17/06/2009 President
Strasbourg, 17.06.2009 - During a two-day official visit to “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” ending today, PACE President Lluís Maria de Puig said that since its declaration of independence and subsequent accession to the Council of Europe in 1995, the country had made steady progress on the path of strengthening its democratic institutions, affirming the principles of rule of law and effectively protecting human rights and national minorities. He also emphasised the country’s active involvement in the process of European integration.
“However, ‘the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’ still has issues to face in the process of consolidating its democratic institutions. The confidence of all political players in the parliamentary process must be bolstered,” said the PACE President. In that connection, he emphasised that the role of the President of the Republic should be to make it easier for the various political forces to engage in constructive dialogue.
“It is necessary moreover to preserve harmonious agreement and constructive collaboration among all the ethnic communities living in your country, in a spirit of protection for the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, and in accordance with the Ohrid framework agreement. I also encourage you to carry on the efforts already commenced in reforming the justice system, in implementing the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) and in fighting corruption,” the President added.
In conclusion, Mr de Puig assured the authorities of “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” of the Assembly’s full support in preparing for its Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (May-November 2010). “This Chairmanship will be most important both for your country and for the Organisation. Joint work on setting the political priorities of the FYROM Chairmanship should therefore begin as from today,” he said.