http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/text_only.cfm?id=SS01025960 Scotland On Sunday July 15, 2001 British fighters seek thrill of battle in Macedonia's struggle FORMER British soldiers are fighting the Macedonian security services as part of the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army, Scotland on Sunday has learned. Sources within the NLA confirmed that 12 British nationals were fighting with them in the Kumanovo region, along with at least two Dutch men and a German. The fighters are not of Albanian descent but are believed to have fought in some of the wars in the former Yugoslavia, including Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo. The British contingent wasbased around the village of Slupchane until the ceasefire which has been in place for over a week. NLA commanders are taking advantage of the ceasefire to rest their troops and send them to Kosovo to recuperate. Macedonians already feel persecuted by the Europeans and the United States, whom they accuse of encouraging the NLA. Senior Macedonian officials said they were aware that the NLA also included European former KLA fighters. "We know they are there but they are not significant - little more than drug addicts," one said. Tim Ripley, a defence analyst at Lancaster University who has been studying the Macedonian conflict, said he was not surprised to learn that former British soldiers and adventurers had joined the NLA. "I heard that some British people were planning to come out and join the NLA but I did not know if they succeeded. These people are not classic mercenaries. "They are likely to have fought in recent Balkan wars and they are doing it for the adventure rather than the money. All they will receive is board and pocket money." The use of foreign mercenaries is not restricted to the NLA. The Macedonian government has bought a number of helicopters and ground attack fighters from the Ukraine and employed pilots to fly them. There have also been persistent rumours that the Macedonian security forces have been recruiting soldiers from Serbia and Bulgaria. One former British soldier arrived in Kosovo saying that he had come to fight but had not yet decided for which side. Ripley said the Macedonians were also using military assistance from abroad. "The Macedonians have simply bought in an airforce from the Ukraine and there are reports of Macedonian soldiers who do not appear to speak or understand Macedonian. There is a long tradition of this kind of thing in the Balkans," he said. The NLA began its insurrection against the Macedonian government in February. It claims to be fighting for civil rights for Macedonia's ethnic Albanian minority, which could make up one-third of the population. Macedonians claim that the NLA has attacked Macedonia from Kosovo and aims to split the country as part of a wider campaign to form a greater Albania. Fighting has officially been suspended although there are regular gunfights as both sides re-supply their troops. Representatives of Albanian political parties are negotiating with Macedonian parties, along with Francois Leotard, the EU envoy and James Pardew, the US envoy. As the politicians speak the armed groups continue to prepare for war. This week, NLA fighters and military police were walking freely around the suburbs of Tetovo, Macedonia's second city, stopping cars and checking papers. New recruits could be seen heading off to the hills to receive training. Meanwhile, the Macedonians are transporting around 30tanks and armoured vehicles to the Ukraine to be refurbished and equipped with night-vision equipment. "They are clearly preparing for a long war," said Ripley. >From Conal Urquhart in Skopje Sunday, 15th July 2001 Serbian News Network - SNN [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.antic.org/
