The Government has decided to open 11 regional family and marriage counselling offices, which will provide free professional assistance for dysfunctional families, families in social risk, as well as all aspects of family life, said Spokesman Aleksandar Gjorgjiev at Sunday's press conference.

According to him, the project aims at improving the functioning of families and promotion of family values, using experiences in the field from developed countries, such as United States, Canada, Western Europe.

"Regional offices will open in Skopje, Veles, Kumanovo, Gostivar, Kicevo, Ohrid, Bitola, Prilep, Kavadarci, Strumica and Sveti Nikole, each encompassing the population in the surrounding areas", said Gjorgjiev.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy is the project carrier, developing a special operating programme together with the Social Affairs Bureau for the regional offices, which are to open in stages as of September.

The service in the counseling offices will be provided free of charge by professionals in the fields of pedagogy, psychology, law and social affairs.