EU wants inquiry into Macedonia violence

The Slovenian EU presidency has demanded an investigation into the violent incidents reported during the Macedonian parliamentary elections. Slovenia stated that it was aware of the results of the elections, which had passed off generally peacefully, but the presidency agreed with monitors who said that in some parts of Macedonia the elections had been accompanied by violence and intimidation. EU wants inquiry into Macedonia violence The EU supported the initiative of Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and other political leaders to repeat the elections in several locations in order to ensure electoral legitimacy. At the same time, Slovenia gave its blessing to Macedonia’s pro-European manifesto, adopted by all parties before the election campaign, and which was vital for the future of Macedonia and a key for stability in the region. The EU presidency stated that it urged Macedonian leaders to work even harder on reforms once the election process was complete, and once all the irregularities had been suitably sanctioned. Further steps in Macedonia’s European integration process would be possible this year provided the country was ready to meet the necessary conditions and accomplish the tasks of the Partnership for Accession, the Slovenian presidency underlined. Macedonian police secure one scene of shooting Sunday (Beta) Observers: Standards were not met in Macedonian elections Key international standards were not met in the Macedonian parliamentary elections held on June 1, but the final assessment of the regularity of the vote will depend on the repeated voting at several polling stations in areas populated by ethnic Albanians, international observers in Skopje said. The parliamentary elections in Macedonia were marred by outbreaks of violence in some places in the country, according to the joint conclusion of representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. The Macedonian state electoral commission annulled the results of the vote at 22 polling stations, the OSCE report said. Representatives of the OSCE and Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights told a news conference that key international standards had not been met in the election, as there had been attempts to disrupt by violence the electoral process in parts of Macedonia populated mainly by ethnic Albanians. The overall assessment was that the elections had been "well administered procedurally," but that the laws were enforced selectively and that the authorities failed to stop violence and intimidation in Albanian-populated areas. The observers reminded that one person was killed and several wounded, and that both the voting and the counting of votes were hampered by severe irregularities in ethnic Albanian areas. The international observers voiced the expectation that all incidents would be investigated and that measures would be taken against those responsible for the non-fulfillment of international criteria.

EU wants inquiry into Macedonia violence

The EU supported the initiative of Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and other political leaders to repeat the elections in several locations in order to ensure electoral legitimacy.

At the same time, Slovenia gave its blessing to Macedonia’s pro-European manifesto, adopted by all parties before the election campaign, and which was vital for the future of Macedonia and a key for stability in the region.

The EU presidency stated that it urged Macedonian leaders to work even harder on reforms once the election process was complete, and once all the irregularities had been suitably sanctioned.

Further steps in Macedonia’s European integration process would be possible this year provided the country was ready to meet the necessary conditions and accomplish the tasks of the Partnership for Accession, the Slovenian presidency underlined.

Observers: Standards were not met in Macedonian elections

Key international standards were not met in the Macedonian parliamentary elections held on June 1, but the final assessment of the regularity of the vote will depend on the repeated voting at several polling stations in areas populated by ethnic Albanians, international observers in Skopje said.

The parliamentary elections in Macedonia were marred by outbreaks of violence in some places in the country, according to the joint conclusion of representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and its Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

The Macedonian state electoral commission annulled the results of the vote at 22 polling stations, the OSCE report said.

Representatives of the OSCE and Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights told a news conference that key international standards had not been met in the election, as there had been attempts to disrupt by violence the electoral process in parts of Macedonia populated mainly by ethnic Albanians.

The overall assessment was that the elections had been "well administered procedurally," but that the laws were enforced selectively and that the authorities failed to stop violence and intimidation in Albanian-populated areas.

The observers reminded that one person was killed and several wounded, and that both the voting and the counting of votes were hampered by severe irregularities in ethnic Albanian areas.

The international observers voiced the expectation that all incidents would be investigated and that measures would be taken against those responsible for the non-fulfillment of international criteria.