Bosnia Herzegovina is now in a loose confederation, consisting of ethnic Croats and Bosniac (Muslims) on one side with a clear demarcation of the Republic Srpska (ethnic Serbs). NATO and the UN had hoped to create a country, where ethnic groups lived side by side, but it did not consider the history of the Balkans.
In early April five Macedonians were massacred by summary execution of four Macedonians, aged 18-22 and one mid-aged Macedonian while they were fishing on Good Friday this year.
A CNN blog and a report in Canada's National Post says that 20 men were arrested on May 2nd that are linked to a radical Muslim group, according to Macedonian police.
“The ministry of the interior found the perpetrators of the horrific killings at Smilkovsko lake”
The ministry says that some of the perpetrators had been “fighting in Afghanistan and Pakistan against NATO soldiers”. The Interior Minister, Gordana Jankulovska, said that along with the arrests, police recovered weapons and radical Islamist literature. The 20 men will be charged with terrorist charges, since the aim of the killings was to incite "fear and insecurity."
There are now similar concerns in Macedonia. ethnic tensions between the Macedonians and the ethnic Albanians because that box has been wide open since before the brief civil war in 2001.
The killings raised fears that the fragile relations between ethnic Albanians and Macedonians could flare up again. Approximately 25% of the population in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are ethnic Albanians, which predominantly live in North Eastern Macedonia. Macedonia shares borders with Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece.
Many will recall the NATO interference in Kosovo, where Bill Clinton became the national hero after brokering, what can best be described, as a volatile deal, after a bombing spree on Serbia. Border clashes have been common between Serbia and Kosovo. Many of the Serbs are living a miserable life as the ethnic minority in Kosovo.
There are now similar concerns in Macedonia. Ethnic tensions between the Macedonians and the ethnic Albanians have been fragile since the brief civil war in 2001. The West intervened and made it clear that there was no room for a rebellion after the intervention by NATO in Kosovo after the NATO war with Serbia in 1999.
There are no easy solutions to solve the problems in Macedonia or even Kosovo and Bosnia. Otto von Bismarck once said that not one ounce of a German troopers blood should be spilled for the Balkans. Kaiser Wilhelm II dismissed the Chancellor, supported Austria-Hungary, which led to the assassination of Prince Ferdinand in Sarajevo and the start of the "Great War."
It would appear that radical Islam has spilled into the Macedonian conflict, which seems to be a phenomena around the world. The situation is worsening in Macedonia and in the past the West has taken sides in a civil war, Bosnia, Kosovo an now Macedonia.
The region is critical because of its location. Unrest and an outright civil war could create havoc in the whole region. Macedonia's destabilization could be the "best" way to trigger an international war which would suck in Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Turkey very quickly.
While the incidents of terror by radical Islam have been largely ignored by the Western media, which, at least in the U.S., are preoccupied with the U.S. election, Iran, Israel and the Middle East in general, it is time to once again focus on a solution in that region.
What recent events, with elections and France and Greece have shown us, is that much of Europe is volatile and it wouldn't take much to ignite a ticking time bomb.
More on Macedonia Wikileaks
Timeline Former Yugoslavia 1918 - 2006
White Book PDF - Background on Macedonia
Either start using the qualifier "slavic" when you talk about Croats, Serbs, Bulgarians, Russians, etc. or omit it when talking about the Macedonians. This small thing is offensive to us for a variety of historical reasons. A friendly suggestion.
ReplyDeleteThanks Aleksandar for your comments. Point taken.
ReplyDeleteYou're a good man publishing this! ...
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments. Appreciated.
ReplyDeleteIn Macedonia is serious situation and not many people are introduced to whole story, if you have time, please read this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.jorm.org.mk/docs/whitebook.pdf
Especially the part of the conflict in 2001 and the monster killings of this radical islamic and chauvinistic group, they were killing Macedonian policeman's, Macedonian soldiers and civil people....there isn't words to describe the terror, the pictures are disturbing..... Most of all hurts that civilized world stay muted on this massacre.... No one was charged and convicted for this crimes, murderers live freely now...
Thank you for the additional comments and information. I will look through your link and go on from there. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteI can see that propagandists are offering you "more information". What everyone knows is that the "radical islam" which the govt blames for a professional murder, has nothing to do with it. The Macedonian govt is stage-managing this whole thing by scape-goating Albanians (once again) and hoping to get an invitation to join NATO as it wants to portray itself as on the good side of the "war on terror". It is of course a dangerous farce.
ReplyDeleteIf you have any evidence that supports your claim then show it to the public and the court that those inbred shiptars are not the killers.But since you don't have any and you're full of shit(just like any other shiptar) all you can do is make a protest for the release of the murderers of the macedonian children.How typical of the shiptars.
DeleteThank you for your comments. Any clarification on these tragic deaths is appreciated. Do you have more details?
ReplyDeleteMy friend the name and the word MACEDONIA derives from the GREEK language. these MONKEYDONIANS have no idea what even the word means.. University of Oxford ANDREAS WILLI : conclusive evidence that
DeleteAlexander the Great was “thoroughly and indisputably Greek”.the
letter has been signed by countless leading scholars, many of
whom teach Classics or Ancient History at renowned institutions
such as Harvard, Princeton, Berkeley, Cambridge and Oxford,
SKOPIANS..Your fake identification with the Greek antiquity to the point where you negate the Greeks' own identification with it has brought upon you intellectual contempt and derision and lately also the wreath of the world wide academic community for promoting Skopje-paid propaganda and pseudo-scientific charlatanism and accepting it as divinely sanctioned historical truth. Professor Stephen G. Miller, Professor Emeritus of Classical Archaeology and Classics at the University of California, Berkeley, was forced to send a letter to President Obama, and to State Department's Hilarry Clinton, and to the US congress and the European community too, a letter that as of today has been signed by over 350 professors of ancient History and the Classics worldwide, and the list is daily growing). MACEDONIA IS PART OF GREEK HERITAGE FOR 4000 YEARS!!! These people of ex yugoslavia territory with identity crisis are more likely to relate WITH BUGS BUNNY AND DONALD DUCK THAN MACEDONIA..THANK YOU
Well, as everyone can see, the main problem here is that everybody wants to be Macedonians and everybody fight against Macedonia. This is huge paradox which we are facing in 2012!
Deletemy friend the name MACEDONIA derives from the greek language and its history is part of GREEK heritage since 4000 years. MACEDINIANS were GREEKS. trere is not even one serious professor of classical studies and archeology of any university of the world who will tell different. These people of ex yugoslavian territory with identity crisis stole the name and history from greece after 1992 and talk arround abusing a name that doesnt belong to them..historicly, anthropoligicaly, geograficaly...all north greece is MACEDONIA..my family is MACEDONIAN they are most likely to relate with BUGS BUNNY AND DONALD DUCK THAN MACEDONIA..thank you
ReplyDeleteThanks for the additional inf I think it lot of that history is in the White Book, which is a comprehensive history and background of Macedonia. I have no way of verifying it. So you tell me how accurate it is.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joke these last two commentors are, prolly turkish imports who pose as ancient athenians and would luv to even relate to something european....lol....albertacowpoke thank you for the great post from a grateful Canadian-Macedonian
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly Canadian-Macedonian. The Balkans are definitely a difficult region to say the least. The best solution of course would be if everyone could live in harmony ever after. All you have to do is look around the world to see how often that high ideal fails. It's not easy to change humans.
ReplyDeleteAlbertacowpoke Im looking forward for more articles like this!
ReplyDeleteDon't get confused by these people's propaganda about Macedonian name! That's Greek propaganda and her place is not here in this article! Macedonia in hearts for all Macedonians.... Thank you Albertacowpoke
Thank you for commenting Jagod4e. From the outside looking in it is difficult to get a clear picture of what is going on. I would, however think that despite the ethnic differences, the rule of law should still prevail.
DeleteThe fact that after reading this article that portraits the sad reality in Macedonia these people commented on a totally unconnected topic, the so-called "name issue", says enough about them and their lack of reasonableness. Not to mention the bad vocabulary that they used (Monkeydonians???), which only shows how big their frustration is. Thus, I have to thank them, because by reading this even a person that has no clue about the Balkans will get to know how civilized "the cradle of civilization" is.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. In the Balkans there are strong beliefs, regardless where you go. Thus it makes it so difficult to come to a reasonable arrangement. Having said that, violence never settles anything. Unfortunately there is never any winners or losers. Reasonable people should be able to put the past behind, honour the past, but move forward to build a strong nation.
DeleteThe evidence was already shown to all diplomats and foreign experts.
ReplyDeleteSo far only reaction we has is by European Commission. EC called for the protests to stop and that the govt institutions should be left alone. :)
Ljupco thank you for your comments and additional information. Much appreciated
Delete