Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- "Thanks to NATO, but we can handle things," one Macedonian official was quoted as saying. "After the end of this mission they should leave." Although that opinion is shared by many Macedonians...the EU can probably exert enough diplomatic pressure to make Skopje back down. THE TIMES (London) MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10 2001 EU wants new Nato force for Macedonia BY RICHARD BEESTON, DIPLOMATIC EDITOR BRITISH and other Nato troops could find themselves locked into indefinite peacekeeping duties in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as a result of an agreement by European Union foreign ministers yesterday. The ministers proposed that a new force should be sent to the troubled Balkan state once the present Nato operation is completed at the end of this month. After a weekend meeting in Belgium, foreign ministers, including Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, agreed to a proposal by Joschka Fischer, the German Foreign Minister, that Nato send a �small but robust� force to Macedonia. The force, which is expected to number more than 1,000 soldiers, could include troops from non-Nato countries such as Russia, Finland, Sweden and Ukraine. A proposal by Fran�ois L�otard, the European Union�s special envoy to Skopje, who suggested sending an EU detachment of 1,500 troops to Macedonia, has been rejected. The EU�s controversial rapid reaction force will not be operational until 2003. Nato is regarded as the only organisation able to provide the necessary troops, which need to be operational by the start of next month. The soldiers, whose mission would be approved by a UN Security Council resolution, would probably be based at Nato�s existing centres in Macedonia and would be given the task of defending hundreds of unarmed international observers. The monitors, from the EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), are meant to help to prevent a renewed outbreak of violence between the Macedonian military and ethnic Albanian rebels. In Macedonia yesterday Nato forces, spearheaded by British paratroops, resumed collecting weapons from the rebels. The Nato troops� mandate expires on September 26, however, and they are due to be withdrawn by the beginning of next month. Britain has made clear that it is prepared to contribute to the new Nato force. However, it has ruled out using any of its troops at present in Macedonia, which make up nearly half of the 4,500-strong force serving in Operation Essential Harvest. It has argued that other countries should take the lead for the next mission. Herr Fischer told his colleagues that a �silent coalition of extremists� might exploit a power vacuum caused by the troop withdrawal and wreck months of peace efforts. Despite the consensus among the EU for the Nato enterprise, the new mission still faces numerous obstacles. Last week Macedonia�s Security Council, made up of top military and political leaders, voted against the idea of a new Nato force. �Thanks to Nato, but we can handle things,� one Macedonian was quoted as saying. �After the end of this mission they should leave.� Although that opinion is shared by many Macedonians � they glumly marked their tenth anniversary since independence from Yugoslavia at the weekend � the EU can probably exert enough diplomatic pressure to make Skopje back down. A more serious objection is coming from Nato itself. The alliance was told by critics last month that its 30-day mission was likely to have to be expanded and sceptics predicted �mission creep�, the term used to describe the expansion of limited military operations. As a result it will be very wary of committing itself to an open-ended mission, particularly since it is already engaged in lengthy and costly peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Kosovo. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email alerts & NEW webcam video instant messaging with Yahoo! Messenger http://im.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 ==^================================================================
