[ALBSA-Info] Today's Articles on Albanian Issues, September 4, 2001

[National Albanian American Council - NAAC]

National Albanian American Council
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Email: naac at naac.org
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For Your Information
September 4, 2001
NEW YORK TIMES
After NATO, a Vacuum in Macedonia
By MICHAEL R. GORDON
SKOPJE, Macedonia, Sept. 3 - There is an embarrassing and potentially fatal
omission in the West's plan to bring peace to Macedonia: nobody knows how to
make the settlement work if NATO troops leave on schedule just a few weeks
from now.
The looming security vacuum worries Western military commanders, diplomats
and intelligence experts. Today, James Pardew, the American diplomat who
helped broker the political settlement, brought their dilemma into the open
in a series of interviews. He raised the prospect that some allied troops
would be needed beyond the Sept. 26 deadline by which the alliance now hopes
to complete its mission.
The Central Intelligence Agency has already warned the Bush administration
that the political settlement intended to end the ethnic Albanian rebellion
in Macedonia may collapse after the NATO force withdraws.
"The C.I.A. believes that without a NATO presence in Macedonia, there is a
very high risk that this agreement will collapse in the implementation
phase," an American official said.
The essence of the issue is this: after NATO completes its mission of
collecting 3,300 weapons from ethnic Albanian rebels, diplomats envisage an
unspecified number of unarmed foreign monitors coming to Macedonia to
oversee the political settlement between the minority Albanians and majority
Slavs. Those monitors, Mr. Pardew said today, will need protection to
operate in the country's tense regions.
"In the post-NATO period, significant numbers of civil monitors are needed
in these sensitive areas as called for in the framework agreement," Mr.
Pardew said in an interview. "So security in the future for these monitors
is a concern."
To understand the increasingly urgent problem, it is important to understand
how limited and how brief NATO's operation is.
If the Macedonian Parliament does its bit by approving changes to the
Constitution that enhance the rights of ethnic Albanians, the rebels are to
reciprocate by disbanding and handing over 3,300 weapons to NATO by Sept.
26. Then the 4,500-member NATO task force dispatched here for the
arms-gathering mission is to be withdrawn over a two-week period.
Only then are many of the most important provisions of the peace agreement
to be put into effect, over a period of months. So NATO may be pulling out
its task force just when the risks are the greatest.
Right now, the West has only a partly scripted plan for what happens after
NATO collects the rebels' guns.
The basic plan is to call on the Organization for Cooperation and Security
in Europe and the European Union to provide monitors who will live in some
of Macedonia's most volatile towns and villages and see that the Albanians
do gain the increased civic rights promised in the settlement.
One of the monitors' most important tasks would be to help Macedonia reform
its police. The Macedonian police battled the Albanian rebels for months,
and are both unwelcome and afraid to go into many Albanian-dominated
regions.
The political settlement calls for the hiring and training of 1,000 Albanian
policemen, and the monitors will have to guard against mischief. The head of
Macedonia's Interior Ministry, Ljube Boskovski, who oversees the police, is
a certified hard- liner and no fan of the peace agreement.
Even with the best of intentions, and those often seem scarce here, there is
the potential for miscalculation as the Macedonian police try to
re-establish authority in areas once controlled by the rebels.
The United States believes that some 200 monitors are needed and is prepared
to contribute about 15 percent of them. Some NATO officials say as many as
400 may be required.
But lining up the monitors has been very difficult. The Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe, for example, has balked at an earlier
suggestion that it raise the current number of its monitors in Macedonia
from 26 to 50. The French, among others, are worried that the monitors may
not be safe.
The Russians, for their part, dislike the idea that the organization would,
in essence, be helping to consolidate a settlement in which NATO played a
vital part. Mr. Pardew hopes to overcome that objection during a coming trip
to Moscow.
Security is the major hazard. Facing a potentially dangerous mission,
neither the European Union nor the Vienna-based Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe is prepared to take on monitoring duties without
some form of protection.
According to the current plan, NATO, the world's mightiest military
alliance, is not preparing to play that part. Keeping the NATO task force,
or at least some portion of it, in Macedonia would require a new mandate
from the alliance's 19 members. So far, that is an option with few fans at
NATO headquarters.
Another option is to remove the NATO task force from Macedonia on schedule
but arrange for NATO troops in Kosovo and at the American logistics base in
Macedonia to rush to the monitors' aid in an emergency. But it is far from
clear that this would provide enough reassurance to the monitors.
Macedonia's president, Boris Trajkovski, has raised the possibility that
United Nations troops might have a role in guarding the nation's frontiers
to stop arms smuggling. But there seems to be little, if any, discussion of
a more substantial United Nations role in protecting monitors within
Macedonia.
Still another option would be for the British and other Europeans to decide
among themselves to keep some sort of security force here in what diplomats
are calling a "coalition of the willing." Again, there is no agreement on
such a force.
With visits from the British, German and French defense or foreign ministers
this week, the "what next" question is receiving increasingly intense
consideration.
There is a growing recognition that Macedonia may soon find the rebels
partly disarmed, the Macedonian authorities trying to re-establish their
control over areas formerly held by the rebels, and NATO's soldiers gone.
Mr. Pardew stirred up a bit of a storm today by pointing out that the
organizations that would provide the monitors are insisting that the West
keep some sort of security force in Macedonia. But he was only saying in
public what other Western officials say in private. And some are far less
diplomatic.
"There is a general feeling," said one alliance official, "that something
must be done, but nobody knows what to do."

RADIO FREE EUROPE / RADIO LIBERTY

MACEDONIAN PRIME MINISTER GRUDGINGLY ENDORSES PEACE PACKAGE... 
Speaking before the parliament on 3 September, Prime
Minister Ljubco Georgievski said that the political settlement agreed on
recently in Ohrid "was made under direct pressure of violence and
terror," by which he meant the guerrillas of the National Liberation
Army (UCK), dpa reported (see "RFE/RL Balkan Report," 17 and 21 August
2001). He stressed that "changing the constitution will not bring
peace." Georgievski argued that, in approving the package, "we are
sending a great gift to all terrorists or all those who want to be
terrorists all over the world. The message [is] that terrorism pays
off." He added, however, that Macedonia must agree to the package out of
economic necessity. The session of the parliament was interrupted over
the weekend of 1-2 September when speaker Stojan Andov adjourned the
legislature to demand security for displaced ethnic Macedonian civilians
to return to their homes. He agreed to reconvene the session under heavy
international pressure and once he received a pledge from President
Boris Trajkovski that the displaced persons could return home safely,
"The Guardian" reported. PM
...SLAMS U.S., NATO. 
Georgievski told the parliament on 3 September
that it should approve the peace package because "it is obvious that we
shouldn't gamble with the authority of NATO," Reuters reported. He
slammed the Atlantic alliance for "mounting a mission [costing] 1
billion German marks...to collect weapons worth two million [marks],"
dpa reported ($1.00 equals 2.15 German marks). Georgievski argued that
the U.S. "did nothing against the terrorists, apart from publishing a
list of those disallowed from entering its territory." He said that the
conflict in "Macedonia is collateral damage of the 1999 NATO
intervention in Yugoslavia.... We cannot expect those who made a mistake
then to admit it now. On the contrary." He did not mention that his
government allowed NATO to use Macedonian territory in 1999 and took in
thousands of ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosova in return for pledges
of aid and assistance. In the run-up to the January 2002 general
elections, Georgievski has sought to revive his sagging poll ratings by
slamming Albanians, the U.S., and NATO (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 30 August
2001). PM
MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT PREPARES FOR VOTE. 
The legislature is scheduled to vote on 4 September in what AP called a "symbolic gesture"
to give the green light for NATO to continue to collect UCK weapons and
for discussions to continue on the peace settlement. The measure is
expected to pass. The previous day, Georgievski said that the parliament
should "look reality in the eye." Social Democratic legislator Radmila
Secerinska said: "Let us have no illusions: we need courage and
wisdom.... We face a huge responsibility before our country, our
descendants." She noted that the settlement does not guarantee peace,
but called it "a chance, a huge potential to build a legitimate
democracy." PM
MACEDONIAN POLL SHOWS DEPTH OF ETHNIC DIVIDE. 
Dpa on 4 September quoted the Skopje daily "Utrinski vesnik" as saying that its latest poll
suggests that ethnic Macedonians oppose both the settlement and NATO.
Some 50.7 percent oppose the plan, while 43.7 approve. Some 57.9 percent
of Macedonian respondents said they do not trust NATO, and 3.6 percent
said they do. Of ethnic Albanians surveyed, 78 percent support the
settlement but 12.9 oppose it. Some 76.3 percent of the Albanians trust
NATO, while 23.1 percent "partially trust" it. Regarding the proposed
amnesty for UCK fighters, 81.8 percent of Macedonians are opposed, while
98.4 percent of Albanians agree to it. PM
U.S. ENVOY: NATO PRESENCE IN MACEDONIA MAY CONTINUE. 
James Pardew, the U.S. special envoy in Macedonia, told the BBC on 3 September
that some NATO troops may stay on in Macedonia after Operation Essential
Harvest ends in late September. He noted that NATO has no mandate beyond
that mission, but suggested that the alliance may be asked by the OSCE
to provide "security" for OSCE monitors, "who will be watching the
implementation of the peace agreement." He stressed that monitors "would
not be armed, and that does raise the question...whether there should be
an extension of the military mandate... But that hasn't been decided by
NATO or anyone else at this point." Recently, President Boris Trajkovski
suggested that the UN could play a role in keeping the peace in his
country, but did not elaborate. PM
DISPLACED MACEDONIANS RESUME BORDER BLOCKADE. 
Displaced civilians from the Kumanovo area blocked the border crossing at
Tabanovce on 3 September, dpa reported. They said that they will not
allow NATO or KFOR vehicles to pass until the authorities assure them
that they can return to their homes, from which the UCK drove them. On 2
September, the displaced persons unblocked the road after a meeting
between Todor Petrov -- the president of the Macedonian World Congress --
members of nongovernmental organizations, and the new Union of the
displaced persons. Union leader Veljo Tantarov said that "if [recently]
kidnapped Macedonians are not be released by [4 September], we will
start kidnapping ethnic Albanians and will open a prison in the
villages," but did not specify which ones. He added that the union plans
more border blockades on 5 September at Stenje, Kafasan, and Sveti Naum.
Tantarov stressed that the kidnapped Macedonians are ordinary farmers.
"The Sunday Times" reported on 2 September that masked Macedonian
paramilitaries have already begun kidnapping Albanian civilians. PM

RADIO TV 21

UNMIK concerned about increased violence in region
UNMIK expressed Monday about the increase in crimes of violence in Kosova.
According to UNMIK Police, three separate killings occurred in Shtimje,
Lipjan and Rahovec on Saturday and Sunday, in addition to two bomb attacks
on the homes of Democratic League of Kosova (LDK) party members in Prizren.
All the victims were Albanians. Qerim Ismaili, who, UNMIK Police said, was a
member of the Serb-affiliated Democratic Initiative of Kosova before the
war, was found dead at home in Lipjan. The body of another Albanian was
found in his house in Lipjan and a third in Rahovec. According to UNMIK
Police spokesman Dean Olson, the bombings of the houses of LDK officials
took place in the village of Belobrod and Brodosavce Saturday at
approximately 11 p.m. and 11:20 p.m., respectively. Olson said that the
victims were treated for minor injuries. According to Olson, explosives dogs
were sent to the scenes of the explosions and, as a precautionary measure,
houses belonging other LDK party members were searched but no explosives
were found. "A vigorous investigation into these acts of terrorism is being
conducted," Olson said. He added that the Political Violence Task Force had
been informed, but there are no suspects as yet.

ALBANIAN DAILY NEWS

Parliament Holds First Meeting
TIRANA - The new Albanian parliament held its first session on Monday with 46 empty seats assigned to opposition MPs, exactly 80 years after the gathering of the first Albanian parliament. The 140 lawmakers had to pass through a long journey of court decisions and re-runs since general polls were held on June 24.
New Meta Government in the Making
TIRANA - The ruling Socialist Party confirmed on Monday that top priorities for the new government would include elimination of illegal trafficking and stronger relations with the European Union, besides economic development. "Our aim is to remove the name of Albania from the map of illegal traffic, the signing of an association and stabilization agreement with the EU and the economic development of the country," said SP chairman Fatos Nano.
Balkan Oil Pipeline Under Way Soon
SOFIA - The construction of an oil pipeline across the Balkans from Bulgaria's Black Sea port of Burgas to Vlora on Albania's Adriatic coast should begin by the end of the year, the US-led consortium in charge of the operation reported. A senior official of the Balkan pipeline consortium (AMBO) Ted Ferguson said on Saturday the company prefers Vlora to Greek ports in the Aegean Sea for the end of the pipeline, French news agency AFP said.
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