Brussels, 26/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The NATO Permanent Council (ambassadorial level) and the Political and Security Committee (COPS) of the European Union consulted each other on Tuesday evening, in Brussels, on the serious developments in the situation of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
On Monday, during the General Affairs Council, European Commissioner Chris Patten declared it is difficult to make peace when the money in the country, which is in limited quantity, is used to buy bombs and missiles (see yesterday's EUROPE, pp. 4/5).
On Monday evening in Skopje, after the agreement that allowed the withdrawal (without disarmament) of UCK rebels from Aracinovo, several thousand demonstrators called for President Trajkovski's resignation, crying "NATO, traitor!". They also burnt effigies of the High Representative for CFSP, Javier Solana, and the EU Council President, Anna Lindh.
Commenting to the press in Luxembourg on the events in Skopje last night, Council President Anna Lindh restated that there can be no military solution to the crisis. She confirmed the EU's support to President Trajkovsky and to the coalition government, stressing that the latter maintains control over the police and armed forces. She pointed out that a message to the population was to be issued later in the day. Insisting on continued dialogue between all the political forces, she said that "everyone must assume their responsibility" for reaching a political solution in the context of the constitutional reform to which Mr Badinter and Mr van der Stoel, who is OSCE High Commissioner for minorities until 1 July, must make a contribution. Answering questions on the reaction caused among the population by the decision to allow ethnic Albanian fighters to leave Aracinovo without handing in their weapons, Ms Lindh considered it difficult to comment on how appropriate this decision was the day after their retreat. "The important thing was for them to leave", she said, adding that demilitarisation should come about gradually.
Mr Léotard, appointed EU Representative in Macedonia on Monday, was in Luxembourg on Tuesday for consultation before his departure for Skopje.
On Tuesday, in a joint statement, Anna Lindh, Javier Solana and Chris Patten strongly condemn the violence on Monday. "The events of last night underline the gravity of the situation confronting each and every citizen of FYROM. Conflict brings no winners, only suffering and sorrow", they state before going on to say: "There is still every chance of restoring peace and stability. But it will require the courage and the resolve of every citizen of FYROM (…) to seize the remaining chance of peace, based on dialogue. The EU stands ready (…) to do all it can to help find an overall political settlement that is essential for lasting peace, and to provide substantial financial and political backing (…) We appeal for calm and for all parties to work for peace through dialogue, which offers the only path to Europe".