NATO Says Macedonia Vote Must Be 'Free And Fair'

(RFE/RL) June 12, 2006 -- NATO's secretary-general says Macedonian elections next month must be "110 percent free and fair" for the former Yugoslav republic to continue its European and NATO integration.

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was speaking at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski in Skopje.

Buckovski has acknowledged that the July 5 parliamentary vote will be a "test" for Macedonia.

(AFP, AP)