Brussels, 12/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - The European Union has expressed concern about the renewed violence in Macedonia, where the kidnapping followed by the release of Macedonian civilians and the death of three policemen during clashes with ethnic Albanian rebels followed police intervention in an Albanian area over the weekend, decided by the ultra-nationalist Home Minister Ljube Boskovski to protect what is said to be a mass grave of executed Macedonians. "Everything must be done to prevent a renewed spiral of violence" said the spokesperson for European Commissioner Chris Patten, who "strongly regrets what is happening, all the more as ratification of the framework agreement was scheduled for Monday, which is perhaps not a matter of chance". "This adventure will be very costly", said moderate Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski, cited by the Reuters Agency, concerning the police operation, which was decided without prior consultation of international observers. During the operation the Albanian rebels were arrested, despite plans to grant amnesty.
The European Union last week appointed Swedish national Lars Norberg to the head of an independent committee of inquiry on persons who disappeared during the conflicts in Macedonia. Lars Norberg was at the head of the European observer mission in the Balkans.