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NATO mission to Macedonia swings into action
NATO launched its third Balkans operation in a decade on Wednesday after its 19 member states approved a plan to send thousands of troops to collect weapons from ethnic Albanian rebels in Macedonia.
NATO launched its third Balkans operation in a decade on Wednesday after its 19 member states approved a plan to send thousands of troops to collect weapons from ethnic Albanian rebels in Macedonia.
The tiny ex-Yugoslav republic, reeling from six months of bloody clashes, welcomed the NATO decision and key allies began dispatching troops to the region.
"The North Atlantic Council has given authority today to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe to deploy the task force Essential Harvest and to start collecting and destroying the weapons of the ethnic Albanian insurgents," NATO Secretary-General George Robertson told a news conference at alliance headquarters in Brussels.
"There are risks involved, we recognize that, but... the risks of not sending the troops are far greater," he said.
The mission is due to last 30 days and to involve 3,500 troops. An advance group of 400 mostly British soldiers has been in Macedonia since last week to prepare the way for the force.
Britain, which is due to play the lead role in Operation Essential Harvest, announced that up to 700 British paratroopers would start leaving for Macedonia overnight.
About 500 French troops left bases in southern France. Greece said its first contingent of 120 soldiers would start leaving on Thursday, with 200 more to follow by the weekend.
No U.S. troops are due to take part in the operation.
"The North Atlantic Council has given authority today to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe to deploy the task force Essential Harvest and to start collecting and destroying the weapons of the ethnic Albanian insurgents," NATO Secretary-General George Robertson told a news conference at alliance headquarters in Brussels.
"There are risks involved, we recognize that, but... the risks of not sending the troops are far greater," he said.
The mission is due to last 30 days and to involve 3,500 troops. An advance group of 400 mostly British soldiers has been in Macedonia since last week to prepare the way for the force.
Britain, which is due to play the lead role in Operation Essential Harvest, announced that up to 700 British paratroopers would start leaving for Macedonia overnight.
About 500 French troops left bases in southern France. Greece said its first contingent of 120 soldiers would start leaving on Thursday, with 200 more to follow by the weekend.
No U.S. troops are due to take part in the operation.
Bureau Report