International Community Concern over Macedonia

In a joint press release issued by the missions on Tuesday afternoon they expressed concern that Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and the full implementation of the Ohrid Peace Accord that ended the 2001 conflict in the country might be jeopardized.

"We have taken note with concern of recent statements by political leaders and other individuals that point in the opposite direction: talk of separatism, conflict, and abandonment of the Ohrid Framework Agreement,” the release reads.

"We firmly oppose any violence or threats of violence, as this will only harm political and economic progress, and which are in sharp contradiction with the values that our institutions represent."

Local A1 TV cited unnamed sources as saying that these remarks are mainly targeting the recent political discourse of Macedonia’s largest ethnic Albanian opposition party, the Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA.

DPA’s leader Menduh Thaci and honorary head Arben Xhaferi recently suggested that Macedonia should abandon the Ohrid Accord, which provided a political framework for the country after the 2001 armed conflict between the ethnic Albanian insurgents and Macedonian security forces.

The accord envisaged greater participation of the ethnic Albanian community in the state administration, and many other provisions aimed at maintaining the integrity of the state by providing equal rights and opportunities to all ethnic groups.
 
"We call on all political leaders to reaffirm their full commitment to the Ohrid Framework Agreement and reinforced political dialogue,” the statement continues. “We encourage all citizens, and their representatives, to utilize existing democratic mechanisms, including the Parliament, to advance their interests.”

The joint statement comes at a critical moment for Macedonia’s EU and NATO integration bid, just two months before July, which is seen as an informal deadline for solving the the country's name spat with Greece.

When the spat is resolved, Macedonia hopes for almost instant entry into NATO and for a quick start to its EU accession talks. These moves have been so far stalled due to Greek opposition.

The joint statement adds: “We also encourage continued progress in all reforms necessary for achieving the foreign policy objectives of the country. We ask all stakeholders to re-double their commitment to inter-ethnic harmony and refrain from any actions that could create tension.”

It also adds that public and political support in Macedonia for Euro-Atlantic integration remains extraordinarily high.