[ALBSA-Info] EU encourages Macedonia to agree peace de

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

EU encourages Macedonia to agree peace deal

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, June 16 (Reuters) - European Union leaders on Saturday 
urged Macedonia's ethnic Slavs and Albanians to open dialogue on all issues, 
including the constitution, and respect a truce to prevent fresh violence in 
the Balkan nation. 

In a declaration at a summit in Sweden, the 15 EU leaders underscored again 
the inviolability of Macedonia's borders and sovereignty of the multi-ethnic 
state. 

"We reaffirm... (the need for) the opening of a true dialogue covering all 
issues on the agenda, including the constitutional issues," the declaration 
said. 

"We welcome the readiness of President (Boris) Trajkovski and the national 
unity government to act accordingly," it said, adding that the current 
fragile ceasefire between the Macedonian security forces and ethnic Albanian 
rebels must be maintained. 

Albanian guerrillas have demanded major constitutional concessions to 
Macedonia's ethnic Albanians for ending a four-month insurrection. 

The declaration said Trajkovski's plan for disarmament was "a good basis for 
progress in this direction." 

Politicians from both sides of the ethnic divide were in talks in the 
Macedonian capital, Skopje, on Saturday, to find ways to prevent a fresh war 
breaking out in the Balkans. 

Europe has taken the diplomatic lead in trying to restore peace in the former 
Yugoslav republic, torn for months by fighting between Macedonian security 
forces and Albanian rebels, who say they are battling for the rights of their 
ethnic kin. 

The EU wants Macedonia's politicians to reach a deal and present their 
results by June 25, when EU foreign ministers meet in Luxembourg. 

PERMANENT MACEDONIA REPRESENTATIVE 

EU security chief Javier Solana was preparing to send a permanent EU-NATO 
representative to Macedonia and foreign ministers were expected to make that 
appointment at their Luxembourg meeting. 

Solana told a news conference in Gothenburg that the permanent representative 
would in no way complicate his efforts to seek peace in Macedonia. 

"It would be another manner in which we can cooperate and we can be in 
Macedonia for 24 hours a day on behalf of the European Union," he said. 

"As you can imagine, I can't do that. Whoever is appointed, it will be my 
responsibility to work very closely (with him)," he added. 

Ethnic Slavs and Albanians both called ceasefires on Monday but exchanges of 
light fire have occurred daily. 

The EU declaration also urged all democratic forces in Macedonia and 
neighbouring countries "to unite against extremism." 

In a final summit communique, EU leaders said encouraging progress had been 
made towards greater democracy, market reforms and peaceful coexistence among 
countries of the Balkan region. 

"The Union will continue to support all efforts to bring the countries of the 
region closer to the common goal of their integration into European 
structures," the document said. 

"This points the way ahead, not least in those areas where more tangible 
progress is needed, like the protection of rights of minorities, return of 
refugees and regional cooperation," it said.