West Calls for Restraint on Macedonia-Yugoslavia Border Issue

22/02/2002

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- NATO, the EU and the United States expressed support for Macedonia's territorial integrity and sovereignty Thursday (21 February), calling for restraint on the so-called border issue. Earlier this week, Macedonian authorities reacted sharply to comments by two international officials in Kosovo who suggested that the UN does not recognise the interstate border agreement signed between Macedonia and Yugoslavia last year. Following Skopje's official request for an explanation, the West urged patience pending a UN review of the matter.

Also Thursday, envoy Alain Le Roy told Skopje's A1 TV that the EU will not tolerate demands by the ethnic Albanian population for purely ethnic Albanian police patrols in former conflict areas. Wednesday, ethnically mixed patrols were barred from entering some 15 villages in the Tetovo region. Officials say they will try again next week. (Nova Makedonija - 22/02/02; MIA, A1 TV - 21/02/02)