Parliamentary Assembly

Mr President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, and distinguished friends, it is my pleasure and my honour to address the Parliamentary Assembly and to share with you the fact that the conflict of a year ago in the Republic of Macedonia has been overcome. The process of stabilisation is making steady progress, although some forces continue to attempt to reverse it. We are strongly committed to building our future ever more vigorously on the principles, which we have always cherished, of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Those are the cornerstones of the Council of Europe, which deserves our praise for the reaffirmation and promotion of pan-European values of integration and democratisation. It is a genuine promoter of the European idea and a vehement supporter of the expansion of the European integration, and it has proved to be an indispensable overreaching organisation. Its efforts are visible in the promotion of the idea of a Europe without dividing lines and with peace, justice and stability. The Republic of Macedonia stands ready to engage in activities required for the development of the new European institutional structures, including those supported by the Council of Europe.

Since I last addressed the Assembly, at least two major events have changed the realities of life. The armed conflict in the Republic of Macedonia and the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 have emphasised the correlations between internal and external threats to security and stability, and between our internal capacity and our need for external support to deal with such events. The armed conflict in Macedonia threatened democracy and interethnic existence. Those threats were jointly defeated by our country’s commitment to strive for peace and interethnic stability, on which we received valuable support from the international community, including the Council of Europe.

Though the scale and quantity of support varied, the countries of the world recognised that we need each other if we are to meet our challenges. Regardless of whether they are in the same continent or region, countries that share democratic values and commitments and see that they have a common future have more than a moral obligation to help those in need. Our response to the new challenge of terrorism must be consistent and uncompromising, while still fully protecting human rights and the rule of law.

We welcome the support of the Council of Europe for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Macedonia and for its constructive approach to overcoming the crisis. The Council has taken an active role in the process of implementing the Ohrid Framework Agreement through experts who have invested their knowledge and skills in drafting constitutional amendments and the accompanying legislation that derives from the framework agreement – notably the Law on Local Self- Government. In that regard I would like to express the appreciation of the people of the Republic of Macedonia for all the efforts that this Organisation is making. I restate my belief that joint co-operation will continue in all its aspects, including implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement.

Reconstructing the houses of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is one of the most important elements of confidence building. It is of the utmost importance that it should be achieved before the coming winter. I ask all representatives of countries here and all members of this Assembly to request twofold support for the reconstruction of basic infrastructure and the homes of Macedonian citizens through your national institutions and through support in the Parliamentary Assembly by the allocation of appropriate funds in a timely and proper manner.

I will avail myself of this opportunity to thank the Council of Europe Development Bank for its timely response. It has alleviated the consequences of the crisis through the donation of € 1 million for the purchase of basic supplies for IDPs and the loan of €5 million for social housing.

The Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia has made great progress by adopting the amendments to the constitution and the fifteen most important laws on the implementation of the framework agreement. With the expected adoption of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the undertakings of the current composition of the Parliament of Macedonia with regard to the Ohrid Framework Agreement will be successfully completed. The remaining obligations will be considered by the new assembly.

It is of crucial importance that the forthcoming elections in Macedonia should be organised in accordance with international standards and criteria in a democratic manner and spirit. Newly elected representatives should have the political authority to implement the rest of the provisions of the framework agreement. I am confident that representatives of domestic institutions and civil society and the presence of the international community will be a strong guarantee of fair and democratic elections. Members of the Parliamentary Assembly will be monitoring the elections. It is my firm belief that after the September elections, Macedonia will be reaffirmed as a democratic state with ever-rising standards of democracy. The forthcoming parliamentary elections are the third in a row for our democracy. At this moment the main issue of concern is still the situation in the former crisis regions, where the principle of the rule of law remains to be fully established.

To summarise the prospects for my country in midterm, I see a stable and prosperous Macedonia that is a part of the European Union and Nato. Vision statements are easy to pronounce but difficult to achieve. To become a reality they require motivation and, of course, concerted efforts. The inspiration is the reality of the lives of the people of Macedonia and the motivation is the arrangements that Macedonia has made with the European Union and Nato. The achievement of that vision depends on the citizens of my country, who must take their destiny and that of future generations into their own hands.

The Republic of Macedonia, while thankful for the humanitarian and financial assistance it has received, still needs a boost to achieve development and prosperity. Political solutions to political and social problems are not the ultimate goal. They are reasonable undertakings only when viewed as the basis for improving well-being. Leaders have the moral responsibility for that and for achieving prosperity. Unfortunately, the reality of today’s Europe is that unemployed people – predominantly the young – are easily seduced by extremist and military ideals. They are more likely to support violent solutions. One way to combat extremism is by having appropriate education and employment opportunities, which will contribute to higher self-esteem and greater awareness – the fear from the other is no more than an excuse for the fear of uncertainty.

I must stress something that is very important. As responsible politicians, we must not allow young people from Europe whose countries are not represented in the EU to feel that at this important moment for Europe they are excluded and cannot achieve their expectations. Mr Giscard d’Estaing’s proposal for the creation of a forum is an excellent opportunity to allow European citizens to listen to the voice of my young fellow citizens.

My vision is to lead the Republic of Macedonia to democracy and prosperity, building a society that is based on individuals and not ethnic groups – citizens and not minorities or majorities. The country has to build a democracy that is based on individual not collective rights and responsibilities. I want Macedonia to be a country where every individual can achieve his or her potential through hard work and merit – a country in which all citizens, regardless of background, can fulfil their expectations.

Although everyone is aware of the significance of the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, we must clearly spell out that no one has the right to misunderstand its aim. We must acknowledge that serious attempts are being made to interpret its contents extensively and absurdly, threatening the very meaning of its spirit. That could drag us into new tensions and destabilisation, which could be fatal for our state.

As I said, my main vision for Macedonia is for it to become a fully fledged member of the EU and Nato. The process of becoming a full member of the EU was accelerated last year, with the signing of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) – its ratification is progressing successfully. In that regard, I call once again on

EU countries that have not ratified it to do so. The agreement defines the main goals on which Macedonia should focus in order to join the European family of nations. This is a joint project and it should be implemented for our mutual benefit. Macedonia’s interest in joining Nato is not an issue of political prestige; it is a question of promoting stability and security for the whole region. I strongly believe, as do citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, that Nato is recognising, in addition to security interests, the moral responsibility to accept Macedonia as a full member in its structures.

The stability of every part of Europe is a precondition for the stability of Europe as a whole. We need regional co-operation, which should eliminate stereotypes, mistrust and conflict, and promote good neighbourly relations, strengthening democracy at all levels, including the local one, as well as cross-border co-operation. In that context, I recall the recently adopted Vilnius Declaration on Regional Co-operation and Consolidation of Democratic Stability in Greater Europe. The most visible role of the Council of Europe is in promoting and strengthening democracy. This should be nurtured further. With a view to fostering multicultural dialogue, and dialogue between religions, I would like to inform you that in November I will host a regional forum on dialogue among civilisations. It will be conducted in co-operation with Unesco within the United Nations global agenda and its action plan on this issue. I am certain that we all agree that the culture of democracy is the only future for mankind, and the best possible way to achieve prosperity.