SKOPJE, Sept 8 (Hina) - Dragged into a conflict with the ethnic Albanian guerrilla, concerned about the future, Macedonia on Saturday celebrated its decade of independence. President Boris Trajkovski strongly warned terrorist groups
they would be "destroyed" if they continued with fighting for territory. On the occasion of the first ten years of independence, the Macedonian parliament held a special session on Friday evening. Talking on state radio the next day, President Trajkovski addressed the six-month-long crisis, which he said originated in the southern Yugoslav province of Kosovo, which he described as the hotbed of crime and terrorism in the region due to its unresolved status and non-functioning democratic institutions. "If terrorist groups resume their fight for territories by referring to human rights... we are ready to counter their attacks until we have destroyed them," he sa
SKOPJE, Sept 8 (Hina) - Dragged into a conflict with the ethnic
Albanian guerrilla, concerned about the future, Macedonia on
Saturday celebrated its decade of independence. President Boris
Trajkovski strongly warned terrorist groups they would be
"destroyed" if they continued with fighting for territory.
On the occasion of the first ten years of independence, the
Macedonian parliament held a special session on Friday evening.
Talking on state radio the next day, President Trajkovski addressed
the six-month-long crisis, which he said originated in the southern
Yugoslav province of Kosovo, which he described as the hotbed of
crime and terrorism in the region due to its unresolved status and
non-functioning democratic institutions.
"If terrorist groups resume their fight for territories by
referring to human rights... we are ready to counter their attacks
until we have destroyed them," he said.
Trajkovski said it was imperative for parliament to adopt
amendments to the constitution which he added would not bring
Macedonia's statehood to an end but institutionalise the many
rights ethnic Albanians already enjoy.
Commenting on suggestions that NATO should remain in Macedonia
after its current weapon-collecting operation, Trajkovski said
Macedonia did not need NATO troops with a new mandate as the peace
they would bring would be temporary and deceiving.
He recalled the Ohrid Framework Agreement envisaged establishing
observer groups comprising international observers, civilian
representatives, ethnic Albanians, Macedonians, and police. He
added the document stated in detail how they accessed crisis
areas.
Trajkovski maintains that if Albanian guerrillas resume the
violence even in NATO's presence, it will only prolong problems. "I
think it's neither in Macedonia's nor the international
community's interest to create another Bosnian case," he said.
Trajkovski asserted the Macedonian security forces were not
responsible for what was happening in his country. He said
terrorist groups used armed conflicts to keep NATO in Macedonia as
long as possible so that it might lead to the establishment of a
protectorate.
"This means they didn't fight for human rights but for
territories," he told state radio.
Trajkovski believes UN observers should be deployed again along the
border on Kosovo and Albania to contribute to the stabilisation of
the region.
Between 1993 and 1999, the United Nations Prevention Deployment
Force (UNPREDEP) conducted a very successful mission in Macedonia.
President Trajkovski said such a mission was advocated by Albania
too.
(hina) ha