Human Rights Council: 18th Session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group, Geneva, 27 January to 7 February 2014
Statement by the UK Mission Geneva on the Universal Periodic Review of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 30 January 2014.
The Universal Periodic Review takes place at the Palais des Nations, Geneva
Thank you Mr President,
The UK welcomes the election of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the Human Rights Council, and looks forward to its constructive contribution to this body.
The Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA) is an important and effective tool for managing and improving interethnic relations. But the UK is concerned that the necessary review of this Framework is not yet complete and that the recommended improvements therefore are delayed.
The UK is also concerned about the continuing trend in the polarisation and opaque financing of the media. It is vital that the dialogue between the government and media resumes a constructive course as soon as possible.
We have two recommendations:
- That the Government completes the review of the Ohrid Framework Agreement and implements its recommendations by mid-2014;
- That the Government, in cooperation with the media, implements the agreed action plan within the dialogue between the Government and the media community on improvement of media freedoms.
Thank you Mr President.