ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, Nov 8 (Hina) - The European Union High Representativefor the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, hasexpressed satisfaction with the outcome of Sunday's referendum inMacedonia, which was initiated by
opposition parties in a bid toprevent the territorial reorganisation of the country that would givemore rights to the Albanian minority.
ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, Nov 8 (Hina) - The European Union High
Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, has
expressed satisfaction with the outcome of Sunday's referendum in Macedonia,
which was initiated by opposition parties in a bid to prevent the territorial
reorganisation of the country that would give more rights to the Albanian
minority.The result of yesterday's referendum is clear. It makes it possible for
Macedonia to continue decentralisation of the country and acceptance of key
economic and social reforms. Most importantly, it shows that the citizens have
chosen to maintain the course towards the EU, Solana said in a statement on
Monday.
The Macedonian election commission on Monday released the preliminary
results of the referendum on territorial organisation of local government,
according to which only 26.24 per cent of the electorate had turned out for the
vote. The referendum was therefore declared a failure.