Albanian leader wants end to Macedonia fighting

Meidani says Albania's integration into Europe could end ethnic fighting and conflict

Integration with Europe could end ethnic conflict, president says

TIRANA, Albania (CNN) -- Albanian President Rexhep Meidani called for dialogue to end an ethnic Albanian rebellion in Macedonia, saying that fighting there could threaten the Balkans' hopes for European integration.

"The right way is through the process of communication," Meidani told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "We support only peaceful solution."

"I believe that concrete steps are entirely necessary," he said, " ... political dialogue to find different positive answers and to neutralize the demands of the armed people."

VIDEO CNN's Christiane Amanpour interviews Albanian President Rexhep Meidani Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO CNN's Chris Burns: Reduced political support for the rebels 544kb/50secs. AIFF or WAV sound   ALSO Macedonia rebels under pressure    IN-DEPTH Macedonia: Hurdles to peace   •  Balkan hotspots   •  Interactive map   •  Macedonia's military   •  News search   •  Audio/video archive   •  In-Depth: Yugoslavia   •  In-Depth: Kosovo

Ethnic Albanians -- who were also at the center of the conflict in Serbia's Kosovo region -- are Macedonia's largest minority. But the Albanians say they had more rights under the old communist regime in the former Yugoslav republic.

The mostly Muslim Albanians face a Slavic, Orthodox Christian majority in Macedonia, as did Kosovo Albanians in Serbia.

Until this outbreak of fighting, Macedonia had largely avoided the internal conflicts that have plagued the Balkan states since European communism crumbled a decade ago.

The bitter fighting, Meidani said, is demoralizing to the Balkan people.

"People in the region are quite tired of war," he said. "To spread the war would destroy their hope, which is European integration."

Meidani also warned Albanian political leaders that they risked losing influence if they backed the militants and said only integration with Europe could end the ethnic conflicts and inequities that have plagued the region.

"The right solution for our region is the integration for European structures through different kinds of cooperation," he said. "Through this integration and cooperation, we can make our borders less important."

Meidani also said that Albanians were unhappy about U.S. President George W. Bush's campaign pledges to reduce U.S. forces in the Balkans.

"From the Albanian part this was not well-received because the Albanians believe in the American democracy," he said. "They believe in the American spirit of helping the development of democracy in our region."

But, Meidani said, he doubted the U.S. would completely withdraw from the region.

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