[ALBSA-Info] Albania condemns extremist violence in Macedonia

[Gazhebo at aol.com]

Albania condemns extremist violence in Macedonia

  
TIRANA, March 6 (Reuters) - Albanian President Rexhep Meidani has condemned 
all acts of violence in Macedonia blamed on ethnic Albanian extremists and 
reiterated Albania's support for its neighbour's stability. 

Meidani, in a statement on national television on Monday night, appealed to 
the Macedonian government to act with moderation in handling gunmen in the 
village of Tanusevci in Macedonia. 

Gunmen widely believed to be ethnic Albanians have exchanged fire with 
Macedonian security forces around a border village in recent days and three 
Macedonian soldiers were killed on Sunday. 

"The President of the Republic hails all international institutions and 
Albanian parties in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia who have backed peace and 
condemned the acts of violence for political ends," Meidani said. 

He also supported ethnic Albanian parties in Macedonia who have made clear 
that stoking sources of tension in the region runs counter to the interest of 
Albanians in their lands. 

About a third of Macedonia's population of two million is ethnic Albanian, 
the rest mainly Slav. 

"The Albanian state remains loyal to its stand that the stability of 
Macedonia...is one of the important pillars of stability in the region," 
Meidani said.