Trajkovski's Death Throws Pall Over Macedonia's EU Drive
Politics | February 26, 2004, ThursdayThe death of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, who was killed in a plane crash over Bosnia, has led Skopje to put on hold its EU membership application scheduled to be presented Dublin on Thursday, Deutsche Welle commented.
A strong pro-EU proponent, Trajkovski was viewed in the West as a young leader with an international outlook and considerable diplomatic skills.
Boris Trajkovski was respected in Macedonia for his neutral stance in the former Yugoslav republic, which has seen tensions between Macedonians and the country's ethnic Albanian minority. He presided over a NATO-brokered peace deal in 2001 that ended months of armed clashes.
Irish President Bertie Ahern, who is currently at the helm of EU Presidency, described Trajkovski as having "contributed hugely to reconciliation in Macedonia" and a strong supporter of Macedonia's ambition to become a EU member.
Today should have been one of celebration for him, Bertie Ahern said in a statement.
The tiny Balkan country of 2 million is largely in favor of joining the EU, with some 87 percent of Macedonians as well as most political parties supporting the membership bid. High-ranking Macedonian delegations have been visiting Berlin, Paris and Brussels. But so far, the reception has been mixed due to counter-pole reactions.
Javier Solana, the EU's international policy chief, this month praised the country for its "impressive" recovery. But many EU officials still have reservations over the country's progress. The general view in the EU is that Macedonia still has a long way to go before it's called for accession talks.
You can read in FULL TEXT the article of Deutsche Welle at For the Record sectionA strong pro-EU proponent, Trajkovski was viewed in the West as a young leader with an international outlook and considerable diplomatic skills.
Boris Trajkovski was respected in Macedonia for his neutral stance in the former Yugoslav republic, which has seen tensions between Macedonians and the country's ethnic Albanian minority. He presided over a NATO-brokered peace deal in 2001 that ended months of armed clashes.
Irish President Bertie Ahern, who is currently at the helm of EU Presidency, described Trajkovski as having "contributed hugely to reconciliation in Macedonia" and a strong supporter of Macedonia's ambition to become a EU member.
Today should have been one of celebration for him, Bertie Ahern said in a statement.
The tiny Balkan country of 2 million is largely in favor of joining the EU, with some 87 percent of Macedonians as well as most political parties supporting the membership bid. High-ranking Macedonian delegations have been visiting Berlin, Paris and Brussels. But so far, the reception has been mixed due to counter-pole reactions.
Javier Solana, the EU's international policy chief, this month praised the country for its "impressive" recovery. But many EU officials still have reservations over the country's progress. The general view in the EU is that Macedonia still has a long way to go before it's called for accession talks.
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