While the number of troops involved would be small, the plan, if approved, would symbolize NATO's commitment to Macedonia, echoing its commitments to peacekeeping missions in Kosovo and Bosnia.
It is a worrying trend if the slogan of "African solutions to African problems" is becoming an excuse for lack of western commitment to peacekeeping.
To underscore Spain's commitment to peacekeeping around the world, Mr. Zapatero noted that more than 3,000 Spanish troops were currently engaged in international deployments from Afghanistan to the Balkans.
The fact that the Norwegian defence minister, Grete Faremo, and the foreign minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, are withdrawing the Norwegian hospital in spite of direct pressure from UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon, gives good reason to question Norway's commitment to peacekeeping.
The timetable for extracting Britain's small force from southern Iraq, Britain's commitment to peacekeeping in Afghanistan and its opposition to Iran's nuclear programme will almost certainly not change.Even so, as Mr Blair loses authority at home and even more when he eventually leaves office Mr Bush is bound to feel the loss not just of a strong ally but also of a kindred spirit.
A year after the rebels took more than 500 United Nations peacekeepers hostage and raised doubts about the West's commitment to peacekeeping in Africa, the situation has clearly begun improving in recent weeks.
A renewed Canadian commitment to peacekeeping is unlikely to come anytime soon assuming it comes at all before 2019 and the next election.
Re "Outmanned, Outgunned in Sierra Leone" (Op-Ed, May 9): Michael Maren is right to criticize the developed nations for their lack of real commitment to peacekeeping in Sierra Leone.
As such, Norway's withdrawal is symptomatic of the worrying trend of concerned states' lack of commitment to peacekeeping in Africa.
Fijian army commander Brigadier-General Mosese Tikoitoga told Reuters on Friday he would not recommend to his government that Fijian forces should abandon the country's commitment to peacekeeping in Syria.
