"YUGOSLAVIZATION" OF MACEDONIA!?

AIM Skopje, February 23, 1996

While Branko Crvenskovski is defending his new cabinet, and President Kiro Gligorov is trying to preserve the Alliance for Macedonia, divisions in the state founded on various foundations and various fields continue. About three hundred members of the Association of Writers of Macedonia are in the middle of a discussion how to save what can still be saved after "departure" of the Albanian, Turkish and the so-called independent writers who have founded separate associations. The until recently compact Islam Religious Community has now acquired its counterpart in the Muslim Religious Community. Various civic organizations have also been operating for a long time now divided on ethnic grounds, starting from the Forum for Protection of Human Rights all the way to unions of women and bee-keepers. Divisions on ethnic foundations were also discerned by the press at the Open Society Institute of Macedonia (Soros foundation) which was supposed to be a model of openness to all positive forms and contents in multi-ethnic Macedonia.

Is Macedonia passing with a delay through all the phases of division all other YU republics have already passed through, or is this just a matter of normal movements in these pluralist times? Is silent "Yugoslavization" going on in Macedonia, that which had happened in the former federation a few years before its dissolution or are these just unavoidable shifts which will result in a higher quality in the sense of democracy? These are questions asked by concerned citizens of this country, who are aware that there is no end to divisions. In accordance with the times we are living in and difficulties which accompany this shaky space, along with the mentioned divisions, there is the increase of crime, collapse of the economy, growth of unemployment, uncertainty and finally a possibility that the "guards" from the West might lose patience, since they seem to be the only ones who are concerned for its stability.

That the authorities are not too concerned about these divisions, or that there is some truth in rumours that it even instigates some of them is verified by the latest division in the Islam Religious Community. Namely, leaders of the state hurried to send their best wishes for the Bairam holidays to the newly established Muslim Religious Community of Macedonia, too, showing that they had offered their support to division of the Muslims in this state on ethnic grounds, since there is no doubt that this institution was established to gather non-Albanian believers and that this division is not quite harmless and in nobody's interest.

Division among writers of Macedonia is also quite specific. It all began with the announcement of the Albanian writers that they had constituted their own association. Then foundation of the Association of Independent Writers followed, gathering men of letters who had been dissatisfied with their status in the existing Association of Writers of Macedonia. After that, the Turks constituted their association of writers. While the independent writers and those of Turkish nationality registered their associations without any problems, the Albanian writers cannot enetr theirs in the court register for three years already. But, despite that, they feel "independent" for a long time and operate as if they were: they have their own literary awards, their own manifestations, and accordingly their membership and president.

In the meantime, the public is closely watching the assaults against the current presidency of the Association of writers, especially those addressed personally at its President Jovan Pavlovski. Quite a large group of writers signed a petition for early elections, but the current president does not seem to take much notice. He is waiting for the time for regular elections to come in the end of March. It is believed that Jovan Pavlovski is to take the blame for the split, it is claimed that he had privatized the premises of the Association and that he has driven away writers of non-Macedonian nationality from the Association with his attitude. But, such criticism cannot prevent Macedonian statesmen from sitting in front rows whenever the President and the Association organize various celebrations, which is interpreted either as a reflection of their preference, or as an attempt to contribute to curb passions.

Judging by these "peripheral" divisions in Macedonia, the assessment that few things operate in Macedonia according to the proclaimed pattern of togetherness and coexistence is close to the truth. And even less according to the principles of a civic state where groups are not formed according to ethnic afiliations, but according to inclin ations and professional preoccupations. Such a situation speaks in favour of the fact that in conflicting situations occur, things come to the surface which would maybe in certain circumstances remain unsaid. That is how on the surface of Macedonian reality, certain parallel courses appeared which are quite contrary to those presented and wished for. That is why now, while the Prime Minister is waiting for the parliament to approve the composition of the reconstructed Government with ministers Albanians participating in it, some people wonder: is there anything, apart from ministerial posts that can gather a "multiethnic team"? At first sight, it seems that such a question is an exaggeration, but just a superficial analysis of local affairs which reflect the essence of life and which are a barometer of democratic and civic principles shows that such a question is not groundless. Especially when one knows that even civic and non-governmental organizations and institutions are divided according to ethnic colours. These phenomena may not have reached the point of boiling yet, but they certainly are alarming.

For the time being, the civic concept of social system, coexistence and togetherness proclaimed in Macedonia remain just a goal everybody claims to be their choice, but a goal difficult to attain until presence of the proclaimed in everyday life is not achieved. If the present trend of divisions on ethnic grounds is not interrupted, there is a danger that even the minimum level of unity which is necessary for a multiethnic, multireligious and multicultural state such as Macedonia to survive will remain a (mere) desire.

LULJETA K. NIZAMI