Special Representative for the Western Balkans Gérard Stoudmann calls for restraint and confidence-building measures

SKOPJE, 14 May 2015 – Following-up on an initiative of the OSCE Chairperson Ivica Dačić, Serbia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, his Special Representative for the Western Balkans, Ambassador Gérard Stoudmann, and the Head of the Chairmanship Task Force, Ambassador Dejan Šahović, visited Skopje on 14 May 2015.

They met with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Poposki, President of DUI Ali Ahmeti, President of SDSM Zoran Zaev, as well as representatives of the civil society. All the meetings were also attended by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Astrid Thors.

Recalling that the stability of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is of vital importance for the stability of the whole region and reiterating the need to prevent the situation from deteriorating, Stoudmann called on all sides to exercise restraint during the announced demonstrations and to take steps towards lowering tensions.

He stressed the crucial need to build confidence in the State institutions and in particular the responsibility the Government has in this respect. He called for the establishment of a process conducive to a sustainable political dialogue which could address, for example, the issues related to the judiciary system. He also encouraged the creation of an independent mechanism capable of securing credible investigations into allegations of wrongdoings. In this respect, he reassured all parties of OSCE’s readiness to provide further assistance.