Brussels, 06/04/2009 (Agence Europe) - Welcoming the “overall satisfactory conduct” in the municipal and presidential elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said “the country has responded positively to our message”. The holding of elections without any major incidents was a test for FYROM's European future, after violence had marred the general elections last year. The fact that according to a report by election observers from the Organisation of for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), most of the international standards had been respected is “an important step forward for democracy in the country,” explained Rehn, but “important work remains in order to deliver results on judicial reform, the fight against corruption and reform of the civil service,” he added in a press release issued on Monday 6 April 2009. “I am convinced that, if the necessary efforts are made, the benchmarks could be fulfilled in time for this autumn's Progress Report. A recommendation on the start of accession negotiations will depend on the results achieved,” added Rehn.
Winning 63.41% of the vote, ruling party candidate Gjorgji Ivanov beat conservative candidate Ljubomir Frckoski, who won 36.56% of the vote in a presidential election characterised by apathy among the Albanian voters with a sharp fall in turnout in the second round of the elections. (A.B. trans fl)