[NYC-L] Dept. of State briefing --questions on Albania in Macedonia

[Erkanda Bujari]

  State Department Noon Briefing, July 23 - Secretary Powell's Travel to
  Hungary, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Poland, Israel/Palestinians,
  North Korea, Sudan, Macedonia, Russia/Sudan, Greece

4,192 words
23 July 2004
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U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing Index

Friday, July 23, 2004

12: 50 p.m. EDT

BRIEFER: Richard Boucher, Spokesman



QUESTION: Mr. Boucher, according to the Reuters News Agency, dozens of 
people were injured in clashes between the so-called Macedonian police 
and protesters. Earlier today, "violence erupted over plans to give 
greater local power to the country's 25 percent ethnic Albanians 
minority in the southern town of Struga on Lake Ohrid where Albanians 
outnumber the so-called ethnic Macedonians, attacking also the EU police 
mission." Do you have anything on that?

MR. BOUCHER: Just that we've seen reports of violence in the town of 
Struga, where I guess there was a demonstration opposing 
decentralization efforts by the -- in Macedonia and a group of youths 
apparently caused some property damage and there were a few people 
injured. We are watching the situation closely. Struga is quiet today 
and the atmosphere in other parts of Macedonia remains calm.

QUESTION: But (inaudible) despite that the Albanians, they are trying to 
take under control Struga, and I was wondering what is the position of 
the U.S. Government, vis-Ã -vis, to this policy, in order to force, as 
they say, a greater Albania, according to the Reuter News Agency.

MR. BOUCHER: Our view is that people should remain peaceful in 
expressing their views. They should follow the Ohrid Agreement and they 
should participate, express -- find ways to express their views 
politically, which they have under that agreement.

QUESTION: Do you know how large is Albanian minority in (inaudible), 
since Skopje says it is lower than 18 percent, the British over 25 percent?

MR. BOUCHER: No, I don't know.


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