NATO, CNN AND UNCERTAINTY!

AIM Skopje, 24 March, 1999

The morning after NATO bombardment of targets in Yugoslavia, a sunny day dawned on Macedonia. But, it seems that for the first time the citizens of this country fear the clear sky and that they long for the thick fog that often hangs over Skopje located in its deep valley surrounded by hills. This for the simple reason that it was announced a long time ago that in case of NATO attacks against Yugoslavia, Macedonia's northern neighbour would punish all those who are helping the western alliance. But also because Serb media are already informing their public that some of the missiles have arrived from Macedonia and Albania, which is interpreted as the announcement that "punishment" should be expected. Therefore, the citizens of Macedonia are not so concerned by the price Milosevic will pay in the war with almost the whole western world, as by fear that the first punitive missiles will hit Kumanovo and Tetovo, as certain local media have announced.

Regardless of further developments, the fact remains that Macedonian public is divided in the assessment of the presence of NATO forces in their country. While ones believe that it is the highest guarantee of protection of territorial integrity of the country, others arrive at just the contrary conclusion: that presence of NATO soldiers is jeopardising the coutry. While media analyse whether the government has mistaken when it received NATO soldiers or whether this was a gesture with far-reaching positive historical consequences for the destiny of Macedinia, gas stations are crowded by cars waiting for fuel, people are piling up stocks of food in their cellars confused whether this is the beginning of the end or the beginning of a new tide of Balkan chaos. What they all have in common is fear of uncertainty, and what they are divided by is their attitude to bombs which are falling on Yugoslavia. And this attitude mostly depends - as always - on ethnic affiliation. This attitude reflects in the disposition to NATO soldiers in Macedonia. While ethnic Albanians openly stress that their presence is important for the survival of the country and that time has come for Milosevic to "learn his lesson", polls among ethnic Macedonians reflect the predominant assessment that Milosevic is guilty, but that "the punishment is too severe".

And while majority of citizens are giving vent to their feelings in discussions in cafes and restaurants, there are those who believe that they should be "operational". The latest information say that a NATO soldier, member of Italian units, was beaten up in a village near Skopje. And according to information, NATO soldiers stationed in Macedonia (about 10 thousand of them) are deployed on the northern Macedonian-Yugoslav border in order to prevent a possible attack from that side.

In the meantime, the Republican parliament had its emergency session because of the newly-created situation in the region. Ministers of defence, internal and foreign affairs informed the public on the activities of the government in order to prevent spreading of the conflict to this side of Sara mountain range. The ministers have stressed that deterioration of the situation in Kosovo and the increased number of refugees seriously threaten the economic situation in the country. The minister of defence stressed that despite the fact that the main brunt of defence of Macedonia in case of possible aggression would be taken by NATO (which had given written guarantees that it would defend the sovereignty of Macedonia), Macedonian army was ready to defend the country. He added, however, that the Army of the Republic of Macedonia was not equipped for large-scale operations. The minister of defence stated the fact that about 40 thousand members of the Yugoslav Army were concentrated in Kosovo.

The head of Macedonia's police, Pavle Trajanov, told the members of parliament that there were indications that anti-war demonstrations in Macedonia were organised with the help of foreign services. It is not difficult for the parliamentarians to assume which are these "foreign services". The foreign minister, noting that the position of Macedonia remained unchanged in relation to Kosovo, that is that the conflict should be solved in a peaceful manner, added that Macedonia had appealed for financial aid in order to endure the pressure of Kosovo refugees.

When speaking of refugees, a day before the bombing, Macedonia closed the border with Kosovo. Columns of children and women remained in the space between the frontiers. This caused raising of revolt among Macedonian Albanians. The border crossings were re-opened after powerful pressure by Albanian political parties and the international community. Unofficially it is possible to learn that the Democratic Party of the Albanians - coalition partner in the government - has threatened that it would leave the government if the refugees were not permitted to enter Macedonia. International Helsinki Federation from Vienna also reacted to the unexpected gesture of the Macedonian government addressing an open letter to it. Minister of internal affairs justified closing of the border by saying that the people who were coming were not from regions directly threatened by war operations.

Despite certain uncoordinated actions, the parliament of Macedonia unanimously made decisions which express a joint stand of all political parties. One of the conclusions was that the territory of Macedonia must not be used for the attack of any of its neighbours. This decision was welcomed by the ambassador of FR Yugoslavia who met with journalists immediately after the first bombardment, declaring that certain media were intentionally arousing fear that Yugoslavia would "punish" Macedonia.

Regardless of whether rumours on the "punishment" which might take place are just a part of the psychological warfare or a real possibility, the fact remains that barrels of accumulated Yugoslav artillery at the border are turned towards Macedonia. Whether in order to defend the country against a possible raid of NATO forces on Kosovo or to transfer the conflict into Macedonia, only the "masters" of the war know. For the time being Macedonian citizens less turn their eyes towards the north and listen more to what is heard from the skies. They watch live TV coverage, fearing that news about a CNN correspondent in Skopje was true. And the people know that CNN does not install its satellite antennas unless there is war going on. And while optimists console themselves that Macedonia is fortunate because the West needs it as the key observation post of the surrounding Balkan region, pessimists claim that observation posts are the first and the easiest targets. Those who wish to be "practical" are queueing in front of gas stations to fill up their canisters with gasoline, perhaps reconciled to their fate to leave their homes and seek refuge somewhere, if need be. They do not realise that the Balkan is becoming a great "pit" from which it is difficult to run away. But, people still keep hoping. Even when they cannot rejoice at a sunny day and when they wish for black clouds which might hide them from the "eyes" of possibly launched "punitive" missiles...

AIM Skopje

KIM MEHMETI