Government risks "war" against Macedonians over new territorial division
BBC Monitoring - July 27, 2004

Text of commentary by Pavle Trajanov: "War against their own people" by Macedonian newspaper Dnevnik on 24 July

In this extremely dramatic period of a definitive turning point in the Balkans when state borders are being revised and redefined - that is, it is being decided whether to retain the existing states or form new ones - Macedonia is on the verge of a vast abyss. It will not take much for it to fall into it.

The Macedonian government and the country's president have offered a plan on the territorial organization of municipalities. It is the foundation for walls that will delimit a new territorial unit with an Albanian majority. The line is quite visible now and cannot be hidden. It begins from the Kumanovo region and moves via Aracinovo, along the River Vardar, across the Tetovo, Gostivar and Kicevo regions and ends with Struga. Within this compact unit, there are only several enclaves with Macedonian residents. Under the perfidious ethnic pressure, which has been tested in Kosovo for 30 years, they will soon disappear. This project perfectly coincides with the timing for resolving the Kosovo issue, which is envisioned for next year. Only a blind or a mentally disabled person cannot see the background of this coordinated project known under the name of a "Greater Albania".

By introducing bilingualism in Macedonia's capital - that is, by joining Saraj and Kondovo to Skopje - Macedonia's characteristics will automatically change. Bilingual streets, schools, hospitals and all public institutions will merely be the regular federal concept of organizing a state. Bilingualism that has been orchestrated in such a vulgar way actually undermines the Macedonian national identity.

If the SDSM Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia renounces and sells Struga, Kicevo and Skopje just to remain in the government, this cannot, and will not, be accepted. All the citizens - that is, the majority of Macedonians - must air their views on this issue. It is precisely they who should say whether they want a federal community and a divided state, or whether they will say "no" to partition by not endangering the rights of the Albanians and the other ethnic communities.

Whether or not we like it, we are entering a historic period when we Macedonians should publicly express our views and confirm the ancient determination for an independent state after who knows how many times. We should once again express our determination for a state that has a nation, language, territory and a sovereign government on that territory; a state that has democracy and in which differences and human rights are observed and the law is enforced.

However, how can we save ourselves from the government and its ridiculous moves regarding the new territorial organization? The government has not only failed to see the fatality of its bill, but it is also asking for the help of the international representatives in Macedonia. While doing so, it seems to forget that it has fully lost the support of its own people.

There are three ways to emerge from this commotion. The first is that the Assembly deputies, regardless of to what party they belong, reject the bill on the new territorial organization at the debate scheduled for 26 July. The second option is for the citizens to do the same at a referendum. The third solution is for the government to rectify its mistakes in terms of Skopje, Kicevo and Struga; that is, to restore their old borders. After this, on the basis of objective and scientific criteria, it should see which of the rural municipalities meet the conditions to be municipalities and which need to be annexed to other municipalities.

After yesterday's events in Struga, the situation is clear. Over the past 10 days the government has become more arrogant, aggressive and irritated, so it has tried to manipulate the citizens and has finally incited a war with its own people by applying Ali Ahmeti's agenda. Prime Minister Hari Kostov very quickly took out his truncheon to discipline the Struga residents. This decision will have long-term consequences. We now expect the government to hold an urgent session at which it will annul the legal project on divisions and then resign.

After the Struga developments, the government is risking a frontal confrontation with its own people. This usually ends with the toppling of the government and an early general election. During its 2002 election campaign, the SDSM was not promoting Macedonia's partition and separation. It should now present such a platform in the early general election; hence, if the citizens support it, let it divide Macedonia. Nevertheless, it currently does not have such an authority.

Macedonia does not have the potential to tolerate lies, frauds and deceits. After the social crisis that included most of the population, the constant fall of industrial production, the increase in crime and murders throughout the country, and the rigging of the recent presidential election, the citizens have lost their patience. The law on the new territorial organization of municipalities is the last straw.

Roads in Macedonia have been blocked for almost a month. Rallies, large-scale protests, and a referendum are to follow. They will be larger than ever, although it is a holiday season and it is scorching hot. The Macedonian people have never been as united as now. Many parties, civil associations, nongovernmental organizations, intellectuals, academicians, artists, and sportsmen have formed the largest-ever coalition in the country. The law on Macedonia's separation will definitively not be accepted.

SOURCE: Dnevnik, Skopje, in Macedonian 24 Jul 04 p 19

Copyright 2004 British Broadcasting Corporation  
BBC Monitoring Europe - Political
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