Macedonia: Ten Years after the Conflict

international crisis group
11 Aug 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Ten years after signature of the Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA) that ended fighting between the country’s ethnic Albanians and Macedonians, much of the agreement has been implemented, and a resumption of armed conflict is unlikely. Macedonia is justified in celebrating its success in integrating minorities into political life, but inter-party and inter-ethnic tensions have been growing for five years. While this part of the Balkans looks to eventual EU membership to secure stability, it remains fragile, and worrying trends – rising ethnic Macedonian nationalism, state capture by the prime minister and his party, decline in media and judicial independence, increased segregation in schools and slow decentralisation – risk undermining the multi-ethnic civil state Macedonia can become. Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who has just formed a new government, should work closely with his Albanian coalition partners and opposition parties to pass and implement the measures needed for more democratisation, inter-ethnic reconciliation and a solution to the name dispute with Greece....more...
read more: international crisis group
http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/europe/balkans/macedonia/212-macedonia-ten-years-after-the-conflict.aspx

Bloggers debate the Ohrid Framework Agreement

se times

20/08/2011

The 10th anniversary of the agreement elicits different reactions, though most remain critical of its purpose and results.
By Klaudija Lutovska for Southeast European Times in Bitola – 20/08/11
Macedonia marked the 10th anniversary of signing the Ohrid Framework Agreement by organizing a meeting and a reception hosted by President Gjorge Ivanov.

Although no representatives from Macedonia's four major parties that signed the August 13th agreement were at the event, US envoy James Pardew, the driving force behind the accord, attended.....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/blogreview/2011/08/20/blog-03

Ethnic Albanians see peace dividend in Macedonia

deutsche welle
CORRESPONDENTS REPORT

12.08.2011
Ten years ago Macedonians and ethnic Albanians signed the Ohrid agreement, averting a conflict that could have destabilized the whole Balkans region....more....
read more: deutsche welle
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6595468,00.html
audio
http://mediacenter.dw-world.de/english/audio/#!/219069/Ethnic_Albanians_see_peace_dividend_in_Macedonia

Ohrid: ten years later

se times
19/07/2011

Citizens and commentators note progress but opinions are still divided about the role of the Framework Agreement.
By Marina Stojanovska for Southeast European Times in Skopje -- 19/07/11
Barely anyone in Macedonia is concerned with inter-ethnic relations ten years after the signing of the Framework Agreement in Ohrid, according to research by the Macedonian Centre for International Co-operation....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/07/19/feature-04

Approval Expected for New Macedonian Government

balkan insight
18 JUL 2011 / 14:06

Quick approval of the new government of Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski is expected when parliament votes on July 27.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic Skopje

Gruevski submitted his list of nominees to the assembly on Friday. He was charged with forming a new cabinet after his centre-right party, VMRO DPMNE, won the early June 5 elections....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/new-macedonian-government-to-be-voted-soon

Politics Brings Closure to Macedonia’s Hague Cases

balkan insight
15 JUL 2011 / 17:34

Opposition parties and victims’ families say political necessity, not justice, has had the last word on four war-crimes cases involving ethnic Albanians that date back to 2001.

Sase Dimovski Skopje

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/politics-brings-closure-to-macedonia-s-hague-cases

Macedonia Soothes Albanians Over Hague Cases

balkan insight
14 JUL 2011 / 09:42

After reportedly striking a deal with his ethnic Albanian partner party on war crimes cases, Nikola Gruevski is expected to present his new government to parliament on Thursday.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic and Sase Dimovski Skopje

Talks between Gruevski’s VMRO-DPMNE party and its ethnic Albanian partner, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, appear to be over on a new government.

Talks began after both parties won the June 5 elections in their respective ethnic blocs....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-government-deal-cancels-hague-cases

Macedonia Finishes Touches to New Government

balkan insight
07 JUL 2011 / 10:38

Talks on a new government led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski are nearly finished, sources from Gruevski’s VMRO-DPMNE party say.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic Skopje

The names of Macedonia's new ministers and their deputies should be known by Friday, unnamed party sources told the Macedonian daily newspaper, Dnevnik.

According to these sources, Gruevski, head of VMRO-DPMNE, and Ali Ahmeti, head of the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, have already agreed on 90 per cent of the posts. ...more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-government-talks-nearing-finish

Macedonia Must Recover the Spirit of Ohrid

balkan insight
06 JUL 2011 / 09:36

Realizing the agreement that ended Macedonia’s civil war has ground to a halt ten years after its signing. Without renewed commitment, progress will continue to stagnate and hopes for EU integration will further fade.

David L. Phillips

The Ohrid Framework Agreement, OFA, ended Macedonia’s civil war between Albanian militants and ethnic Macedonians on August 13, 2001. The OFA was an historic accord. Unlike other Balkan countries where ethnic differences escalated into deadly conflict, Macedonians chose dialogue over violence to resolve their differences....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-must-recover-the-spirit-of-ohrid

Albanians Flex More Muscle in Macedonia’s New Government

balkan insight
04 JUL 2011 / 11:29

Nikola Gruevski’s junior partners in the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, will want to exert more clout over policy thanks to the changed post-election arithmetic of parliament.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic Skopje

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albanians-flex-more-muscle-in-macedonia-s-new-government

Macedonian Albanians Likely to Seek Key Ministries

balkan insight
16 JUN 2011 / 09:52

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski can expect to face demands from his Albanian partners for more important ministerial seats in upcoming talks on forming a new government.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic Skopje
Formal talks between Gruevski’s centre-right VMRO-DPMNE party and the junior Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, are expected to start this week after both parties declared victory in the June 5 elections.....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albaninas-expected-to-step-up-demands-for-governemnt-talks

Government Talks Expected to Start in Macedonia

balkan insight
14 JUN 2011 / 07:44
Macedonia’s ruling parties are set to start talks on the formation of a new government this week, with the junior ethnic Albanian partner expected to push for more power.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic Skopje
The centre-right ruling VMRO DPMNE party of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski beat the opposition Social Democrats at the June 5 early elections, while the junior ruling Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, won in the country’s large ethnic Albanian bloc.....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/government-talks-expected-to-start-in-macedonia

WikiLeaks: Macedonia PM's Youth Worried Ahmeti

balkan insight
01 Jun 2011 / 18:07

Ali Ahmeti, head of Macedonia’s junior ruling party, was concerned about Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's inexperience, and feared his police chief cousin could cause ethnic tension, a 2009 classified document of the US embassy in Skopje, posted on WikiLeaks, reveals.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
According to the head of the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, “Prime Minister Gruevski is too young and his youth is reflected in his decision making,” states the document released after his informal conversation on August 16, 2009 with the US ambassador, Philip Reeker....more....

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/wikileaks-macedonia-s-ahmeti-concerned-over-pm-s-inexperience

Macedonian Albanian Parties Focus on Community Rights

balkan insight
26 May 2011 / 09:32
The election campaign of the ethnic Albanian parties for the upcoming snap poll focuses on improving the community's position in the country, analysts say.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
While the junior ruling Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, promises full implementation of the 2001 Ohrid peace accord, which granted special rights to the ethnic Albanian minority, the three other parties go a step further and say it is time for a new deal....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-albanians-focus-on-albanian-rights

Macedonian Albanians Condition Gov't Participation

balkan insight
12 May 2011 / 10:06
read more: b92.net

Ethnic Albanian parties say they will not take part in a future government without guarantees that their demands for greater rights will be met.
Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
The parties have in general stepped up their demands ahead of the June 5 early elections, requesting written guarantees from the candidates for prime minister....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-albanians-condition-government-particiapation

Political Rivals Sign Election Truce in Macedonia

balkan insight
05 May 2011 / 12:49

The bitter political rivals from the ethnic Albanian bloc in Macedonia, the junior ruling Democratic Union for Integration and the opposition Democratic Party of Albanians, have signed an election truce.
Skopje
Ali Ahmeti of the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, and Menduh Thaci of the Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, signed the document in Skopje on Wednesday. They agreed to “restrain from hate speech, insults and provocations during the campaign for the June 5 early general elections”....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/political-rivals-sign-election-truce-in-macedonia

read more: balkan insight