Macedonia close to peace deal

Macedonian soldiers have clashed with ethnic Albanian rebels since February

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Macedonia is close to a peace deal to end months of ethnic conflict in the Balkan country, an ethnic Albanian leader says.

Peace talks over the past seven days between Macedonian politicians, ethnic Albanians and international diplomats have almost resulted in an agreement.

"We are making significant progress, pretty fast," Menduh Thaci, a top representative of the large ethnic Albanian minority.

"We are close to an agreement," Thaci told reporters, referring to a Western proposal for constitutional and legal reforms that would give ethnic Albanians more power and broader rights.

"We have resolved many issues and we are on a good path to finish the job," he said.

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Macedonian representatives declined to comment after Sunday's talks, The Associated Press reported.

U.S. envoy James Pardew and European Union envoy Francois Leotard also declined to comment.

Thaci's optimistic comments came just hours after Western officials close to the talks described the negotiations as difficult.

"Everybody's still on board," said one diplomat who asked not to be identified. But he said the talks were "intensive and difficult."

Macedonia's crisis began when ethnic Albanian extremists began a rebellion in February, saying they were fighting for broader rights. Dozens have died in the clashes and diplomats have warned that the situation could still deteriorate into civil war.

There is no deadline for completion of the talks, which were being held against the backdrop of a tenuous cease fire reached earlier this month between government forces and the rebels.

The front lines in northern Macedonia have been silent, but both sides are still entrenched and apparently ready to resume fighting if the peace efforts break down.

The peace deal would sanction the use of Albanian as an official language and provide for state-funded higher education in Albanian, AP reported.

It would introduce quotas for proportional representation in the army courts and other bodies and give ethnic Albanians a degree of self-rule by granting local governments broader authority.

If the Macedonian and ethnic Albanian leaders reach a peace deal, NATO troops would be deployed to oversee the disarmament of the rebels, who the government estimates number 4,000 and 6,000.

While the rebels are not represented at the talks, they are expected to honour any agreement reached by the ethnic Albanian political leaders.