Bush backs Macedonia peace talks

There is growing international pressure for action to end the conflict

SKOPJE, Macedonia (CNN) -- President George W. Bush said the NATO allies agree they "must face down extremists in Macedonia" -- but that does not include sending in troops.

"We agree we must face down extremists in Macedonia and elsewhere who seek to use violence to redraw borders or subvert the democratic process," Bush told reporters at NATO headquarters on Wednesday.

However, he said most nations still believe a political, not a military solution, can end the fighting there.

"Most people still believe that there is a political solution available before troops are committed.

"I want to remind you that KFOR does have troops on the border, and we must continue their presence on the border to prevent insurgents and arms from reaching the Albanian extremists, but the sentiment I heard here is there is still a possibility for political settlement, a good possibility, and we must work for that settlement."

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Bush added, "The idea of committing troops within Macedonia was one that most nations were troubled over. They want to see if we can achieve a political settlement first."

Bush was speaking the day before peace talks are due to be held in Macedonia amid fresh threats to a fragile truce in the country.

NATO Secretary-General George Robertson, who will attend the talks, said: "What we need now is a continuous ceasefire."

He said ethnic Albanian rebels must be convinced that the reform process they say they want can be achieved by democratic means."

Macedonia President Boris Trajkovski said he will call members of the national unity government, including the four largest political political parties, to a mini summit.

Trajkovski said he wants to form a unified security force involving police and military forces to deal with the rebels.

Part of his plan call for the political and military isolation of the rebels. He said a 48-hour amnesty will be called to allow the rebels to hand in their guns.

After the 48-hour amnesty period, security forces would go in to disarm the rebels.

Trajkovski has said he would like to see international forces take part in the amnesty phase and the following disarmament phase.

Meanwhile, an ethnic Albanian activist was shot dead in an attack on Tuesday night, while Macedonian forces exchanged gunfire with rebels near the city of Tetovo on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.

The agency said Naser Hani, 40, was killed when gunmen opened fire from a passing van in the southwestern town of Struga, near the lake resort where talks will be held on Thursday.

There is growing international pressure for action to end the conflict.

In Brussels, French President Jacques Chirac said NATO must "rule out nothing" to stop the fighting.

And Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou told Greek radio an international peacekeeping force was needed, said Reuters.

"We have an immediate interest. There are many Greek companies that have invested substantial funds in this country," he told Flash radio. The death of Hani was "another indication how insecure and chaotic the situation is," AP quoted Ernat Fejzulahu, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Albanians, the largest party representing Macedonia's ethnic Albanian community, as saying.

The fighting between Macedonian forces and ethnic Albanian rebels began in February.

Both sides declared ceasefires on Monday, and Trajkovski said he would consider upgrading the status of the ethnic Albanians, who account for nearly a third of Macedonia's two million people.

He has also offered a partial amnesty to rebels who lay down their weapons.

Politicians representing both the Slavic majority and the ethnic Albanians will meet to discuss the plan -- which is backed by the U.S. and NATO -- at the Lake Ohrid resort.