Brussels, 27/03/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of their visit to Skopje on Monday evening and Tuesday, the European Union's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, and the NATO Secretary General, George Robertson, had two main messages - they called for a political solution and support for the Macedonian government. After Macedonian troops regained control of the hillside overlooking the mainly Albanian town of Tetovo, Javier Solana and George Robertson stressed the importance of finding a political solution to the situation. The Secretary General of NATO said that nobody wanted a new bloodbath in the Balkans and that the international community and NATO fully supported the efforts being made by those who prefer the ballot box to the bullet, but defended each nation's right to self defence, adding that since Macedonia had taken positions on the hills of Tetovo, it now had the opportunity of finding a political solution. On Monday evening, Messrs Robertson and Solana met the main Macedonian leaders, including President Boris Trajkovski (who was invited to the European Summit in Stockholm on 23 March).
Javier Solana went to Tetovo on Tuesday morning, where he explained that he had "come to Tetovo to reiterate the full support of the European Union to the government, but also to show solidarity with moderate ethnic Albanian leaders, and with the population in this area which is suffering because of the ongoing crisis. This crisis is not over, but is entering a different phase. While immediate security threats may be receding, it is now essential that priority be given to the political track. Grievances cannot be allowed to fester. My message to all Macedonians today is that it is in their interests to address urgently the root causes of legitimate grievance, through political and democratic mechanisms". The High Representative met Arben Xhaferi in Tetovo, who is the leader of the Democratic Party of Albania, the biggest Albanian party seeking a peaceful solution to the problem in Macedonia.