EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE OHRID AGREEMENT: Is it the reason war broke out in Macedonia and here's what's written in it! (VIDEO)
The signing of the agreement in 2001 signaled the end of the armed conflict, and Albanians received more rights
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The Ohrid Agreement, signed on 13 August 2001 provided for the adoption of several laws for greater rights of Albanians such as the Law on Use of Languages, Law for higher employment in the administration, the Law on Police.
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However, we have to go back a decade and a half in order to get you acquainted with how the signing of this agreement came about, whose creators were actually the United States and the European Union.
After the arrival of NATO troops in Kosovo in 1999, the Albanian nationalists in Macedonia intensified their activities. In early 2001 there was an armed conflict between the Albanian paramilitary National Liberation Army (NLA) and the Macedonian security forces.
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The clashes began in the village of Tanusevci, after which they spread to Tetovo. Already in March, the Macedonian security forces launched an offensive against the NLA, which caused losses in the Tetovo region. Fighting intensified after the NLA on April 28, 2001 when, in an ambush were killed eight Macedonian soldiers, sparking a revolt of the Macedonians in the country.
A few days later in the conflict about 3,000 armed Albanians from Kosovo were included, mainly members of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) and former Liberation Army (KLA), who have won seven villages around Kumanovo. Armed in the Kumanovo area were about 7,000 Albanians. The Macedonian army responded offensively, in which 15,000 of its members participated.
After a series of battles, after which the NLA in early August with the help of the KPC took the village of Radusha, and Macedonian forces fully established control over Tetovo, international forces joined. To prevent further destabilization of Macedonia and the outbreak of civil war, in which, as expected, were able to engage Albania, Serbia, Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, NATO sent 3,500 soldiers into the country. The aim of the operation "Essential Harvest" was the disarmament of Albanian paramilitaries.
Already on August 13th, with the mediation of the West led by the US, between the representatives of the Macedonian government and ethnic Albanians in the state, the Ohrid Agreement was signed.
SIGNING OF THE OHRID AGREEMENT
The signing of the agreement, terminated the armed conflict, and the Albanians were given greater rights. This practically changed Macedonia's constitution and set the basis for promotion of the rights of the Albanian population in the country. Albanian language became official, and in areas where there is more than 20 percent Albanian population, it has received the status of an official language.
The agreement was signed by the then President of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski, Ljupco Georgievski, the first president of VMRO-DPMNE and Branko Crvenkovski, the Albanian side, Signatories were Imer Imeri and Arben Xhaferi, and the initials were put as the creators agreement, US James Pardew and Francois Leotard in front of the EU.
The Ohrid Agreement meant amnesty to the NLA, whose prominent commanders immediately formed the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA). Albanian parties entered the government in Macedonia, but as participants in government and part of the ruling coalition they can still cause its decline and create political crisis in the country.
It was also agreed that Albanians be represented with around 30 percent of the Macedonian police and army.
This, however, did not calm Albanian nationalists. They continued to apply pressure on the local government, and in 2005 won the right to highlight the Albanian flag in places where they were in the majority. The never hide their desire to join areas inhabited by Albanians in Macedonia to Kosovo and Metohija, and then to Albania.
It turned out that the Ohrid Agreement issue between Albanians and Macedonians was not solved, but only postponed. Periodic clashes between Albanians and Macedonian security forces became more common.
The conflict broke out in early 2012 and, after a protest against an insult to Islam. At the carnival in the village of Vevcani Struga on January 13th, and 14th, one of the masks made fun of the "Koran". Albanians responded on January 31 by burning churches in the mixed village of Labunista, and in Struga the Macedonian flag was burned.
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The protests, which have spread to western Macedonia, did not avoid Skopje. In 25 incidents, 40 people were attacked and 38 injured. Clashes were particularly inflamed after February 28 when a Macedonian policeman killed two ethnic Albanians from Gostivar. It was not until mid-March, after the police intervention and arrests of troublemakers, that the unrest stopped. But for a short time.
Although on March 17th, the "March for Peace" was organized in Skopje, which was supported by prominent public figures and more than 70 civic organizations to condemn the violence and show that co-existence between different ethnic groups possible, conflicts have continued. Only two days after the march in several separate incidents in Skopje occurred, injuring five person.
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The most serious incident took place on April 12th at the Zelezarska Lake near the village Smiljkovci, when five Macedonians were killed by a firearm. This multi-murder amplified interethnic tensions. In the village of Radisane, from where were the young killed men, Macedonians organized mass protests, blocked roads and attacked Albanian population and their property. Reaction of special forces prevented an attack on the ethnic Albanian village of Ljuboten.
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After that, on May 1st, Macedonian police conducted an action "Monster", during which they arrested 20 radical Islamists who were suspected of the murder of the five Macedonians. The answer came on May 4th, after prayers in the mosque, when several hundred Albanians in Skopje in the neighborhood of Bit Pazar began protests called "Stop mounted cases. "
The demonstrations, which were organized through social networks, quickly grew into masses. The demonstrators demanded the release of those arrested during the "Monster", which are now sentenced to life in prison, chanting "Cops are killers", "" Allah is one, Allah is great "," Greater Albania "," KLA "," those who do not join are traitors. " In addition to the state symbols of Albania, demonstrators wore the green and black flag of Islamic radical organizations.
New clashes erupted in early March 2013, when Macedonians protesting the decision to Talat Xhaferi, a former NLA commanders, set for Minister of Defence of Macedonia. Then, in clashes in Skopje, 30 people and 13 police officers were injured, and in many places burned the Macedonian flag. The last conflict took place on May 20th of this year, when, for the murder of a Macedonian teenager was suspected an Albanian youngster, who was detained. Macedonian protesters pelted the windows and cars which are believed to belong to Albanians, while several Albanian shops were burned.
If the conflict continues, there is a real danger of the outbreak of new or large scale, such as those of 2001, in which would again intervene the US and EU to calm situation. In that case there would be a new agreement, which would probably go to the federalization of Macedonia, further amending the Constitution, which is strategically the Albania target.
In order t to avoid this scenario, Macedonia would have to turn to Russia and Serbia, which is unlikely because of its efforts to join NATO and the EU, as such a move would be condemned by Western partners.
All previous ethnic conflicts clearly indicate that the Macedonians have to share their country with the largest national minority. Revision of the Ohrid Agreement, where this all leads, will produce the federalization of Macedonia. Otherwise it will explode into a smoldering powder keg, and the consequences will be suffered by the whole region.