President Says Macedonia Wasted 2007

20 December 2007 Skopje _ Macedonia failed to reach its main Euro-Atlantic objectives in 2007, President Branko Crvenkovski said during his annual speech to parliament on Wednesday.

The country's goals were to secure a starting date for EU accession talks and to do everything necessary in order to receive an invitation to join NATO at the next summit of the Alliance set for April 2008 in Bucharest, Crvenkovski said.

However, he concluded that “we have missed our targets,” since Macedonia has not met the political criteria set by the EU or NATO.

Crvenkovski lamented the fact that, in the past, meeting international requirements was a cornerstone of Macedonia's positive international image, and he called for an end to political infighting and mud-slinging so that the country can make up lost ground in 2008.

“We need to profoundly correct our policies and conduct,” Crvenovski said, quoting senior international officials who have in recent month expressed concern about the slow pace of reforms in Macedonia as a result of political tensions.

Concerning Macedonia’s northern neighbour Kosovo, Crvenkovski stressed that it is in Macedonia's interest to build equally good relations with Belgrade and Pristina, adding that, “we cannot, nor do we wish to be an arbiter in respect of Kosovo’s future.”

In his speech, Crvenkovski also spoke about the domestic security situation, noting that in the current period Macedonia cannot afford to, “produce new issues that can cause inter-ethnic tensions.” He said the country must be prepared for possible instability linked with the resolution of Kosovo’s final status.

Deputies and some ministers from VMRO-DPMNE, the main ruling party, which does not recognize Crvenkovski's legitimacy as President, came into the chamber to listen to his annual speech, the first time they have done so.

Last year, VMRO-DPMNE boycotted Crvenkovski’s speech. They recognize his legality but dispute his legitimacy. The centre right party accuses him of fraud in the 2004 presidential elections that brought him to office.

In the past year, senior EU and NATO officials including the authors of the latest European Commission report on Macedonia’s reform progress have warned that the lack of authentic and sustainable political dialogue is slowing down much needed reforms.

Recently, however, the main political parties made a breakthrough in the stalled reform process by reaching agreement on several bills that need to be enacted by parliament if the country wants to secure an invitation to join NATO next year. (Birn)