Parliamentary Assembly

It is a particular pleasure and honour to be here today in the cradle of democracy to greet you and to speak in front of you. This year, when we celebrate the fifieth anniversary of the establishment of the oldest European integrationist institution, I must remind you of the basic principles for its establishment – the reasons why the Council of Europe was founded.

We have witnessed the numerous achievements of the Council in past years. The large number of ratified conventions in various fields – human rights, the environment, culture, crime and so on – are proof of the need for the Council. I stress in particular the adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights and the establishment of the European Court of Human Rights as one of the greatest achievements in the work of this Institution. I must also mention the creation of the European Commissioner for Human Rights, whom we expect to become active in 2000.

The last decade of this century has been characterised by many changes in Europe and in the world. Unfortunately, the achievements in the fields of democracy, security, respect for the rule of law and human rights are still facing new challenges. We are witnessing new tests of those values. Disrespect for those values has resulted in an enormous disaster in our region and its painful consequences have greatly jeopardised the stability and security of our region and, more widely, in Europe.

Since the beginning of the Kosovo crisis, the principled position of my country has been for a peaceful political solution of the Kosovo problem essentially through wide autonomy within the framework of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and respect for the human rights of all individuals who live in Kosovo. In support of international efforts for the resolution of the crisis, I stress the fact that the peacekeeping Nato forces meant for Kosovo were stationed on the territory of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and now are being deployed in accordance with the adopted United Nations Security Council resolution. After the start of the Nato air strikes against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, an enormous number of representatives of various international governmental and non-governmental organisations – the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Verification Mission for Kosovo, various humanitarian organisations and other organisations that were active in Kosovo earlier – have found accommodation in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.

The Kosovo crisis has hit my country hard. We were faced with an enormous wave of refugees of more than 360 000 persons – about 18% of the total population, of whom 250 000 are still in our country. We have offered those unfortunate people assistance with all that we had. We have used all available human, material and technical resources to help the refugees. “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” demonstrated an enormous solidarity, although it had a rather limited capacity. Considering all the circumstances in which we found ourselves, we have carried that out rather successfully. The overall situation would have been even better if the international community had reacted faster and more energetically.

The problem with the refugees is still acute. That is why I would like to appeal to people to strengthen the joint efforts, to help these people return to their homes and to find their peace as soon as possible. The crisis in Kosovo, and particularly the enormous inflow of refugees from Kosovo, means that “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” has found itself in a very difficult economic, social and political situation, which could prove to be destabilising. We have suffered enormous losses. Direct losses are as high as $660 million, while indirect losses have still to be assessed. A great number of workers have been laid off as a result of the loss of markets, the cancellation of contracts, the increase in transportation costs and similar developments. About 20 000 additional workers have been left without work, and the total unemployment rate has reached 40%. All that is adding to the grave social situation in the state. I must point out that all citizens of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” – who were themselves subjected to enormous social, political and economic pressure – have demonstrated great humanity, tolerance and solidarity towards the refugees, as well as patience. That pressure could easily have resulted in more dramatic events.

My country, for the third time in this decade, has had its development blocked as a result of external factors, influences and situations. One has to admit that this would have been too great a burden even for many countries that are larger and more developed than “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”. It is known that there can be no successful development in conditions of war, sanctions, embargoes and political, economic and humanitarian disasters. That is why we have asked for donors’ conferences aimed at avoiding economic collapse and compensating us for the losses that we have sustained. That is the best way to share the burden that we have carried and are still carrying on account of the refugees.

The Government of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” highly appreciates the support and assistance that we have received from the international community, which has been provided through various finance organisations or at a bilateral level. I appeal for that support to continue in future, because overcoming the consequences of the crisis more quickly is the main precondition for my country to return to implementation of the reforms that it had already started. I should like to express my gratitude for the assistance of US$2 million granted by the Social Development Fund to soften the impact of the crisis.

Because of known historical, political, ideological and other circumstances, and particularly because of the influence of foreign factors, the Balkans – Southeastern Europe – have had no chance to be united, until now. Until the beginning of this century, the interests of three powerful European empires – die Austro-Hungarian, Russian and Ottoman empires – were crossing over the Balkans. During the cold war, however, the Balkans functioned according to the known formula of 2+2+2, in which Turkey and Greece were Nato members, Bulgaria and Romania were members of the former Warsaw Pact and the former Yugoslavia and Albania were outside any military-political association. That situation caused difficulties not only for unification but for the development of relations and co-operation between Balkan countries. It is significant that such a situation has seriously limited the infrastructure connections of Southeastern European countries.

The countries of central Europe have come to the end of the cold war far better prepared than the Southeastern European countries and with a clear vision for membership of Euro-Atlantic institutions. The unification of Germany and the German-Polish Relations Agreement were an especially significant impulse in that direction. It is important to mention that the European Union has extended open hands towards the central European countries and, through significant assistance and support, has opened the road for them to EU and Nato membership.

The countries of Southeastern Europe, following the end of the cold war, unfortunately started on a different road, the features of which were nationalism and the great-state ambitions of several Balkan countries. That is the main reason why the Balkans has been faced with wars, ethnic cleansing and destruction for nearly a decade. Democratic Europe – or, more correctly, the European Union – unfortunately has not succeeded in finding a key to overcome those unpleasant happenings. At certain times, an impression could have been gained that the EU has seemingly “written off’ the region. The EU influence on the Balkans could have been significantly greater and more efficient if it had shown greater understanding and provided more support and assistance for the countries of the region that are undoubtedly destined for membership of the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

For a long time the international community has characterised Southeastern Europe as a politically unstable area where all countries feel the consequences of unsolved and neglected problems. The countries of Southeastern Europe had difficulty in promoting good neighbourly relations, in spite of declared intentions to do so. I stress that the policy of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” is directed towards a more successful promotion of peace and stability and the advancement of mutual relations and co-operation in the region. A number of practical steps have been taken towards that aim which are already, fortunately, bearing fruit. Concretely, “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” has succeeded at bilateral level in furthering its relations and co-operation with nearly all the countries in its neighbourhood.

The states of that region are members of various initiatives and regional organisations through which they adjust their national and joint interests. The Southeastern European process, the Central European Initiative, the Royaumont Initiative, CECI and others are practical projects and integrative processes for our specific interests in various fields, including the economy, transportation, border collaboration, defence and security.

We expect that the Stability Pact will be successfully implemented. That document is extremely important for the future of our region. Through its three baskets of activities and through the regional institutions that I have mentioned, as well as the Council of Europe, it should contribute to the definitive stabilisation and development of the region and its speedy integration into Euro-Atlantic organisations. To achieve this aim, I appeal for even greater co-operation between the regional organisations and their mutual completion and co-ordination. I stress that the primary interest of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” is speedy implementation of the second basket of activities concerning economic development and reconstruction.

It is known that the European Union will have a leading role in the implementation and the co-ordination of the pact, together with OSCE. We expect, however, that the Council of Europe, with its proven values and experience and with a broad scope of instruments and means available to it, will also make a maximum contribution to realising the jointly determined aims that will be useful for us all. I want to mention here the document on the contribution by the Council of Europe to the Southeastern Europe stability programme, adopted at the 104th session of the Committee of Ministers in Budapest last month. There are numerous programmes and activities that the Council should implement in that direction.

I should like to take this opportunity to repeat the proposal to establish a Euro-Balkan youth centre with a seat at Ohrid, in “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, as a practical realisation of our joint interest in youth, tolerance and culture in Southeastern Europe. The region of Southeastern Europe deserves a chance for peaceful development, prosperity and hope for the peoples who live in that area. We cannot lose any more time in passive monitoring of those integrative processes as they happen among us and around us.

On the crisis in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, I should like to use this occasion to welcome once again the efforts of the G8, the United Nations, the European Union, Nato and the OSCE, which have led to the start of the process of resolving the Kosovo crisis. I appeal for firm implementation of the UN Security Council resolution whereby the complex operation of the return of the refugees and the final stabilisation of the region has been started. Let us hope that this will be the last crisis in our region; but, to avoid similar situations in future, we must together more successfully defend democratic principles and values.

The significance, work and sustenance of an organisation depend to a great extent on its ability to adjust to real situations and requirements and to contribute to the solution of practical problems. I am sure that the new challenges are already reflected in the manner of work and the structure of the Council of Europe. I welcome the work of the Committee of Wise Persons in respect of the reform of the Council of Europe. I also welcome the implementation of its recommendations which has already begun.

We all have to contribute continuously to the strengthening and advancement of the basic values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. The true determination of each individual country to persist on that road is essential if we are to succeed in the full realisation of those aims. I assure you that “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” is already on that road and that it will continue to make its contribution to the full implementation of those values.