EU and US broker early elections in Macedonia

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 03.06.15
Publication Date 03/06/2015
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A meeting between European Union's Commissioner Johannes Hahn, the US ambassador and the leaders of FYR Macedonia's four main political parties took place on 2 June 2015 and resulted in an agreement on general elections taking place in April 2016.

The composition of the interim administration, including the role of the prime minister Nikola Gruevski, remained to be decided, with a follow-up meeting due in Brussels on 10 June 2015. That meeting did not result in any agreement.

Russia criticised the West's intervention in the country's political situation, stating that a 'colour revolution' was in motion and orchestrated from the outside. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had previously said the movement against Mr Gruevski had been 'crudely manipulated from the outside' because FYR Macedonia had refused to join EU sanctions on Russia and following the agreement to take part in a new Russian gas pipeline, Turkish Stream.

Source Link Link to Main Source https://euobserver.com/foreign/128948
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Smoke and smell of gunpowder in the political dust of Macedonia http://www.europeansources.info/record/smoke-and-smell-of-gunpowder-in-the-political-dust-of-macedonia/
EurActiv, 03.06.15: Macedonia to hold elections by April 2016 http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/macedonia-hold-elections-april-2016-315082
BBC News, 02.06.15: Macedonia unrest: EU brokers plan for early elections http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32985554
The Wall Street Journal, 02.06.15: Macedonia Becomes Latest Stage for Russian Tensions With the West http://www.wsj.com/articles/macedonia-becomes-latest-stage-for-russian-tensions-with-the-west-1433202972
Sputnik International, 30.05.15: Russia Concerned That External Forces at Play in Macedonia Protests http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150530/1022758392.html
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/5107, 02.06.15: Remarks by Commissioner Hahn following his meeting with political leaders in Skopje http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-5107_en.htm
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: STATEMENT/15/5106, 02.06.15: Statement following today's mission of Commissioner Hahn to former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-5106_en.htm
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: STATEMENT/15/5133, 05.06.15: Statement following Commissioner Hahn's phone call with Zoran Zaev http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-5133_en.htm
EUObserver, 08.06.15: [Opinion] Does Hahn get the Macedonia crisis? https://euobserver.com/opinion/129008
Sputnik International: Topic: Protests and Violence Erupt in Macedonia http://sputniknews.com/trend/macedonia_unrest/
Politico, 10.06.15: [Opinion]: The Macedonian revolution to come http://www.politico.eu/article/macedonia-maidan-brussels-negotiations/
openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 22.05.15: From pro-American to pro-Russian? Nikola Gruevski as a political chameleon https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/vassilis-petsinis/from-proamerican-to-prorussian-nikola-gruevski-as-political-cha
EurActiv, 11.06.15: Talks to end Macedonia crisis end without agreement http://www.euractiv.com/sections/enlargement/Talks%20to%20end%20Macedonian%20crisis%20end%20without%20agreement-315296
European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: STATEMENT/15/5165, 10.06.15: Statement following the meeting of Commissioner Hahn with the political leaders of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-5165_en.htm

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