Macedonia's parliament resumed debate today on a Western-backed peace plan after an appeal for support by Prime Minister Mr Ljubco Georgievski for the blueprint .
Mr Georgievski told deputies last night the plan rewarded military aggression by ethnic Albanian guerrillas but said parliament should push on with ratification because the country could not afford to defy Western pressure.
"We are sending a great gift to all terrorists or all those that want to be terrorists all over the world - the message that terrorism pays off," Mr Georgievski said.
Mr Georgievski has cast doubt on whether the plan can permanently end the violence - now halted by a shaky ceasefire - which has brought the former Yugoslav republic to the brink of civil war.
Under the NATO-sponsored peace plan, parliament should ratify constitutional changes giving more civil rights to Albanians - and the rebels should disarm and disband. The guerrillas have already handed in over 1,200 weapons to NATO troops.
Deputies are expected to vote tonight or tomorrow on whether to begin the process of changing the constitution.
Western diplomats and analysts expect the 116-member parliament will vote by the required two-thirds majority, although they believe there could be further pitfalls in the ratification process.