Press Release

Joint Statement by United States Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic and EU Special Representative and Head of EC Delegation Ambassador Erwan Fouéré

Skopje, 16 May 2008

EU Special Representative (EUSR)/Head of Delegation (HoD) Ambassador Erwan Fouéré and U.S. Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic met with the leaders of DPA and DUI respectively, today 16 May, to discuss the recent acts of violence and other election-related issues.

Ambassadors Milovanovic and Fouéré expressed their grave concern over recent acts of violence that took place at in the first days of the election campaign and highlighted that such acts will have serious and damaging consequences for this country’s aspirations for EU and NATO membership. There must be no repeat of the incidents witnessed during the course of last week.

The U.S. Ambassador and EUSR/HoD reiterate their call on all parties to work to ensure free, fair and peaceful elections. They call on all party leaders to fully implement the Code of Conduct they recently signed, in particular by publicly directing their supporters to refrain from provocative acts and acts designed to intimidate opponents, and by publicly condemning any use of violence against opponents during the campaign or on election day.