Brussels, 07/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 4 January, the European Commission called on the leaders of all the political parties and their supporters in Macedonia to put an immediate end to the confrontations. Sebastien Brabant, the spokesman for EU High Representative Catherine Ashton declared that all the different political actors should comply with the law, constitution and parliamentary procedures and take account of the interests of the citizens who had elected them. Political clashes were still continuing in the vicinity of the Macedonian (FYROM) parliament at the end of December. The spokesman added that the Commission was calling on “all political parties and their supporters to put an end to these confrontations without delay”. Brabant added that “while the peaceful expression of different opinions is the foundation of a strong and democratic nation, the use of violence by any parties involved undermines that system and damages its ability to govern responsibly”. Protests broke out in the capital Skopje on December 24, when opposition MPs tried to block the parliamentary debate on the 2013 budget and were expelled from the chamber. (CG/transl.fl)