Macedonia Prepares for Military Solution: PresidentMacedonian President Boris Trajkovski said Thursday "an efficient military solution" will not be ruled out as an option to end his country's months-long crisis, said reports reaching in Tirana from Skopje, capital of Macedonia.In a televised address to the nation marking the national day, Trajkovski said, "We give preference to a political solution, but we're completely ready for an efficient military solution." "Macedonia will defend every inch of its territory and we will do that in a way that requires a minimum of casualties and destruction," said the president. The agreement, reached Tuesday on the future status of the Albanian language, has yet to be signed, said Trajkovski. But he described the deal as a minor progress in the peace talks between the Macedonian government and ethnic Albanian rebels. After days of marathon talks, Macedonian and Albanian negotiators Tuesday reached an agreement on the status of the Albanian language, one of the most contentious issues between the two sides. However, the makeup of the police forces in the Albanian-dominated areas still remains as a stumbling block in the talks. Moreover, Macedonian Prime Minister Ljupco Georgievski and President of the National Assembly Stojan Andov also called for disarming the ethnic Albanian rebels. |
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