- Title: MACEDONIA: GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES NATIONWIDE CEASEFIRE WITH ETHNIC ALBANIAN REBELS
- Date: 6th July 2001
- Summary: (W5) SKOPJE, MACEDONIA (JULY 5, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV EXTERIOR HOTEL 0.08 2. MV FRANCOIS LEOTARD, EUROPEAN UNION ENVOY AND JAMES PARDEW, U.S. ENVOY COMING OUT OF HOTEL 0.18 3. (SOUNDBITE)(English) FRANCOIS LEOTARD, EUROPEAN UNION ENVOY, SAYING "Welcome to you and welcome to the ceasefire." 0.23 4. SV JOURNALISTS 0.29 5. LEOTARD READING STATEMENT IN FRENCH EXPLAINING HOW THE PARTIES REACHED A CEASEFIRE "The decision to put a ceasefire in place was taken within the context of a renewal of political dialogue, a renewal which had been affirmed by the international community. We will remain vigilant to make sure that the ceasefire is respected by all parties and we (I and James Pardew) shall pursue our mission to preserve and build on the measures already obtained. As representive for the European Union I am pleased to see the political dialogue brought to bear on matters familiar to Europeans and which confirm their validity, the balance in power, respect of the dignity of the person, liberty to vote, the separation of Chuch and State, the principle of citizenship and naturally territorial integrity, and the sovereignty of the state. The first association agreement which was signed by the European Union and one of the countries which were part of former Yugoslavia was signed with Macedonia." THEN READS IN ENGLISH "The team of experts will now continue in the following days to work very hard with all the parties to obtain some progress in the constitutional fields. Thank you very much." 1.57 6. MV PAN JOURNALISTS 2.03 7. (SOUNDBITE)(English) JAMES PARDEW, U.S. ENVOY, IN ANSWER TO QUESTION "DO YOU EXPECT AN AGREEMENT VERY SOON?" SAYING "The experts are working very hard on that. That process is continuing very intensively and we will follow the expert process and see where it leads us." 2.18 8. MV MEMBERS OF MEDIA OUTSIDE HOTEL 2.22 (W5) NORTHEAST OF SKOPJE, UMIN DOL CHECKPOINT, MACEDONIA (JULY 5, 2001) (REUTERS) 9. SLV TANKS AT CHECKPOINT; SLV SOLDIERS (5 SHOTS) 3.10 (W5) SKOPJE, MACEDONIA (JULY 5, 2001) (REUTERS) 10. (SOUNDBITE)(Macedonian) STEFAN ANAKIOVSKI SAYING "So far I want the ceasefire to succeed and life in Macedonia to get on the old track and even get better to improve, especially inter-ethnic relations." 3.28 11. (SOUNDBITE)(Macedonian) GIORGIONA BUTSEVSKA SAYING "It's not important who wins the war, it doesn't matter who disarms them, what is important is to stop the war." 3.35 12. (SOUNDBITE)(Macedonian) MITROV BLAGOVE SAYING: "NATO cannot do anything as NATO is against us Macedonians. Nato cannot solve the conflict. We do not want NATO to be involved in our problems. We want to solve it ourselves." 3.48 13. HAS SKOPJE SKYLINE 3.56 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 21st July 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: SKOPJE AND UMIN DOL CHECKPOINT, MACEDONIA
- Country: Macedonia
- Reuters ID: LVABEQ82FWDBO63NAQIXTHC5CNIF
- Story Text: The Macedonian government has announced a nationwide
cease-fire with ethnic Albanian rebels, whose four-month
insurgency has threatened political stability in this Balkan
country.
The open-ended ceasefire, brokered by NATO and the
European Union on Thursday (July 5), came a day after
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski announced progress in
political dialogue and clears the way for NATO troops to
disarm the rebels.
Speaking to U.S. envoy James Pardew in Skopje on
Thursday, the European Union envoy Francois Leotard said,
"Welcome to you and welcome to the ceasefire!"
Leotard went on to say We will remain vigilant to make
sure that the ceasefire is respected by all parties and we (I
and James Pardew) shall pursue our mission to preserve and
build on the measures already obtained."
"The team of experts will continue in the following days
to work very hard with all the parties to obtain some progress
in the constitutional fields", Leotard added.
Pardew, commenting on whether there would soon be an
agreement said, "The experts are working very hard on that.
That process is continuing very intensively and we will follow
the expert process and see where it leads us."
According to Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski the
ceasefire takes effect just after midnight on Thursday.
Preceding the ceasefire, the government reported heavy
fighting overnight around Kumanovo, about 25 kilometers (15
miles) northeast of the capital, one of the conflict's hot
spots. The attack from the rebel-held areas around Slupcane
continued until about 6 a.m. No injuries were reported.
Some 3,000 NATO troops from 15 nations, including the
United States, were expected to be deployed as early as
mid-month, and the actual disarmament would begin two weeks
later, Buckovski said. British forces will lead the operation,
which is expected to be completed in four to six weeks.
On the streets of Skopje many people expressed support
for a ceasefire, and some wanted NATO to stop its involvement
in the conflict.
Stefan Anakiovski supported the ceasefire and an
improvement in inter-ethnic relations.
He said: "So far I want the ceasefire to succeed and
life in Macedonia to get on the old track and even get better
to improve, especially inter-ethnic relations."
Peace was all-important for Giorgiona Butsevska, who
said: "It's not important who wins the war, it doesn't matter
who disarms them, what is important is to stop the war."
Mitrov Blagove had criticism for NATO's involvement in
Macedonian matters. He said: "NATO cannot do anything as NATO
is against us Macedonians. Nato cannot solve the conflict. We
do not want NATO to be involved in our problems. We want to
solve it ourselves."
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