Work continued on the disputed Ali Pasha mosque minaret in Ohrid today, as Prime Minister Zoran Zaev met with the acting Ohrid Mayor Konstantin Georgievski and representatives of citizens who protest against its construction.

The minaret, torn down in 1912, is set to visually dominate the most visited part of the ancient city which is a magnet for Orthodox Christian pilgrims from the region.

We discussed the problems we inherited with this disputed build that is being performed without the necessary authorization and we are looking for solutions in accordance with the law. We discussed aspects related to protection of the cultural heritage in the city of Ohrid which is of shared importance for all citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zaev told Mayor Georgievski and concerned citizens.

According to a Government press release, Zaev wants the institutions to act in accordance with the law, and to open dialogue with all concerned parties.

The mosque was built after the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans, in the late 15 or early 16 century.