[AMCC-News] Macedonian President Threatens Talks

[Mentor Cana]

  "Trajkovski's role in the process is pivotal, as the president is the
   only figure with enough stature to act as a go-between among factions of
   the majority Macedonians and ethnic Albanians."

  "But some also blame Trajkovski for the delay in passing the legislation.
   The law calls for the president to review all 15 amendments and pass
   them on to parliament ahead of any vote to make them law."

  "Instead of presenting parliament with the 15 amendments, for enactment
   as a package deal as called for by the ethnic Albanians, Trajkovski has
   only given them nine."


http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011016/wl/macedonia_3.html
Tuesday October 16 6:34 PM ET

Macedonian President Threatens Talks
By KATARINA KRATOVAC, Associated Press Writer

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) - Macedonia's president threatened to pull out of
peace talks Tuesday unless lawmakers stop stalling on a Western-engineered
accord meant to upgrade ethnic Albanian rights.

Under the August accord, ethnic Albanian rebels agreed to stop fighting and
handed in more than 4,000 weapons to NATO in exchange for constitutional
amendments granting the large ethnic Albanian minority greater rights.

The weapons were turned over by Sept. 26, but parliament has failed to
enact the amendments.

Tuesday, President Boris Trajkovski condemned ``certain groups of
deputies'' for ``continuing to block'' crucial constitutional amendments
that are part of the August peace agreement.

``If these unacceptable efforts go on, I shall consider them a form of
dictate and will have to reconsider my role'' in the peace process,
Trajkovski said in a letter to parliament without elaborating.

Trajkovski's role in the process is pivotal, as the president is the only
figure with enough stature to act as a go-between among factions of the
majority Macedonians and ethnic Albanians.

If Trajkovski backs out of the peace process, the country could again be
plunged into disarray.

But some also blame Trajkovski for the delay in passing the legislation.
The law calls for the president to review all 15 amendments and pass them
on to parliament ahead of any vote to make them law.

Instead of presenting parliament with the 15 amendments, for enactment as a
package deal as called for by the ethnic Albanians, Trajkovski has only
given them nine.

Ethnic Albanian deputies have boycotted key parliament meetings, fearing a
ploy by the Macedonians to introduce changes in some of the amendments,
particularly one that would make all ethnic groups equal under the law.

Zamir Dika, an ethnic Albanian deputy, said that Trajkovski's actions were
``unacceptable'' and the ethnic Albanian deputies will only return to
parliament once all amendments are on the table.

NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson and Javier Solana, the European
Union's foreign policy chief, were expected in Skopje on Thursday.
Officials in Brussels said the two would talk with Macedonian leaders about
pushing through the amendments as a package deal.

Also Tuesday, Macedonia's parliament postponed a debate on whether the
peace deal should be put to a nationwide referendum, a move that the West
has warned would sink the peace process.