|
US
and
EU
positively
assessed
territorial
organisation
agreement
Macedonian
Information
Agency
(Jul
16,
2004,
12:49:47
PM
(GMT+01:00)) (MIA) -
The
agreement
which
was
reached
between
the
coalition
partners
strengthens
local
democracy
at
the
municipal
level
while
fully
respecting
the
spirit
and
the
letter
of
the
Ohrid
Agreement,
US
Department
of
State
told.
In
the
statement
for
the
VOA,
Programme
on
Macedonian
language,
Charles
English,
the
Director
of
the
US
State
Department's
Office
of
South
and
Central
European
Affairs,
claimed
that
the
agreement
demonstrated
European
determination
of
the
coalition
government
in
the
country.
"We
believe
this
agreement,
which
was
reached
after
long
and
intensive
discussions
between
the
coalition
partners,
demonstrates
the
governing
coalition's
commitment
to
developing
a
unified
multi-ethnic
society,
to
holding
local
elections
as
scheduled
in
October
and
to
promoting
its
long-term
goal
of
European
integration,"
English
said.
He
congratulated
the
efforts
made
by
President
Branko
Crvenkovski,
PM
Hari
Kostov
and
DUI
leader
Ali
Ahmeti
during
the
negotiations.
"By
concluding
the
agreement
and
bringing
the
democracy
closer
to
the
nation,
Macedonian
Government
showed
to
have
feeling
for
traditions
and
culture
of
the
ethnic
communities
in
Macedonia
and
to
recognize
the
importance
of
the
Macedonian
multi-ethnic
tradition.
We
commend
such
efforts,"
English
said
for
VOA,
Programme
on
Macedonian
language.
EU
High
Representative
for
the
Common
Foreign
and
Security
Policy,
Javier
Solana
sent
Thursday
note
of
congratulations
to
Macedonian
Prime
Minister
Hari
Kostov
and
his
Government
colleagues
on
occasion
of
the
agreement
on
territorial
organization
and
the
city
of
Skopje.
"Finding
a
positive
solution
to
this
sensitive
and
complex
issue
has
undoubtedly
required
political
courage
and
maturity.
This
agreement
reaffirms
the
Government's
commitment
to
move
towards
Europe
through
the
full
implementation
of
the
Ohrid
Agreement,"
Solana's
letter
reads.
"I
encourage
all
political
parties
to
ensure
that
the
required
legislation
is
adopted
by
the
Parliament
in
due
time
to
allow
the
local
elections
to
take
place
as
scheduled
in
October.
This
is
vital
to
promote
further
progress
towards
European
integration,"
EU
High
Representative
for
the
Common
Foreign
and
Security
Policy
stresses.
©
2000
MIA
-
Macedonian
Information
Agency.
All
Rights
Reserved.
This
material
may
not
be
published,
broadcast,
rewritten
or
redistributed
in
any
form
except
with
the
prior
express
permission
of
Macedonian
Information
Agency.
|
