Macedonia: Tanks move in
The Macedonian Army today sent tanks rumbling into the country's second-largest city, Tetovo, in response to the ethnic Albanian rebellion.
Nato has pledged to "starve" the rebels by cutting supply lines from Kosovo.
Separately, the European Union offered money and moral support to help the only ex-Yugoslav republic that avoided the Balkan wars of the 1990s from being dragged into a conflict.
The tank movements appeared to be a Government effort to show the Army is on its side.
The Government has relied primarily on police and special anti-terrorist units to fight the rebels, leading to doubts about the loyalties of the conscript army, particularly its ethnic Albanian members.
The rebels have called on all ethnic Albanians in Macedonia of fighting age to join their ranks, adding to Government nervousness.
They insist their battle is not being instigated from Kosovo by the former Kosovo Liberation Army. But the latest uprising shares the aspirations of Kosovar Albanians for ethnic Albanian self-determination.
As four tanks took up positions on Tetovo streets, Nato Secretary-General Lord Robertson said the international force in Kosovo was moving more troops up to the border with Macedonia to cut off the supply lines to insurgents.
"‘We are determined to starve this limited group of extremists of the means" of carrying on the fighting, Robertson told reporters in Brussels.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Srdjan Kerim said his Government was not asking for the Alliance to cross the border, adding: "The Macedonian security forces are able and will be able to take care of the security of our country," once Nato cuts off the rebel supply lines.
The EU foreign ministers pledged measures including increased political consultations, help for local self-government projects, technical aid with a census and financial help to improve conditions for Macedonia’s ethnic Albanian minority.
The package includes 5 million euros (£3.2m) for an Albanian-language university in Tetovo, Macedonia’s second largest city. Additionally, the Netherlands and Britain pledged £3.5m and £500,000 respectively for that university
EU aid to Macedonia amounted to 30 million euros (£20m) in 2000.
This will rise to 40 million euros (£25m) a year under an association accord, to be signed on April 9, which offers free trade privileges, close and regular political consultations and an economic cooperation chapter.
