The Presidency of the EU would like to express its full support following today's signing ceremony of the Code of Conduct for Free and Fair Parliamentary Election, salted for 1 June 2008 in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The Code that was prepared by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Citizen's Association MOST and the Macedonian Women's Lobby and signed by more than 30 political parties under the slogan "We Can and We Must – Fair Election 2008".
At the same time the Presidency calls upon all political parties and their leaders to do their utmost to ensure that the electoral campaign and election day will be free and fair, organized in democratic and peaceful atmosphere in accordance with international standards. In doing so they will contribute to the country's continued development into a stable and democratic society and demonstrate that the country is prepared to further its Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations in 2008.
Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of democracy. An essential element of such elections is the freedom to campaign. Each person has the right to put forward his or her opinion without fear which also means allowing every other person the same freedom. This demonstrates respect for the rule of law and acceptance of the code of conduct.
The country is capable and willing to execute the elections so that they will be in conduct with all international standards. It demonstrated this in the last parliamentarian elections and now it is time to prove this again.
