MASSIVE INFLOW OF REFUGEES PUT MACEDONIA'S SECURITY AT RISK

SKOPJE, April 3 (Hina) - Macedonia's President Kiro Gligorov on Friday convened a session of the Security Council at which it was assessed that the security situation in the country could be seriously jeopardised due to a huge influx of refugees from Kosovo. So far 50,000 Kosovo Albanians have found shelter in this small Balkan country. Furthermore, the same number of people are awaiting at the border to enter Macedonia. The council concluded the country could not objectively accept so many refugees. Such a situation may pose a threat to the security of this country with about 2 million inhabitants, lead to the disturbance of the public order and peace, economic collapse and political instability, according to a statement released by Gligorov's office last night. The Council decided that the Government should take further measures to boost security at the border and prevent illegal transits over the frontier. It also decided that as many refugees as could be provided accommodation in neighbourly countries or in EU member-states, by help of the international community, should be allowed to cross into Macedonia. The international community is to be urgently notified of necessity of offering relief aid and financial assistance for the accommodation of the incoming refugees in order to prevent humanitarian disaster. (hina) ms