Ceasefire fails to hold in Macedonia

By Batuk Gathani

BRUSSELS, AUG. 13. Though the Macedonian government and ethnic Albanian rebels last night agreed to reinstate a ceasefire to support a peace accord, there are fresh reports of military skirmishes between government forces and rebels as smoke bellowed round a Christian Orthodox monastery and a number of houses were set on fire in northern Macedonia.

The European Union and NATO mediators are ``deeply uncertain'' about the turn of events as fighting continued between ethnic Albanian Muslims and Macedonian Christians. This was highlighted by last week's killing of 19 Macedonian soldiers, and raised questions about the viability of the peace process.

The atmosphere in Macedonia today was ``sour and uncertain'' according to foreign observers. The Macedonian forces are well equipped but ethnic rebels have repeatedly demonstrated their resilience. Albanian rebels have even crossed from neighbouring Kosovo where borders are patrolled by NATO led peacekeepers. This highlights the fact that the border is very porous.

Macedonian several times claimed that an ``imminent defeat'' of the rebels was in the offing, but according to observers, the military balance is tilting in favour of Albanian guerillas who do not seem to be short of weapons and fighters in their quest to create a ``greater Albania'' from parts of Macedonia dominated by Albanians. According to informed observers, current demographic estimates would indicate that less than a third of some two million population is ethnic Albanian and mainly Muslim.

For six months now, yet another nasty secessionist war in the Balkans along the boundary between the provinces of Kosovo, Serbia and a part of Macedonia is being waged by Albanian guerillas. This puts NATO's credibility and impartiality on line. Both Russia and major European powers are committed to maintain post-war territorial integrity of various Balkan states. The Bush administration has yet to come to grips with policy options in the Balkan region.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, who visited NATO headquarters here recently said the U.S. would fully cooperate with its European allies and seek a consensus approach to the crises. Addressing the U.S. troops the other day, the U.S. President, Mr. George W. Bush, reassured NATO allies: ``We have gone in (Balkans) together and we will come out together.''

In the past several cease-fires had backfired. In March, the Macedonian government's so-called `ceasefire' or decision to stop firing at ethnic Albanian rebels came to nothing. Even today, it remains to be seen if in the final analysis, secessionist guerillas will end their armed resurrection and opt for diplomatic negotiations. All indications are they will not and Macedonian military may soon launch a fresh counteroffensive against the rebels.

Mr. Javier Solana, European Union's chief foreign affairs and defence chief, is in Macedonia with senior NATO officials. For the last few days, they had been engaged in structuring a parley at a lake side holiday resort.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Megawati sending right signals to neighbours
Next     : Diplomats hope to meet detained foreigners