Foreign Affairs Minister of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia addresses OSCE Permanent Council

VIENNA, 30 August 2001 (OSCE) - H.E. Mrs. Ilinka Mitreva, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia addressed today the 55 States on the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). "In this moment Macedonia finds itself in a very sensitive, if not crucial, stage on the road to its lasting stabilization", stressed H.E. Mrs Ilinka Mitreva.

Emphasising that the situation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continues to be complex and difficult, Minister Mitreva recognized the precious role of the OSCE in the entire period since the outburst of the crisis, as illustrated in its presence on the ground, the visits of OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, as well as those of the CiO's personal envoy Mr. Max van der Stoel.

H.E. Mrs. Ilinka Mitreva called for future co-operation of the OSCE along the lines of its mandate, and in the assistance foreseen under Annex C of the Framework Agreement in various fields such as census, elections, police reforms and training, projects in the sphere of the media, improvement of inter-ethnic relations. "After the end of the Task Force Harvest operation, a security vacuum may follow pending the resumption of the regular tasks by the Macedonian security forces, as well as the establishing of effective rule of law on the whole territory of the country", explained Mrs. Ilinka Mitreva, who added: "The increased presence of OSCE and EUMM will positively affect the overall security situation as well as the process of confidence and security building - an area in which OSCE has considerable experience and mechanisms at its disposal".

Minister Mitreva's intervention came while the OSCE is considering the possibility of enhancing its presence in the country increasing the size of the present mission by 25 international personnel until 31 December to reach a total of 51 international staff on the ground.

In his remarks, concluding a constructive dialogue between H.M. Ilinka Mitreva and the OSCE delegations, OSCE Chairmanship welcomed the signing of the Framework Agreement on 13 August 2001, as "a clear signal that the Macedonian society has chosen to take the path of Ohrid peace spirit and to refuse the civil war". Ambassador Liviu Bota, Chairman of the Permanent Council, repeated the OSCE support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. "The OSCE stands ready to respond positively to the request by the signatories of the Framework Agreement in implementing its provisions", he said.

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