ZAGREB/STRASBOURG, June 28 (Hina) - Members of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution decrying most harshly the actions of Albanian extremists in Macedonia, and called on the Macedonian
government to undertake urgent steps towards improving the position of the Albanian minority in the country. The resolution on the situation in Macedonia was adopted unanimously after an urgent discussion held within the third regular assembly session in Strasbourg. The assembly denounced the actions of the Albanian extremist groups and called on them to cease military actions and lay down weapons. The resolution calls on the Macedonian government to adopt urgent measures to make it possible for Albanians to use their language in administrative work, the justice system and education. The government is also called on to secure a proportional representation of Macedonian Albanians in public
ZAGREB/STRASBOURG, June 28 (Hina) - Members of the Council of
Europe Parliamentary Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution
decrying most harshly the actions of Albanian extremists in
Macedonia, and called on the Macedonian government to undertake
urgent steps towards improving the position of the Albanian
minority in the country.
The resolution on the situation in Macedonia was adopted
unanimously after an urgent discussion held within the third
regular assembly session in Strasbourg.
The assembly denounced the actions of the Albanian extremist groups
and called on them to cease military actions and lay down weapons.
The resolution calls on the Macedonian government to adopt urgent
measures to make it possible for Albanians to use their language in
administrative work, the justice system and education.
The government is also called on to secure a proportional
representation of Macedonian Albanians in public institutions, the
military and police, the resolution added.
The Council of Europe also asked of the government to restrict the
use of force, initiate political dialogue with parties dismissing
violence, pronounce amnesty for some rebels and secure an efficient
protection of all citizens.
Head of the Croatian delegation in the Parliamentary Assembly,
Mirjana Feric Vac, said during the discussion that a solution to the
conflict in Macedonia must be reached as soon as possible so the
crisis would not affect the wider region.
Vac told Hina the assembly would establish an ad hoc delegation
which will visit Macedonia on July 16.
Parliamentary assembly representatives will speak will all sides
in the crisis in Skopje, and draw up a new report on the situation in
the country for the autumn.
(hina) lml sb