Macedonia's leaders meet to overcome rising tensions

SKOPJE, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov met late Tuesday with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and leader of main opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, Nikola Gruevski, to discuss the new tensions that have arisen in the country, Ivanov's press office informed Wednesday.

Talks focused on the current developments and possible solutions to overcome the ongoing state of play of rising tensions in the country, the office said in a press release.

The president called the meeting after 36 people were arrested and investigated early Tuesday for organizing a "terror" threat on constitutional order and security during the violent events in the Macedonian Assembly back in April 27.

Among the suspects are the former interior minister and director of the bureau for public security, Mitko Chavkov, opposition members of parliament, doctors, and artists.

Zaev commented Wednesday that the meeting was held "in a constructive climate."

"Talks focused on normalizing political processes following the arrest of more than 30 people involved in the violent events in Parliament on April 27. We talked openly as responsible stakeholders through dialogue in order to find solutions to issues considered problematic in the country," Zaev told reporters.

He further said that an emphasis was put on the need for the opposition to be fully engaged in the coming processes. Enditem