NATO Decides to Stay in Macedonia for Next 6 Months

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 21, 2002

NATO Decides to Stay in Macedonia for Next 6 Months

NATO Secretary General George Robertson on Wednesday said the NATO member countries have reached an agreement on further the presence of their troops in Macedonia, MIA news agency reported.

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NATO Secretary General George Robertson on Wednesday said the NATO member countries have reached an agreement on further the presence of their troops in Macedonia, MIA news agency reported.

In a telephone conversation with Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, Robertson said NATO troops would be in the Balkan country after Dec. 15 when "Amber Fox" mission ends.

According to him, NATO troops would protect EU and OSCE observers in Macedonia and provide expertise to help the country continue needed reforms for becoming a NATO member.

"NATO is greatly concerned with completion of the stabilizationprocess in Macedonia, also for continuation of the intensive preparations for its approach and acquiring full-fledged membership in the Euro-Atlantic structures," Robertson said duringthe phone talk.

Trajkovski pledged to send an official request to NATO on approving additional six-month engagement of its forces in the country.

The spokesman of NATO in Macedonia Craig Ratcliff also said Wednesday in a press conference that it is certain that the mandate of the Amber Fox mission will end on Dec. 15 and the new mission will be designed according to the improved security situation.

He said there have been no talks on the size and the composition of the new mission.

Holland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Denmark, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Belgium and Turkey have sent soldiers inthe "Amber Fox" mission with the aim to guarantee the safety of international observers from the EU and OSCE.

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