STOP NATO: ¡NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Get a low APR NextCard Visa in 30 seconds! 1. Fill in the brief application 2. Receive approval decision within 30 seconds 3. Get rates as low as 2.99% Intro or 9.99% Ongoing APR and no annual fee! Apply NOW! http://www.bcentral.com/listbot/NextCard ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [Alternate title: Murderous Thug Hails Murderous Thugs: Takes One To Know One. Dad, Mum, don't you recognize your baby?] Macedonia Rebel Hails NATO Despite "Thug" Comment SKOPJE, Jun 14, 2001 -- (Reuters) A leader of an ethnic Albanian insurgency in Macedonia has praised NATO Secretary General George Robertson, who once slammed the rebels as a "bunch of murderous thugs". Ali Ahmeti, political leader of the rebellion, hailed peace efforts by both Robertson and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in a fence-mending interview to be published on Thursday in the Albanian-language daily Fakti. "I would like to thank the Western diplomats, especially Mr Solana and Mr Robertson, because their contribution truly benefits humanity and us Albanians as well because we are part of the great European family," he said. Solana and Robertson will visit Skopje on Thursday in a new round of diplomacy aimed at prompting Macedonian politicians to agree ways to end a four-month-old crisis which could yet trigger a civil war in the former Yugoslav republic. Ahmeti, apparently seeking wider legitimacy to ease the rebels' isolation by Western powers, said he wanted any long-term peace deal to be underwritten by guarantees from the United States, the EU and NATO. "We do not see our future outside Europe and NATO integration and are convinced that together, by taking wise steps, we shall manage to solve the crisis," he said. A shaky three-day ceasefire was holding on Wednesday. On May 7 in Skopje, Robertson called the ethnic Albanian guerrillas "a bunch of murderous thugs whose objective is to destroy a democratic Macedonia" and turn it into "another Balkan bloodbath". The alliance chief has since softened his tone. Ahmeti said Albanians, who make up about a third of Macedonia's population and say they are discriminated against by the majority Slavs in everything from jobs to education, should follow the lead of other democratic nations divided by language. "The Macedonians should copy the example of Switzerland, Belgium and Canada," he said. He added that representatives of his self-styled National Liberation Army (NLA) had sounded out diplomats in Western capitals to discuss possible disarmament of NLA fighters and reintegration into civilian life. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Spot the hottest trends in music, movies, and more. http://buzz.yahoo.com/ ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
