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OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities addresses Permanent Council
THE HAGUE 12 May 1999
THE HAGUE, 12 May 1999 - The OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, Max van der Stoel, reported to the Permanent Council today on his visit to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on May 9-11. He welcomed the determination of the Government and the political parties to do their utmost to ensure that the massive influx of refugees from Kosovo would not lead to a destabilisation of the country. However, he issued a formal warning that, unless the international community significantly increases its efforts to help the country such a destabilisation could occur.
"The increase of the population of the FYROM of more than 10 percent within a few weeks, resulting in a major change of the interethnic balance, is proving to be too big of a burden for the country. It is essential to substantially reduce the number of refugees in the country in the next few weeks," the High Commissioner said. "A concerted effort is needed to speed up the departure of refugees to states which have offered hospitality to them".
"This is also needed in order to avoid an acute crisis in case new waves of refugees arrive in the country", he said. "Furthermore, UNHCR, which is presently coping with a shortage of funds needed for its projects in the FYROM and Albania, must receive more financial support from the donor community in order to enable it to improve the conditions in the camps. This is urgently needed for humanitarian and health reasons, but also in order to reduce the risk of incidents in the camps which could potentially have serious consequences".
"Finally, it ought to be realised that the economic crisis in the FYROM caused by the conflict in the Balkans increases the risk of social discontent and interethnic tensions. The Paris donor conference on May 5 led to substantial promises of assistance to the country, but more will be needed later in the year", the High Commissioner said.
"The increase of the population of the FYROM of more than 10 percent within a few weeks, resulting in a major change of the interethnic balance, is proving to be too big of a burden for the country. It is essential to substantially reduce the number of refugees in the country in the next few weeks," the High Commissioner said. "A concerted effort is needed to speed up the departure of refugees to states which have offered hospitality to them".
"This is also needed in order to avoid an acute crisis in case new waves of refugees arrive in the country", he said. "Furthermore, UNHCR, which is presently coping with a shortage of funds needed for its projects in the FYROM and Albania, must receive more financial support from the donor community in order to enable it to improve the conditions in the camps. This is urgently needed for humanitarian and health reasons, but also in order to reduce the risk of incidents in the camps which could potentially have serious consequences".
"Finally, it ought to be realised that the economic crisis in the FYROM caused by the conflict in the Balkans increases the risk of social discontent and interethnic tensions. The Paris donor conference on May 5 led to substantial promises of assistance to the country, but more will be needed later in the year", the High Commissioner said.