SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) -- With NATO airstrikes on Yugoslavia looming, neighboring Macedonia has worried about the possible consequences to its own fragile stability.
The only republic to emerge unscathed from the breakup of Yugoslavia, Macedonia is in a delicate position because of the presence of more than 10,000 NATO troops.The troops were sent to prepare to monitor a peace agreement in Kosovo, but Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic refused to sign the agreement, saying he would not allow NATO forces in his territory.
Macedonia and NATO have said the troops in Macedonia would not take part in airstrikes.
"Our country won't allow its territory to be used on an attack on any neighboring country, including Yugoslavia, and I think NATO will accept this," Macedonian Premier Ljubco Georgievski said Tuesday.
Maj. Jan Johnssten, a spokesman for the NATO force in Macedonia, said it was there for peaceful purposes and has "no offensive capabilities."
However, there are fears of retaliatory attacks by Serbs and a tide of ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosovo, which could destabilize Macedonia.
NATO forces are spread across the country, from the Albanian enclave of Tetovo in the west to Kumanovo in the northeast. Both areas border the province of Kosovo, and Milosevic has massed an estimated 20,000 troops along the border.
Kosovo is a province of Serbia, Yugoslavia' dominant republic.
"We are taking measures to protect ourselves against a Yugoslav attack," said a Tetovo-based German officer, who asked not to be named.
Authorities closed the country's borders to Yugoslav citizens on Tuesday. The border was reopened briefly Wednesday, then closed again.