Nato hails Macedonia operation

Nato says rebels have handed in 3,381 weapons

Nato's Secretary-General, Lord Robertson, has called on Macedonia's political leaders to build on the success of the operation to collect arms from ethnic Albanian rebels.

Nato has delivered - it is now up to the parliamentarians to deliver again

George Robertson

He said the 4,500 Nato troops in the country had to date exceeded their target of collecting 3,300 weapons from the guerrillas, who agreed to lay down their arms in exchange for political reform.

Before meeting leaders of the Macedonian majority, who have backed a Western-backed peace plan to amend the constitution to give broader rights to the ethnic Albanian minority, Mr Robertson said: "The world is watching and the politicians of this country know they have an obligation that they must fulfil.

"Nato has delivered - it is now up to the parliamentarians to deliver again."

Nato's drive to collect rebel arms - codenamed Operation Essential Harvest and part of international efforts to avert civil war in the Balkan state - is due to end on Wednesday.

Changes agreed

Drop reference to "national state of the Macedonian people" in preamble to constitution

Allow use of Albanian language in state business

Give ethnic Albanians jobs in public service and police in proportion to share of population

Monday saw Macedonia's parliament gave initial approval to the proposed constitutional amendments, which will now be the subject of a public consultation exercise.

But nationalist deputies are proposing to put the amendments to a referendum - a move which could derail the process, because many Macedonians oppose concessions to the ethnic Albanians.

On Monday parliament voted by a simple majority on the changes, but it will need to raise two-thirds when they come to be ratified after the consultation period.

Parliament may struggle to raise the two-thirds majority needed

An amnesty for the rebels is another contentious issue. The government has promised an amnesty to anyone not implicated in criminal acts during their six-month insurrection.

Mr Robertson urged parliament: "Enact that amnesty, so that peace can return."

If the peace process starts being implemented, Nato's presence in Macedonia may extend beyond the current 30-day weapons collection mission.

Mr Robertson said Nato's engagement in Macedonia would continue, possibly with a follow-on force to monitor implementation of the peace deal.

Such a move has been requested by the government and is also supported by the rebels as a means of maintaining security.