Brussels, 25/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The situation reaming extremely stable in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia where the incidents and battles, notably in Tetovo, multiplied over recent days. A demonstration gathering 2,000 persons showed, on Tuesday evening, with hostile slogans against the United States and NATO, the shift in stance by the Macedonian government, which had in the afternoon reproached NATO for not designating the KLA as responsible for the breaking of the cease fire enforced since 5 July. The government also decided to close the border crossing between Macedonia and Kosovo to all western convoys. This measure answers rumours according to which KFOR has refuelled armed Albanian speaking groups, the rumours to which, the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, denied, while calling once more on the parties to respect the cease fire and to return to the political dialogue.
Lord Robertson will be, this Thursday, in Skopje with the acting President of the OECD, the Romanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mircea Geoana. The EU High Representative for Foreign and Security policy, Javier Solana, who has just ended a tour of the Middle East, will join them. The three leaders hope to convince the Macedonian authorities of making concessions to their Albanian minority. The message will be simple: give its assent to a political solution is the only viable option to avoid Macedonia tipping into civil war, stated Lord Robertson before his departure.