[ALBSA-Info] EU ties Macedonia aid to rapid political reform

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

EU ties Macedonia aid to rapid political reform
  
LUXEMBOURG, June 25 (Reuters) - The European Union told Macedonia on Monday 
it must stop seeking a military victory over ethnic Albanian rebels, resume 
negotiations on political reforms and make rapid progress if it wanted 
further EU aid. 

"There is no military solution to the present crisis," a draft communique by 
EU foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg said. 

"The political dialogue must now resume with the facilitation of the 
international community and lead to rapid results. 

"Such results will determine the further development of the EU's relations 
with FYROM (the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia) and the possibility of 
further assistance," the text said, according to diplomatic sources. 

It was the strongest language employed by the EU in three months of intensive 
diplomatic efforts to avert civil war in Macedonia and the first public 
warning that Macedonia's formal links to the Union, established in April, 
were in jeopardy.