Commander Mjekrra warned that the war would continue and intensify until the Macedonian Slavs, who dominate the government and power structure, recognized the Albanian demands.

Among the topics to be discussed are Albanian demands for changes to the Constitution, and for an amnesty or stay of prosecution of members of the rebel force.

Yet Mr. Georgievski is known to have little patience with Albanian demands and has repeatedly called for a military solution.

He was dismissed from his job at the official daily Rilindija last year for allegedly supporting ethnic Albanian demands for greater autonomy.

At the same time, Western diplomats insisted that Kosovo be discussed, and that Yugoslavia be responsive to Albanian demands there.

Mr. Tadic - like the American policy makers he says he despises - is opposed to the ethnic Albanian demands for independence.

Because of Albanian demands for territorial autonomy, the parallel Serbian term "Preševska dolina" is somewhat politically loaded.

He noted that Mr. Trajkovski had met in all-party sessions twice last week, but said momentum for a more public session to deal with Albanian political demands was increasing.

Other Albanian demands are to make their language Macedonia's second official tongue, to give more power to the country's regions and to allow for the reintegration of the rebels into society.

Mr. Rubin reaffirmed that Washington opposed Albanian demands for an independent Kosovo.