Many rebel demands are met in the plan

The document envisages Macedonia as a unitary country with a multi-ethnic character, rejecting a federal system or autonomy for the western and north-western parts of the country where most of the sizeable Albanian community live.

But it seeks to meet many of the Albanians' demands for full equality both in constitutional provisions and in practice.

• It calls for bilingual education within a uniform curriculum, and for a mix of state and private universities which should decide their language priorities. The ethnic Albanians' demand for a state-financed Albanian-language university is left for further discussions.

• It also calls for greater use of Albanian language in official business.

• It calls for greater powers for local authorities, as well as new local election laws, the redrawing of municipal boundaries after the census that is planned for the end of this year, and for Albanian municipalities to be able to display their own emblems, along with Macedonia's state flag.

• Employment in public administration, in general, should reflect the ethnic balance across the country. Ethnic Albanians argue that in spite of accounting for at least a quarter of the population, their access to public service jobs remains limited.

• On constitutional change, the document suggests that any amendments would need the approval of the Albanian minority.

• But it does not go along with ethnic Albanian demands that their community should have an automatic veto on all legislation they believe affects their interests.