The S&D Group will join the mass opposition rally in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia this Sunday (17 May) to reflect deep concerns about legal threats against the leader of our sister party, the continuing failure to act on allegations arising from leaks exposing mass surveillance in the country and heightened inter-ethnic tensions in the light of last weekend's terrorist attack.
The S&D Group is committed to current cross-party mediation on the current crisis, but insists that last night's government decision to change the minister of interior and head of secret service must be part of a comprehensive response which can restore confidence and allows the resumption of political dialogue.
Members of the S&D Group will participate in the demonstration organised by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) this coming Sunday to support the people of the country in their struggle for more democracy and transparent governance.
Following last week's events in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, where the anti-government protests turned violent and the deadly clashes in Kumanovo, the S&D Group calls for restraint. In addition to those events, charges have been announced against the opposition leader and president of SDSM Zoran Zaev by the prime minister live on TV and materials published by SDSM show widespread wiretapping, corruption and other wrongdoings of the government.
Knut Fleckenstein, vice-president of the S&D Group, said:
"We call on all sides to avoid any further escalation in the interest of the country and to avoid the destabilisation of the whole Western Balkan region. We also call for an impartial investigation into the events in Kumanovo.
"By participating in the demonstration of the SDSM, the S&D Group wants to show solidarity with our sister party and with all the people of the country who stand for freedom of speech and assembly. We also call for all accusations, both against the opposition leader, but also those made public by SDSM, to be thoroughly and independently investigated."
S&D foreign affairs coordinator Richard Howitt MEP, who is leading in the cross-party mediation efforts, will be present in an 'observer' capacity and will use the visit to hold private talks to assist the mediation efforts as well to discuss concerns about the impact on inter-ethnic relations and for the victims of the Kumonovo attack.
Richard Howitt MEP added:
"In the light of the deep divisions in the country's politics and our genuine efforts in good faith to seek to help them to be overcome, I want to see for myself how far the right of peaceful, democratic protest is being fully respected and to hear the voices of those who say they are currently excluded from democratic debate.
"I hope our presence will promote a calm atmosphere following the violence of last week, and send a strong message from Europe and the whole international community that current events must not allow a return to inter-ethnic violence in a country we see as our partner, now and in the future.
"We have constantly called on both main parties to take actions to de-escalate the crisis, but the "resignations" of the minister of interior and head of secret service can only contribute to this if they are part of a common agreement to which both parties can agree."
