Posted on 09/10/2001 6:47:35 AM PDT by oxi-nato
SKOPJE, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Macedonia will not agree to an extended NATO peace mission after the current one to collect weapons from ethnic Albanian guerrillas finishes at the end of this month, a senior government source said on Sunday.
"Thanks to NATO but we can handle things. After the end of this mission they should leave," the source, who declined to be named, told Reuters. "At the moment there is no mood for accepting an extended military mission. Only civilian monitors are acceptable."
The international community, concerned that violence could erupt again when NATO's 4,500 troops pull out when the "Essential Harvest" mission ends, is unanimous that a security void should be filled.
Several European Union ministers said on Saturday their countries were willing to stay on in the tiny Balkan state. But the size, rules of engagement and form of any force -- whether NATO, European Union, or U.N. -- are still being intensely debated.
This is the main problem as far as I am concerned.
| United Nations | Should never have a military or a government. It should only be a gathering place where countries can talk with each other. |
| NATO | Should never be used unless a NATO member is attacked by a non-NATO member. Peace keeping in Macedonia is definatley not the purpose of NATO. |
| European Union | I am against a EU military force because it is being promoted as a replacement to NATO and organized like a single European government. |
| Miltary of a country | I notice that the option of just sending British or French soldiers was not listed. It seems like they are using UN, NATO, and EU more as political cover for failure and an excuse to not withdrawl. |
Well Tai_Chung, too late... they already blew their original charter by bombing the hell out of a sovereign country that posed absolutely no threat to any NATO member or neighboring country. NATO changes it's charter when it see fit. Hey, they've got to keep those overpaid paper-pushing "generals" busy!
What will happen when sovereign state of Macedonia ask foreign troups to leave her territory!?And repeat the request in UN?If NATO doesn`t leave that represents an act of war and occupation!
Another breach of UN Charter!
Let`s wait and see!
Macedonia will knuckle under. Too much foreign aid is at stake.
You are absolutely correct.
Looking at it another way, NATO is like herpes, once you get it...well, you get the picture.
Regards
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