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February 11 - February 17
2002 |
Skopje, February 18th, 2001
Security and political situation
New attacks on facilities.
On February 11 in Skopje district Butel a hand grenade exploded in a
store of an ethnic Albanian. Only material damage was caused. According to
the owner, the store has been stoned nine times.
On February 12 on Skopje - Gostivar highway, near Klukovo location,
unknown perpetuator has fired a missile from a hand mortar "Zolja" towards
the motel, whose owner is ethnic Albanian. The missile did not explode.
Near Zelino village, on Tetovo - Skopje highway, unknown perpetuators
purposefully set fire in one restaurant. The roof of the restaurant was
burned down.
Multiethnic police patrols entered into other 12 villages.
On February 11 the multiethnic police patrols continued the plan on
police redeployment in the crisis areas, entering into seven villages in
Tetovo area and five in Gostivar area. The police did not enter into Mala
Recica due to the blockades set by the local residents, who requested the
liberation of Semi Habibi, accused for the attack on the police station in
Tearce in 2001 as well as dismantling of the police check point located
near the cable-car. The full police control has been established in 19
villages (from total 136) in the crisis regions.
First report of the EU Commission on missing persons.
The Commission on kidnapped and other missing persons established at
the end of November 2001, has completed the first phase of its work. Based
on the obtained information it has concluded that 20 civilians are missing
(13 ethnic Macedonian, 6 ethnic Albanian and one citizen of Bulgaria) The
Commission in regard with seven of the Macedonian cases there is
information that they were abducted by men in NLA uniforms. In regards
with the kidnapped or missing Albanians, one was taken and interrogated by
Macedonian police units before his disappearance, while two other
Albanians went missing in connection with a checkpoint manned by persons
in police uniforms.
Protest meeting held in Struga.
On February 16, protest meeting was held in Struga, where around 500
ethnic Albanians took part, requesting the liberation of the kidnapped
Albanians from Struga region, missing since last year. The protest was
organized by several non-governmental organizations and local
self-governments from Struga municipality, and the representatives of
political parties of PDP, DPA and NDP also participated.
Two former NLA members have been arrested and released.
On February 13, according to the daily in Albanian language "Fakti,"
two residents from Slupcane and Orizare villages, former members of NLA
were arrested on Tabanovce border crossing. After spending several hours
in the police station, they were released.
Training of second group of police officers began.
On February 12 in the Centre in Idrizovo the training of the second
group of candidates for police officers, envisaged in the Framework
Agreement began. The group is consisted of two sub-groups with 250
candidates out of whom 50 are Macedonians while the others are members of
the other nationalities in Macedonia (150 fo them are ethnic Albanians).
Meeting of the working group on amnesty. On February 11, the meeting of
the working group that develops the draft-law on amnesty was held. It was
suggested the amnesty to be valid from February 12 to September 26 2001.
The meeting also focused on some persons that should be amnestied.
Leaders' meeting with President Boris Trajkovski.
On February 13 a meeting was held between the leaders of the four
major parties - Ljubcho Georgievski from VMRO - DPMNE, Branko Crvenkovski
from SDSM, Menduh Thaci, the vice president of DPA and Abduladi Vejseli,
the vice president of PDP with President Boris Trajkovski. The EU envoy
Alain Le Roy and acting US Ambassador to Macedonia Lawrence Butler also
attended the meeting. The meeting focused on setting the date for the
elections and realizing the Framework Agreement.
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