MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT ON NEW NATO MISSION

SKOPJE, Sept 27 (Hina) - The Macedonian government on Thursday issued a decision on a new local NATO mission, called "Amber Fox", whose task is to protect international observers. According to a government statement, the mission should be a limited duration operation to be implemented by liaison teams closely cooperating with Macedonian authorities. The mission has a three-month mandate, with the possibility of extension with Macedonia's consent. Germany will lead the mission that numbers 1,000 troops, NATO's spokesman in Macedonia, Mark Leyti, said. The mission will protect international observers if necessary, as Macedonian forces are also in charge of their security. A liaison team will number 200 troops. Most soldiers will make up intervention teams that will be deployed in barracks and activated only in crisis situations. Asked when Macedonia's security forces would return to crisis areas, Leyti said the process would be a gradual one. As for the 5,000 soldiers included in NATO's recent "Essential Harvest" weapon-collecting operation, the spokesman said they had already started withdrawing and would all leave Macedonia by Oct. 12. Following a United Nations Security Council resolution, the NATO Council last night enforced an order on the start of the new mission in Macedonia. The order ensued after disagreements were cleared with the Macedonian government as to the number of soldiers and other aspects of the mission. (hina) ha