Joint statement by heads of mission of EU, NATO, OSCE and US in Skopje on tenth anniversary of Ohrid Framework Agreement

SKOPJE, 12 August 2011 – The heads of mission of the European Union, NATO, OSCE, and US issued the following statement today on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement on 13 August 2001.

“In early 2001, this country stood at the brink of all-out civil war. Largely thanks to the Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA) war was avoided, and today the country can celebrate steady progress towards becoming a stable, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and inter-religious society. The signing of this historic Agreement would not have been possible without the courage and vision of domestic political leaders who set aside their differences at a time of conflict and division in the pursuit of peace.  We also pay tribute to its facilitation by skilful American and European diplomats.

At this ten-year anniversary, we applaud those leaders and citizens who have worked to meet the ideals of an open, diverse and dynamic society. Partners in the international community will continue to assist in the implementation of the Agreement, in recognition of the important role it plays in promoting long-term peace and prosperity, and in bringing this country into the Euro-Atlantic community.

We urge the country’s leaders to honour the spirit of the agreement, to reinvigorate the pledges of the signatories towards tolerance and transparency, and to renew their commitment to building a unified and secure state for all citizens – regardless of their ethnicity, gender, religion, or political affiliation.

We reaffirm our support for the aspirations to join the European Union and NATO so that all citizens can enjoy the benefits of a stable and prosperous multi-ethnic democracy strengthened by integration into these organisations.”