BUSH: SITUATION IN BALKANS STILL POSES THREAT TO US NATIONAL SECURITY

WASHINGTON, June 25 (Hina) - U.S. President George Bush on Tuesday informed Congress of prolonging a state of high national alert for the Balkans. #L# The decision means that the U.S. Administration assesses that there are still threats to the United States' national security and foreign policy" in that area. A year before, on 26 June 2001, Bush declared the high-alert state because of activities of persons who were taking part in or supporting the extremist violence in Macedonia and somewhere else or they were hampering the implementation of the Dayton peace accords for Bosnia-Herzegovina or UN Resolution 1244 on Kosovo. The work of such persons endangers peace and the international community's endeavours to stabilise the western Balkans and poses a threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, Bush wrote to Congress. This decision is formally necessary for Bush to give the green light for the continuation of the deployment of American troops in Kosovo, Bosnia and Macedonia and their participation in UN peace missions. (hina) ms