The Macedonian foreign minister, Aleksander Dimitrov, says NATO has given his country new assurances for security.

After talks at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Mr Dimitrov spelled out the basis of his country's future relations with NATO.

Mr Dimitrov said the alliance had given a fresh promise to protect Macedonia if Serb forces attacked, or if the conflict in Kosovo spilled over the border into Macedonia.

But the minister added that Macedonian territory could not be used for offensive actions against any neighbouring countries, including Yugoslavia. NATO currently has about twelve thousand troops in Macedonia.