Luxembourg, 16/06/2008 (Agence Europe) -On Monday 16 June, the "External Relations" Council adopted conclusions on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), in which the 27 welcome the fact that the authorities held new partial legislative elections on 15 June in the areas where violent incidents broke out during the main elections on 1 June this year. However, the Foreign Affairs Ministers did not take position on the democratic nature of the elections on Sunday 15 June. On Monday 16 June, observers of the OSCE reported that it still did not respond to international criteria, due to "tensions" and "intimidation manoeuvres". The ministers of the EU hope that a government will be formed quickly and that it will step up the process of reforms. The Council also discussed the draft conclusions of the European Council of 19 and 20 June, which will also deal with FYROM. On this occasion, the Greek Minister Dora Bakoyannis reiterated that Greece is opposed to the idea of starting accession negotiations with FYROM until the country has fulfilled all criteria laid down by the Commission and until the dispute over the use of the name "Macedonia" has been resolved to the satisfaction of Athens. (H.B./trans.fl)