EU'S SOLANA COMMENDS MACEDONIA

ZAGREB/BRUSSELS, Aug 13 (Hina) - The EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, on Tuesday praised Macedonia for bolstering peace and stability, the economic revival, reconciliation, and supporting further reforms. #L# Solana spoke on the first anniversary of a Macedonian peace accord, which was signed in Skopje on 13 August 2001 by Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and the leaders of the four strongest political parties. The accord ended an armed conflict with ethnic Albanians. Solana said that a lot was achieved in Macedonia in the past year. Most laws envisaged by the peace agreement were adopted, enabling the strengthening of peace and security, reconstruction and interethnic reconciliation, and the resumption of Macedonia's integration into European structures, he said. He added, however, that further efforts were necessary and that the EU supported them. Solana also said that impending elections would have to be fair and peaceful, without violence or intimidation. (hina) ha