Brussels, 04/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - The visit by Commissioner Chris Patten and High Representative Javier Solana to Skopje on Thursday took place in a tense atmosphere. The Macedonian authorities wished to have the police penetrate the areas controlled by Albanian rebels, although the framework agreement signed in August between the parties provides for the police to return later, and particularly after an amnesty of the rebels. The government finally decided during the day to postpone this action. The four envoys from the EU, the US, NATO and the OSCE had issued a clear and critical statement against this project, which would go beyond "a completely transparent planning process". Chris Patten and Javier Solana were again to put pressure on their Macedonian discussion partners by insisting on the fact that the granting of European aid, including new aid of EUR 10.3 million decided yesterday (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.9), depends on the implementation of reforms.