Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- "We want NATO to remain here to establish a stable security and ensure a healthy political process." Guerilla Leader Wants NATO to Stay SIPKOVICA, Sep 10, 2001 -- (dpa) The ethnic Albanian rebel leader Ali Ahmeti on Saturday called for NATO to remain after its 30-day disarmament mission expires, in order to guard against a security vacuum. Speaking in an interview with Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa, Ahmeti said he was concerned that such a "vacuum" could cause the failure of a fragile peace process in the country. Earlier on Saturday, a contradictory stance came from Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, who called for NATO to leave Macedonia after its mission to collect weapons from ethnic Albanian rebels ends. "An extended mission would create a false impression of peace," he told the state radio. Parliament earlier this week approved a final peace plan that involves disarming the rebels. In exchange, the parliament has promised to chart a course of legal guarantees for the cultural and security rights of the 30 percent Albanian ethnic minority. "We are very concerned and the vacuum is a real danger for the security situation ... I think that not a single vacuum space should be left, in order not to let the situation slide towards any undesirable course," said Ahmeti, commander of the National liberation Army (UCK). Talking from headquarters in the mountainous village of Sipkovica, Ahmeti also asked that the European Union and the U.S. stay in Macedonia to ensure the political process is carried out. "We want NATO to remain here to establish a stabile security and ensure a healthy political process," he said. "Every change in the future in the engagement of the EU, U.S. and NATO troops here, will make the process fail." EU and U.S. representatives brokered a peace deal last month between ethnic Albanian and Slavic Macedonian politicians to end the six-month confrontation between Albanian guerillas and Macedonian state forces. The 5,000-strong NATO force in Macedonia has collected one-third of 3,300 rebel weapons. Macedonian officials have indicated that its state security forces will try to regain control over the former rebel-held territories after NATO withdraws. The international community fears that such acts might spur further violence in the country. "The agreement foresees the public order police can carry out its official duties accompanied by Albanian policemen," Ahmeti said. But he said it would be "difficult to control the course of the events". Earlier Saturday, European Union representatives meeting in Brussels promised to remain committed to ensuring peace, security and economic development in Macedonia. With NATO adamant about withdrawing its troops by the end of its 30-day weapons' harvesting mission, diplomats said the new focus will be on thrashing out a new security arrangement for the country. "We are determined to avoid creating a security vacuum in the country," said an EU official. (C)2001. dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: archive@jab.org T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
