Brussels, 19/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - Following their talks on the situation in the Balkans, and in particular the escalation of violence in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the European Union Ministers for Foreign Affairs adopted, on Monday, the following conclusions with regards to:
FYROM: The Council states its great concern by the escalation of violence in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. It reaffirms its strong condemnation of the attacks by Albanian extremists aiming to destabilise the FYROM and the region. The EU does not tolerate any support for the rebels, asserts the Council, which recalls that "the political claims must be defended by peaceful means while respecting democratic principals". It pressures the Albanian extremists to immediately put an end to all forms of violence, and reiterates its attachment to the inviolability of international borders recognised in the region as well as the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the FYROM. The Council welcomes the measures taken by KFOR and encourages it to continue these actions with vigour, brings its support to the Macedonian government and encourages it to continue reforms, in particular with regards to the improvement of the inter-ethnic relations. It also underlines that the association and stabilisation agreement, which must be signed during its April meeting in Luxembourg, will provide a framework for the future support of the FYROM within European structures.
Southern Serbia: the Council welcomes the signing of the cease-fire between the authorities of the FRY and Serbia and representatives of Albanian origin, that "is an important step on the path to a political solution", and stresses the need to implement these agreements rigorously. The Council calls on the parties to engage in direct negotiations as quickly as possible and determine confidence-building measures that could reduce the tensions. It welcomes the latest decisions taken by NATO, especially concerning the safety of monitors deployed on the ground by the EU.
Bosnia-Herzegovina: the Council firmly backs the efforts made by the High Representative Wolfgang Petritsch and declares that "the new government will benefit from the EU's full support in implementing the Dayton and Paris Peace accords." The Council reaffirms that "the citizens and people of Bosnia-Herzegovina will only be able to approach Europe in the framework of a unified State", and condemns the recent unilateral decision of the "National Croat Congress of Bosnia and Herzegovina" of placing itself outside the provisions of the Dayton/Paris Accords (see EUROPE of 17 March, p.4). It thus calls on the Croats Bosnia-Herzegovina to work within the legal intitutions of their country at all levels to promote their interests.
During talks, the EU's High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, presented a report on the situation in southern Serbia and the EU Strategy (see other article). Ministers also heard an address by the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina placing emphasis on the need to strengthen the institutions to weaken the nationalists and consolidate the rule of law in Bosnia-Herzegovina. At a press conference, Mr. Petritsch said that ministers had welcome this Strategy. "People increasingly realize that nationalism is not the solution", he said. For the first time, with the last elections in November, we have a majority that escapes nationalism, he noted, before going on to add: "This is what makes me optimistic". The Union's aid must not be understood as purely an expression of altruism, said Mr Petritsch, who stressed as he had done before the ministers that the interests of Bosnia and of the EU are muddled on the ground in the fight against illegal immigration and organised crime. While stressing that several conditions must still be fulfilled before Bosnia-Herzegovina can join the Council of Europe, he felt that this accession should also contribute to acceptance of the State by the different communities. In answer to a question on the situation in Macedonia, he said that the EU must immediately give its full support to the Macedonian government in order to stress that "the time when political issues could be resolved by military means is definitively over". He went on to explain that the main problem in the region is that "we are confronted by societies that have no experience of democracy, that have never resolved conflicts by political compromises".
Lord Robertson takes part in lunch for Fifteen with Mr Kerim
During lunch, NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson presented to ministers the measures that must make it possible to strengthen security at the borders with Macedonia. Macedonian Foreign Minister Sergjan Kerim, also at the lunch, said during the final press conference that "KFOR has its role to play" to strengthen security along the Macedonian border and help to "isolate extremists". "If I correctly understood what Lord Robertson said, NATO is to examine additional measures from this afternoon", he added, specifying that his country's parliament has called on NATO to deploy forces along the border but also on FYROM territory. In answer to questions on possible extension of the KFOR mandate so that it may deploy on FYROM territory, the EU Council President Anna Lindh replied that "for now, it is a matter of stepping up border security". Mr Kerim welcomed the support given by the EU to FYROM. "Together", he said, "we are working to break the vicious circle into which extremists try to lure us". He spoke of the "common agenda of the EU and FYROM concerning economic and political reforms", his country's rapprochement to the EU and the strengthening of regional cooperation. He welcomed the constructive role played by other countries such as Greece and Albania.
During the final press conference, Anna Lindh presented the Council's conclusions as "a strong declaration condemning small Albanian terrorist groups that want to have their demands met through violence". She recalled that an EU Troika will be in Skopje and Pristina on Thursday. Mr Solana stressed that the meeting between the Council and Mr Robertson shows the determination of the EU and of NATO to coordinate their efforts. Commissioner Chris Patten felt it is not by chance that, on 9 April, the FYROM will be the first country of the region with which the EU will sign an association and stabilisation agreement. He said it is because the EU is convinced it is committed to respecting the result of the ballot boxes, and to working towards establishing a multi-ethnic society. He went on to explain that the Troika will be able to examine, on the spot, concrete measures that may be taken to this end along the lines of the support that is now being made available for the University of Tetovo (EUR 5 million are foreseen in 2001).