Text: NATO Agrees to Keep Troops in Macedonia for Another Three Months

At the request of President Boris Trajkovski, the North Atlantic Council has agreed to extend NATO assistance to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia for three more months -- until March 26, 2002 -- to help protect international monitors overseeing implementation of the August 13 Framework Agreement, according to the following statement by NATO Secretary General George Robertson:

Brussels
7 December 2001
NATO Press Release
Statement by the NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson

I received earlier this week a formal request from President Trajkovski for a further three-month extension of NATO's assistance with the security of the international monitoring presence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia(1), following the first three months of Operation Amber Fox which are due to be completed on 26 December 2001.

The North Atlantic Council has agreed to authorise this extension of Operation Amber Fox until 26 March 2002. While recognising that the primary responsibility for the security of the international monitors rests with the host government, Task Force Fox will proceed with its mission to contribute to the protection of the international monitors who are overseeing the implementation of the peace plan in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

This decision by the North Atlantic Council clearly demonstrates NATO's continuing commitment to support the process of stabilisation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

(1) Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)