Bulgarian Defense Minister Boiko Noev announced he would visit Albania on Monday for talks about the situation in Macedonia and in the Balkans region.
Defence ministry officials said Sunday the visit was aimed at encouraging the search for solutions to the region's problems.
Noev told Bulgarian radio that he would hold talks with Albanian President Rexhep Meidani, Prime Minister Ilir Meta and Foreign Minister Ilir Gjoni.
He also said he might make a stopover in Macedonia before returning home Tuesday for a scheduled meeting in Sofia with Yugoslav Defence Minister Slobodan Krapovic.
Noev said the clashes between Macedonian forces and ethnic Albanian rebels in northern Macedonia did not require a military solution or troop deployment.
He dismissed the rebels, members of the National Liberation Army in Macedonia (UCK), as "terrorists".
Bulgaria on Thursday began shipping hundreds of tonnes of military equipment and ammunition to Macedonia – SOFIA (AFP)
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