Military

NATO

¨         President Bush and Czech President Havel discussed NATO expansion on Wednesday even as Russia reiterated its opposition to the western alliance accepting new members.  In his public remarks Havel did not mention how many countries he would like to see added to the 19-member NATO but said the alliance is increasingly important during a time of turmoil. "I think that now it will be important if NATO will be able to identify itself, to find its new identity in this very changed world," Havel said.   White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush and Havel discussed NATO expansion as well as plans for a NATO summit in Prague Nov. 21-22. They also discussed Iraq, he said, while providing no details. (Reuters 1852 180902 Sep 02 GMT)

¨         Romania has recruited a prince from its long-exiled royal family to promote its NATO and European Union bids, officials said on Wednesday.   Prime Minister Adrian Nastase's social democrat government is eager to boost Romania's chances to join NATO after pledging to quit if the country fails to win entry at a crucial summit in Prague in November. "Prince Radu of Hohenzollern-Veringen was named special representative of the government to better back its NATO and EU integration aims in the western Europe," government spokesman Claudiu Lucaci said. "Prince Radu will not get any salary from us," Lucaci said, adding that all his expenses would be paid. "The Royal House could be very useful in boosting connections with the west and enhance Romania's image abroad as was successfully done by ex-King Michael."(Reuters 1417 180902 Sep 02 GMT)

BALKANS

¨         NATO's peacekeeping force in Macedonia (sic)  is likely to stay on for two or three months after its mandate ends on October 26 because the EU will not be ready to take over, a senior alliance diplomat said on Wednesday.   "I think what will happen next is that Amber Fox will be extended by two or three months," said the diplomat, who requested anonymity. "The moment has passed us where it would have been possible for the EU to take over on October 27."  A NATO official said no decision had been made on whether to extend the alliance's mandate and Skopje had not requested an extension. But he said military planners had been asked to look into the implications of the force staying on.(Reuters 1455 180902 Sep 02 GMT)

¨         Serbia's election commission reinstated Slobodan Milosevic's former army chief as a presidential candidate on Wednesday after the supreme court upheld his appeal against being barred from the race.   Nebojsa Pavkovic is hailed as a hero by Serb nationalists for defending the country during the subsequent NATO bombing campaign. He was barred from the ballot on Monday on a technicality concerning nominating signatures.  Analysts and pollsters say Pavkovic could hurt Kostunica in the first round on September 29.(Reuters 1742 180902 Sep 02 GMT)

¨         A former ethnic Albanian rebel leader whose party triumphed among his minority in Macedonia's  (sic) weekend elections will not personally join this Balkan country's new government, his spokesman said on Wednesday. But Ali Ahmeti, whose Democratic Union for Integration won the most ethnic Albanian votes in Sunday's elections, will still play a major part in Macedonia's (sic) politics, spokesman Agron Buxhaku said. "The idea is that Mr. Ahmeti would like to give a contribution as a party leader," Buxhaku told The Associated Press. Buxhaku's comments Wednesday indicated the former guerrilla chief was aware that a too prominent role from him would rattle many Macedonians (sic). the alliance's leader, former communist Branko Crvenkovski, is expected to give some ministerial posts to Ahmeti's party, amid pledges of ethnic reconciliation. But a coalition spokesman, Jani Makraduli, said the new government would have "no place for persons who were directly involved in last year's conflict."(AP 181703 Sep 02 GMT)

IRAQ

¨         The United States and Britain began crafting a toughly worded resolution that would narrow the timetable for Iraqi compliance with weapons inspections and authorize force if Iraq fails to cooperate, diplomats said. The two allies plan to complete and circulate the draft next week to the three other permanent members of the Security Council, France, Russia and China diplomats told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Wednesday. France, Russia and Arab nations oppose a new resolution. "Nothing is on paper yet," said Rick Grennel, spokesman for the U.S. mission at the United Nations, who confirmed American and British diplomats met on a resolution.(AP 190016 Sep 02 GMT)