Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- The Financial Times Risk of new fighting in Macedonia By Irena Guzelova in Skopje - Aug 01 2001 18:07:44 Ethnic Albanian rebels have over the past few days continued to strengthen their control over north-western Macedonia, despite the ceasefire, increasing the risk of renewed fighting as US and EU negotiators strive to broker a peace deal. International observers said the rebels have set-up check-points along the winding roads which link the villages between Tetovo and Gostivar. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said one Macedonian Slav policeman was killed in Brevenica, one of the most important Slav villages in the Tetovo district. Some 10km south, in the village of Celopek, rebels attacked a police convoy with automatic weapons. It is too early to say whether this constitutes the beginning of the new front, but the events follow similar skirmishes which preceded earlier clashes. At talks between Macedonian government officials and ethnic Albanian leaders in the lakeside resort of Ohrid, hopes for a settlement grew after Western diplomats reported significant progress on the issue of the use of the Albanian language, which has been the main stumbling block in negotiations. But the general insecurity has dissuaded thousands of refugees from returning, undermining prospects for peace. Each side has lost territory to the other, and areas are increasingly becoming ethnically pure. Many are fleeing the prospect of more fighting. The Macedonian Red Cross estimates that 44,000 people have been displaced within the country, out of a population of 2 million. Virtually none of the thousand or so Macedonian Slav refugees who are taking part in a government programme to return to their villages stay more than a few hours. The majority take what few belongings were not looted, before leaving. Most believe the rebels will return. Milco, a villager from Tearce, near Tetovo, from where the rebels agreed to withdraw 500 metres under a Nato-brokered ceasefire last week, said he saw rebels with camouflage fatigues, and automatic rifles slung across their shoulders, on the road back to his village. "How can I go and take may family back there?" he said. Underscoring the locals' fear, Ali Ahmeti, the rebel leader, warned that he would not accept the current compromise on the negotiating table at Ohrid. In the predominantly ethnic Albanian village of Arancinovo overlooking Skopje, where Western governments and Macedonian authorities last weekend organised the return of several thousand refugees, about 60 per cent of the Albanians have returned, but only a handful are prepared to brave the night. The majority come during the day, check their property and return to sleep in the capital. The houses are heavily shelled. The mayor said more than half of the houses were uninhabitable. Few of the villagers gathered outside the post office believed that Arancinovo had seen its last fight. "If the politicians in Ohrid don't sign an agreement, it will be the end," said Jashari Icair, an ethnic Albanian villager. A group of policemen who patrol Arancinovo, after US troops evacuated the rebels last month, stood nervously around a van just off the main square. They were in little doubt under whose control the village would fall. "The NLA are back," said one, gesturing with his head to the nearby houses. "It will start again," said another. They blamed the OSCE and Nato for not monitoring the area effectively and claimed that arms are coming into the village. But the OSCE's limited staff is stretched monitoring the ceasefire around Tetovo, which one Western observer said was almost impossible to police. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
