    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book II)]
    [October 24, 1994]
    [Pages 1866-1867]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Presidential Election in the Former Yugoslav Republic
    of Macedonia
    October 24, 1994

        I congratulate President Gligorov on his election to a second term
    as President of his country. Under his able leadership, I am confident
    the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will continue on its path
    toward full integration into the international community of nations. The
    Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has upheld the principles of
    democracy and has courageously embarked on a bold program of economic
    reform and renewal. Despite strong external economic pressures which
    have caused great hardship, President Gligorov and his countrymen have
    shown a determination to continue on the path to free market democracy.
        I am pleased that international observers to the recent elections
    concluded that the first round of elections were conducted in an overall
    free and fair manner. The second round of parliamentary elections,
    scheduled for the end of this month, will be the next important step in
    the FYROM's democratic development. It is our hope that they will take
    place in a free and peaceful environment.
        The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's peaceful political and
    economic development is essential to stability in the Balkans. The
    United States has taken numerous steps to support that development,
    including sending U.S. troops to participate in a U.N. peacekeeping

    [[Page 1867]]

    mission there, establishing a liaison office in Skopje, and increasing
    our economic assistance under the SEED program in fiscal year 1995. I
    have instructed my Special Envoy, Matthew Nimetz, to redouble his
    efforts in the weeks ahead, in tandem with U.N. mediator Cyrus Vance, to
    help Skopje and Athens resolve their differences. We will continue to
    work with other friends of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in
    the months ahead to try to help bridge the country's balance-of-payments
    gap so that programs prepared by the IMF and World Bank can go forward.