Sir, - I suggest that your optimism (Editorial, March 14th) about the developments in Yugoslavia/FYR Macedonia was misplaced. For no sooner had NATO agreed to the return of Yugoslavia security forces to one part of the "buffer zone" than the attacks by the Albanian terrorists in FRY Macedonia increased in their ferocity. The pattern of the Kosovo conflict is being repeated.
The difference this time is that the Western politicians and media are warning all and sundry of the intended Albanian tactics: to provoke Macedonian authorities into a vigorous response, and then to claim oppression, targeting of civilians and massacres! Yet, when the Serbian authorities were pointing to the very same tactics in 1998, they were accused of spreading propaganda. When the Serbian authorities denied that there was any massacre in Racak (used as an excuse to start the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia), they were accused of lying. Yet nowadays we are told that the autopsy report by the Finnish investigating team shows that there was no massacre!
How the times have changed: today NATO comments that "fighting in Macedonia is an internal matter for that country", and "the situation is in the hands of the Macedonian authorities". Which, of course, means either the Macedonian authorities can use all force necessary to put the insurgents down - something that was denied to Yugoslavia in 1998 - or that Albanians can continue with their terrorism, free from fear that NATO will act against them. Either way, it is obvious that those nice people in NATO do not intend to send their "boys" home in body bags! - Yours, etc.,
Zivko Jaksic, Hermitage Lawn, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.