This is my third visit to Skopje in my capacity as Special Representative. I held very productive and frank talks here with President Ivanov, Prime Minister Dimitriev, Foreign Minister Poposki and the chairpersons of the four largest political parties. Germany is following the developments in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia with grave concern. The good news is that there is a way out of the crisis. The Pržino Agreement paves the way to democracy, stability and Euro-Atlantic integration. The bad news is that this process has been blocked; the crisis still has the country firmly in its grip; and time is running out. I therefore called on the party chairpersons to make their country’s interests their priority, to carry out reforms and to help the country get ahead.

I made it very clear in my talks that we need to confirm and revive the Pržino Agreement as the applicable and binding framework for the reform process. I thus welcome President Ivanov’s decision to annul the amnesties. This will enable the country to now concentrate on the important reform process and on implementing the Pržino Agreement.

As the next step, however, the parties must swiftly create the conditions for free and fair elections and set a date for them. The Special Prosecutor must be able to perform her mandate without having obstacles placed in her way. The parties must now take immediate action to carry out the necessary reform steps and to remedy shortcomings.

None of these demands are impossible to meet. These aims are feasible and they can be achieved. I hope that the current positive momentum can be used.