MACEDONIAN POLICE SOURCES SAY LEADER OF ARMED GROUP RETURNS TO KONDOVO
BBC Monitoring International Reports - February 21, 2005

Text of report by Lj.P.: "Agim Krasniqi returns to Kondovo", published by Macedonian newspaper Makedonija denes on 19 February

Police sources and foreign representatives in Skopje are warning that the current situation in Kondovo resembles that of last November. They have told Makedonija denes that Agim Krasniqi (former leader of an armed group in Kondovo) has returned to Kondovo. He has gone into hiding in this village, along with some former commanders of the OVK (Kosovo Liberation Army - UCK in Albanian), the ONA (National Liberation Army - UCK in Albanian) and the OVPMB (Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac - UCPMB in Albanian). They have recently been patrolling Kondovo, wearing black uniforms and travelling in vehicles.

Reports indicate there are two Kosovars, a person from southern Serbia and several Albanian nationals who actively participated in the 2001 military operations in Krasniqi's gang.

The same sources claim that the purpose of Krasniqi's "activities" in Kondovo this time is the forthcoming local elections, as well as extorting a favourable agreement on the indictment that the court issued against him for his involvement in crimes in this village last November. We have learned that Krasniqi hopes to be made exempt from prosecution by offering a large amount of money.

The US, UK and German ambassadors have been informed about the new situation. They have aired their concern because of the situation in this part of Skopje, especially because of the threats by Rasce villagers over the defective water-supply system.

We have learned that the diplomats have seriously criticized the police for being inefficient in solving the Kondovo problem. This is so because the police have still not carried out the diplomats' recommendation to somehow deal with this problem last year.

The MVR (Macedonian Interior Ministry) announced last year that it would undertake an operation to liquidate the Kondovo armed groups, but it did nothing. This was because the DUI (Democratic Union for Integration - BDI in Albanian) claimed that this problem was exaggerated by the media; the DUI sought a political solution.

The international community then suggested that Macedonia should be given a chance to tackle this problem on its own, because if this escalated into a wider crisis, Macedonia would be facing a new Framework Agreement, at best, or become a protectorate. Our sources claim that some of the Macedonian Albanians want this because they may use the current situation to ask the international community for the country's "mild" federal division into western and eastern parts. This should especially be done now, prior to the announced resolution of Kosovo's final status.

It remains to be seen whether Agim Krasniqi is part of the scenario that is being prepared for the local elections or a local pawn who is meant to fulfil someone's political agenda.

Source: Makedonija denes, Skopje, in Macedonian 19 Feb 05 p 4

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