OSCE Chairman-in-Office concerned by recent outburst of violence in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

BUCHAREST, 25 July 2001 (OSCE) - The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, has expressed his deep concern about the recent outburst of violence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which is compromising the international communities' efforts to assist in identifying a peaceful solution to the current situation in the country.

"The brutal attacks against the international community, both in radical inflammatory discourses of local political leaders and in physical form committed by an angry mob against OSCE premises and vehicles, cannot solve Macedonia's internal problems", stated Mr. Geoana.

"The international community representatives were not responsible for the tragic events in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. On the contrary, they were the ones who tried to facilitate a solution. Moreover, they are working in a tense and sometimes dangerous environment, surrounded by suspicion raised by some local political leaders. In this respect, I would like to pay a tribute to the dedication and responsible work of all international staff posted in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and especially to those three EUMM monitors who recently lost their lives while performing their task", stated the Chairman-in-Office.

Mr. Geoana called for the restarting of the inter-Macedonian dialogue. He called on all parties to show restraint and not to allow the violence and inflammatory rhetoric to continue to grow.

For further information, please contact Josue Anselmo, OSCE Spokesperson, mobile (+43) 664 325 3698, or the Press and Public Information Section of the OSCE Secretariat, tel.: (+ 43-1) 514 36 180, or e-mail: info@osce.org