Top European envoys said they convinced political leaders in Macedonia today to revive the stalled peace process and resume debate in parliament on key political reforms that are part of a Western-backed accord to end a rebel insurgency.
The envoys said they hoped all the reforms could be passed in parliament by the end of this month.
"I think that we've opened another window of opportunity for Macedonia to move forward with this unique and remarkable peace process," NATO Secretary General Mr George Robertson said after several hours of talks with government and political leaders during a one-day visit to Skopje.
"I think we've charted a way ahead. The clear obligation now is on the government and parliament to deliver on their side of the bargain," he told a news conference.
EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana said the government and leaders of the main parties have "accepted to restart debate" in parliament on Wednesday on constitutional amendments that would grant more rights to the country's ethnic Albanian minority.
The reforms are necessary for the full implementation of the August 13th peace agreement to end a seven-month insurgency by ethnic Albanian rebels, but they have been stalled in parliament.
"The last set of amendments will be sent to the president of the parliament before noon on Friday, October 26th," Mr Solana said. "I hope that by the end of the month the process in parliament may be over."
President Boris Trajkovski has presented nine of the 15 amendments to parliament, but ethnic Albanian parties refused to take part in the debate, insisting the changes be considered as one package.
Macedonian nationalists in parliament had earlier blocked the reforms, saying the accord was reached under international pressure and gives too many rights to ethnic Albanians.
Mr Solana said he believed the Albanian parties would take part on Wednesday.
AFP