Macedonia: Ambassador Einik says the U.S. will stand with Macedonia
Skopje, - ?Armed extremists are now attempting to spread their violence into additional
areas of Macedonia. This follows their clashes with Macedonian and NATO forces at the
border, the US Ambassador to Macedonia, Mike Einik said.
The United States will again stand with Macedonia in confronting this armed threat to
democracy and peace, Ambassador Einik says.
The new attacks launched by these violent extremists have been justified by some as
being an appropriate response to unmet political demands of ethnic Albanian citizens.
Several speakers at yesterday?s rally in Tetovo made such claims.
The United States absolutely rejects any claim of legitimacy for the actions of these
extremists, and considers much of the rhetoric reported from the Tetovo rally to have
been dangerously inflammatory and fundamentally wrong, Ambassador Einik says.
We support peaceful political demonstrations and the pursuit of goals through the
political process. Public statements that undermine that process act against the interests
of all citizens of Macedonia - You cannot say you support democracy and the integrity of
the country while at the same time condoning the use of violence to further your goals.
The legitimate political aspirations of all the citizens of Macedonia are best served by
commitment to the principles of democratic debate and compromise.
Armed extremism in the context of today?s Macedonia is anti-democratic and
destructive, and claims that violence is needed to advance political action are a complete
distortion of reality, Ambassador Einik says. /end ALL/