OSCE Chairman-in-Office welcomes redeployment of police officers in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

BUCHAREST, 24 October 2001 (OSCE) - The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, welcomes the redeployment, last Monday, of police officers of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia into the five pilot villages of Opaje, Lopate, Grusino, Tearce and Lesok in the north-west of the country. The mixed police patrols were accompanied by police advisers from the OSCE.

"The OSCE stands ready to assist in finding a peaceful resolution of the crisis, and we have started to implement our responsibilities outlined in the 13 August Framework Agreement. The redeployment of the police officers is considered a constructive and positive step towards more security and stability in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. We strongly encourage the authorities in Skopje to finalize the parliamentary process in accordance with the Framework Agreement", said Mr. Geoana.

The OSCE Chairman-in-Office also stressed the importance of a co-operative approach, the authorities of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia working together with the OSCE, EU and NATO as a comprehensive force to ensure stability in the country. "Monday's successful redeployment clearly demonstrates what can be achieved when operations are timely, concerted, planned, and carried out together by the authorities, the OSCE, EU and NATO", he said.

The OSCE is currently present in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with 30 police advisers, 65 confidence-building monitors, three police trainers, together with 25 core Mission staff. The reinforcement of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje is continuing and aims at reaching a total number of over 200 international personnel. OSCE field officers are deployed in the north and west of the country, mainly in areas affected by the crisis.