Brussels, 03/09/2001 (Agence Europe) - Chris Patten and Javier Solana are expected to be in Skopje on Thursday and Friday to confirm the aid promised by the European Union for Macedonia, but also as a reminder that the aid will only be made available once the peace agreement is implemented, at least the vote on reforms in Parliament. The date of the visit is not yet final and may be changed depending on how the situation in Macedonia develops, say diplomatic sources.
The European Commissioner for External Relations and High Representative for CFSP "wish to speak with all the parties involved in the process to affirm that the confidence-building measures, intended to translate into reality what is granted politically or legally, are an integral part of the agreement of 13 August, and will immediately follow its implementation", said the Commission spokesman. These confidence-building measures, which are to receive the support of the EU, range from the setting in place of a university in the Albanian speaking region of Tetovo to the support of the judicial and police structures and the reconstruction of devastated areas. Mr Patten had announced mid August that the Commission: 1) planned to give initial aid of EUR 2.5 million through the rapid reaction mechanism, once the situation on the ground makes it possible to carry out an assessment of needs; 2) prepared an additional aid package of EUR 30 million, that will be added to the EUR 42 million already earmarked for FYROM this year; 3) may provide macrofinancial aid of up to 50 million as soon as the agreement between FYROM and the International Monetary Fund is applied; and 4) the Commission and the World Bank had launched preparations for a Donors Conference for Macedonia.
The situation in Macedonia will be one of the main points of the meeting of EU15 foreign ministers, a meeting of the Gymnich kind, next weekend in Genval. The Fifteen should draw lessons from the attitude of the Macedonian parliament and from the very probable visit by Mr Solana and Mr Patten. Like NATO, they may also discuss how appropriate it is to prolong the NATO mandate to protect civilian observers who are sent to monitor implementation of the agreement.