US envoy ‘encourged’ by talks on Macedonia crisis

SKOPJE, Macedonia – A senior U.S. envoy visiting Macedonia says she’s hopeful the country’s main political parties can overcome a months-long crisis.

Victoria Nuland, assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affairs, said Monday she was encouraged by meetings in the Macedonian capital, Skopje, with party leaders including former prime minister Nikola Gruevski and opposition leader Zoran Zaev.

Macedonia has been locked in political crisis for more than a year, with anti-government protests fueled by allegations that the ruling conservatives had authorized wiretaps of opponents and thousands of senior officials.

Political leaders have faced delays in implementing a European Union-brokered agreement to hold early elections.

Nuland is on a tour of the region that also includes stops in Kosovo, Serbia, Albania and Cyprus.