Britain pledges support in Macedonian borders crisis

Foreign Secretary Robin Cook has pledged Britain’s ‘‘full support’’ for the government of Macedonia in its struggle with ethnic Albanian separatists who have begun an armed insurrection in the north of the country.

Insisting that extremism should not be allowed to succeed in Macedonia, Mr Cook said there was ‘‘no prospect’’ of the redrawing of borders in the Balkans to create the greater Albania the rebels want.

But yesterday Britain looked unlikely to respond to a request from Nato Secretary-General Lord Robertson for allied governments to beef up the Kfor peace-keeping force in Kosovo.

Lord Robertson’s plea came as Kfor moved personnel to the border with Macedonia to cut off supply lines from Kosovo to rebels involved in fighting around the city of Tetovo.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman said that Britain had ‘‘no current plans’’ to add to the 5,500 soldiers from the 7th Armoured Brigade now serving with Kfor in Kosovo.

The crisis in Macedonia was added to the agenda of a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the monthly General Affairs Council in Brussels yesterday, at which Keith Vaz was representing Britain.

Mr Vaz warned the crisis would not be solved overnight and said the answer to the escalating violence was effective policing and full support for the democratically-elected Macedonian government.

As the meeting began, Mr Cook issued a statement saying ‘‘there could be no excuse or justification for the behaviour of extremist armed groups.’’

He said the Macedonian government had ‘‘the full support of the international community’’.

He added: ‘‘We support Nato’s steps to help reinforce stability and security in Macedonia. We will, with our Nato partners, maintain a close dialogue with the Macedonian government.’’