Luxembourg, 25/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The EU foreign ministers decided on Monday, in Luxembourg, to appoint the former French Defence Minister, François Léotard, as EU Representative in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). During the final press conference, Council President Anna Lindh stressed that this mission in the field was necessary because it was obvious that Mr Solana, who has devoted a considerable amount of time to the problem, cannot be there all the time. She recalled that, in conformity with the decisions of the European Council in Gothenburg, Mr Léotard will be acting under the authority of the High Representative for CFSP. Hubert Védrine, French Foreign Minister, confirmed to a group of journalists that this would be a "hierarchical relationship" and that there would be "no ambiguity" about this, even if Mr Léotard's presence is financed by France. Mr Léotard is deputy for the Var and should therefore have the status of "parliamentarian on mission", said Mr Védrine, who also said he would be contacting him again in the afternoon to discuss a "departure as soon as possible". The mission will be of "short duration" in the prospect of a political agreement on the ground, said Mr Védrine, speaking of several weeks or three to four months at the most. Ministers also noted the forthcoming departure of Robert Badinter for Skopje where he will provide aid of a constitutional kind to discussions on reform of the Constitution engaged at the request of President Trajkovsky. Ms Lindh said she hoped the joint action by Mr Badinter and EU representatives would allow the search for a lasting political solution to be speeded up.
In its conclusions on FYROM, the General Affairs Council restates the EU's commitment to make an active contribution to seeking a solution as well as the need to settle all the problems through political dialogue. It also welcomes the crucial role played by Mr Solana in the agreement on demilitarisation of Aracinovo. Furthermore, the Council adopted conclusions on the Western Balkans (see also EUROPE of 22 June, p.4) in which it welcomes the adoption by the Yugoslav government of a decree on cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia allowing for Mr Milosevic's extradition. Speaking to journalists, Mr Védrine welcomed the "courage shown by the Yugoslav officials who issued a decree when they noted that the law was in an impasse". The Council conclusions also insist on the success of the Donors' Conference to be held on 29 June in Brussels. During the final press conference, Commissioner Chris Patten expressed the hope that other contributors would be as generous as the EU. Mr Védrine told journalists that "not very understandable" doubts persist on the side of the American authorities.
Troika/Macedonian Foreign Minister meeting - No additional aid before political settlement
At the beginning of the morning, the EU Troika had met the Macedonian Foreign Minister, Ilinka Mitreva, who, during a joint press conference with Ms Lindh and Messrs Patten and Solana, had considered that the EU's requests were too demanding given that his country needed considerable aid because of the dramatic situation of its economy.
Referring to the agreement reached for the decentralisation and taking into account of minority rights at the level of local authorities, as well as the initial results of the political dialogue on the reform of the institutions and the President's undertakings to emerge from the crisis, she considered that there were sufficient guarantees for additional EU aid. Ms. Lindh placed emphasis on the deterioration of the situation, the need to reach a political agreement, on the basis of a unanimous decision by all democratic political forces and an immediate cease fire. Having welcomed the will of the Macedonian President to resume negotiations Monday evening already, she confirmed that the sending of an international force to monitor disarmament would only come after the cease fire. The Fifteen, who want to keep up the pressure on the Macedonian authorities, have clearly chosen not to supply additional aid as long as a political settlement has not been found.