Macedonia: Rioting Organized by NLA

Macedonia: Opposition blames ex-Albanian army commanders for 4 August incident
Macedonian Radio - August 5, 2004

The VMRO-DPMNE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity says that Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski threatened on the phone the party's leader and the deputy chairwoman, Nikola Gruevski and Ganka Samoilovska Cvetanova, respectively. An investigation into last night's 4 August incident at Skopje's Jaja Pasa district was requested at the news conference held today. Petar Serafimovski reports.

[Serafimovski] Last night's incident, when a VMRO-DPMNE motorcade that was protesting through the Skopje streets against the proposed territorial division was intercepted, was nothing but an organized action of former National Liberation Army NLA commanders. VMRO-DPMNE spokesman Aleksandar Bicikliski added that several people were injured in the incident.

According to Bicikliski, the motorcade passed by the home of Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski, which was apparently heavily secured by some 50 special police members.

Following the intervention on the part of party leader Nikola Gruevski, the motorcade drove on without causing any incidents.

In view of this, the VMRO-DPMNE asks the following questions:

[Bicikliski] Mr Kostov, do you still persist with your position that the police has control throughout the Republic of Macedonia's territory? Why were there no policemen at Jaja Pasa? Mr Buckovski, are you going to spend your summer holiday accompanied by special forces? Mr Crvenkovski, is this a part of your deal with Ali Ahmeti leader of the Democratic Union for Integration, BDI regarding your position?

SOURCE: Macedonian Radio, Skopje, in Macedonian 1330 gmt 5 Aug 04

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