This dyad belongs to the conflict North Macedonia: Government
Summary of conflict North Macedonia: Government
The Macedonian constitution adopted in 1991 created considerable tensions between Macedonian and Albanian communities within Macedonia. Armed clashes eventually erupted in early 2001 between government forces and UCK (National Liberation Army) consisting of ethnic Albanians. Despite the collapse of several ceasefires, a peace agreement was signed in August 2001 and constitutional changes were made to improve the status of the Albanians living in Macedonia.
Background to the conflict
The present-day Macedonian territory became part of Yugoslavia in 1918. The history of the Macedonian region has been characterized by hostilities between the surrounding states and the different ethnic groups populating the area. The disintegration of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s exacerbated the internal tensions between Macedonian and Albanian communities within Macedonia. In 1990, during the campaign for the regional elections in Macedonia, nationalist parties grew stronger in both communities. In November 1991, a referendum was held concerning the adoption of a new constitution, which would declare Macedonia a sovereign state. The referendum paved the way for Macedonia’s declaration of independence later that month. However, the plebiscite was boycotted by the Albanian population. This group showed strong disagreement with the new constitution, as it gave the Albanians the status of a minority and not a constitutive people in Macedonia. On a number of occasions during the 90s, violence flared up between groups of Albanians and Macedonians.
During the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo, many Macedonian Albanians joined UCK (Ushtria Clirimtare ë Kombëtare/National Liberation Army) in their fight for independence from Yugoslavia. In early 2001, some of these volunteers officially formed a Macedonian UCK. UCK’s formal goal was to ensure the Albanian peoples’ right to citizenship, education, ownership, the Albanian language, and political representation. However, UCK also appeared to have members who aspired an eventual secession from Macedonia and the creation of a "Greater Albania," as well as members who mainly were involved in criminal activities along the Macedonian-Albanian-Yugoslavian borders. Nevertheless, UCK’s official incompatibility with the Macedonian government concerned the issue of constitutional reform as a way to achieve improved rights for the Albanian ethnic group. The Macedonian government opposed UCK’s demands of revision of the 1991 constitution and change of status of the Albanian people. The government’s fear was that the Albanian community in the northwest would want to secede from the Macedonian state.
Clashes between the Macedonian government and UCK
In early 2001, almost ten years after the adoption of Macedonia’s new constitution, armed conflict broke out between the Macedonian government and UCK. On 22 January, UCK attacked a police station in western Macedonia, and one policeman was killed. The following day, UCK issued a communiqué stating the group’s dedication to fight Macedonian oppression and to achieve the full equality of Albanians with the Macedonian people.
The conflict escalated in March, with UCK advancing in the north-western parts of Macedonia and the government army launching a full-scale offensive. Many civilians were attacked on the basis of their ethnicity, and the attitudes between the two ethnic groups became increasingly hostile. By May, the fights had claimed 25 battle-related deaths. None of the warring parties enjoyed secondary warring support from a foreign state. However, UCK was strengthened by its close links with its Kosovo Albanian counterpart, while the Macedonian party benefited from moral and logistical support from a number of foreign governments, especially Russia and Yugoslavia. The Macedonian army was superior to the Albanian fighters in numbers. However, while UCK rapidly recruited new volunteers, the actual fighting capacity of the Macedonian forces was relatively weak.
Peace negotiations and constitutional changes
Apart from a few ceasefires that were negotiated with the help of NATO as well as EU and US Special Envoys, the armed fights continued during the ensuing months. No dialogue between the warring parties could be achieved, as the Macedonian government refused to talk with UCK. In May, in order to get peace talks underway, Albanian political parties in the Macedonian government undertook to represent the UCK’s position. Peace talks between the Macedonian and the Albanian parliamentary parties started around May-June.
In July 2001, the international community made resolute mediation efforts. On 28 July, in Ohrid, a final round of negotiations was initiated. By then, a respected ceasefire was in place. However, the week before a peace agreement was signed, the conflict escalated drastically. The last week of fighting turned out to be the bloodiest week of the conflict. All in all, up to 100 people died in clashes during the course of the conflict. On 13 August, a peace accord was agreed upon. The four biggest parliamentary parties signed the agreement, which provided for greater rights for the ethnic Albanian community. Constitutional changes were to be made on a number of aspects; among other things, it was decided that members of the minority groups would be referred to as Macedonian citizens. The peace agreement also provided for the establishment of a NATO mission, Operation Essential Harvest, whose mandate was to disarm UCK. This mission was followed by reduced NATO operations, which were maintaining security to facilitate the implementation of the peace agreement.
In 2002-2005 the Macedonian parliament passed several constitutional amendments and decentralization laws as stipulated by the Ohrid agreement. Municipal boundaries were redrawn, and local self-government strengthened. In September 2005, the Macedonian government subsequently declared that the peace agreement had been fully implemented.
