I have been deeply troubled by the worsening situation in Macedonia for some time, and the subject was discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels yesterday. We are very concerned about the situation, both at the events of the weekend of 9 and 10 May, and the wider political instability facing the country. Ministers agreed to monitor the situation closely, and the High Representative indicated that the matter will be discussed again by the Council in the near future.
The protracted crisis in Macedonia was highlighted by the violent clashes which occurred ten days ago (9-10 May) during a police operation against an alleged terrorist group. Kumanovo, where these appalling events occurred, is close to Macedonia’s border with Kosovo and Serbia. During the two-day shoot-out, 22 people were killed, and some 40 were injured. I extend my condolences to the families of all those who died.
In the immediate aftermath of these events, EU Commissioner Hahn issued a statement calling on ‘the authorities and all political and community leaders to co-operate, to restore calm and fully investigate the events in an objective and transparent manner’. I fully support that call. In the interests of the country and the stability of the region as a whole, I urge all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any further escalation of violence.
This incident took place against a backdrop of wider political instability, which has been of concern for some time. The difficulties caused by the ongoing boycott of Parliament by the opposition since late 2012 were further compounded by the recent wire-tapping scandal, with the opposition accusing the main government party of engaging in an illegal surveillance programme of over 20,000 people. Ireland supports calls for a prompt and rigorous investigation into all allegations of wrongdoing, with full respect for the principles of due process and freedom of expression.
Last month, the EU General Affairs Council expressed grave concern regarding the deteriorating situation in the country and urged all sides to focus on finding solutions to the ongoing political crisis.
We welcome all efforts to redress the situation and restore stability. We believe that continued EU engagement is even more necessary than ever in view of the events in Kumanovo.
It is important to continue work to restore trust in the institutions of Macedonia in order to avoid further instability, and we welcome all efforts in this regard, including those of the European Parliament, which has been facilitating talks between the government and opposition parties. I hope that the talks in recent days between the four largest political parties in Macedonia can find a way out of the current political crisis.
