European Commissioner Johannes Hahn and the three members of European Parliament involved in mediating the political talks in Macedonia issued a press release following the cancellation of the political talks planned to take place on Friday in Vienna.
"As EU Commissioner and European Parliament mediators, we regret that the leader's meeting planned for April 22 in Vienna could not take place. This meeting was intended to help the country find a way forward in the implementation of Przino agreement, with the participation of all signatories to the Agreement. The persisting rule of law issues in Skopje, which undermine this agreement, must be addressed without any further delay. This concerns in particular the recent presidential pardon and the steps urgently required for the preparation of credible elections which could be recognized by the international community. We all remain strongly committed and available to assist the parties. However, we emphasize that the responsibility to ensure democratic progress and to make headway on the Euro-Atlantic path rests with the parties themselves, on behalf of the citizens of their own country. Now it is their turn to deliver and to define the way forward. We have consistently said that the breakdown of the Przino Agreement would have very serious consequences for the country. We deeply regret retrograde steps that move the country further away from its aspirations towards European Union accession. In the absence of any further progress, we are now forced to consider further actions to meet the requirements clearly laid out by the European Council, European Commission and European Parliament. We also acknowledge the statements and actions by civil society in the country and express our full support for all peaceful efforts to ensure pluralism and the freedom of opinion, which are central values in all European democracies", reads the statement issued by Commissioner Hahn and MEPs Ivo Vajgl, Eduard Kukan and Richard Howitt.
The meeting of the four main political leaders in Vienna was cancelled after SDSM announced they will not take part unless the 5 June elections are postponed and President Gjorge Ivanov withdraws his decision to give sweeping pardons to political leaders and their supporters from both sides of the political divide. President Ivanov said that, following his consultations, legal experts see no way to move forward on the requests to cancel the pardons, as some of the politicians have asked. Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski also said that there is no way to re-assemble the Parliament which dissolved, prompting elections to be held no later than 5 June.