[ALBSA-Info] The Independent

[Agron Alibali]

The Independent (London) 


March 26, 2001, Monday 

COMMENT; Pg. 3 



LEADING ARTICLE: FINE WORDS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE
BALKANS MUST BE MATCHED BY ACTION 

THERE IS a war being fought in Macedonia, not just
between two armies but between two versions of the
facts. On one account, the democratic government of
this troubled part of former Yugoslavia faces an
insurgency from neighbouring Kosovo, where ethnic
Albanians, emboldened by the "success" of their
guerrilla war against the Serbian tyrant Slobodan
Milosevic, are fighting for a "greater Albania", which
would extend through Kosovo and into the
Albanian-dominated western part of Macedonia. On this
version, the fighters in the hills around Tetovo are
terrorists and must be crushed. 

The other story of the same events relates how
Macedonia is a state in which the Slavic majority
controls the government, army and police, which in
turn tolerate or even take part in intimidation and
oppression of the ethnic Albanian minority. On this
version, the terrorists in the hills are freedom
fighters desperately defending the human rights of
their people and deserve the support of the
international community. 

Both versions contain truths, but neither is the whole
truth, and the problem is that the European Union, at
its summit in Stockholm, and the United States seem to
have leant too far towards one version of reality. It
was right to express support for the Macedonian
government, which is different from Milosevic's former
regime in Serbia. Macedonia's leaders are not intent
on "ethnic cleansing" and do not want to drive the
Albanians out of the country. But the
Albanian-speakers, about 30 per cent of the
population, are treated as second-class citizens. 

The EU and US expressions of support for Macedonia,
and condemnation of the rebels, should have been
balanced by a firm insistence that the rights of
Albanians be respected. It was notable that, while EU
leaders backed Macedonia's military action, George
Robertson, the Nato secretary general, said there
could ultimately be no military solution to the
problem - unless the justified grievances of the
Macedonian Albanians are met. It should be pointed out
that many of the fighters are Macedonians, not
invaders from Kosovo. 

On the other hand, the rebels must be condemned.
Ibrahim Rugova, the pacifist leader of the largest
party in Kosovo, has done so. While his moral
authority is great, the condemnation from former
leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army should carry
more weight with the militants of the forest. They are
wrong in principle to resort to violence to assert
their rights, but also risk making the position of
Albanians in Macedonia worse by strengthening the hand
of the hard men of anti -Albanian thuggery. 

The Nato alliance is right, therefore, to try to seal
the border between Kosovo and Macedonia to prevent
arms and supplies reaching the rebels and right to
offer cautious and conditional support to the
Macedonian government's military action. But this must
be balanced, forcefully and visibly, by a consistent
message in defence of human rights. 

It is curious, after the alliance fought a successful
and just war to liberate the Albanians of Kosovo from
their oppression, vindicated last year by the
democratic overthrow of Mr Milosevic in Serbia, that
Tony Blair in particular has not said more about the
defence of human rights of other ethnic groups, such
as the Roma. 

It cannot be expected that Europe and America can
defend a "universal" law of human rights in all
circumstances and in all places. But a little more
consistency from some of the leaders of the
international community in their moral support and
condemnation would be welcome. That, we believe, was
the point Mary Robinson was making when last week she
announced her departure from the UN after four years
as human rights commissioner. Fine words on human
rights must be backed up first by consistent
judgements and then by action. In Macedonia it is
vital to get the judgements right: condemn the rebels
and support the government by all means; but insist
too, above all, that every Macedonian's human rights
be respected. 


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