In the 2011 Macedonian parliamentary elections, Albanian parties received 20.96% of the total popular vote.

The fighting will only strengthen the fighters and the radicals, the Albanian parties said.

"The credibility of the Albanian parties will be diminished."

Doing so would allow nonviolent Albanian parties to increase their power and prestige at the expense of the armed extremists.

None of the Albanian political parties in Macedonia support secession.

The Albanian parties had put forward proposals but there had been no discussion, he said.

I also have no doubt that elements within the main Albanian political parties were involved.

It is fragile, but the main ethnic Albanian political parties from the region are involved in this work.

A spokesman said the government wanted a "political and economic dialogue" with ethnic Albanian political parties.

The two ethnic Albanian parties also won 2 or 3 seats.