[Nettime-bold] Briefing 05-05-2001

[ebalkan@soros.org.mk]

            "EURO-BALKAN" INSTITUTE ON MACEDONIAN CRISIS
                             05-05-2001
                             CONTENTS:
Dailybriefing from Macedonian press about 
    Macedonian crisis
Dailybriefing from international press about 
    Macedonian crisis

a) DAILY BRIEFING FROM MACEDONIAN PRESS 
ABOUT MACEDONIAN CRISIS

SECOND DAY OF THE OFFENSIVE OF THE MILITARY 
FORCES AGAINST THE TERRORISTS’ POSITIONS IN THE 
KUMANOVO REGION
The Macedonian military forces continued 
yesterday from 8:00 in the morning with the 
offensive actions over the terrorists’ positions 
in the villages in the Kumanovo region Vaksince, 
Slupchane and Lojane. After the disrespect of 
the last ultimatum by the terrorists, in the 
afternoon, their attack on the legitimate 
targets in the successfully barricaded and 
protected villages was more severe. Yesterday 
afternoon strong police forces were additionally 
sent in Vaksince. In the action conducted by the 
Macedonian Army Headquarters, helicopters of the 
type “MI-24” were used, also artillery weapons 
of various caliber and tanks – same as the day 
before yesterday. All day yesterday, the army 
forces aimed only at the carefully marked 
positions of the Albanian bandits, eliminating 
with this all risks of eventual civil 
casualties. That is why mostly targets around 
the village and in the woods were aimed at, 
including the freshly dug trenches. It was 
evident by the heavy smoke that several houses 
in both villages were also struck. The Internal 
Affairs Ministry spokesman, Stevo Pendarovski, 
yesterday announced that it is speculated that 
there are about 2,000 civilians left in the 
village Vaksince, while in Slupchane the number 
amounts to around 1,500. No one tries to 
speculate on the number of terrorists, although 
counter-intelligence sources state that in all 
villages in the Karadak region there are about 
2,000 armed terrorists. Even though Macedonian 
officials do not give any exact numbers, several 
independent sources say that after the two days 
action of the Macedonian army, the material 
losses and human casualties among the terrorists 
are great. A certain individual, Ali Daja, a 
self-proclaimed commander of the terrorists from 
Vaksince, admitted yesterday for the agency from 
Belgrade, BETA, that there are serious losses 
from the attacks of the Macedonian Army. He also 
added that they are still restraining from 
answering to the attacks. The entire army 
action, aside from being followed by the 
numerous journalist agencies, was also followed 
by OSCE monitors during the two days. The first 
evening the monitors were even allowed to enter 
the villages the surroundings of which were 
being attacked. The Internal Affairs Ministry 
and the Defense Ministry set an ultimatum to the 
terrorists to set down arms and to release the 
captured civilians and soldier of the Macedonian 
Army, and to the local inhabitants to leave 
their homes because the Army is preparing for an 
action to secure the terrain. This third 
ultimatum passed with no particular effect 
because the terrorists didn’t surrender and the 
local inhabitants are even more reluctant to 
leave their homes. Before the 2-hour ultimatum 
limit was over, only 10 cars with women and 
children left the villages. The captured 
Macedonian border patroller, Goran Mitrovski, is 
alive – informed the Defense Ministry spokesman, 
Djordji Trendafilov. Army sources inform that 
after the first contact made with him on 
Thursday morning, no further information about 
him is available. (“UTRINSKI VESNIK”)

THE PARLIAMENT SESSION ON SECURITY IS POSTPONED 
FOR TUESDAY
Although it was announced, the Parliament didn’t 
discuss the security situation in the country, 
and the session dedicated to this issue, under 
the pressure of the parties of the Albanian 
political block – PDP and PDPA-NDP, is postponed 
for Tuesday, 8th May, noon. For the opposition – 
SDSM, VMRO- The True One and the Democratic 
Alternative, this is an unserious move that does 
not lead to a solution for getting out of the 
disastrous situation in which the country finds 
itself. The coordinator of the representative 
group of PDP, Naser Ziberi, considers that there 
are no conditions for constructive talks, 
leading to appropriate conclusions in favor of 
resolving the crisis and once again introducing 
peace, to be conducted. Zamir Dika, chief of the 
PDPA-NDP representative group, says that first 
of all, proposal conclusions from the Prime 
Minister are required to be revised by them and 
after they form their viewpoints, a session on 
security can be held. (“UTRINSKI VESNIK”)

ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
The United States of America will as soon as 
possible give 38,4 million dollars economic aid 
for Macedonia, they will also increase the help 
in amount of 45 million dollars intended for the 
country by 2002, it is said in the announcement 
by the Cabinet of the American President, George 
Bush. Washington will intensify the cooperation 
with the Macedonian Government in the sphere of 
intelligence, and from May this year, American 
forces are going to train the Macedonian Army. 
In the announcement it is underlined that the 
USA lobbied for announcement and support of a 
severe condemnation of the terrorist attacks by 
the UN, for support of Skopje and political 
influence on the Albanian leaders from Albania, 
Kosovo and Macedonia to condemn the Albanian 
extremism in Macedonia. American military aid 
for the need of the Macedonian Army is urgently 
transported to Macedonia. The day before 
yesterday, in the Bulgarian harbor of Burgas, 
the first contingent American military aid 
consisting of 250 containers, among which 
helicopters as well, arrived. These days, the 
arrival of 2 ships with American military help 
for Macedonia is expected. (“DNEVNIK”)

INTERVIEW OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR IN 
MACEDONIA, MARK DICKINSON, FOR THE MACEDONIAN 
TELEVISION
The British Ambassador in Macedonia, Mark 
Dickinson, after the latest development of the 
situation in the country, said that the 
“situation is very bad” and that “the terrorists 
don’t accept the advice of reasonable 
individuals because they, themselves, are 
unreasonable”. “My opinion is that what they 
want and what they say they want is not the 
same. In their communiqués, one month they say 
that they want federalization, the next – status 
of a constitutional people, and most probably 
next month they will insist on the Constitution 
to guarantee them that they will win the state 
lottery prize every week”, said Dickinson in 
yesterday’s interview for the Macedonian 
Television. “I believe in the Macedonian 
security forces and I believe that they will 
defeat the terrorists”, he underlined and added 
that that is not an easy task, but, it will be 
successfully completed if the Macedonian Army 
and Police are left to do their job, even if it 
means doing it with bare hands. “The only thing 
that can bring the terrorists victory is if the 
people under the influence of stress, rage and 
emotions, that I perfectly understand this time, 
take the Law in their hands”, underlined the 
British Ambassador Mark Dickinson in the 
interview for the Macedonian Television. (“NOVA 
MAKEDONIJA”)


b) DAILY BRIEFING FROM INTERNATIONAL PRESS 
ABOUT MACEDONIAN CRISIS

MACEDONIANS SHELL GUERRILLA-HELD VILLAGE
More than 200 special troops were transported to 
the area in a convoy of armored vehicles. At 
least two helicopters participated in the 
attack. It was unclear whether the civilians 
stayed in the village on their own or were kept 
from leaving by the guerrillas. (UPI) The 
rebels' political leader Ali Ahmeti said that 
five Macedonian soldiers had been killed and 11 
injured. The army rejected the claims. It said 
it had no details of NLA losses but accused the 
gunmen of keeping some 3,500 villagers in the 
combat zone as a human shield. It said the NLA 
fighters were shooting from the upper stores of 
houses in whose cellars terrified villagers were 
sheltering, restricting its ability to target 
the guerrillas with heavy weapons. Despite that, 
Defense Ministry spokesman Trendafilov said the 
rebel forces suffered "severe damage," but gave 
no details. (Dawn) “We'll use all available 
means to eliminate the terrorists,” including 
heavy artillery and helicopter gunships, said 
Trendafilov. He maintained the army had 
inflicted “serious damage” on the rebels since 
the offensive began Thursday. Col. Blagoja 
Markovski, an army spokesman, said there were no 
civilian casualties. But media in Belgrade and 
Kosovo reported two civilians killed in the 
fighting in Vaksince, and the mayor of Lipkovo 
said at least seven people had been killed “and 
many others wounded” in fighting there. 
Commander Sokoli, a leader of the rebel NLA, 
denied villagers were being held as shields and 
accused government forces of “indiscriminate 
attacks against our civilians.” Sokoli said two 
rebel soldiers were wounded, one seriously. The 
Macedonian army did not report any casualties on 
its side. (AP) The BBC's correspondent in 
Macedonia Nick Wood says the latest offensive 
has prompted hundreds of people to start leaving 
their homes. Tractors towing trailers packed 
with women and small children are heading 
towards the town of Kumanovo, where the 
government has said people will be given 
temporary shelter. (BBC) Western monitors 
accused soldiers of the KLA of operating inside 
Macedonia and demanded their immediate 
withdrawal. "They have no mandate for their 
actions or presence in Macedonia, "said Robert 
Frowick of the OSCE. "On the contrary, 
democratically elected Albanian political 
leaders everywhere condemn this resort to 
extremism - even terrorism - because they know 
it is profoundly counterproductive for the long-
term interest of their own people." (AP)

KOSOVALIVE CLAIMS SEVEN KILLED IN SLUPCAN AND 
VAKSINCE 
As a result of the shelling by the Macedonian 
military and police forces, at least seven 
persons were killed and many others wounded in 
the last two days. "One helicopter of the 
Macedonian forces was taken down and a number of 
tanks were destroyed, while the NLA forces were 
trying to protect the civilians being attacked 
not only from the air but also from the 
positions of the Macedonian forces from a 
distance," Hysni Shaqiri, former deputy of the 
DPA who joined the UCK, told KosovaLive Friday. 
"I think that what the NLA requests is a reality 
that belongs to political parties as well, but 
they are not in a position to do this", he 
added. The president of the Lipkova 
municipality, Hysamedin Halili, also confirmed 
for KosovaLive, about the seven killed and 
several wounded. "It is a war. People are hiding 
inside their basements; they are still in the 
village not wanting to leave their houses. The 
Macedonian government has given an ultimatum to 
leave the village until 4 p.m., but nobody has 
left the village," Halili said. (KosovaLive)

RICHARD BOUCHER: US CONDEMN AMBUSH IN MACEDONIA 
The United States strongly condemns the 
unprovoked killing of two Macedonian soldiers 
and kidnapping of a third today by ethnic 
Albanian extremists near the border of 
Serbia.We also condemn the holding of hostages 
in that area by the so-called National 
Liberation Army, which has threatened civilians 
and deliberately puts civilians into jeopardy. 
We support the measured response of the 
Macedonian armed forces to such terrorist 
violence.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.The United States remains in contact with 
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski during his 
stay in Washington, DC, as well as with Foreign 
Minister Srgjan Kerim, who is traveling with 
President Trajkovski. 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. (Office Of The U.S. Department Of 
State Spokesman)

DECLARATION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION ON THE 
SITUATION IN MACEDONIA 
The European Union strongly condemns the renewed 
acts of violence by ethnic Albanian extremists 
in the northern region of the Former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia, including the killing of 
two soldiers, the occupation of several villages 
and the taking of hostages. The European Union 
calls upon the extremists to stop the violence, 
to release the hostages and withdraw 
immediately. The European Union emphasizes its 
continuing strong support for 
the process of inter-ethnic dialogue that was recently launched by the Former 
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia authorities. The latest provocations underline 
the need for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia government to continue 
to show restraint and for leaders of all political parties to support the 
process of peaceful dialogue, to isolate extremists, to condemn the violence 
and to urge their supporters to remain calm. The European Union condemns the 
vicious circle of violence and counter-violence from whatever quarter. The 
Union also urges ethnic Albanian leaders in Kosovo and political leaders in 
Albania to condemn unambiguously these acts of terrorism and to use their 
influence to prevent the violence, which threatens the stability of the whole 
region. (EU PRESS RELEASE) 

OSCE CONDEMNS INCREASED VIOLENCE IN MACEDONIA 
The Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE, Romanian Foreign Minister Mircea Geoana, 
has strongly condemned the recent increase in violence in the former Yugoslav 
Republic of Macedonia, including the killing of two soldiers and the kidnapping 
of a third by ethnic Albanian extremists. "These are acts which could only 
complicate the fragile equilibrium 
in the region. I urge all parties and all citizens of the country to 
show restraint and not to allow the spiral of violence to continue to 
grow," said the Chairman-in-Office. In these circumstances, he expressed his 
support for the Macedonian Government's measured response to extremist threats 
and terrorist attacks. (OSCE)

A FORMER ALLY BECOMES A PROBLEM FOR WASHINGTON 
Viewed as de facto US allies during the Kosovo conflict fewer than two years 
ago, ethnic Albanian rebels now have become an embarrassment for Washington as 
they are seen as an "extremist" movement blamed for the current trouble in the 
Balkans. "By wrestling Kosovo from Belgrade's control, the United States and 
its NATO allies gave Albanian nationalists a base of operations from which they 
can foment insurgencies across the borders," said Ted Carpenter, policy analyst 
at the Cato Institute, a think-tank in Washington. He said the previous 
administration "turned a blind eye to the nature" of the Kosovo Liberation 
Army. He calls the insurgent group "a collection of nationalist fanatics, 
unrepentant communists and common criminals" seeking to form an "ethnically 
pure Greater Albania" that includes large parts of Serbia, Montenegro, 
Macedonia and Greece. A senior State Department official, speaking on condition 
of anonymity, said that during the war, "we had contact with people who were in 
the KLA." US alignment with the KLA began with the 1999 Kosovo negotiations in 
Rambouillet, France and during the NATO bombing campaign against Belgrade's 
forces the next year. The official said the KLA consisted of "a wide variety of 
people," some of whom were nationalists. "The KLA was not a single 
organization, it was more of a movement," the source said. "Some of those are 
bad characters, and some of them were extremist, and they are probably 
extremists today, and probably are involved in the stuff in Macedonia and 
Serbia." There was a personal connection, however, between then-State 
Department spokesman and aide James Rubin and KLA chief Hashim Thaci. Now head 
of the Kosovo Democratic Party, Thaci remains a frequent contact for 
Washington. He recently met, with several other Kosovars, Secretary of State 
Colin Powell during a visit to Macedonia in April. The KLA was pressured to 
become a police force or return to civilian life when Kosovo went under 
international control in 1999, but Washington acknowledges it has not been a 
complete success. "Some of them went into the police force, some of them went 
home… Some of them went to the hills and formed nationalist movements in 
Macedonia and southern Serbia," the official said. (AFP)

ALBANIAN GUERILLAS VOW TO FIGHT FOR RIGHTS 
Camouflage-clad Commander Mala of the NLA sits on a long sofa in his 
headquarters in a northern Macedonian village, the stump of his left hand, lost 
while fighting in Kosovo, wrapped in an olive-
green handkerchief. In front of him is a coffee 
table spread with maps, two large hand grenades, 
and a satellite telephone. Albanian and NLA 
flags drape the walls. As he speaks of the rebel 
group's latest action, Mala has no regrets for 
an attack that killed eight Macedonian soldiers, 
breaking a month-long cease-fire and threatening 
to reignite fighting that shook the country in 
February and March. "It was an unavoidable 
confrontation," he says, adding that the 
government forces were sent to take over an NLA 
headquarters in the western Macedonian village 
of Vejce. For Mala and his cohorts, the barrel 
of the gun is the only way to keep ethnic 
Albanian issues on the agenda. "We called for 
(the soldiers) to surrender," says Commander 
Sokoli, another Kosovo veteran whose nom de 
guerre means falcon in Albanian. "We would have 
disarmed them and let them go," he says. 
Instead, they opened fire, which the rebels 
returned. This account sharply contradicts the 
government version: that a police and Army 
patrol was ambushed in the mountains above 
Tetovo, Macedonia's second-largest city. The 
government calls the incident a "massacre." 
Commander Mala is eager to show off his army's 
readiness to take on the Macedonian state, if 
negotiations fail. In a driveway across a muddy 
lane, about a dozen recruits clean and oil 
machine guns. Another practices carrying and 
aiming a three-foot long bazooka. (Dawn)



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