Wednesday, 1 February 2012
THIRD MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE ON RELATIONS AMONG THE COMMUNITIES
Today the Committee on Relations among the Communities held its third Meeting on the topic: “The current situation in light of the latest developments and their effect on the inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in the Republic of Macedonia”.
Besides the Chairperson and the members of the Committee, the Ombudsman, representatives of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Islamic Religious Community, the Committee for Relations with the Religious Communities and Religious Groups, representatives of the Embassies of the United States, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Republic of Bulgaria, Republic of Italy, Republic of Albania and Republic of Kosovo in the Republic of Macedonia, representatives of the OSCE Mission in Skopje, the UNDP, the NATO Liaison Office in Skopje, the Association of Journalists of Macedonia, the Agency for Youth and Sport, ZELS, the Mayors of the Municipalities of Struga and Vevcani, and a number of other Members of Parliaments also attended and took part in the meeting.
After an extensive debate, the Committee on Relations among the Communities adopted the following Conclusions:
1. The inter-ethnic, inter-confessional, inter-cultural and relations among the people should be built in the spirit of mutual understanding and in accordance with the principles and norms of the Constitution and of the Laws of the Republic of Macedonia;
2. Condemning the acts which undermine the trust, we call on the religious communities, the local self-government, the political parties, the civil society and the citizens to behave responsibility and with restraint;
3. The Committee on Relations among the Communities urges:
- The central authorities to continue to demonstrate its full commitment for further strengthening of the inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations;
- The local authorities to promote dialogue and cooperation;
- The media to give their contribution as part of the overall efforts for suppressing the tensions;
- The NGO sector to be strong partner in the activities and projects aimed at strengthening the trust;
- The religious communities to continue to nurture the values of tolerance, understanding and respect among the people;
4. The Committee on Relations among the Communities, as a body responsible for promotion of the inter-ethnic dialogue, expressing full confidence in the institutions, appeals that the dialogue be led exclusively in the framework of the institutions;
5. The cultural and sport activities must not be used as an excuse for inciting mistrust and disrespect among the citizens. The Committee condemns all acts of desecration of religious objects;
6. The future of the Republic of Macedonia lies in full integration in NATO and the EU, and key precondition in this direction is the creation of trust and positive atmosphere in the relations among the citizens;
7. These Conclusion shall be forwarded to the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Secretariat for Implementation of the Framework Agreement, the Ministry of Justice, the Ombudsman, the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the Islamic Religious Community, the Mayors of Struga and Vevcani, the Committee for Relations with the Religious Communities and Religious Groups, and the Association of the Units of Local Self-government of the Republic of Macedonia.