Tuesday, September 11, 2001, updated at 07:54(GMT+8)
World
Macedonian Government: NATO Is Not Necessary to Be Given Another Mandate
Macedonian Government Spokesman Antonio Milososki said on Monday that "the government supports President Trajkovski's position that NATO is not necessary to be given another mandate, because such peace would be artificial."
He announced that the government is surprised that some NATO countries changed position to deploy a long-term NATO troops in Macedonia. "Recently they have convincing us that the peace agreement is a guarantee for the peace in Macedonia and now they do not believe in this and prefer military presence," Milososki said.
NATO wants to maintain its military presence after "Essential Harvest" so as to prevent from a "security vacuum" in Macedonia. Milososki also noted that "certain extremists who want to create its own small Kosovo in Macedonia can only abuse NATO troops in Macedonia."
Moreover, Milososki pointed out that "Macedonian Government hopes that certain NATO countries will not make pressure and blackmail Macedonia to approve their presence as a substitute for some other conditions, because it would simply not be fair."
Macedonian Government Spokesman Antonio Milososki said on Monday that "the government supports President Trajkovski's position that NATO is not necessary to be given another mandate, because such peace would be artificial."