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Mr Javier Solana (centre) arriving in Macedonia for the signing of the peace deal
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Macedonian and ethnic Albanian political representatives have signed a peace accord to try to end six months of guerrilla warfare, Macedonian sources said this afternoon.
The accord was signed in the presence of international mediators and Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski.
NATO Secretary General Mr George Robertson and EU foreign policy chief Mr Javier Solana were in the country's capital Skopje today, today for the signing of a peace deal between Macedonia and ethnic Albanians.
"This is a very proud day for this country and for the parties of the coalition government, because they have developed an accord which is historic and which I believe marks the entry of Macedonia into modern-day Europe," Mr Robertson told reporters upon his arrival.
Mr Solana arrived shortly after Mr Robertson and was greeted by the European Union's permanent envoy to the talks, Mr Francois Leotard. "I think this is a great day in the history of Macedonia," Mr Solana told reporters.
Western negotiators are hoping that today's signing ceremony will maintain the momentum of the peace drive and isolate extremists on both sides.
AFP