"Kosovo-Macedonia demarcation ongoing"

Residents of Macedonian villages bordering Kosovo say they are "pleased with the demarcation process". Stone border markers were placed at critical points near the villages of Tanusevci and Debalde three days ago. Debalde residents told the media that parts of their property were being returned to what it was like “before the collapse of Yugoslavia.” "Kosovo-Macedonia demarcation ongoing" “I am no expert in this field, but I believe that this is good and we are pleased. I can’t tell by what plan and how the border lines will be defined,” one resident from Debalde who lives on the territory of Kosovo told the media. Several meters away, his neighbor from the Macedonian village of Tanusevci was also pleased, stating that “everything is going according to the plan of [UN special envoy] Martti Ahtisaari.” This region was problematic several years ago because citizens believed that the border had not been demarcated correctly. The demarcation is now being carried out under the supervision of an international commission. “The demarcation is going well, the terrain is difficult and it is hard to get to some places, but the Macedonian and Kosovo sides are very creative in finding solutions to the problems,” said the deputy chief of the demarcation commission in Pristina, Andy Michaels. According to the plan, the demarcation of the third and final 40 kilometer sector should start in a month’s time. The completion of the demarcation process has been spurred on by the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPAS), which represents Albanians in Macedonia, in the hope of convincing the Macedonian government to recognize Kosovo’s independence. The party submitted to parliament yesterday a declaration to recognize Kosovo, and accused the government of not wanting to recognize the province’s unilateral independence.

"Kosovo-Macedonia demarcation ongoing"

“I am no expert in this field, but I believe that this is good and we are pleased. I can’t tell by what plan and how the border lines will be defined,” one resident from Debalde who lives on the territory of Kosovo told the media.

Several meters away, his neighbor from the Macedonian village of Tanuševci was also pleased, stating that “everything is going according to the plan of [UN special envoy] Martti Ahtisaari.”

This region was problematic several years ago because citizens believed that the border had not been demarcated correctly. The demarcation is now being carried out under the supervision of an international commission.

“The demarcation is going well, the terrain is difficult and it is hard to get to some places, but the Macedonian and Kosovo sides are very creative in finding solutions to the problems,” said the deputy chief of the demarcation commission in Priština, Andy Michaels.

According to the plan, the demarcation of the third and final 40 kilometer sector should start in a month’s time.

The completion of the demarcation process has been spurred on by the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPAS), which represents Albanians in Macedonia, in the hope of convincing the Macedonian government to recognize Kosovo’s independence.

The party submitted to parliament yesterday a declaration to recognize Kosovo, and accused the government of not wanting to recognize the province’s unilateral independence.