opposition to concentrate on actions that benefit citizens instead of generating hysteria.
The minister noted that the investigation into the Gostivar water case continues under the direction of the prosecutor’s office.
Entities: Army of North Macedonia · Gostivar water pipeline · Gostivar water‑pipeline · Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia · North Macedonian Army · North Macedonian Police · Pançe Toshkovski · Police of North Macedonia
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] Water from the Gostivar pipeline may be used only for technical purposes, not for drinking or food preparation. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The statements were made at a media conference at the Crisis Management Center in Skopje. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Police are present on the ground in the affected areas. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The investigation into the water case in Gostivar is ongoing according to the prosecutor’s instructions. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Panče Toshkovski stated that the army should not secure water‑supply systems. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Panče Toshkovski said the police are not responsible for guarding water pipelines. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Municipal institutions are the legally responsible entities for operating and protecting water‑supply systems. (All articles)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Toshkovski urged the opposition to focus on actions that benefit citizens rather than creating hysteria. (All articles)