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Skopje, November 12th, 2001
Security situation
Patrolling in the pilot-villages continues.
On November 5 the phase, M+9 was realized in the village of Lesok. This
phase includes entry of motorized and pedestrian patrols who will operate
in the area from 10,00 a.m. to 04.00 p.m. These patrols will carry out
limited control of traffic regulations and identification of local population.
The phase M+7 is ongoing in Opae, Lopate and Grusino, while in Tearce
only the phase M+1 is applied, which includes patrols only in the parts
of the village populated by mixed population.
Several incidents after few months of truce. Civilian kidnapped.
According to the Macedonian language media, on November 5, a citizen of
Ratae village, ethnic Macedonian, was kidnapped in one of the Tetovo districts.
This person was released several hours later, all beaten up. According
to his statement, the persons who kidnapped him were NLA members.
Police checkpoint attacked.
On November 7, a hand-grenade was thrown on police post on the Gostivar-Cegrane
road. No one was injured in this incident. Hand-grenades discovered. On
November 7, in the locality Ribnica near the village of Grkaj, the Macedonian
Army discovered 14 hand-grenades.
Security forces' post attacked.
According to the Ministry of Defense, on November 9 armed persons attacked
a post of the security forces located near the Tetovo fortress. In the
attack, one member of the reserve Army composition, ethnic Macedonian
Muslim, was injured. The post was attacked from Lavce and Strmno. The
Center for Media Activity reported that the security forces' post in Ramniste
near Jegunovce was also attacked on November 10 from Orasje and Neraste.
Operation of special police forces in Neprosteno.
On November 11, special police teams started moving toward the village
of Neprosteno, where the alleged mass-grave of six kidnapped ethnic Macedonians
is located. The Special Forces entered in that region in order to secure
the terrain and to enable inspection of the region and exhumation of the
mass grave. The teams of EU, NATO and OSCE have no mandate to participate
in exhumation.
Seven former NLA members detained.
According to the Ministry of Interior, the special police troops detained
seven persons, former NLA members, during control of two vehicles on the
road Drebos-Neprosteno. The police discovered weaponry in the vehicles.
Three members of the Special Forces killed.
Armed persons attacked with mortar fire a special police patrol as soon
as it entered in the village of Trebos. In the attack, three members of
the Special Forces were killed and one was wounded. The incident occurred
at the road that leads to the villages Zilce, Ratae, Siricino, Vratnica
and Jegunovce.
Kidnapped civilians.
As a response to the detaining of former NLA members,
armed Albanians kidnapped 16 civilians, ethnic Macedonians, from a bus
that traveled on relation Jegunovce-Tetovo. A woman and two children were
released a bit later. Unofficially, the number of kidnapped persons is
about sixty, and they are being detained in Semsevo village.
Political situation
Separate meetings of the Albanian parties' leaders with
Ahmeti and Le Roy.
The leaders of the Albanian political parties that participate in the
Macedonian Parliament, DPA, PDP and NDP, realized a meeting with ex-leader
of NLA Ali Ahmeti. The Macedonian language media reported that at this
meeting a joint position was reached that the suggested text of the Preamble
should suffer changes. On the other hand, the Albanian daily "Fakti"
reported that participants at the meeting expressed different opinions
at the meeting. The DPA agrees with the offered text of the Preamble,
suggested by President Trajkovski with facilitation from Solana, without
to reject the possibility for making additional changes. The PDP and NDP
do not agree with this and suggest new variants for the text of the Preamble.
On November 5, the leaders of these parties met with EU envoy to Macedonian
Alain Le Roy. At the meeting, the PDP leader offered new text of the Preamble.
Parliament debate on the constitutional amendments continues.
On November 5, the 86th session of the Parliament
focused on the adoption of the 15 amendments to the Constitution continued.
The debate was focused on the first point from the agenda - the text of
the Preamble. On November 6, the Parliament discussed on the fourth, fifth
and sixth amendment. On November 6, Colin Powell expressed support for
the new text of the Preamble and the amendment for the religious communities.
George Robertson and Mircea Geoana pay a visit to Macedonia.
On November 7, NATO Secretary General George Robertson and OSCE Chairman
Mircea Geoana paid a visit to Macedonia. During their stay, they realized
meetings with the Macedonian State leadership. Robertson outlined that
the Parliament ought to adopt the constitutional amendments within the
agreed timeframe. The two western diplomats, together with the Minister
of Interior, the Minister of Justice and the Public Prosecutor talked
about the amnesty. Ion that context, the Macedonian ministers and the
public prosecutor promised to help in the passing of the amnesty for the
former NLA members. Prime Minister Georgievski said that this Government
would not pass a Law for amnesty.
Independent commission for missing persons established.
On November 9, special EU envoy to Macedonia Alain Le Roy hailed the appointment
of Swedish Ambassador Lars Norberg for President of an independent commission
for missing persons. The mandate of this independent commission will be
to ensure transparency and exchange of information about the missing persons
in Macedonia.
Continuation of the 86th parliament session postponed.
Assembly Chairman Stojan Andov has postponed the continuation of the 86th
Parliament session scheduled for November 12. He passed this decision
because the PDP said it would not participate in the Parliament work.
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