Joint statement by Heads of Mission of EU, NATO, OSCE and U.S. in Skopje on recent killings near Smiljkovci

SKOPJE, 18 April 2012 – The heads of mission of the European Union, NATO, OSCE, and U.S. issued the following statement today:

“We condemn the terrible murders which occurred near the village of Smiljkovci and send our deepest sympathies to the families of the victims.

We understand that the authorities are investigating this crime and seeking the perpetrator, or perpetrators. We support the Government’s efforts to pursue the investigation and legal procedures in the timeliest manner possible and encourage the co-operation of the public in gathering all available information on these killings.  

We urge all citizens to remain calm, to refrain from speculation or unfounded allegations, and to show patience for the investigative process to take its course. When citizens engage in violence or attempt to take the law into their own hands, it only pulls the police away from the investigation and makes it more difficult to bring the murderers to justice.”