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ICG:
Macedonia
needs
stronger
EU
support
Skopje,
August
4
(MIA)
-
Protests
in
Skopje
against
devolution
proposals
on
27
July
attest
to
lingering
tension
in
Macedonia,
and
despite
many
promising
signs,
the
survival
of
the
state
in
its
present
form
-
a
key
element
of
stability
in
the
fragile
Western
Balkans
-
is
still
not
completely
assured,
which
requires
stronger
support
of
the
European
Union
…
Both
Skopje
and
Brussels
must
do
better
at
answering
questions
about
whether
it
really
has
a
future
within
the
EU,
the
International
Crisis
Group
says
in
its
report.
ICG
welcomes
Macedonia's
relative
political
calm
in
the
face
of
potentially
destabilising
events
earlier
in
the
year
-
the
tragic
death
of
the
president
and
the
explosion
of
violence
in
neighbouring
Kosovo.
But
perhaps
the
greatest
challenge
is
now
on
the
table:
devolution
of
power
to
local
government
as
set
out
in
the
2001
Ohrid
peace
agreement.
"
Decentralization
is
the
last
step
in
settling
the
legacy
of
2001.
If
this
can
be
dealt
with
properly,
the
state
will
have
consolidated
itself
and
will
be
more
able
to
withstand
future
shocks
-
in
particular
any
fallout
from
the
process
of
resolving
Kosovo's
final
status,"
ICG
Europe
Program
Director
Nicholas
Whyte
says.
The
presidential
election
indicated
that
Macedonia
has
attained
a
certain
level
of
democratic
maturity
and
stability,
ICG
considers.
If
the
coalition
can
ride
out
the
devolution
controversy,
significant
challenges
remain
on
reforming
the
economy
and
stimulating
employment.
The
government
has
underperformed
in
these
areas,
preferring
to
pursue
those
responsible
for
shady
privatisation
deals
under
the
previous
administration.
Deep
concerns
also
remain
about
the
effectiveness
of
the
rule
of
law.
If
Macedonians
perceive
that
the
EU
does
not
really
want
them,
they
will
again
question
their
national
future.
Europe
has
made
a
considerable
political
investment
in
the
Ohrid
process
and
Macedonian
stability;
it
now
has
the
opportunity
to
capitalise
on
that
investment
by
securing
the
country's
future,
the
report
reads.
zs/lk/15:47/mia/MTnet/
###
©
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not
be
published,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.
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