PACE expands its presence in Skopje

PACE has decided to “step up and expand” its presence in Macedonia and its cooperation with the Macedonian authorities.

The PACE’s Skopje-based monitoring mission in Macedonia closed in 2000.

In a resolution adopted last week, PACE noted that Macedonia faced “multi-level challenges to secure its political stability and social cohesion”, adding that the new office in Skopje should help “encourage the country to pursue its democratisation efforts”.

The Assembly says it is resolved to pursue its post-monitoring dialogue with Macedonia, against a background in which “serious doubts remain as to whether there is sufficient political stability in the country to carry out reforms at a regular pace”.