Polyparty-ism - Search for Common Ground

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almost all those who briefed us tried
to persuade the doubting Thomases
that they would reinforce controls of
the border with Kosovo, but also
mentioned that absolute control was
not possible. They emphasized the
exchange of information, the usage
of the most sophisticated means for
controlling the border, and other
things. The message is very clear: we
are doing what is in our authority and
power, but you, as a country must do
the rest.
Through these and other clear
messages, we come to the differences
in diagnosing the situation
(directly or indirectly). NATO, but
also other relevant international
organizations, do not agree with the
Macedonian official attitude that the
crisis was "imported." In that way
they justified the reduction of their
share of "responsibility," stating that
they have no mandate to act in
Macedonia. That is why NATO proclaims
the same thing as other decision-making
centres big (EU, US)-
that problems in Macedonia should
be solved not only by military, but
above all by political means. No
matter how unacceptable they may
sound, these messages indirectly (as
they respect the dominant view, they
will not say it directly) inform a part
of the Macedonian population that
besides terrorism, there is a problem
in political relations within the country.
No matter how much NATO disapproves
of the methods used by
armed Albanians, (Robertson repeated
many times that those who use
weapons instead of ballots should be
marginalized) they support efforts to
discuss the situation in a political
dialogue in order to deprive those
who are armed of all arguments for
war. Besides, it is clear that the
alliance does not want to participate
in actions similar to those in Bosnia
and in Kosovo, because it is too
expensive, even for NATO.
However, there is a misunderstanding
about what Macedonia
expects from NATO, not only concerning
their mandate in the region
(under the auspices of the UN), but
also in formal and legal aspects.
Macedonia should submit a formal
request for NATO's possible participation
in solving the crisis. As
Robertson said in the meeting with
journalists from ten information
agencies in Skopje in the beginning
of May of this year, such a request
does not exist, and he convinced
them that there is no need for such a
thing. That means that the solution of
internal problems should be expected
from our authorities. They prefer
the political way, but they will say,
"The way you are going to deal with
the crisis is your business," and
responsibility, of course. Which
means: solve your own problems.
When talking about the NATO-
Macedonia relationship, or even
wider, the relationship between NATO
and countries that are potential members
of the alliance, things should be
observed pragmatically, the way they
are observed in Brussels. There is no
doubt that countries gain a lot by being
admitted into NATO, namely a system
of collective defence. But admittance
does not depend only on the good will
of those who decide, but also on the
potential of a certain country and its
financial ability to afford such a pleasure.
In other words, the admittance in
NATO shows the ability of a country
to fulfil high standards of defence,
which will be too expensive for
Macedonia at the moment because of
the level of its development and (lack)
of economic power. Although a strong
desire exists, the NATO-Macedonia
relationship must be realized through
the Partnership for Peace. To develop
cooperation in order to include NATO
in solving our internal problems, we
do not need just a request written by
the Government, but also a UN mandate.
The question is whether things
have gone so far that our political
forces cannot find the solution?
(The author is a commentator
in the newspaper Flaka)
History is the best
teacher for the future
Erol Rizaov
I often go back to my
childhood memories in
these days of non-existence. I am
looking for the origins of distrust,
intolerance, discord and hatred; I
am trying to find a formula for common
life and tolerance between different
nations and religions.
I was seven when I used to walk
silently with my parents through
Kochani two times a week, dressed
up like they were taking me to a
doctor. We used to walk with our
heads bowed all the way to the railway
station to see our close relatives
set off to Turkey. Turks were
moving out of Macedonia in great
numbers.
There were always a lot of people
at the railway station. They were
All arguments, tradition
and our entire experience
of the past couple
of centuries show us
that people here have
been living together
without any obstacles,
and that farmers from
Slupchane and Lojane
were no different from
those from Bogdanci
and Strumica
What now, June 2001