OSCE Chairman-in-Office condemns kidnapping in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Foreign Minister da Cruz. (OSCE) Photo details
LISBON, 30 August 2002 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz, today condemned the kidnapping of civilians in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and called for their immediate and unconditional release.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the kidnapping of a group of civilians and demand that they should be released immediately", the Chairman-in-Office said.
He called on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any actions that could lead to an increase in tension. Deploring all recent incidents of violence, including the killing of two policemen this week, the Chairman-in-Office said the actions of extremists must not be allowed to undermine the country's path towards stability and European integration nor interfere with the 15 September parliamentary elections.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the kidnapping of a group of civilians and demand that they should be released immediately", the Chairman-in-Office said.
He called on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid any actions that could lead to an increase in tension. Deploring all recent incidents of violence, including the killing of two policemen this week, the Chairman-in-Office said the actions of extremists must not be allowed to undermine the country's path towards stability and European integration nor interfere with the 15 September parliamentary elections.