-Caveat Lector-
Note: Retired military personnel often serve as proxies for
their countries' Secret Services. [ Nurev ]
===========================
http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/text_only.cfm?id=SS01025960
Scotland On Sunday
July 15, 2001
British fighters seek thrill of battle in Macedonia's
struggle
FORMER British soldiers are fighting the Macedonian
security services as part of the ethnic Albanian
National Liberation Army, Scotland on Sunday has
learned.
Sources within the NLA confirmed that 12 British
nationals were fighting with them in the Kumanovo
region, along with at least two Dutch men and a
German.
The fighters are not of Albanian descent but are
believed to have fought in some of the wars in the
former Yugoslavia, including Croatia, Bosnia and
Kosovo.
The British contingent wasbased around the village of
Slupchane until the ceasefire which has been in place
for over a week. NLA commanders are taking advantage
of the ceasefire to rest their troops and send them to
Kosovo to recuperate.
Macedonians already feel persecuted by the Europeans
and the United States, whom they accuse of encouraging
the NLA.
Senior Macedonian officials said they were aware that
the NLA also included European former KLA fighters.
"We know they are there but they are not significant -
little more than drug addicts," one said.
Tim Ripley, a defence analyst at Lancaster University
who has been studying the Macedonian conflict, said he
was not surprised to learn that former British
soldiers and adventurers had joined the NLA.
"I heard that some British people were planning to
come out and join the NLA but I did not know if they
succeeded. These people are not classic mercenaries.
"They are likely to have fought in recent Balkan wars
and they are doing it for the adventure rather than
the money. All they will receive is board and pocket
money."
The use of foreign mercenaries is not restricted to
the NLA. The Macedonian government has bought a number
of helicopters and ground attack fighters from the
Ukraine and employed pilots to fly them. There have
also been persistent rumours that the Macedonian
security forces have been recruiting soldiers from
Serbia and Bulgaria.
One former British soldier arrived in Kosovo saying
that he had come to fight but had not yet decided for
which side.
Ripley said the Macedonians were also using military
assistance from abroad.
"The Macedonians have simply bought in an airforce
from the Ukraine and there are reports of Macedonian
soldiers who do not appear to speak or understand
Macedonian. There is a long tradition of this kind of
thing in the Balkans," he said.
The NLA began its insurrection against the Macedonian
government in February. It claims to be fighting for
civil rights for Macedonia's ethnic Albanian minority,
which could make up one-third of the population.
Macedonians claim that the NLA has attacked Macedonia
from Kosovo and aims to split the country as part of a
wider campaign to form a greater Albania.
Fighting has officially been suspended although there
are regular gunfights as both sides re-supply their
troops.
Representatives of Albanian political parties are
negotiating with Macedonian parties, along with
Francois Leotard, the EU envoy and James Pardew, the
US envoy.
As the politicians speak the armed groups continue to
prepare for war.
This week, NLA fighters and military police were
walking freely around the suburbs of Tetovo,
Macedonia's second city, stopping cars and checking
papers.
New recruits could be seen heading off to the hills to
receive training.
Meanwhile, the Macedonians are transporting around
30tanks and armoured vehicles to the Ukraine to be
refurbished and equipped with night-vision equipment.
"They are clearly preparing for a long war," said
Ripley.
>From Conal Urquhart in Skopje
Sunday, 15th July 2001
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