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Voice of America, 01-07-29Voice of America: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>SLUG: 2-278762 Macedonia Talks (L-O) DATE: NOTE NUMBER:CONTENTS
[01] MACEDONIA/TALKS (L-O) BY JEFF BIELEY (SKOPJE)DATE=07/29/01TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT NUMBER=2-278762 CONTENT= VOICED AT: INTRO: For a second day, International mediators gathered politicians from both sides in Macedonia's five-month ethnic conflict. Jeff Bieley reports it appears there has been no quick breakthrough on key issues. TEXT: American and European mediators are meeting in the southwestern
city of Ohrid for trying to end a five-month rebellion by ethnic
Albanians.
Leaders of the two main Macedonian parties and the two main Albanian
parties are negotiating under high security in a presidential villa
that once belonged to Yugoslav leader Marshal Tito.
Reports say that the main sticking point in the talks remains the use
of the Albanian language. About one-third of Macedonia's two-million
people is ethnic Albanian and lives mainly in the north of the country
near Kosovo, and in the west near Albania.
Talks broke down more than a week ago after international mediators
agreed with the Albanian parties that Albanian should become a second
official language in the country, despite Macedonian objections that
it would irretrievably divide the country.
Strong international pressure has brought Macedonian leaders back to
the bargaining table, but it is not known what compromise formula on
the language issue has been proposed.
Meanwhile, the Macedonian army says the rebels, known as the National
Liberation Army broke a cease-fire overnight.
The army says four missiles were fired at an army barracks near the
western city of Tetovo, but no casualties were reported.
In Skopje, Macedonians evicted from their homes in villages near
Tetovo protested in front of the parliament Saturday. They demanded
government protection from Albanian militants so they can return to
their homes, 18 of which they say have been burned to the ground by
the N-L-A.
A crowd of several-thousand Macedonians also railed against compromise
with ethnic Albanians, saying if Macedonia is to remain one state, it
can have only one official language. (SIGNED)
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