The Macedonian President, Mr Boris Trajkovski, gave assurances yesterday that an amnesty for former ethnic Albanian rebels will be implemented. The move, in the form of letter to the international community, came after the Macedonian parliament proclaimed a new constitution that broadens rights for Albanians.
The amnesty was seen as a new crucial step in the peace process - ensuring that ethnic Albanian members of the National Liberation Army who fought government troops and then disbanded would be free from prosecution.
"I also confirm that the relevant authorities will be instructed neither to arrest any individual covered by the immunity nor to continue pursuing any existing, nor to initiate new investigations or prosecutions of individuals covered by the immunity," the letter said.
The only exception would be those suspected of committing crimes "covered and processed" by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, adding that Skopje was ready to co-operate with the UN tribunal in The Hague.
The letter, dated November 12th, was addressed to the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, the EU foreign policy representative, Mr Javier Solana, and the head of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Mr Mircea Geoana.
Meanwhile in Kosovo, voters go to the polls today in an election that highlights the bitter divide between Serbs and ethnic Albanians. The Albanians, who make up about 90 per cent of Kosovo's two million people, view the election of a 120-member provincial parliament as the first step toward independence for the Yugoslav province, which has been under UN administration since 1999.
But the Serbs, who form about 5 per cent of the population, are reluctant to vote, demanding the UN first improve their security and living conditions and aid the return of almost 200,000 non-Albanians who have fled the province in fear of attacks by Albanians.
Bulgaria's embattled president, Mr Petar Stoyanov, and his ex-communist rival made last-ditch appeal to apathetic voters in tomorrow's elections which could oust the impoverished country's head of state.
Mr Georgi Parvanov, head of the ex-communist Socialist Party, caused an upset last Sunday by beating Mr Stoyanov in first-round ballots and is regarded capable of producing another upset tomorrow.