In yesterday’s briefing, vice-commandant of KFOR forces, major general Pjer Xhusepe Xhovaneti, stressed the geo-strategic significance of Macedonia for the membership in NATO. In this moment in Macedonia are settled less then 10.000 alliance soldiers, but because they are going in Kosovo, this number will be decreasing. The staff of these forces in Skopje is just a logistic support of KFOR forces, which are settled in Kosovo.

NUMBER OF REFUGEES

According to the data of UNHCR, 30.000 humanitarian cared persons are still standing in Macedonia. 9.300 of them are settled in camps of Çegrane, Neproshteno, Senokos and Stenkovec 2, while 21.000 persons are settled in families. In the last days is noticed a falling interest for the returning in the Yugoslav province. The persons that are settled in families may stay three months more.

SUPPORT

Macedonia should consider again the possibility of transition of kosovar refugees that have gone to third countries with their own will. The attitude of Macedonia is that through this territory can pass only the persons that have went through Macedonia. The government of Germany and Switzerland also wants to return the assailants through the Petrovec airport, but that is against the attitude of Macedonian government. The intensity of return in Petrovec airport predicts in one day to descend about 1.000 persons from the third countries.

In the Kumanovo and Likovo commune are still settled refugees. Because the impossibility of their return to Kosovo, they are still here. For that reason, in this town the high commissioner for refugees has opened an office. According to the words of the representative of this office Sukru Xhansizolu, the main aim is to help the refugees. They are being help with everything they need. First the refugees will be evidenced and then returned to their homes.

Today in Kumanovo, the Red Cross begun to distribute aid for kosovar refugees that are settled in this town. Not only the refugees but also the families that accommodated them will get aid. The aid is consisting of flour, oil, sugar, and salt but there are also the packages for the needs of children’s.