SKOPLJE, Aug 13 (Hina) - The Macedonian state leadership on Sunday made a decision to discontinue all combat activities of Macedonian forces, to go into force on Sunday evening, ahead of Monday's signing of a peace agreement, said a
statement from the office of Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski. Macedonian Television quoted sources at the President's Cabinet as saying Albanian guerrillas would stop attacks as well, as a result of mediation by NATO official Pieter Feith. It has been announced that today's signing of the peace treaty will be attended by NATO Secretary-General George Robertson, EU's High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, EU Chairman and Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel and OSCE Chairman and Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana. Special US envoy James Pardew yesterday expressed belief the agreement on overcoming the crisis in Maced
SKOPLJE, Aug 13 (Hina) - The Macedonian state leadership on Sunday
made a decision to discontinue all combat activities of Macedonian
forces, to go into force on Sunday evening, ahead of Monday's
signing of a peace agreement, said a statement from the office of
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski.
Macedonian Television quoted sources at the President's Cabinet as
saying Albanian guerrillas would stop attacks as well, as a result
of mediation by NATO official Pieter Feith.
It has been announced that today's signing of the peace treaty will
be attended by NATO Secretary-General George Robertson, EU's High
Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier
Solana, EU Chairman and Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel and
OSCE Chairman and Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana.
Special US envoy James Pardew yesterday expressed belief the
agreement on overcoming the crisis in Macedonia would be signed,
adding political leaders should use the current situation to
establish peace.
Although it has been announced that the signing ceremony will take
place this afternoon in Skoplje, the exact location is still not
known because some non-government organisations called on Skoplje
residents to block the city and prevent the signing of the agreement
which they consider shameful and a sell-out and compare it to an
agreement which was signed in Bucharest on August 16, 1913 and
resulted in the division of Macedonia.
Government spokesman Antonio Milososki said Macedonia sought the
extension of NATO's mandate in the operation of disarmament of
Albanian forces because it believed the latest events proved
Albanian extremists would not surrender weapons voluntarily.
Milososki believes NATO should also consider use of force in the
process in order to prevent the Kosovo farce happening in
Macedonia.
Despite the unilateral ceasefire, Albanian guerrillas started
fierce attacks on Macedonian forces near the Kumanovo villages of
Ropajce and Lopate half an hour before midnight last night.
Macedonian forces returned with cannon fire and sent back-up to the
area.
Macedonian Television reported last night Albanian guerrillas were
breaking into the apartments of Macedonian families in Tetovo,
forcing them to leave the town as soon as possible.
(hina) rml