Visiting Skopje on Monday 3 April, European Council President Donald Tusk called on the president of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Gjorge Ivanov, to follow the Euro-Atlantic path – a factor of unity.
"Working towards EU and NATO memberships has consistently proved a factor of unity. Unity that is so needed in your country today. I therefore hope that you will continue to follow this internal compass and avoid anything that could further fuel tensions, also along ethnic lines", Tusk said at a press conference with Ivanov.
Tusk called on Ivanov to find "a solution based on democratic principles, decency and common sense. Only such a solution can be a lasting one", he said. Tusk offered European support when a solution to the political crisis has been found (FYROM still does not have a government following its elections in December 2016 - (see EUROPE 11751).
Ivanov held doggedly to his position and, according to Macedonian media, said that his decision not to give the mandate to a possible Albanian coalition to form a government aimed to prevent "any harmful consequence". "A 'blacklisted' government means an unstable government, with a short life", he said. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)