Health minister publishes drinking-water analysis files for Gostivar
Klekovski released ministry-held analysis files and said other institutions must answer for remaining tests; prosecutors say the probe has intensified after thousands were hospitalized.
The Minister of Health, Sasho Klekovski, released the report from the latest analyses of drinking water safety in Gostivar and said the files are the property of the Ministry of Health.
At a press conference Klekovski said other analyses are the responsibility of the relevant institutions and asked the public to address those bodies for those results. He told reporters: "What was done at the request of the Center for Crisis Management, the Food and Veterinary Agency and the public communal enterprise is the property of those institutions and I will ask that you request the results from them, there is no reason – transparency and publicity are here, the decisions that were made are driven solely by facts, additionally the Institute for Public Health issued recommendations to PE Komunalec – Gostivar"
Opposition SDSM continued to demand accountability from the authorities. SDSM representative Natasha Popovic sharply criticised the governing party and its leaders for events held in Gostivar during the crisis, saying: "Yesterday Hristijan Mickoski and VMRO-OKG celebrated in Gostivar, in the town where more than 5,000 citizens were poisoned. What were they celebrating, the poisoning of the citizens? Mickoski has not a shred of morality. Nor shame. Instead of responsibility for one of the largest health crises in Gostivar, a party celebration"
Prosecutor's investigation and evidence
The public prosecutor's office is conducting an investigation into the health disaster that put more than 5,000 residents into hospital with symptoms of poisoning. Authorities say the probe has intensified in recent days: a larger number of pieces of evidence have been secured and witnesses are being interviewed.
Investigators are also examining financial aspects: money from the water-supply project is under scrutiny as part of efforts to establish responsibility for the incident.
So far, the director of the local utility, Arta Asani, and two managers, Leon Uredini and Vadedin Dervishi, have been placed in custody. They face charges related to serious offences against the environment and nature.
Photo: press material from the event
