EAPC Ministerial, Florence 25 May 2000

Address by Mr. Aleksandar Dimitrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia Mr. Secretary General, Distinguished Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, Allow me, first of all, to express my pleasure to be here. I am confident that we will have a very open and useful discussion. At the very begining, let me congratulate and welcome the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the PfP, what constitutes yet another positive impulse for the expansion of the shared Euro-Atlantic values into the region of South East Europe. At the same time, I would like to welcome the presence of Russia which active participation within the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and the Partnership for Peace will strengthen the mutual cooperation and will be of great importance for the stability and security of Europe. Ladies and Gentlemen, The UN Security Council Resolution 1244 was adopted a year ago. Under that resolution, the KFOR was deployed and the process of establishment of the UNMIK civil administration began. In that manner, the international community managed to put an end to the conflict which represented a serious threat to the peace and stability of the region, including my country, and had the tendency of growing into a wider European conflict. It was not by accident and with the same symbolic that the Stability Pact for South East Europe was adopted. It is based on three main pillars - democracy, economic development and security. I would like right away to emphasize that the Republic of Macedonia is vitally interested in full implementation of the two documents. Ladies and Gentlemen, The region of South East Europe is still featured by historical, inherited differences (ideological, developmental, ethnic, religious, etc.) that may slow down the objectively necessary and commonly desired development. If the countries in the region do not succeed in overcoming these objectively limiting situations and if, in doing so, they are not assisted by Europe, the Alliance and the international community, further tensions are likely to occur in the region. The overall situation - political, economic and security - in the region has to undergo further changes. Even a year after the end of the Kosovo crisis and the achieved initial progress in the peace implementation, we are still far from the set and ultimate goals. The period to come requires serious and complex activities the aim of which is to improve the overall situation in Kosovo. These are the spheres of activities in which the international community should, as its priority, continue to encourage, by way of dialogue, approximation of positions. In this context, further steps aimed at cessation of violence and promotion of the protection of human and civil rights of all living in Kosovo are indispensable. Furthermore, it is the commencement of the building of democratic institutions and of functioning of democracy in both Kosovo and Yugoslavia. It is obvious that the problems in Kosovo, the problems which still exist in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia have a common denominator- the lack of democracy and of democratic processes. It is necessary to make additional and intensive endeavors in the processes of reconstruction and rehabilitation of Kosovo in order to provide safe environment in which common living and work may be secured for all those living and who wish to live in Kosovo. Finally, it is necessary to promptly establish genuine security and stability in Kosovo and in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, to start the processes of confidence building and to revive and develop democracy and democratic processes accompanied by a climate favorable to economic prosperity. Although it is not realistic to expect fast democratic changes in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, our concerted efforts should be aimed at supporting the democratic forces in the FRY, the endeavors for their unification and joint actions for democratic changes. It is necessary to support the independent media and intensification of propaganda. It is of crucial importance to reassess the overall effects of sanctions, with their targeting at the regime and not at the citizens. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Republic of Macedonia advocates the consistent respect for the existing borders and is opposed to their violent changing. We have to put all our efforts to protect teritorial integrity and soveregnity of the all countries in the Region. We condemn all forms of extremisms, violence and attempts to destabilize the peace process by any party. We fully support KFOR`s actions to strengthen its control of Kosovo`s borders the aim of which is to prevent the possibilities of spill over of violences into the neighbouring countries. We consider that further and more resolute steps by the UNMIK and the KFOR are necessary for the preservation of the multi-ethnic character and for building the civil society in Kosovo. The Republic of Macedonia is concerned at the growing organized crime in Kosovo and considers that the KFOR and the UNMIK need to make additional efforts for its suppression. In the entire period since the outbreak of the Kosovo crisis, the established intensive cooperation that the Government of the Republic of Macedonia has had with the NATO forces stationed in the Republic of Macedonia is of particular importance. We consider that the coordination of cooperation of the Army and the Police of the Republic of Macedonia with the KFOR is of special significance for the prevention and suppression of attempts for illegal trafficking in arms, people and narcotics, as part of organized crime. Let me express our gratitude for the offered assistance to our efforts on strengthening border surveliance, monitoring and control. We have been and are following the events in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia with great attention and we consider that its stability and democratization are of great importance for the entire region. We hold that the incidents in South Serbia were an attempt to erode the fragile peace and to spill over the conflict. Further escalation may worsen the security situation in the neighborhood and in the entire region, and thus the security in my country as well. Ladies and Gentlemen, Due to the Kosovo crisis, the Republic of Macedonia has been one of the most affected countries in economic, social and even political terms. We still feel the consequences. In such conditions, despite the challenges the Republic of Macedonia was faced with, it managed to maintain its stability. The key and vital role of the Republic of Macedonia for peace and security in the region was reaffirmed. At that, my country did not detour from, but advanced its strategic commitments to friendly and good-neighborly relations with all neighboring countries and to rapprochement with the European and Euro-Atlantic European integration structures. It is my pleasure to inform you that my country, as the first country in the Region is engaged in the negotiations with the European Union for concluding the Stabilisation and Association Agreement which the both sides expect to be signed by the end of this year. Ladies and Gentlemen, I consider that a new page is being opened in the history of this region, which too often has been overburdened by conflicts and could not significantly concentrate on its development and prosperity. Among the most serious positive challenges in this respect are the opportunities created by the Stability Pact and the South East Europe Initiative. Since the very start the Republic of Macedonia has supported the NATO South East Europe Initiative, as well as the Stability Pact. We consider that these two processes - two initiatives - constitute a significant contribution to strengthening the security in the region. Of particular importance is further development of regional cooperation and of cooperation between the countries in the region and NATO in the framework of the four pillars of the Initiatives. In this respect, the use of the PFP mechanisms, the Consultative Forum on Security Issues in South East Europe and the security cooperation programs with the countries in the region, are rather important. Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcoming the presence of Mr. Hombach at the today's meeting, I would like to underscore that the Stability Pact offers a significant opportunity for the peace, stability and prosperity to prevail in the region of South East Europe and for its integration into the European family. The economic dimension of the Stability Pact has a key role for the Republic of Macedonia and is a prerequisite for democratization, respect for human rights and security. That is why the Republic of Macedonia attaches special importance to the Working Table for Economic Reconstruction, Development and Cooperation. As the country co-chairing II Stability Pact Working Table for Economic Reconstruction, Development and Cooperation, the Republic of Macedonia designed and proposed a number of projects that have been accepted, part of which are in the so-called quick start package. We expect the international institutions to promptly effectuate their support to the realization of these projects. It is the only way to commence in a timely manner the process of comprehensive development of the region. The inefficiency and delay in the projects realization may impede our common goals contained in the Stability Pact and may be even interpreted as wrong signal for the countries in the region. Therefore, we advocate prompt realization of the approved projects in accordance with the conclusions of the first Regional Funding Conference held in Brussels. Ladies and Gentlemen, My country pays special attention to the development of regional cooperation in the sphere of security and conflict management and preventions, through carrying our a series of activities and projects to this effect: We have proposed a regional project "Collection of illegally possessed small arms and light weapons" within the Stability Pact. In this context, allow me to remind you that the Seminar on Conflict prevention held in october 1997 in Skopje was one of the first activities of the Republic of Macedonia in the framework of Partnership for Peace. Under the EAPC auspices the Republic of Macedonia will host a workshop on small arms and light weapons to be held in Ohrid in late June. The recently established Center for Preventive Activities and Conflict Resolution in Skopje within the Stability Pact is another important project in this field. The Republic of Macedonia is actively involved and participates in the Multinational Peace Forces of Southeastern Europe. Ladies and Gentlemen, Today's meeting marks the completion of the first stage in the process of implementation of the Membership Action Plan, that is to say the holding of meetings of the North-Atlantic Council in the 19+1 format with the 9 countries-aspirants for NATO membership. It is my pleasure to inform you that the progress my country has made with respect to its rapprochement with the Alliance has recently been confirmed in the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Furthermore, the envisaged activities and planned reforms presented in the Annual National Membership Program of the Republic of Macedonia were supported as well. Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to close my statement with a message, I think your would all agree with - from the long term perspective, the stability and security in the region of South East Europe may not be provided solely by military instruments. They primarily depend on the development of democracy, economic development, the rule of law, the respect for human rights and rights of persons belonging to national minorities. Our orientation towards the future is a complex approach to be facilitated through confidence building, realization of regional cooperation and prevention of everything that may cause problems and tensions in the region. I am confident you share my view that Europe will not be in a position to cope with the crises in the region without active involvement and maximum contribution of the countries located in it. In this contexy I would like to underline that the development of the European Security and Defence Identity as well Security and Defence Policy is not possible without active participation of the EAPC countries of the Region. Europe may not be stable without a stable and developed Balkans that is to say South Eastern Europe. Therefore this region must not be neglected and isolated from the processes of enlargement of the Euro-Atlantic area and from the European integration. The political and geo-strategic considerations should pay special attention to strengthening the NATO south-eastern flank. In this regard, I would like to welcome and underline the results of the recent Vilnius Conference, where the 9 countries aspirants for NATO membership, including my country, through the Joint Declaration, have clearly and rightfully requested the NATO allies to invite them to join the Alliance at the 2002 Summit. The most serious guarantee for the security of the Southeastern Europe and for its transformation into the region of democracy, prosperity, stability and cooperation is full integration of the countries from the region into NATO and the European Union. Mr. Secretary General, Allow me to point out that the Republic of Macedonia supports in their entirety the documents proposed at the today's meeting: Chairman's Report on EAPC Activities in the first half of 2000, PMSC Chairman's Report on the Enhanced and more Operational Partnership, The Operational Capabilities Concept for NATO - led PfP Operations, The PfP Training and Education Enhancement Programme and Summary Consolidated Progress Report on the Development of the South East Europe Initiative and Support for the Stability Pact. Thank you.