[Nettime-bold] briefing 04-05-2001

[ebalkan@soros.org.mk]

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"EURO-BALKAN" INSTITUTE ON MACEDONIAN CRISIS

04-05-2001

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

THE ALBANIAN TERRORISTS KILLED TWO MEMBERS OF THE MACEDONIAN ARMY
Yesterday morning, around 5:40 in ambush, at the village of Vaksince, 2 soldiers of the Macedonian Army were cunningly murdered by an Albanian terrorist group. Of the team of 7 soldiers of the armored carrier BTP-80, 2 of them were murdered, while one soldier, who fell from the carrier, is captured – informed the spokesmen of the Defense Ministry, Gjorgji Trendafilov and Stevo Pendarovski of the Internal Affairs Ministry on yesterday’s conference for the press. The spokesman of the Defense Ministry, Trendafilov, stated that a Macedonian Army patrol that was securing the position “Shorta” overnight, on its way back, in the vicinity of the village Vaksince, came upon barriers. The patrol successfully avoided the barricade, but was caught in a cross-fire to which the members of the Macedonian Army responded. In the fire, 2 members were killed, while one of the soldiers fell from the carrier and was captured in combat by the terrorists. The Internal Affairs Ministry informs that in the evening, 2 civilians from the Kumanovo village Matejche were also kidnapped. The spokesman, Pendarovski, informs that one is of Macedonian and the other is of Serbian nationality, but their names are not revealed for security reasons. (“VECHER”)

NEW CLASHES WITH THE ALBANIAN TERRORISTS
Yesterday at 15:00, the Macedonian security forces started an intense offensive against the Albanian terrorists in the villages in the Kumanovo municipality, Lipkovo, after the enemy opened artillery fire on the police and military positions a few minutes before the end of the set ultimatum for the civil inhabitants in the villages Slupchane and Vaksince to urgently leave their homes. The Ministry of Internal Affairs addressed a similar ultimatum to the inhabitants of the villages Opae, Otlja, Lipkovo, Alashevce, Lojane, Matejche, Orizari, Goshince and Lopate. The inhabitants of these villages were ordered to leave their homes by 18:00. In the action conducted by the Macedonian army and police, 2 “flying tanks”, i.e. helicopters of the type “MI-24”, 20 armored personnel carriers, tanks and other artillery arms are engaged. Today, most probably, land combat units are going to be included in the offensive in order to recover the, so-claimed by the terrorists, “liberated territory”. An official of the Defense Ministry gave a statement for the daily newspaper “Dnevnik” that the terrorists’ positions, who between 13:30 and 14:30 in three rounds, opened shell fire over the positions of the Macedonian security forces, are neutralized with the first shelling of the terrain. By 16:00, the fire of the security forces was concentrated on the terrorists’ positions above the villages Vaksince, Slupchane and Lojane, just after 16:00 artillery weapons and tanks shelled several houses at the end of the village occupied by the terrorists. (“DNEVNIK”)

THREE TERRORIST GROUPS ENTERED MACEDONIA FROM KOSOVO AND ALBANIA
Two heavily armed terrorist groups from Kosovo entered Macedonia yesterday evening in the region of Crn Vrv and Tie Pole and at this moment are still in the Shar Planina region. The latest information is that one of the groups has already reached the vicinity of Vejce, and the other one is positioned in the region of Gostivar. Security sources claim that the Macedonian military-police forces have succeeded to prevent the entering of another terrorist group that tried to enter Macedonia from Albania. (“DNEVNIK”)

AN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENT ON THE SECURITY SITUATION IS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY
The Parliament President, Stojan Andov, on request by the Government, summoned an extraordinary parliament session on the current security situation in the country for today at 12:00. The Party for Democratic Prosperity considers that the situation in the country is extremely tightened and the session should be postponed until conditions for constructive dialogue appear. The vice president of the PDP (Party for Democratic Prosperity), Abduladi Vejseli, says that it is the party’s opinion and that this will be presented as a proposal before the Parliament. In Vejseli’s opinion, the predicted conduct of the representative group of the PDP, in the sense if they are going to boycott the session if this proposal is not accepted by the Parliament, is going to be additionally discussed by the party’s high representatives. Arben Xhaferi’s party, on the other hand, considers that there is no need for postponement of the session, but it should be a closed one. The parliament representative of the PDPA-NDP, Biljal Ljutvii, says that his representative group is going to set a proposal before the Parliament to conduct the discussions behind closed doors, because in this situation, an open session would only fire up the passion of both Macedonians and Albanians. The coordinator of the representative group of the SDSM (Social Democratic Union of Macedonia), Nikola Popovski, has no concrete information on the session, except that he will speak to the Prime Minister and that he will propose some conclusions. “If conclusions that are not previously passed by the representative groups are presented, it is possible for some of the unsatisfied representatives to leave the session and with this the Parliament will be the start of the institutional decay of the country. Regardless of the Prime Minister’s demands, SDSM, this time, will not vote for a closed session”. Chedomir Kralevski, coordinator of the representative group of VMRO-DPMNE, says that they have no particular strategy for their presentation in the Parliament, but he underlines that he expects an open dialogue at the session. “My opinion is that, regardless of the pleasantness or unpleasantness that might be felt, things will be called by their real name. I expect that all cards will be put on the table and all talks will be direct, because the country is in an extremely sensitive situation that does not allow for tactics”, says Kralevski. (“UTRINSKI VESNIK”)

b) DAILY BRIEFING FROM INTERNATIONAL PRESS ABOUT MACEDONIAN CRISIS

REBELS KILLED TWO MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS
Ethnic Albanian rebels killed two Macedonian soldiers and kidnapped a third Thursday, raising fears of more violence in the tense Balkan country, government and army officials said. Commander Hoxha of the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army confirmed by telephone to The Associated Press that rebels arrested a member of the Macedonian security forces and killed two others. He said the incident occurred after the troops entered Vaksince with the aim of arresting people. He claimed the guerrillas had also arrested two more Macedonian paramilitaries in the village of Orizar on Wednesday. State radio said the rebels had claimed the area around Vaksince as their liberated zone. (Hoovers)"The Macedonian forces, inside of which paramilitaries are also forming, enter the houses making provocations to the Albanians," said Hoxha, explaining that the NLA reacted in order to defend the civilians. "The villagers asked help from us. We are here in Macedonia and we will defend them," he said. "What Macedonian authorities say in Skopje is not true. We are not attacking the Macedonian forces; we are just responding to their provocations. The truth is that the Macedonians have now activated their paramilitary forces that enter into Albanian houses and terrorize the population. They are simply preparing a party to kill the Albanians," Hoxha said, adding that the NLA is active inside Macedonia and would respond to protecting the Albanians. (KosovaLive)

18,000 MEN OPERATIONAL IN 24 HOURS, SAYS COMMANDER SOKOLI
Albanians fighters are again preparing for battle after apparently running out of patience with the Macedonian government. Frustrated by the slow pace of cross-party talks on improving their community's civil rights, the NLA, it seems, is preparing for a further round of conflict. In an interview with Newsweek magazine, published Monday, a senior NLA representative, Commander Sokoli, said the group is organising three brigades, comprising around 18,000 men,in readiness for a new campaign against the security forces. The brigades, he said, would be based in different parts of the country and could be operational within 24 hours. This comes more than a week after Hysni Shairi, a member of the Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, who defected to the NLA, told the weekly Lobi that Albanians should take up arms and "settle their problems with a rifle". In a move likely to boost the NLA' s morale, a former commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, Xhavit Hasani, widely regarded as a war hero by his ethnic kin, is reported to have joined Albanian fighters in Macedonia. (IWPR)

THE ARMY POUNDS VILLAGE AFTER THE SOLDIERS KILLING
Macedonia Defence and Interior ministries officials called on the civilians in Sllupcan and Vaksince-about 20 miles northeast of Skopje- to leave their homes. "The evacuation must start immediately and the population should have left their villages by 3 p.m. Thursday," said a statement issued by the ministries. However, even before the residents could evacuate helicopters were seen over the villages and explosions were heard. Witnesses reported a large armored convoy driving toward the villages. (UPI) Albanian rebels swear no one will leave Macedonian village Ethnic Albanian rebels swore Thursday that no one would respond to a government call to evacuate villages ahead of an expected army assault following clashes which left two Macedonian soldiers dead. ’Nobody, nothing, not even a hen, will leave this village" close to Vaksince where the latest killing occurred, declared Haxhi, a man who said he was a member of the self-styled NLA. Interior ministry spokesman Stevo Pendarovski said "according to reports from the area, some people are leaving, but not many."(AFP) NATO Secretary- General George Robertson made clear the alliance blamed the rebels for the latest violence, condemning "cowardly attacks against the security forces." "These incidents risk undermining the peace in a country that is a successful example of a well-functioning democracy in the Balkans," Robertson said in a statement. The Macedonian official death toll now stands at 13 soldiers, seven policemen and three civilians. The rebels say 12 of their fighters have been killed. (La Times) A Reuters crew in Kumanovo saw a column of security troops and armored cars heading toward the area. The Kumanovo region has a potentially explosive mix of Slav Macedonians, local Serbs and ethnic Albanians. The NLA, in a statement received by Reuters in the Albanian capital, repeated its demand for inclusion in political talks, which the government has ruled out, and appealed to Macedonian Albanians to stay calm. The White House said the United States would increase bilateral economic and military assistance. (Reuters)

MACEDONIA'S SECOND CITY UNDER CURFEW AFTER TWO NIGHTS OF VIOLENCE
Macedonian authorities imposed an overnight curfew Wednesday on Bitola, the country's second- largest city, after two nights of ethnic rioting, according to reports reaching Tirana. Hundreds of Macedonian Slavs, who make up the majority in the country, attacked shops and restaurants run by ethnic Albanian minorities. The riots occurred on Monday and Tuesday following the weekend killing by Albanian guerrillas of eight security force members. The two-night of violence left dozens of Albanian properties damaged. The wave of anti-Albanian violence also spread to Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, on Tuesday. Masked gunmen killed one Albanian customer in a cafe that night, according to the local police. (Peoples Daily) Macedonian government spokesman Antonio Milososki said in Skopje today that the riots in Bitola "only facilitate the goal of terrorism, which is civil war." He says the government is appealing for restraint and support for the security forces, which he insists are the only ones capable and responsible of preserving Macedonia's territorial integrity and security. Macedonian Interior Minister Dosta Dimovska says the attackers entered Macedonia from Kosovo in the area of Selce and Vejce and attacked the Macedonian security forces in an ambush, using hand grenades, bombs, and handguns. The leader of the ethnic Albanian opposition Party for Democratic Prosperity, or PDP, Ymer Ymeri, says the attack was in a response to what he says has been unsuccessful political dialogue between the Macedonian authorities and the Albanian community. (RFE/RL) The weekend attack by ethnic Albanian rebels in the Shar Mountains above Tetovo that left eight Macedonian security officials dead and six others wounded has unleashed a wave of anti-Albanian violence in Macedonia. The wave of violence is qualitatively different from the violence the country witnessed in March. (RFE/RL)
 PRESIDENT CALLS ETHNIC ALBANIAN SEPARATISTS TERRORISTS
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski has urged the U.S. government to formally designate ethnic Albanians from Kosovo who are wreaking havoc in his country as terrorists, like the Hamas organization in Gaza and the West Bank, and to help Macedonia fight them. "President Boris Trajkovski, in an interview on Macedonian state television Sunday evening, said the insurgents, whom he referred to as terrorists, "are in fact inflicting the most harm on the members of the Albanian minority in the Republic of Macedonia."(RFE/RL)
In an interview Tuesday after a meeting with Secretary of State Colin Powell, Trajkovski said he had told U.S. leaders that the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Balkans could have "grave" consequences. He said he stressed that the U.S. presence there was "indispensable" for stability. "The roots of the problem are in Kosovo," the Macedonian president said he told Powell, and some practical measures are necessary, such as disarming the ethnic Albanian paramilitary groups there. Everyone has a gun in Kosovo, he asserted, adding that "if terrorism is not eliminated, there is no future." Trajkovski said ethnic Albanian separatists in Kosovo should be treated like Iraq and Libya, and bluntly urged international punitive measures: "If Kosovo leaders are not willing to follow orders and the rules of the international community, then action has to be taken against them." (San Francisko Chronicle) The rebels were holding as many as 2,000 villagers as "human shields" against government troops and had taken up positions in the upper floors of houses, said army spokesman Blagoja Markovski. "These people are going to sacrifice their children," President Boris Trajkovski said in an interview with CNN. "They don't care about killing the innocent civilians." Rebel fighters "have taken all measures to protect the civilian population," he said. "All our forces are in their positions and are fighting in self-defence to prevent the government forces from penetrating their lines." "The Macedonian army started action for the elimination of the Albanian terrorists," Trendafilov said. The rebels issued a statement calling for a ceasefire and urging Trajkovski to start talks to prevent the bloodshed and "maybe civil war." The Macedonian government, however, refuses to negotiate with the rebels. (The Canadian Press) "We call them terrorists, and what they are doing fits the definition of a terrorist," one senior State Department official said. "We are making a conscious effort to show what we think and what the international community thinks of them." (LATimes) Albanian deputy prime minister Bedredin Ibraim, assured Bush he was committed to stopping the violence in order to move forward with inter-ethnic talks. (CNN)

US AND EU CONDEMN KILLINGS BY 'EXTREMISTS' IN MACEDONIA  "We also condemn the holding of hostages in that area by the so-called NLA, which has threatened civilians and deliberately puts civilians into jeopardy," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in a statement. "We reiterate our strong support, as expressed yesterday by President Bush, for breaking the cycle of violence, assuring Macedonia's territorial integrity, and addressing the concerns of the Albanian ethnic minority," Boucher said. "We have continued to urge the government of Macedonia to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties as they take the necessary steps to uphold the rule of law," he added. "The U.S. supports the necessary steps Macedonia is taking to prevent armed extremists from disrupting inter-ethnic cooperation and dialogue," the State Department official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. In a sign of growing international concern, European Union sources said that EU foreign and security policy chief Javier Solana would visit Macedonia on Sunday after an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Sweden. "The European Union strongly condemns the renewed acts of violence by ethnic Albanian extremists ... including the killing of two soldiers, the occupation of several villages and the taking of hostages," the EU said in a statement. "The European Union calls upon the extremists to stop the violence, to release the hostages and withdraw immediately."(LA Times)



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