Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- [What happens when small, defenseless nations are attacked by terrorists with a provenance not dissimilar to those currently the casus belli of the new world war.] Albanian rebels may get amnesty Macedonian leaders to discuss plan this week September 24, 2001 BY GEORGE JAHN ASSOCIATED PRESS SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Moving to fulfill a key element of a Western-backed peace plan, Macedonia's parliament plans discussions this week on amnesty for ethnic Albanian rebels who fought government troops, a legislator said Sunday. Blagoya Stojkovski of the Social Democratic party said the issue will be formally raised Tuesday, a day after parliament is scheduled to wrap up preliminary voting on constitutional amendments -- another important ingredient for peace -- ahead of their final adoption. "I am very convinced that the law about amnesty . . . will be accepted," Stojkovski told reporters. Near Matejce, which is 15 miles northeast of the capital, Skopje, NATO soldiers collected weapons from the rebels. The soldiers are close to the end of their weapons-collection mission. The rebels have agreed to hand in 3,300 weapons and disband under the peace plan. A rebel commander, speaking as he took the magazine out of his pistol and handed both over to NATO troops, said he hoped the amnesty would be approved. "We are waiting for the amnesty to be granted so we can return to a normal life," said the rebel, who goes by the name of Spahi. "We think that we are giving peace a chance." The Macedonian government has promised amnesty to rebels who are not implicated in criminal acts during their six-month insurrection that started in February, but ethnic Albanians have expressed concern that no action has been taken to implement the pledge. NATO Secretary-General Lord Robertson is planning to visit Macedonia this week for talks on amnesty and other aspects of the fragile peace agreement, NATO spokesman Mark Laity said. The alliance's 30-day weapons-collection mission is scheduled to end Wednesday. After the mission, NATO leaders are considering a Macedonian government request for a small force to protect international monitors. __________________________________________________ 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 ==^================================================================
