EU Presidency Statement - The situation in FYROM

Mr President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, as well as the associated countries of Cyprus, Malta and Turkey and the EFTA countries of the EEA Iceland and Liechtenstein align themselves with this statement.

The European Union welcomes the visit of the distinguished Foreign Minister Mr. Srgjan Kerim to the Security Council and thanks him for his statement on the situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

Mr. President,

The EU is strongly concerned about the recent escalation of violence in the border region between FRY/Kosovo and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

The EU strongly condemns the rising number of violent incidents in this area, including the

ethnic Albanian extremist attack on Sunday 4 March near the village of Tanusevci, leading to the death of three soldiers. Violent acts such as these endanger the stability and the security of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and its citizens, and should stop immediately.

The EU calls upon all political leaders in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and Kosovo to isolate the forces behind these violent acts and shoulder their responsibility for peace and stability in the region.

The EU reiterates its strong attachment to the principle of inviolability of all borders in the region, including the territorial integrity of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

The EU welcomes the efforts initiated by KFOR aimed at increased control of the border area in the region and the further strengthening of co-ordination between FORYM authorities and KFOR in order to contribute to the stabilization of the situation in the area.

A peaceful and stable FYROM - within internationally recognized borders - is an important condition for furthering the integration of FYROM with the European Union as well as a key factor for stability in the region.

I thank you, Mr President.

| Arriba |

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