Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, the United States is pleased to join with today’s decision to increase the size of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje by eight border monitors. We believe this expanded presence will provide for a more thorough monitoring of current developments and it will also allow the OSCE Mission to play a more effective role in fulfilling its mandate.

The United States strongly condemns the continuing violence by extremists. There is no support among the international community, or indeed the vast majority of ethnic Albanians, for the use of violence.

Grievances of the ethnic Albanian community, and indeed of any community, should and must be addressed through established democratic political and civil structures. The violence we have witnessed over the last several days represents a great setback for that community.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has our full support in its efforts to respond proportionately to violent extremists and to take actions to preserve its territorial integrity. We expect the government to take those steps in a manner that seeks to avoid civilian casualties.

We warmly welcome the Chairman-in-Office’s announcement that he intends to appoint Ambassador Robert Frowick as his Personal Representative to the Situation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to support political dialogue and develop further confidence-building steps.

We call for and we support the closest possible cooperation and coordination among the Chairman’s Personal Representative, the High Commissioner on National Minorities, Mr. van der Stoel, and the Head of our Mission in Skopje, Ambassador Ungaro.

Mr. Chairman, the United States is also looking at ways to strengthen and expand our bilateral assistance program to provide additional and immediate support to the Macedonian Government.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.