Prespa Agreement a milestone achievement and textbook example of successful diplomacy and conflict resolution, stressed OSCE Chairperson Lajčák

SKOPJE, 19 June 2019 – On a trip to the Republic of North Macedonia, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovakia’s Foreign and European Affairs Minister Miroslav Lajčák, today in Skopje, congratulated North Macedonia on its successes over the last year, in particular the Prespa Agreement on the issue of the country’s name and achieved reforms.

“The Prespa Agreement is a milestone achievement and really a textbook example of successful diplomacy and conflict resolution. It can pave the ground for a new level of good neighbourly relations,” he said.

“For a long time, it looked like the name issue was unsolvable, but with real leadership, real vision and real courage, a solution was found. And it gives us hope for other disputes,” the Chairperson stressed while underlining that “it is crucial to keep the momentum going”. “The recent historic achievement should not allow us to get complacent. On the contrary, now is the time to pick up the pace. And, that is a main reason why I am here – to find opportunities for doing just that,” he added.

One of these opportunities is continuing to focus on North Macedonia’s ambitious reform agenda on the path towards achieving its strategic priorities for the benefit of all communities. 

As the longest serving OSCE field presence, the Organization’s Mission in Skopje has assisted North Macedonia for the past 27 years in areas ranging from capacity building for early warning and conflict prevention and fostering improved inter-ethnic relations, to supporting reforms in areas such as elections, democratic policing, local governance and the judiciary, and promoting women’s leadership in the public sector and the participation of young people in regional dialogue.

“The Mission to Skopje stands ready to continue and enhance its co-operation with the authorities at this important time for the country,” emphasized Lajčák.

Discussions on the country’s strategic priorities were prevalent throughout Minister Lajčák’s meetings with the political leadership of North Macedonia, including President Pendarovski, Prime Minister Zaev, Deputy Prime Minister Osmani, Foreign Minister Dimitrov, and VMRO-DPMNE leader Mickoski.

The OSCE Chair also engaged with OSCE Mission staff and civil society to get a frank assessment of the overall situation from those closest to the ground.

And he had a chance to meet with children and teachers who are involved in the OSCE Mission-supported “Building Bridges” project – an initiative that brings together students from all communities and linguistic backgrounds - that Minister Lajčák considered particularly important as it helps to bridge ethnical and social divides. 

“Your spirit of co-operation is contagious,” Lajčák told the children and teachers present.

During meetings with people engaged in projects to raise environmental awareness through education funded by SlovakAid, the OSCE Chair warned against taking the environment for granted, as we may reach a point of no return: “And it does not go unnoticed that every week thousands of students take to the streets to demand urgent climate action,” he added.

While in Skopje, Minister Lajčák also addressed the National Convention on the EU, a multi-stakeholder platform aimed at supporting and discussing governmental reform policy.