Macedonian president expresses confidence in EU peacekeeping mission

Date: 10/04/03

By Martin Banks

THE president of Macedonia told MEPs this week that he is confident that the EU-led peacekeeping mission in his country will be a success.

Operation Concordia - the first military deployment in EU history - was launched on 31 March as a follow-up to the NATO-led Allied Harmony.

Addressing MEPs in Strasbourg on Tuesday, the Macedonian leader, Boris Trajkovski, said the 320-strong French-dominated force "must be a success" - not least for those who want to see the EU play a more active role beyond its borders.

Although officials deny that Concordia is a test-bed for the EU's fledgling military capacity, it is seen as a crucial step towards the Union's ambition of having access to a pool of 60,000 troops, 400 aircraft and 100 warships for worldwide operations.

Trajkovski praised the role of the EU in helping his country move from armed conflict to peace over the last two years, although he acknowledged that "much work" remains to be done to ensure that the chances of his country returning to a state of instability becomes "inconceivable".

He said Macedonian citizens were looking forward to the enlargement of the EU next year, but warned there was a risk of the Balkan states becoming isolated from the rest of Europe.

"That is why we strongly support the idea of the Greek EU presidency to make pre-accession assistance available to the countries of the Western Balkans," he added.

The president of Macedonia has told MEPs that he is confident the EU-led peacekeeping mission in his country will be a success. Operation Concordia - the first military deployment in EU history - was launched on 31 March 2003 as a follow-up to the NATO-led Allied Harmony.