Joint statement by the EU Special Representative, the NATO HQ Skopje Commander, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje and the U.S. Ambassador

SKOPJE, 12 August 2010 - The Delegation of the European Union, NATO HQ Skopje, the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje and the U.S. Embassy issued the following statement today to mark the ninth anniversary of the signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement.

Joint statement by the EU Special Representative and Head of Delegation of the EU Erwan Fouéré, the NATO HQ Skopje Commander and Senior Military Representative David Humar, the Head of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje Ambassador Jose-Luis Herrero and the United States Ambassador Philip T. Reeker:

"We recognize and welcome the positive progress the country has made in improving interethnic relations since the signature of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. The Agreement and relevant constitutional provisions remain indispensible to building a peaceful, just and cohesive multiethnic society.

We remain absolutely committed to the Ohrid Framework Agreement and look to all national stakeholders to take full ownership of what is a continuing process, and to support its implementation both in letter and spirit.

During our meeting with Prime Minister Gruevski and other government officials on 30th July, we stressed the particular importance of adopting further measures in the fields of equitable representation, decentralization and education. Notably, further efforts are needed in order to establish an education system able to foster integration and interethnic relations at all levels."