European Union security chief Javier Solana visited the flashpoint Macedonian town of Tetovo today, saying he was there to support the Macedonian people and promote an end to violence.
"I wanted to be here to show the solidarity of the European Union with the people and communities (of Macedonia). Most of the people want peace and want to live in peace", he told reporters.
Asked if the crisis was over, Mr Solana said: "I hope so, yes. We must keep on working, but working politically". Mr Solana is the first senior Western official to visit the city since fighting between ethnic Albanian guerrillas and Macedonian forces began two weeks ago in the hillsides above.
He held talks with Mr Arben Xhaferi, leader of Macedonia's moderate Albanian party, the Democratic Party of Albanians.
NATO Secretary-General George Robertson and Mr Solana held two hours of talks with the Macedonian leadership, including President Boris Trajkovski, in the capital Skopje late yesterday.
Mr Robertson praised Macedonia for what he said was commendable restraint in the weekend assault to flush out ethnic Albanian rebels from the hills above Tetovo.
But US Secretary of State Colin Powell cautioned in Washington that the battle was not anywhere near over , although Macedonian forces had made some progress against ethnic Albanian extremists.
Macedonian government officials earlier said rebel-held villages and all key positions had been captured in Sunday's ground offensive carried out by tanks, artillery and infantry.