| ebalkan on Fri, 4 May 2001 01:57:41 +0200 (CEST) |
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| [Nettime-bold] briefing 03.05.01 |
"EURO-BALKAN" INSTITUTE ON MACEDONIAN CRISIS
03-05-2001
CONTENTS:
Daily briefing from Macedonian press about Macedonian crisis
Daily briefing from international press about Macedonian crisis
a) DAILY BRIEFING FROM MACEDONIAN PRESS ABOUT MACEDONIAN CRISIS
EIGHT POLICEMEN AND SOLDIERS MURDERED AND MUTILATED
Eight Macedonian security force members lost their lives, while six were injured in an armed terrorist attack on 28th April around 17:45 on the road between the Tetovo villages Selce and Vejce in the vicinity of the municipality Breza. The Macedonian soldiers and policemen were attacked by the terrorists with hand mortars, grenades and automatic rifles while patrolling with 4 military and police vehicles. After murdering them, the terrorists mutilated the bodies of the deceased policemen and soldiers – shot at them and cut them with knives. According to the Internal Affairs Ministry, the policemen and soldiers were attacked by a diversion- terrorist group that had illegally passed the border between Macedonia and SR Yugoslavia at the part of Kosovo, on the stretch in the vicinity of Shar Planina. Army sources claim that in the last 4 days, the situation on the border with Kosovo was calm. The Macedonian Army hadn’t detected any new entries of terrorist groups from Kosovo to Macedonia. The Macedonian Army Headquarters evaluates the situation in the country as serious. The Macedonian security forces, in accordance with the conclusions brought by the Security Council and the Government, undertook all the necessary measures to locate and neutralize the terrorist group and to introduce total control in the Shar Planina region. There is a curfew in Tetovo from 22:00 to 5:00. (“DNEVNIK”)
THE MONSTROUS MUTILATION IN VEJCE PROVOKED A STREAM OF STREET VIOLENCE
After the gruesome mutilation of the 8 Macedonian soldiers and policemen on Saturday in the region of the Tetovo village Vejce that shocked the Macedonian community, a wave of violence covered several Macedonian towns. The Macedonian community was shocked by the news that Albanian gangs in a most cowardly manner attacked a Macedonian Army and Police Patrol from ambush, and then cold-bloodedly tortured the injured and mutilated the lifeless bodies of the murdered. The anger and revolt escalated with the information that the Macedonian security forces hadn’t responded accordingly and timely to the attack. After the distressing funerals in Bitola, Drachevo and Kumanovo, a large group of citizens in Bitola (4 of the deceased are from Bitola), on Monday evening demolished several shops owned by Albanians or Macedonian Muslims. One of the shop owners fired at the group with a hand gun and injured a citizen of Bitola. Several shops and restaurants were set on fire and demolished in the Old Town in Bitola, as well as the premises of the Islamic Community. Disorders and fires were also noticed in some villages in the Bitola region. Yesterday the incidents continued in several other towns with multi-ethnic population. A Molotov cocktail was thrown at a mosque in Veles, in Delcevo a hair salon owned by Albanians, was set on fire. Stores are demolished in the municipality Djortche Petrov in Skopje. Three newsagents’ were set on fire in the municipality of Vlae, masked individuals with arms and baseball bats forcefully entered the pizza restaurant “Lozana”, owned by an Albanian, in the municipality Porta Vlae in Skopje and verbally and physically assaulted the employees and shot at on of the guests. One person was injured by fire arm. In a drive-by attack, several unidentified individuals shot at the building of the Albanian Embassy in Skopje. A fire incident occurred in the municipality Madjary in Skopje, in the house of the “A1 Television” journalist, Snezana Lupevska, but the reasons are still unknown. (“DNEVNIK”)
THE GOVERNMENT APPEALS FOR RESTRAINT AMONG THE MACEDONAIN CITIZENS
The security situation in the state is on the level of delicate peace. With the incidents in Bitola, the terrorist goal was achieved – the start of a civil war, stated the Macedonian Government spokesman, Antonio Miloshoski. Because of this, the Government appeals for restraint and also, support to the security structures, the only ones able and responsible for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Macedonia. Commenting the condemnation of the United Nations Security Council of the cowardly and brutal attack on the Macedonian Security forces, Miloshoski said that it is a confirmation of the firm determination of the International Community to give unreserved support to Macedonia in the fight against terrorism and extremism. (“NOVA MAKEDONIJA”)
THE BROADCAST OF THE EVENING NEWS IN ALBANIAN IS STOPPED
The general manager of the Macedonian Radio and Television, Ljupcho Jakimovski, on Sunday evening brought a decision to stop the broadcast of the evening news in Albanian on the second channel of the Macedonian Radio and Television. The reasons given are: “I make this decision based on the fact that the News Program in Albanian in the Macedonian Radio and Television, ever since the very beginning of the security crisis in Macedonia, has conducted in an uncoordinated manner, contrary to the editorial politics of the Macedonian Radio and Television, i.e. against the state interests of Macedonia. The news program in Albanian on the Macedonian Radio and Television, instead of acting as an integrating factor, acted as a disintegrating factor for the Albanians in Macedonia and its aim was supporting the violence and ethnic hatred, i.e. support to the Albanian militant extremism”. The next day after the decision, Miljaim Ljatifi, cheif editor of the Albanian Program in the Macedonian Radio and Television, resigned from his position. Yesterday, the editor Ljatifi gave us this statement on the events and accusations: “I do not agree with the opinion of the general manager of the Macedonian Radio and Television and the Broadcasting Council that the evening news on the Albanian Program in the Macedonian Radio and Television does not comply to the editorial politics of the institution and that it provokes national intolerance. My opinion is that the case concerns inaccurate information, or to be precise, they get bad translation of our news from Albanians, spies in the institution”. Previously, the TV presenter, Migena Gorenca, was fired by the general manager, because she gave a statement for the BBC, at the time of the crisis, that she supports the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK). The editor of the Albanian Program, Miljaim Ljatifi, confirmed that the ban of the evening news in Albanian happened, among other reasons, because that evening the 8 Macedonian soldiers and policemen were murdered, this information was not given on edition of the evening news. “This is true, because the news were already prepared at 21:30. We don’t have a strict broadcasting term for the last edition of the news, so that day, my co-editor, Blerim Hiseni prepared the news earlier because he expected they would be broadcasted at 22:00. But, they were broadcasted about 23:50, and at the time they were prepared – we didn’t have any official information on the event. Still, I agree that this is a professional mistake, an overlook, because we knew of this event”, stated Ljatifi. (“DNEVNIK”)
REACTIONS OF THE POLITICAL PARTIES AFTER THE GRUESOME MURDER OF THE SECURITY FORCE MEMBERS
VMRO-DPMNE considers the event to be a gruesome act and an inhumane attempt to negatively effect the positive, already started processes in Macedonia, the goal of which is to change certain directions that our state is firmly following. With these cowardly acts, the Albanian terrorists will gain nothing, they will just increase the gap between the Macedonians and the other minorities, on one side, and the Albanian minority, on the other, it is said in the statement given by VMRO-DPMNE. The DPA (Democratic Party of the Albanians), horrified by the absurd murder of the 8 members of the security structure of Macedonia, condemned this act as empty, absurd and destructive and as one that endangers all good-willed and rational endeavors to, with dialogue, solve the misunderstandings and to improve the inter- ethnic relations in the country. The SDSM considers this act to be a continuation of the action of the Albanian terrorists from the position of territorial pretensions towards Macedonia and an attempt to disregard the sovereignty of the country and its territory. The ones responsible for this terrorist act, in the SDSM’s opinion, want to undermine the dialogue between the political parties on the rights of Albanians in Macedonia and want the dialogue to be conducted under the threat with arms. PDP expresses condolences concerning the incident and believes that the irresponsible conduct of the Government and the rejection of the start of a serious dialogue on the open issues in the inter-ethnic relations directly influences the escalation of the political- security situation in the country and as a result has human casualties. The PDP’s opinion is that the security situation is becoming dramatic because the system institutions are almost non-functional, ineffective, because the Macedonian police was not able, or showed no desire, to control the situation. They point out the behavior of the citizens of Bitola, when Albanians’ stores were demolished before the eyes of the police, and also a house was set on fire. This kind behavior was noticed in Skopje as well while the police was a partaker. (“VECHER”)
b) DAILY BRIEFING FROM INTERNATIONAL PRESS ABOUT MACEDONIAN CRISIS
REACTIONS ON THE SOLDIERS MURDER AND MUTILATION BY ALBANIAN REBELS
Lord Robertson, the Nato Secretary General, said in statement:” I was appalled and outraged. I condemn the cowardly acts of the extremists and my message is simple: the violence must end and their tactics will not be successful.” Javier Solana, the EU security affairs chief, said: ”At this tragic moment, I want to appeal to the citizens and the political leadership of the country to pursue and intensify all efforts to promote inter-ethnic understanding.” Western leaders are nervous that the violence could escalate into another Balkans war. Stevo Pendarovski, an Interior Ministry spokesman, said:” We are very concerned that this is the start of new violence. We didn’t expect this atrocity, which is unparalleled in our history. Maybe some people are not happy because the political dialogue is going well.” (Independent) EU foreign affairs commissioner Chris Patten said that the ambush was clearly intended to derail attempts to rectify legitimate minority grievances through interparty dialogue. The attack "must not be allowed to succeed," he added. State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said in a statement on 28 April that "the United States condemns the attack by armed ethnic Albanian extremists [on 28 April] on Macedonian security forces, which resulted in the death of eight Macedonian soldiers. We extend our condolences to the families of those who died," DPA reported. He added: "The United States calls upon all political parties and groups in Macedonia to join in condemning the senseless act of violence and to continue the process of political dialogue in which they are engaged." (Excerpts from RFE/RL) Having met with Ivan Kostov, Bulgarian Prime Minister, in the State Department today, US secretary Powell voiced satisfaction for having has a chance to discuss with the Bulgarian government leader that Bulgaria and the US can do for the stabilization of the Balkans and more particularly for preserving the territorial integrity of Macedonia. The US side stressed the strategic position of Bulgaria in the region, which, in Powell’s words, is particularly important in a view of solving energy problems. (Excerpts from BEF News Desk)
NIGHTS OF CLACHES FOLLOWS BUTIALS OF MACEDONIAN POLICEMEN,ALBANIAN REBELS SAY THEY KILLED IN SELF-DEFENSE
Four people were injured in shooting in the Macedonian town of Bitola yesterday following the funerals there of four policemen killed in rebel fighting on Saturday. State television reported that the windows of several shops and restaurants – believed to be owned by Albanians – were smashed after the burials. One of the wounded was said to be an ethnic Macedonian.(AFP)The political leader of the rebel National Liberation Army (UCK), Ali Ahmeti, told Reuters by telephone, "we consider it as a provocation by the Macedonian forces so that they could present themselves as the victim." Ahmeti says the UCK rebels opened fire in self-defence after Macedonian troops approached their positions. He says no UCK soldiers were killed or wounded during the clash. Ahmeti denies the attack means the UCK is launching a new offensive, saying that "since the Albanian issue has gained momentum, it was not in our interest to attack." Arben Xhaferi, whose DPA is part of the governing coalition, said that the ambush "will endanger the progress of [multiparty] negotiations and will deepen the polarization between Macedonians and Albanians," London's "The Guardian" reported from Skopje on 30 April. The daily quoted unnamed "Western military experts" in the Macedonian capital as saying that the ambush is part of an attempt to "make no-go areas. [The guerrillas] want territory and not institutional change... It's what the Macedonians have feared." Prime Minister Ilir Meta said in Tirana on 30 April that "such actions undermine the process of dialogue [needed] to solve the [Macedonian] Albanians' problems," Reuters reported. He added that "the only way to combat extremism and to isolate extremist groups and to strengthen the stability of Macedonia and of our region is the continuance and deepening of the dialogue that has started" between all the political parties represented in the parliament. (Excerpts from RFE/RL)
ATTACKS SHAKES MACEDONIA TALKS
Following a month of daily clashes between ethnic Albanian gunmen and the Macedonian security forces in March, it has appeared in the recent weeks that the previously often half- hearted negotiations would turn into a more meaningful dialogue. Always a controversial issue – with ethnic Albanians claiming that their number are consistently underestimated – the census is now even more of a political hot potato because several tens of thousands of ethnic Albanians fled Macedonia during the conflict, and their leaders want them to return before the head-court can go ahead. In spite of this still outstanding issues, progress at the talks has been quite impressive. That is because international pressure and domestic circumstances have urged the talks. On the domestic front, Macedonia’s leaders have been eager to exploit the relative quiet of the past month to forge ahead with discussions – before a possible resumption in the fighting which might spiral out of control unless nipped in the bud. The momentum for progress has also been strong on the international stage where both the EU and the US have urged to speed settlement. “The talks in Washington will probably take a different direction now which means asking for strong support form the US administration in dealing with or stamping out the presence of terrorist groups in the Republic of Macedonia, which not only want to harm the political dialogue, but also this country’s future and survival”, said Macedonia president Trajkovski. He also indicated that the danger now is that Saturday’s killings – the worst incident since the fighting flared up at the end of February – could derail the talks. This was quite possibly the intention of those who launched the attack – because any bloodshed tends to polarize Macedonia’s ethnic communities. (BBC) Macedonia is to ask the US for support to quell ethnic Albanian militants rebels. ”We will ask for political, economic and military support,” president Trajkovski said in Romania before leaving for the United States. He said the killings had “nothing to do with the democratic demands of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia. It is pure terrorism, and it must be eliminated.” “It is time now to unite the political forces and all the citizens of Macedonia so that terrorism is defeated,” Trajkovski said on the state television. (CNN) After a meeting of the government and of the National Security Council, Trajkovski said in Skopje on 29 April that the security situation has grown worse, BBC's Serbian Service reported. He pledged "no mercy" in the fight against "terrorism." Trajkovski called on KFOR to better control the border between Kosova and Macedonia and on the interna tional community to declare the UCK a "terrorist organization." For their part, guerrilla spokesmen said they acted in self-defence, Reuters reported. (Excerpts from BBC)
CRIMINAL GANGS RUNNING THE BALKANS
Behind every apparent nationalist crisis in the region lies a much seedier squabble between mafia bosses who find that mobilizing people upon ethnic lines is their most powerful weapon if their business deals go sour. The outbreak Croat separatist sentiment in western Hercegovina earlier this month was directly linked to the International community’s attempt to halt the suspected illegal dealings of the largest local bank. The Macedonian crisis, when Albanians and Macedonians almost went to war in late march and early April, was sparkled in part by a dispute over the control of the lucrative illegal tobacco smuggling operation into Kosovo. And last weekend’s elections in Montenegro, first and foremost about whether the republic should break its constitutional ties to Serbia and become independent, was not uninfluenced by the issue of who controls the crucial smuggling links with Italy. It is slowly downing on the EU that the Balkan mafias and the regional economic chaos upon which they feed may well be the greatest foreign policy challenge of the next decade. (Excerpts from BBC)
SECRETARY POWELLS REMARKS WITH MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT TRAJKOVSKI
SECRETARY POWELL: And in our meeting today, I once again had the opportunity to express solidarity with Macedonia; the US' total commitment to territorial integrity of Macedonia; our commitment to this democracy which is facing dastardly and cowardly acts from terrorists and terrorist organizations that are trying to subvert the democratic process in Macedonia. I discussed with the President the steps that he has been taking with the leaders of his coalition government to deal with some of the concerns expressed by ethnic Albanians in Macedonia with respect to the use of their language, universities, with respect to other issues that I congratulated the President on moving aggressively to deal with, to include political reconciliation in all its forms, including possible constitutional amendments at some point in the future. I made the point to the President that we must not allow terrorists to derail political reconciliation. As long as we keep moving in this direction, we will dry up the support that terrorists might think they enjoy. And I also discussed with the President other things that the United States can do to support them, not only in security issues but as well as economic support that they need during this difficult time.
PRESIDENT TRAJKOVSKY: First of all, I would like to thank to him that he invite me to pay a visit to the President Bush, also to the Secretary of Defence Rumsfeld. And I believe that this is a real demonstration of the commitment on the part of United States in the Republic of Macedonia and the region, and it shows that the United States would like to remain in that part of the region. Also, it shows that the United States would like and is willing to defeat the terrorists, and also to uphold the democracy and the rule of law, and also to support the Republic of Macedonia in everything what we are doing. Also, that was a good opportunity to brief - shortly to brief the Secretary about the political dialogue, what we are doing. And this political dialogue never stop in Macedonia. And I informed the Secretary about my work that I invite on the table all political parties and that my vision is to create a society which will be based on the individuals, not on the ethnic groups -- on the citizens, not on the ethnic groups - and that we are going to discuss for the rights of all citizens in the Republic of Macedonia. And the principle of these discussions will be the quality of the rights of the citizens, the quality of the rights and responsibilities of the citizens in the country, to discuss for the rights of the men and women, female and male, and regarding their background and religious and political and ideological background. (Excerpts from US Department of State transcript)
BOSNIAN SERB PARTIES AGREE TO EQUALITY OF THREE NATIONS Representatives of the parties represented in the legislature of the Republika Srpska agreed in Banja Luka on 27 April on the text of a constitutional amendment to make the Muslims and Croats legally equal to the Serbs in the Serbian entity, RFE/RL's South Slavic Service reported. The Bosnian Constitutional Court previously ordered the governments of both entities to introduce such legislation. The amendment also specifies that the "Croatian and Bosnian languages" will share an equal status with "Serbian." The Latin and Cyrillic alphabets will also share equal status. (Excerpts from RFE/RL)
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