The issue of disability is one of right, not assessment. This approach is in the core of the UN Convention and the current policy developed by the Ministry of Labor and social Policy, which encompasses social protection, social inclusion and social services intended for persons with disabilities, towards improving the quality of their lives, because European Macedonia should aspire towards the goal of making the country barrier-free for persons with disabilities by 2020, said Minister Spiro Ristovski at Saturday's observance of December 3 - International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Minister Ristovski referred to the conventions and standards that Macedonia has signed in the field of social and economic security of all citizens, thus undertaking a commitment for protection and enhancement of human rights of persons with disability.

"The Parliament is set to ratify the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol next week, thus putting Macedonia among 107 states that have ratified the document. This is a clear signal that Macedonia is a country that wants and will secure a high level of care for persons with disabilities", he added.

Ristovski said he would invest maximum efforts in the capacity of Minister of Labor and Social Policy towards improvement of the situation of persons with disabilities in Macedonia.

"It is our task to provide them with as much as possible. The implementation of activities is done step by step", stressed Ristovski, adding the Government has developed an Action Plan over the construction of access ramps in all public and state institutions.

About 200,000 persons with disabilities in different categories are registered in Macedonia.