Solidarity with Macedonia
Statement by the State secretary KOLIN POWELL Statement by the State secretary KOLIN POWELL
And in our meeting today, I once again had the opportunity to express solidarity with
And in our meeting today, I once again had the opportunity to express solidarity with
Macedonia; the United States’ total commitment to territorial integrity of Macedonia; our
Macedonia; the United States’ total commitment to territorial integrity of Macedonia; our
commitment to this democracy which is facing dastardly and cowardly acts from terrorists
commitment to this democracy which is facing dastardly and cowardly acts from terrorists
and terrorist organizations that are trying to subvert the democratic process in Macedonia.
and terrorist organizations that are trying to subvert the democratic process in Macedonia.
I discussed with the President the steps that he has been taking with the leaders of his
I discussed with the President the steps that he has been taking with the leaders of his
coalition government to deal with some of the concerns expressed by ethnic Albanians in
coalition government to deal with some of the concerns expressed by ethnic Albanians in
Macedonia with respect to the use of their
Macedonia with respect to the use of their language, universities, with respect to other issueslanguage, universities, with respect to other issues
that I congratulated the President on moving aggressively to deal with, to include political
that I congratulated the President on moving aggressively to deal with, to include political
reconciliation in all its forms, including possible constitutional amendments at some point
reconciliation in all its forms, including possible constitutional amendments at some point
in the future.
in the future.
I made the point to the
I made the point to the President that we must not allow terrorists to President that we must not allow terrorists to derail political rec-derail political rec-
onciliation. As long as we keep moving in this direction, we will dry up the support that ter-
onciliation. As long as we keep moving in this direction, we will dry up the support that ter-
rorists might think they enjoy. And I also discussed with the President other things that the
rorists might think they enjoy. And I also discussed with the President other things that the
United States can do to support them, not only in security issues but as well as economic
United States can do to support them, not only in security issues but as well as economic
support that they need during this difficult time.
support that they need during this difficult time.
And I expressed my condolence and the condolence of the American people to the
And I expressed my condolence and the condolence of the American people to the fam-fam-
ilies of the eight Macedonian soldiers who lost their lives as a result of this terrorist act.
ilies of the eight Macedonian soldiers who lost their lives as a result of this terrorist act.
(
(U.S. Department of State, Remarks with Boris U.S. Department of State, Remarks with Boris TrajkovsTrajkovski,ki,
President of the Republic of
President of the Republic of Macedonia, WMacedonia, Washington, DC, May 1, 2001)ashington, DC, May 1, 2001) Cancel Download And Print
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Official Moscow is concerned about the situation in Macedonia Official Moscow is concerned about the situation in Macedonia
„Tensions in Macedonia are not being decreased due to the destructive activities of ter- „Tensions in Macedonia are not being decreased due to the destructive activities of ter- rorists and to some requests, imposed by certain circles, whose realization could lead to rorists and to some requests, imposed by certain circles, whose realization could lead to actual disintegration of the country“.
actual disintegration of the country“.
The Russian Ministry considers that a way out of the new situation should be sought in The Russian Ministry considers that a way out of the new situation should be sought in halting of armed activities of terrorists, their disarming and disbanding, as well as in con- halting of armed activities of terrorists, their disarming and disbanding, as well as in con- tinuation of the political dialogue with the legally elected representatives of the Albanian tinuation of the political dialogue with the legally elected representatives of the Albanian population in Macedonia.
population in Macedonia.
„The political dialogue must result in unconditional preserving of
„The political dialogue must result in unconditional preserving of Macedonia’Macedonia’s territori-s territori- al integrity and unity”.
al integrity and unity”.
(Aleksandar Jakovlenko, spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry.Moscow, June 26, 2001) (Aleksandar Jakovlenko, spokesman of the Russian Foreign Ministry.Moscow, June 26, 2001)
Albanian terrorists fight for territory Albanian terrorists fight for territory
„The Albanian terrorists in Macedonia do not fight for their rights, but for expanding „The Albanian terrorists in Macedonia do not fight for their rights, but for expanding their terrorists“.
their terrorists“.
„It is not about gaining human rights, but is an ambition to establish great state, regard- „It is not about gaining human rights, but is an ambition to establish great state, regard- less whether it will be called „Great Albania“ or „Great Kosovo“ “.
less whether it will be called „Great Albania“ or „Great Kosovo“ “.
As MIA reports, Kostunica is committed against violence and extremism in Kosovo, As MIA reports, Kostunica is committed against violence and extremism in Kosovo, stressing that „the evil has spilled over from Kosovo to Macedonia“.
stressing that „the evil has spilled over from Kosovo to Macedonia“.
The Yugoslav President also expressed his dissatisfaction from KFOR Mission, under- The Yugoslav President also expressed his dissatisfaction from KFOR Mission, under- lining that KFOR has not undertaken appropriate measures to prevent the activities of the lining that KFOR has not undertaken appropriate measures to prevent the activities of the Albanian terrorists. „Therefore we are all hostages of the terrorism at this moment“, Albanian terrorists. „Therefore we are all hostages of the terrorism at this moment“, Kostunica added
Kostunica added
(Yugoslav president Voislav Kostunica: Bucharest, June 1, 2001) (Yugoslav president Voislav Kostunica: Bucharest, June 1, 2001)
Germany: Extremism and violence will not be given any chance Germany: Extremism and violence will not be given any chance
„From the beginning, we have supported democratic and peaceful developments in „From the beginning, we have supported democratic and peaceful developments in Macedonia. This must not be placed in jeopardy by extremism and violence.
Macedonia. This must not be placed in jeopardy by extremism and violence. After the breakdown of former Yugo
After the breakdown of former Yugoslavia the region went through terrible slavia the region went through terrible tragedies thattragedies that must not be repeated,
must not be repeated, urging the parties to the conflict urging the parties to the conflict to desist from „using violence ato desist from „using violence as as a means of politics, to recognize existing borders and to strive to resolve all political issues in means of politics, to recognize existing borders and to strive to resolve all political issues in a constitutional and legal framework at the negotiating table.
a constitutional and legal framework at the negotiating table. V
Violence would only lead to more tragedy to people, and in tiolence would only lead to more tragedy to people, and in that manner the region wouldhat manner the region would not become closer to Europe.
not become closer to Europe.
We pledge for lasting peace, for realization of the legal interests of all citizens in this
We pledge for lasting peace, for realization of the legal interests of all citizens in this
area, their coexistence that will open European perspective, and in this respect, we support
area, their coexistence that will open European perspective, and in this respect, we support
Macedonia“. Fischer said.
Macedonia“. Fischer said.
I think that Albanian people, regardless whether they live in Macedonia, Kosovo or
I think that Albanian people, regardless whether they live in Macedonia, Kosovo or
Albania, are interested in taking the road to Europe. The usage of violence, force, extrem-
Albania, are interested in taking the road to Europe. The usage of violence, force, extrem-
ism and terrorism is against the interests of Albanians. Extremism and violence will not be
ism and terrorism is against the interests of Albanians. Extremism and violence will not be
given any chance
given any chance“.“.
(Joska Fischer, Skopje, March 16, 2001)
(Joska Fischer, Skopje, March 16, 2001)