Lakeside Murders Shouldn't Hinder Macedonia EU Bid - Rapporteur

The murder of five people near a lake in the vicinity of Macedonian capital Skopje last week must not hinder the country's EU accession bid, European Parliament Rapporteur on Macedonia Richard Howitt has said.

Howitt has called for the murderers to be discovered and punished by law, regardless of their identity and ethnic background.

"A tragic incident, in such circumstances, can have a destabilizing effect and lead to fresh violence. However, it is important that politicians and law enforcement institutions play their role", the British MEP told Deutsche Welle.

"Of course there are people who will want to use this event and say it is not a good moment for the country to join the EU, thus hindering the process. However, we will not allow the abuse of this situation and use of those argument," he added.

On April 12, the bodies of four young men, aged 18 to 20, as well as that of a 45-year-old local man, all of ethnic Slavic origin, were found near a lake in the vicinity of Macedonian capital Skopje. The tragic event took place on the eve of Orthodox Easter holidays

The USA, European Union, NATO, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe have come together in condemning the five murders.