Macedonia's president says border guarantees needed for Kosovo deal

Associated Press, Dec 22, 2005 11:33 AM

 

SKOPJE, Macedonia-Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski on Wednesday said any deal on the future status of neighboring Kosovo must come with guarantees that the province's borders will remain unchanged.

 

Kosovo claims some 2,000 hectares (about 5,000 acres) of disputed Macedonian territory, since a 2001 border agreement between Macedonia and the former Yugoslavia.

 

"We will accept and support any decision that will come out of the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina that will be backed by the international community," Crvenkovski said in an annual speech to parliament.

 

"But, Macedonia insists on clear guarantees from the international community, above all from Brussels and Washington, on the inviolability of the borders and territorial integrity of our country, regardless of Kosovo's final status."

 

The United Nations has administered Kosovo since a 1999 NATO bombing campaign halted a Serb crackdown on the province's majority ethnic Albanian community.

 

Serbia wants to retain formal control over Kosovo in the future while the province's ethnic Albanians insist on independence.

 

Talks set to begin in late January are intended to resolve the conflict,

 

Also Wednesday, Albanian President Sali Berisha held talks in Athens with Greek Prime Minister Costas Caramanlis, reportedly covering issues of regional security, including Kosovo.

 

Berisha was returning from a visit to Iraq, where Albania has a small troop presence.