Macedonia: Dispute over federalization

A leader of a radical Albanian nationalist movement has distanced himself from calls for the federalization of Macedonia. Nevzat Halili, President of National Albanian Movement of Ilirida, has dissociated himself from a statement purportedly released by his organization, which called for the proclamation of a “Republic of Ilirida” in the ethnic Albanian-inhabited north-western region of Macedonia. Macedonia: Dispute over federalization Halili’s comments followed Thursday’s release of a statement in Ilirida’s name which demanded the formation of two separate ethnically-based entities for Macedonia’s majority Slav community and its ethnic Albanians. It called on ethnic Albanian members of parliament to withdraw from Macedonia’s public institutions. Commenting on the latest demand for the federalization of Macedonia, political analyst Dane Taleski told Balkan Insight that those who promote radical ideas among ethnic Albanians in Macedonia are now increasingly marginalized. Taleski expects nationalist ideas to gain some momentum among Macedonia’s Albanians as talks over the long-term status of neighboring Kosovo, with its independence-seeking ethnic Albanian majority, approach some kind of resolution. "But I believe that these are the last remnants of Albanian extremism that reached its peak during the 1990s", Taleski said, “and they do not have the support of key ethnic Albanian politicians, either in Macedonia or in Kosovo. “They know that these ideas are counterproductive for the Kosovo's efforts to promote itself as a factor of stability". Police spokesman Ivo Kotevski refused to comment for Balkan Insight on claims in the Ilirida statement that its "armed members" control a part of Macedonia’s territory. About a quarter of Macedonia's two million inhabitants are ethnic Albanians, and the Albanian community has 29 deputies in the 120-seat parliament. Ethnic Albanians rebelled in early 2001, but the conflict ended with the Ohrid peace deal signed in August of that year. Subsequent changes made to the Macedonian constitution considerable increased minority rights, granted local self-government to ethnic Albanians, and made Albanian the second official language in a range of public institutions.

Macedonia: Dispute over federalization

Halili’s comments followed Thursday’s release of a statement in Ilirida’s name which demanded the formation of two separate ethnically-based entities for Macedonia’s majority Slav community and its ethnic Albanians.

It called on ethnic Albanian members of parliament to withdraw from Macedonia’s public institutions.

Commenting on the latest demand for the federalization of Macedonia, political analyst Dane Taleski told Balkan Insight that those who promote radical ideas among ethnic Albanians in Macedonia are now increasingly marginalized.

Taleski expects nationalist ideas to gain some momentum among Macedonia’s Albanians as talks over the long-term status of neighboring Kosovo, with its independence-seeking ethnic Albanian majority, approach some kind of resolution.

"But I believe that these are the last remnants of Albanian extremism that reached its peak during the 1990s", Taleski said, “and they do not have the support of key ethnic Albanian politicians, either in Macedonia or in Kosovo.

“They know that these ideas are counterproductive for the Kosovo's efforts to promote itself as a factor of stability".

Police spokesman Ivo Kotevski refused to comment for Balkan Insight on claims in the Ilirida statement that its "armed members" control a part of Macedonia’s territory.

About a quarter of Macedonia's two million inhabitants are ethnic Albanians, and the Albanian community has 29 deputies in the 120-seat parliament.

Ethnic Albanians rebelled in early 2001, but the conflict ended with the Ohrid peace deal signed in August of that year.

Subsequent changes made to the Macedonian constitution considerable increased minority rights, granted local self-government to ethnic Albanians, and made Albanian the second official language in a range of public institutions.