An operational headquarters of the Ministry of Interior is fully prepared for conducting free, fair and democratic local elections, Minister Gordana Jankuloska told reporters on Tuesday.

The highest possible number of police officers will be engaged in the forthcoming elections and each of them is to have a special booklet of instructions, prepared in cooperation with OSCE, as a useful tool for dealing with every possible situation, Jankuloska said.

Jankuloska declined to comment the opposition boycott of the poll, saying that she, as the Minister of Interior, could guarantee that citizens would be able to exercise their voting right. It also refers to the rights of candidates for various local-self-government posts.

She expressed hope that at the forthcoming elections there would be no need of police engagement.

MoI expects for the State Election Commission to submit the description of polling stations by 21 February, which will be used for making a detailed plan for deployment of police officers, Jankuloska said.

MoI has also prepared a plan of activities that cover the entire election process, namely the period before an official start of the campaign, election day, closing of the polling stations and transportation of the electoral material to the Election Commissions.

Representatives of OSCE and other international organizations that wish to monitor the elections process will be invited to take part in the work of MoI's Operational Headquarters, Jankuloska said.

She said MoI cooperation with the State Election Commission was excellent. MoI has also signed letters of cooperation will all NGO wishing to contribute to organizing the local elections.

MoI remains open at all times for any citizens' report on violation of voters' or candidates' rights.