MACEDONIAN ALBANIANS READY TO FIGHT FOR KOSOVA

Ethnic-Albanian veterans of the 2001 conflict in Macedonia have joined Kosovar Albanian veterans in stating that they are prepared to fight for Kosova's independence (see "RFE/RL Newsline," July 10, 2007). The Macedonian daily "Dnevik" on July 10 quoted Fazli Veliu, the head of a veterans' association and a member of parliament, as saying that he is prepared to lead 10,000 men. Veliu said that former guerrillas in Kosova and Macedonia maintain close contact and will soon hold a joint meeting. "If the [UN] resolution on Kosova's status continues to be delayed, it will be in all Albanians' interest that we should help them," Veliu said, stressing that "if necessary, we are prepared to fight with weapons for Kosova's independence." AG