Macedonian parliament finally backs peace deal

Macedonia’s parliament has voted in favour of a peace agreement with the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army, clearing the way for NATO to resume collecting weapons from the rebels.

The debate on the peace deal, which grants greater rights to Macedonia’s minority ethnic Albanians, had been delayed because some hardline Macedonians opposed to granting concessions to the NLA, who they believe are “terrorists”.

The NLA halted its weapons handover scheme amid fears that the peace deal would never be ratified, but MPs gave it their support today.