Macedonia passes peace deal law

Some of the weapons handed in by the ethnic Albanians during the U.N.'s Operation Essential Harvest

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- The Macedonian parliament has overwhelmingly approved a long-disputed law granting broader rights to the ethnic Albanian minority.

The local self-government measures, passed after months of delay, are seen as a crucial factor in promoting stability in a country that has been riven by ethnic conflict over the past year,

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana praised Macedonia's leaders on Friday but urged them not to slacken their pace.

Macedonia's new local-self government law gives municipalities greater say in several areas, including budgets, public services, culture, education and health.

But ethnic Albanians still dispute the extent of the autonomy given in education and health services.

RESOURCES In-Depth: Macedonia - Hurdles to Peace

The law, which was passed by an 85 to 4 majority, was an important part of a Western-mediated peace accord that ended an ethnic Albanian insurgency last August.

In return, the rebels who were calling for greater civil rights and increased recognition of their language, surrendered about 4,000 weapons to NATO soldiers last September. They also agreed to disband their militias.

Ethnic Albanians make up about one-third of Macedonia's two million population.

Faik Aslani, Macedonia's minister for self-government, said the law paves the way for "real decentralisation of the country," including measures on the use of language and local decisions.

Macedonian police forces are now expected to resume their policy of reentering villages captured by the rebels.

And Macedonian leaders have committed themselves to adopting an amnesty law, Solana added.

Disagreement over the law had stalled implementation of the peace agreement for months and forced the postponement of a donors' conference initially planned for mid-January.

Macedonia, one of Europe's poorest countries, badly needs foreign aid to rebuild its devastated economy. The government estimates the fighting cost the country $700 million, and officials say they initially expect $90 million from donors.

Naser Zyberi, an official of the influential ethnic Albanian Party for Democratic Prosperity said the approval of the law meant a step toward "further democratisation of Macedonia."

But he added that "we are not entirely satisfied," because the central government retains too much power over health service and schools.