US, EU Diplomats Restart Macedonia Crisis Talks

US and EU diplomats have confirmed that they are in touch with government officials and the opposition in Macedonia - but have not disclosed details of the ongoing talks.

Unofficially, diplomatic sources told BIRN that they have failed to bring the main ruling VMRO DPMNE party and the opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, any closer.

The main obstacle is said to be the President's pardon and the June election date. "While the opposition insists on withdrawal of the pardon, the ruling party disagrees - and also insists on June 5 election date," a diplomatic source told BIRN under condition of anonymity.

The diplomats are trying to pave the way for an agreement before the arrival of Johannes Haindl, the German diplomat appointed last week as a special envoy for Macedonia.

Haindl is expected to arrive to Macedonia this week after consultations in Berlin, Washington and Athens.

The EU ambassador to Macedonia, Aivo Orav, on Tuesday highlighted the need to reach a solution to the political crisis, adding that last month's presidential decision to pardon 56 top politicians and their associates was a major obstacle to progress.

"In the last month we saw an iceberg itself when the decision on the pardon was made. There is no time to lose. Serious, difficult decisions have to be made today, tomorrow, by those who are responsible for the situation," Orav said at a meeting organized by the government.

"Unfortunately, the words which best describe last year are obstruction, delays and slow implementation [of the EU-brokered crisis agreement reached last summer]," Orav said.

Meanwhile, the US ambassador, Jess Baily, confirmed to the media that "we remain in touch with the parties".

The ruling VMRO DPMNE...