The heads of the missions of the European Union, the United States as well as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) on Tuesday jointly called for the quick resolution of the ongoing political crisis in Macedonia.
"This country is currently at a critical juncture. The aspirations of its citizens for a better future, as well as the country's political stability are jeopardized by the current crisis," they said in a joint statement issued Tuesday.
They urged all political players in Macedonia to move away from public ultimatums, fixed positions and short term tactics towards direct dialogue and compromise in the best interest of the citizens and the country.
"We urge in this respect all political leaders to take responsibility and without further delay find a definitive solution to the current political crisis," the statement added.
Their joint appeal amidst a political stand-off between Macedonia's VMRO-DPMNE government and the opposition Social Democrats (SDSM). In view of the fast approaching local elections, the international community has been urging a compromise between the two parties.
The crisis erupted on December 24, when SDSM members were forcibly removed from parliament after causing disruptions ahead of a budget vote. SDSM leader Branko Crvenkovski has since announced that the opposition would boycott local elections.
The European Union and rest of the international community believe that an opposition boycott of the local elections would adversely affect the outcome of the polls. Macedonia has already been warned that the political impasse would have a negative impact on its EU accession.
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