The president of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov, has said there should be no break-up of the Yugoslav federation, currently comprising Serbia and Montenegro, and he again discounted proposals for an indpendent Kosovo.
In an interview with the French news agency Mr Gligorov said the emergence of new independent states in the Balkans would further complicate the overall situation by placing in doubt the principle that borders should not be changed by force -- a principle upheld in Bosnia by the international community, which, he said, should now do the same in relation to Kosovo. Mr Gligorov welcomed next week's summit in Sarajevo on the Balkans because he said the region must act quickly over its problems.
From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
Country profiles
Violence greets Clinton visit
Russian forces pound Grozny
EU fraud: a billion dollar bill
Next steps for peace
Cardinal may face loan-shark charges
Vodafone takeover battle heats up
(From Business)
Trans-Turkish pipeline deal signed
French party seeks new leader
Jube tube debut
Athens riots for Clinton visit
UN envoy discusses Chechnya in Moscow
Solana new Western European Union chief
Moldova's PM-designate withdraws
Chechen government welcomes summit
In pictures: Clinton's violent welcome
Georgia protests over Russian 'attack'
UN chief: No Chechen 'catastrophe'
New arms control treaty for Europe
Mannesmann fights back
(From Business)
EU fraud -- a billion-dollar bill
New moves in Spain's terror scandal
EU allows labelling of British beef
UN seeks more security in Chechnya
Athens riots for Clinton visit
Russia's media war over Chechnya
Homeless suffer as quake toll rises
Analysis: East-West relations must shift