Events in the Former Yugoslav Republic of

Macedonia

Members of the Security Council strongly condemn the cowardly and brutal

attack on Macedonian service personnel on Saturday 28 April which left eight

dead and a further six injured.

They condemn all violence by ethnic-Albanian armed extremists in the north

of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which constitutes a threat to

that country and the entire region. They call for an immediate end to all such

acts and for full implementation of resolution 1345. There is no place for all

those who use violence, espouse extremism, resort to terrorism, create

tension, defy international legality and try to oppose democratisation and

reconciliation.

Members of the Council commend the Macedonian Government for its

restraint in the face of recent provocations from groups working against the

interests of the wider community. They also commend the steps taken by the

Macedonian Government to strengthen its multi-ethnic democracy and foster

harmony between its communities, and encourage the citizens and political

leaders of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to continue to pursue

the path of dialogue.

They welcome the statements of Macedonian ethnic-Albanian political leaders

and Prime Minister Meta of Albania condemning this attack, and reiterate the

call in resolution 1345 on all community and political leaders throughout the

region to condemn publicly ethnically motivated attacks and to promote

inter-ethnic tolerance.