Macedonia could become "a new arena for the clash between the West and Russia," a Moscow-based daily writes on Monday.
Source: Beta
Close the entire text of the article here
According to the Kommersant paper, "both sides are now, as they did once in Ukraine," becoming more actively involved in the Macedonian crisis.
The article stated that Macedonia is "on the verge of the most serious conflict" since the time of inter-ethnic strife in the early 2000s.
It adds that the mass opposition protest in Skopje on Sunday "has already been compared to protests in Kiev and referred to as 'the Macedonian Maidan'."
The Macedonian crisis has not erupted without reason, believes the daily, and notes that a decade ago that country was considered a regional leader in European integrations, while today it is "at the end of the queue for Europe, at the risk of losing its membership candidate status."
According to Kommersant, "the West seems seriously concerned about the events in Macedonia, while Moscow is monitoring the events increasingly carefully."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke in Belgrade last week to "effectively accuse the West of preparing a color revolution in Macedonia" - a country that has not joined anti-Russia sanctions.
On May 16, the article continued, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated that "there is compelling evidence that Macedonia is being pushed from the outside into the ruin of a colored revolution."
In its statement, the ministry quoted the Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti that reported about "the arrest of a citizen of Montenegro who helped Albanian extremists from Kosovo" - something that "the Montenegrin media have denied."
You wrote:
"How could this possibly be anything like the Ukraine? There are no ethnic Russians in Macedonia. We are not even hearing anything about Serbs being there, even though the problem comes from Kosovo, Serbian territory. It is all "Macedonians" and Albanians and clearly the Albanians are the trouble makers. They are the ones who want to break up Macedonia in the interest of a Greater Albania."
No two outside-in "coups" are identical (though most use the tactics developed by the US that were 'tested' and disseminated via OTPOR) -- and why should they be? This has nothing to do with 'ethnic Russians' and in a way neither did Ukraine -- that is just the story the media wants to latch onto because it fits those who feed it information's agenda.
Why do you think Macedonia is NOT being leveraged in the same way? Or that Serbia cannot be if it, for instance, came out in favour of one side strongly (as opposed to as mildly as possible simply refusing to take up Western Sanctions as dictated by the US)? Or that any country cannot be?
I'm not arguing that this is the case (nor saying it isn't) -- but I am asking why you believe it seemingly CAN'T be... Especially given the similar NGO structures and agencies' involvement in both Macedonia and Ukraine (maybe moreso -- The 5-year Macedonian Competitiveness Project was a strong push for instance).
(Peter, 22 May 2015 23:15)
Oh we are getting back to the good old 90's when Serbian media cited each other in a vicious circle which got more vicious each time the "news" went around. Vecernje Novosti writes about some theories, which are picked up by none other than Lavrov, who is picked up by B92, which will be picked up by Vecernje Novosti tomorrow. At each step, every actor embellishes the story a little bit more. In the end, nobody know what is going on anymore. Great job guys, keep it up :).
(Reader, 22 May 2015 10:37)
The US (NATO) is not going to swoop in to the defense of Albanians again.
This is more like Chechnya or Afghanistan than the Ukraine.
(Paul, 18 May 2015 22:41)
You wish that were true. Nato supported the Albanians and bombed Belgrade when they were not part of the treaty and the country was on the verge of collapsing. What can make you think things have changed for worse in that relation?
Reading articles and especially comments on this website one can notice immediately a blind, really retarded nationalist hatred towards Albanians which is disgusting considering Serbs are far from angels and most of you havent even met an Albanian in your life or been to the country. All you know is what you are told by anything but unbiased sources of information used by politicans to get political support when needed for thier agenda.
One thing you fellas dont seem to understand is that you only bring all the Albanians closer to each other and more united when you engage in nationalistic hatred. All im saying is attemps have been made in the past to just destroy this ethnic group during First Balkan War, Kosovo war when the Albanian state was pretty much nonexistent and were unsuccesful. You will never stand a chance ever again no matter who you think has your back.
Peace is the solution to the Balkans. Take a look at the dictionary to see what that word means.
(UnikKatil, 19 May 2015 01:42)
It looks like the West has learned nothing since 1989. Every time they stick their noses in, they make everything 100 times worse. I guess they need even more problems on their plates and want more refugees coming to 'Europe'. Fools.
(EU Dude, 18 May 2015 23:52)
How could this possibly be anything like the Ukraine? There are no ethnic Russians in Macedonia. We are not even hearing anything about Serbs being there, even though the problem comes from Kosovo, Serbian territory. It is all "Macedonians" and Albanians and clearly the Albanians are the trouble makers. They are the ones who want to break up Macedonia in the interest of a Greater Albania.
If the Russians do get involved, then Kosovo itself comes into play again and it will be Russia against Albanians. The US (NATO) is not going to swoop in to the defense of Albanians again.
This is more like Chechnya or Afghanistan than the Ukraine.
(Paul, 18 May 2015 22:41)
What happened to "albanian terrorists"? It seems that now its an albanian-montenegrin-macedonian-turkish terrorism back up by american-europian-african terrorists.
The fate of civilization and christianity is in the Putin-Nikolic-Gruevsky hands.
Those jewish Christ-crucifiers, muslim terrorists, schismatic catholics and mason protestants are all comploting against the Jesus Christ and His Disciples, Putin, Nikolic, Seselj, Gruevski. Oh, i forgot those bogomil bulgarians. They are on Mephistpheles` payroll too.
But nothing to worry! Jesus Christ resurrected Lazarus. Putin resurrected Stalin. Nikolic resurrected Draza Mihailovic. Peace is coming.
(Free, 18 May 2015 21:13)
Why would a colour revolution in Macedonia cause a problem between the West and Russia?
I am glad Russia and the West are concerned about Macedonia.
Perhaps Russia could say that it will not allow the proposed Turkish Stream to pass through Macedonia until the corrupt politicians are removed.
Perhaps the EU could halt the 664 million euro in grants that it is sending to Macedonia as part of IPA2. This money is supposed to be used for judicial reform and the increasing civil service transparency, accountability, independence, not for building giant statues and buying 600,000eur mercedes
(Dwight, 18 May 2015 17:57)
Russia always sees color revolutions instigated by outside forces. Always some sort of conspiracy theory when it's simply citizens of Macedonia protesting a corrupt government.
(LK, 18 May 2015 16:13)
Russia always sees color revolutions instigated by outside forces. Always some sort of conspiracy theory when it's simply citizens of Macedonia protesting a corrupt government.
(LK, 18 May 2015 16:13)
Why would a colour revolution in Macedonia cause a problem between the West and Russia?
I am glad Russia and the West are concerned about Macedonia.
Perhaps Russia could say that it will not allow the proposed Turkish Stream to pass through Macedonia until the corrupt politicians are removed.
Perhaps the EU could halt the 664 million euro in grants that it is sending to Macedonia as part of IPA2. This money is supposed to be used for judicial reform and the increasing civil service transparency, accountability, independence, not for building giant statues and buying 600,000eur mercedes
(Dwight, 18 May 2015 17:57)
How could this possibly be anything like the Ukraine? There are no ethnic Russians in Macedonia. We are not even hearing anything about Serbs being there, even though the problem comes from Kosovo, Serbian territory. It is all "Macedonians" and Albanians and clearly the Albanians are the trouble makers. They are the ones who want to break up Macedonia in the interest of a Greater Albania.
If the Russians do get involved, then Kosovo itself comes into play again and it will be Russia against Albanians. The US (NATO) is not going to swoop in to the defense of Albanians again.
This is more like Chechnya or Afghanistan than the Ukraine.
(Paul, 18 May 2015 22:41)
The US (NATO) is not going to swoop in to the defense of Albanians again.
This is more like Chechnya or Afghanistan than the Ukraine.
(Paul, 18 May 2015 22:41)
You wish that were true. Nato supported the Albanians and bombed Belgrade when they were not part of the treaty and the country was on the verge of collapsing. What can make you think things have changed for worse in that relation?
Reading articles and especially comments on this website one can notice immediately a blind, really retarded nationalist hatred towards Albanians which is disgusting considering Serbs are far from angels and most of you havent even met an Albanian in your life or been to the country. All you know is what you are told by anything but unbiased sources of information used by politicans to get political support when needed for thier agenda.
One thing you fellas dont seem to understand is that you only bring all the Albanians closer to each other and more united when you engage in nationalistic hatred. All im saying is attemps have been made in the past to just destroy this ethnic group during First Balkan War, Kosovo war when the Albanian state was pretty much nonexistent and were unsuccesful. You will never stand a chance ever again no matter who you think has your back.
Peace is the solution to the Balkans. Take a look at the dictionary to see what that word means.
(UnikKatil, 19 May 2015 01:42)
What happened to "albanian terrorists"? It seems that now its an albanian-montenegrin-macedonian-turkish terrorism back up by american-europian-african terrorists.
The fate of civilization and christianity is in the Putin-Nikolic-Gruevsky hands.
Those jewish Christ-crucifiers, muslim terrorists, schismatic catholics and mason protestants are all comploting against the Jesus Christ and His Disciples, Putin, Nikolic, Seselj, Gruevski. Oh, i forgot those bogomil bulgarians. They are on Mephistpheles` payroll too.
But nothing to worry! Jesus Christ resurrected Lazarus. Putin resurrected Stalin. Nikolic resurrected Draza Mihailovic. Peace is coming.
(Free, 18 May 2015 21:13)
It looks like the West has learned nothing since 1989. Every time they stick their noses in, they make everything 100 times worse. I guess they need even more problems on their plates and want more refugees coming to 'Europe'. Fools.
(EU Dude, 18 May 2015 23:52)
Oh we are getting back to the good old 90's when Serbian media cited each other in a vicious circle which got more vicious each time the "news" went around. Vecernje Novosti writes about some theories, which are picked up by none other than Lavrov, who is picked up by B92, which will be picked up by Vecernje Novosti tomorrow. At each step, every actor embellishes the story a little bit more. In the end, nobody know what is going on anymore. Great job guys, keep it up :).
(Reader, 22 May 2015 10:37)
You wrote:
"How could this possibly be anything like the Ukraine? There are no ethnic Russians in Macedonia. We are not even hearing anything about Serbs being there, even though the problem comes from Kosovo, Serbian territory. It is all "Macedonians" and Albanians and clearly the Albanians are the trouble makers. They are the ones who want to break up Macedonia in the interest of a Greater Albania."
No two outside-in "coups" are identical (though most use the tactics developed by the US that were 'tested' and disseminated via OTPOR) -- and why should they be? This has nothing to do with 'ethnic Russians' and in a way neither did Ukraine -- that is just the story the media wants to latch onto because it fits those who feed it information's agenda.
Why do you think Macedonia is NOT being leveraged in the same way? Or that Serbia cannot be if it, for instance, came out in favour of one side strongly (as opposed to as mildly as possible simply refusing to take up Western Sanctions as dictated by the US)? Or that any country cannot be?
I'm not arguing that this is the case (nor saying it isn't) -- but I am asking why you believe it seemingly CAN'T be... Especially given the similar NGO structures and agencies' involvement in both Macedonia and Ukraine (maybe moreso -- The 5-year Macedonian Competitiveness Project was a strong push for instance).
(Peter, 22 May 2015 23:15)
Russia always sees color revolutions instigated by outside forces. Always some sort of conspiracy theory when it's simply citizens of Macedonia protesting a corrupt government.
(LK, 18 May 2015 16:13)
What happened to "albanian terrorists"? It seems that now its an albanian-montenegrin-macedonian-turkish terrorism back up by american-europian-african terrorists.
The fate of civilization and christianity is in the Putin-Nikolic-Gruevsky hands.
Those jewish Christ-crucifiers, muslim terrorists, schismatic catholics and mason protestants are all comploting against the Jesus Christ and His Disciples, Putin, Nikolic, Seselj, Gruevski. Oh, i forgot those bogomil bulgarians. They are on Mephistpheles` payroll too.
But nothing to worry! Jesus Christ resurrected Lazarus. Putin resurrected Stalin. Nikolic resurrected Draza Mihailovic. Peace is coming.
(Free, 18 May 2015 21:13)
How could this possibly be anything like the Ukraine? There are no ethnic Russians in Macedonia. We are not even hearing anything about Serbs being there, even though the problem comes from Kosovo, Serbian territory. It is all "Macedonians" and Albanians and clearly the Albanians are the trouble makers. They are the ones who want to break up Macedonia in the interest of a Greater Albania.
If the Russians do get involved, then Kosovo itself comes into play again and it will be Russia against Albanians. The US (NATO) is not going to swoop in to the defense of Albanians again.
This is more like Chechnya or Afghanistan than the Ukraine.
(Paul, 18 May 2015 22:41)
Why would a colour revolution in Macedonia cause a problem between the West and Russia?
I am glad Russia and the West are concerned about Macedonia.
Perhaps Russia could say that it will not allow the proposed Turkish Stream to pass through Macedonia until the corrupt politicians are removed.
Perhaps the EU could halt the 664 million euro in grants that it is sending to Macedonia as part of IPA2. This money is supposed to be used for judicial reform and the increasing civil service transparency, accountability, independence, not for building giant statues and buying 600,000eur mercedes
(Dwight, 18 May 2015 17:57)
The US (NATO) is not going to swoop in to the defense of Albanians again.
This is more like Chechnya or Afghanistan than the Ukraine.
(Paul, 18 May 2015 22:41)
You wish that were true. Nato supported the Albanians and bombed Belgrade when they were not part of the treaty and the country was on the verge of collapsing. What can make you think things have changed for worse in that relation?
Reading articles and especially comments on this website one can notice immediately a blind, really retarded nationalist hatred towards Albanians which is disgusting considering Serbs are far from angels and most of you havent even met an Albanian in your life or been to the country. All you know is what you are told by anything but unbiased sources of information used by politicans to get political support when needed for thier agenda.
One thing you fellas dont seem to understand is that you only bring all the Albanians closer to each other and more united when you engage in nationalistic hatred. All im saying is attemps have been made in the past to just destroy this ethnic group during First Balkan War, Kosovo war when the Albanian state was pretty much nonexistent and were unsuccesful. You will never stand a chance ever again no matter who you think has your back.
Peace is the solution to the Balkans. Take a look at the dictionary to see what that word means.
(UnikKatil, 19 May 2015 01:42)
It looks like the West has learned nothing since 1989. Every time they stick their noses in, they make everything 100 times worse. I guess they need even more problems on their plates and want more refugees coming to 'Europe'. Fools.
(EU Dude, 18 May 2015 23:52)
You wrote:
"How could this possibly be anything like the Ukraine? There are no ethnic Russians in Macedonia. We are not even hearing anything about Serbs being there, even though the problem comes from Kosovo, Serbian territory. It is all "Macedonians" and Albanians and clearly the Albanians are the trouble makers. They are the ones who want to break up Macedonia in the interest of a Greater Albania."
No two outside-in "coups" are identical (though most use the tactics developed by the US that were 'tested' and disseminated via OTPOR) -- and why should they be? This has nothing to do with 'ethnic Russians' and in a way neither did Ukraine -- that is just the story the media wants to latch onto because it fits those who feed it information's agenda.
Why do you think Macedonia is NOT being leveraged in the same way? Or that Serbia cannot be if it, for instance, came out in favour of one side strongly (as opposed to as mildly as possible simply refusing to take up Western Sanctions as dictated by the US)? Or that any country cannot be?
I'm not arguing that this is the case (nor saying it isn't) -- but I am asking why you believe it seemingly CAN'T be... Especially given the similar NGO structures and agencies' involvement in both Macedonia and Ukraine (maybe moreso -- The 5-year Macedonian Competitiveness Project was a strong push for instance).
(Peter, 22 May 2015 23:15)
Oh we are getting back to the good old 90's when Serbian media cited each other in a vicious circle which got more vicious each time the "news" went around. Vecernje Novosti writes about some theories, which are picked up by none other than Lavrov, who is picked up by B92, which will be picked up by Vecernje Novosti tomorrow. At each step, every actor embellishes the story a little bit more. In the end, nobody know what is going on anymore. Great job guys, keep it up :).
(Reader, 22 May 2015 10:37)