New Majorities and Minorities in the Changing Balkans - Project on ...

BUILDING DEMOCRATIC INTERETHNICGOVERNMENTA participant from Macedonia opened <strong>the</strong> discussion of democratic governance<strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>terethnic relations <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> region by acknowledg<strong>in</strong>g thatMacedonia is often referred to as a “success story” <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Balkans</strong>. Butthis participant po<strong>in</strong>ted out that Macedonia still has a long way to gobefore it reaches its goal, which is membership <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> EU. “C<strong>and</strong>idacymeans more responsibilities than rights,” this participant suggested, <strong>and</strong>Macedonia must demonstrate capability <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong>mean<strong>in</strong>g of EU membership. “Macedonia is a multiethnic state. Werespect <strong>the</strong> rights of persons <strong>in</strong> our country.” At <strong>the</strong> same time, this participantacknowledged that it is always difficult to achieve consensusbetween government <strong>and</strong> opposition. None<strong>the</strong>less, <strong>the</strong>re is “mutualconsensus on <strong>the</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciple that rule of law is above all <strong>in</strong>terests.”Accord<strong>in</strong>g to this participant, “cont<strong>in</strong>uity” with <strong>the</strong> policies of <strong>the</strong> previousgovernment is <strong>the</strong> “basic pr<strong>in</strong>ciple” of <strong>the</strong> new government.“Everyth<strong>in</strong>g done by <strong>the</strong> previous government [to meet <strong>the</strong> requirementsof EU accession] must be accepted, <strong>and</strong> unf<strong>in</strong>ished tasks must be completed.We are not play<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> fate of our citizens. We are not do<strong>in</strong>gthis for Brussels, but for our citizens. We are always will<strong>in</strong>g to work with<strong>the</strong> opposition to reach consensus.” This participant recognized that, <strong>in</strong>order to reach consensus, <strong>the</strong> government must be open to dialogue.Such dialogue offered <strong>the</strong> government an opportunity to make use of <strong>the</strong>“knowledge <strong>and</strong> experience” of <strong>the</strong> opposition.This participant s<strong>in</strong>gled out two areas of policy <strong>in</strong> which <strong>in</strong>ternationalcooperation <strong>and</strong> domestic political consensus were particularly important:<strong>the</strong> fight aga<strong>in</strong>st corruption <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> fight aga<strong>in</strong>st crime. “Fight<strong>in</strong>gcorruption <strong>and</strong> crime is a po<strong>in</strong>t of global <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>and</strong> underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g,”this participant argued. “Although <strong>the</strong>re must be an effort to achieveconsensus through dialogue among <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>and</strong> groups, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> end <strong>the</strong>national <strong>in</strong>terest must be achieved.” For this, “it is <strong>the</strong> government <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> majority party that has responsibility.” This participant dist<strong>in</strong>guishedbetween “consensus” <strong>and</strong> “common underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g” on policy matters,po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g out that “<strong>the</strong>re will always be some groups who are not satisfied.”In order to achieve a common underst<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g, “drafts of laws must bediscussed <strong>in</strong> advance with all parties <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>terests; <strong>the</strong> government mustlisten, <strong>and</strong> share its concepts or ideas; <strong>and</strong> political <strong>and</strong> economic factors,as well as <strong>the</strong> dem<strong>and</strong>s of <strong>the</strong> acquis communautaire must be considered.”Ano<strong>the</strong>r official from Macedonia emphasized <strong>the</strong> importance of implement<strong>in</strong>g<strong>the</strong> Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA). This participant summarized<strong>the</strong> mean<strong>in</strong>g of Ohrid as “neutraliz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> personal <strong>and</strong> materialconsequences of (<strong>the</strong>) 2001 (conflict).”Although <strong>the</strong> constitution hasbeen amended <strong>in</strong> accordance with <strong>the</strong> OFA, <strong>and</strong> numerous laws havebeen passed implement<strong>in</strong>g specific elements of <strong>the</strong> Agreement, work onimplementation rema<strong>in</strong>s to be done. Achiev<strong>in</strong>g “adequate representation”of m<strong>in</strong>orities <strong>in</strong> government adm<strong>in</strong>istration is a key goal of <strong>the</strong> newgovernment. Three months ago,“<strong>the</strong> government adopted an actionplan for ensur<strong>in</strong>g adequate proportionsof m<strong>in</strong>orities on <strong>the</strong> basis of<strong>the</strong> 2002 census, <strong>and</strong> tripled <strong>the</strong>resources allocated for m<strong>in</strong>orityemployment <strong>and</strong> representation <strong>in</strong><strong>the</strong> government.” This participantreported that <strong>the</strong> government iswork<strong>in</strong>g on this issue with advisorsThe multiethnic characterof <strong>the</strong> population mustbe reflected <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><strong>in</strong>stitutions, policies<strong>and</strong> practices of <strong>the</strong>Balkan states.familiar with <strong>the</strong> experience of o<strong>the</strong>r democratic countries. “Full implementationof <strong>the</strong> OFA will benefit not only <strong>the</strong> ethnic m<strong>in</strong>orities,” thisparticipant argued, “but all <strong>the</strong> people of Macedonia, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>majority Macedonians, because it will br<strong>in</strong>g Macedonia closer to membership<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> EU.”Ano<strong>the</strong>r politician from Macedonia agreed that <strong>the</strong>re was full consensus<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> country on such issues as organized crime, NATO, <strong>and</strong> EU accession.In his view, “<strong>the</strong>se are not achievements of any political parties, butof <strong>the</strong> state.” He cautioned aga<strong>in</strong>st any sense of “satisfaction,” <strong>and</strong> suggestedthat more must be done with respect to <strong>the</strong> status of <strong>the</strong> Albanianlanguage <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> provision of benefits to former members of <strong>the</strong> ethnicAlbanian National Liberation Army (NLA), as provided for <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> agreementthat ended <strong>the</strong> fight<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> 2001. Not<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> fact that moreAlbanians <strong>in</strong> Macedonia voted for <strong>the</strong> Albanian party presently <strong>in</strong> oppositionthan for <strong>the</strong> Albanian party presently <strong>in</strong> government, he questioned<strong>the</strong> legitimacy of <strong>the</strong> latter <strong>in</strong> government <strong>and</strong>, <strong>the</strong>refore, of <strong>the</strong>government as a whole. This participant warned aga<strong>in</strong>st any effort to“forget <strong>the</strong> past,” as this might lead to “repetition of a pa<strong>in</strong>ful past.”Ano<strong>the</strong>r Macedonian participant was prompted by <strong>the</strong>se remarks todefend <strong>the</strong> previous government. This participant po<strong>in</strong>ted out that “great67