FYR of Macedonia: Annan welcomes peace accord, urges adherence to ceasefire

Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed the Framework Agreement reached yesterday in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, stressing that there can be no solution to the country's crisis other than a political one.

"The use of violence by any party to undermine the agreement, or to seek further political gains, would be absolutely unacceptable," the Secretary-General said in a statement issued late yesterday by his spokesman. The peace deal was signed in Skopje between the Macedonian Government and four political parties representing the Albanian community.

The Secretary-General called upon the parties to the conflict to honour their commitments - especially in relation to the ceasefire - and to take immediate steps to implement the agreement.

"He hopes this agreement will succeed in restoring calm after the violence which has brought so much fear and pain to the people of the Republic in recent weeks, and will prove to be the basis for a stable political settlement," the statement said, noting Mr. Annan's gratitude for the commendable role played by the international community, particularly the European Union and NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] in helping the parties to reach the accord.

The Framework Agreement was also hailed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "We hope that the peace agreement will eventually pave the way for the return of more than 125,000 people displaced since the conflict started in February this year," spokesman Kris Janowski told the press today in Geneva.

"We urge all sides to abide by the agreement," he said, warning that the consequences of not doing so would be grave. "The only alternative is more bloodshed, more uprooted people and more suffering."

According to UNHCR, more than 2,000 people crossed into Kosovo from Friday until Sunday evening, but the number of arrivals dropped sharply yesterday as people awaited the signing of the peace agreement.

Prior to the accord's signing, people fled the area in and around Tetovo and villages close to Radusa where heavy fighting continued throughout the weekend. UNHCR is particularly concerned about hundreds of people from the village of Ljuboten near Skopje where severe clashes occurred on Saturday and Sunday.