Fifteen people from Macedonia were killed in military conflicts in Syria and Iraq as volunteers – jihadists, since departure of persons from the country in these military hot spots was registered in the middle of 2012, it was said, among other things, in the speech of the Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska at the ministerial forum for interior and Justice EU – Western Balkans, held in Belgrade.
“Countries are increasingly concerned about their safety from the phenomenon of foreign terrorist fighters. Undoubtedly, dealing with this problem imposes a comprehensive approach that will bring together measures for the prevention of radicalization that leads to terrorism, cutting off financial support to terrorist organizations, vigorous fight against violent extremism, as well as promotion of political and religious tolerance,” stated Jankuloska.
She also emphasized the actions taken by the authorities in Macedonia to prevent these occurrences, noting the Strategy for Combating Terrorism 2011-2015, the appointment of a national coordinator for the fight against terrorism and changes in the Criminal Code relating to participation in a foreign army, paramilitary, police, parapolice and other armed groups.
Regarding the occurrence of false asylum seekers after visa liberalization and the problem of illegal migration, Jankuloska indicated that since the introduction of the crime abuse of visa liberalization, criminal charges were filed against 59 persons, and in cases of illegal migration, 13 criminal charges were filed against 25 people from the beginning of the year until now.
