Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje
Interview with Ambassador Giorgio Radicati, Head of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, on A1 Television evening news, 26 August 2007
Interviewer: Irina Gelevska
This September will be the 15th anniversary of the OSCE Mission in Macedonia. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this is the longest mission, at least in this region. What are your plans, do you plan to leave?
Correct, in September/October we will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Mission in Skopje. This is the oldest mission in the region. If we observe the Mission activities for all these years, we will see how they change based on the field conditions.
This means the Mission has no deadline?
I would not use this word. There is a certain determined time period confirmed by both sides- by the government, respectively the country, and the OSCE. We are here because we were asked to come and have established a stable relationship with the country and the people. When we will be asked to leave, we will do it, since it would mean we have finished our work.
What will happen when Macedonia will get NATO membership invitation, let’s say, next spring? Will there be a shift in OSCE Mission tasks?
NATO membership and beginning of EU membership negotiations are significant steps of the country’s political life. In case they both occur, we would re-examine our presence and our assistance in order to achieve new goals.
Kosovo issue is a large problem lately, especially for the neighbouring countries. Is your presence due to, perhaps the expectance of the problem solution, and then later decide whether to stay or leave?
Kosovo presents a problem. Everyone knows that its solution will bring more peace, stability, and force balance in the region. But, if we see the problem from the side of this country, we should be very careful in the estimation.Your country has a clear position regarding this issue. We support the government. We should not see the status of Kosovo as a problem that should necessarily have consequences for this country.
How do you see the fight against corruption? There were several arrests and even political tension regarding arrest of the former Prime Minister Buckovski. What is your stance regarding this? It is difficult from our side to talk about this. This is an internal issue that should be solved by the domestic institutions-the parliament for the immunity, and the judiciary for the substance of the cases. Corruption is an important issue not only here, but in many other countries as well. The best way to fight against corruption is by leading with an example of good governance, and with investigations raised from the judiciary, prosecution, and police in order to clarify the cases and if so, to punish the perpetrators.