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Editorial

Capitulation

Start, Skopje, Macedonia, April 7 2000

Without a single fired bullet, without a declaration of war, just like that, silently and secretly, behind the back of the domestic public, Prime Minister Georgievski, Minister Kljusev, and Minister Dimovska, together with all others who participate in the governing of this state capitulated in front of paramilitary formations of Kosovo Albanians, which refer to itself as "a liberation army", and which its Western mentors treat as some "protection corps" in the rebellious Yugoslav province.

Therefore, "KLA" men, they say, according to a previously well-planned scenario together with their collaborators and protectors within the Macedonian authorities, on last Friday night (the authorities claim this actually happened in Sunday) kidnapped a patrol of the Macedonian Army sent to the region where there hadn't been our troops for more than fifteen months. Then the kidnappers obtained, in return for the release of four Macedonian boys, a release of certain Xhavid Hasani from prison. The Prime Minister and his Ministers, who have a duty to protect this state and its borders from all claims against its territory and the security of the state and population, without blinking accepted the blackmail and made a deal with thirty kidnappers. Who released Hasani (supposedly on bail) to defend himself from freedom (!?) although it was easy to predict that less than an hour after his release he would not be in Macedonia, but celebrating a "big victory" among his "KLA" comrades, definitely protected in Kosovo.

Besides, the government and its ministers who for more than a year have been trying to convince us that the existence of "KLA" in Macedonia is a fabrication of "anti-Albanian" journalists and media, who with that only poison "relaxed" inter-ethnic (Macedonian-Albanian) relations, are now making deals (bartering people) with these nonexistent "militant groups". And that means to capitulate before their arrogance, their violence, their already declared intention to get what they want in Macedonia as well. Therefore, we say that the authorities have capitulated, the law and order in this state has capitulated, incompetent people who were given by the people the mandate to lead and protect Macedonia and all its citizens have capitulated. They capitulated one more time in front of the power of Arben Xhaferi and his people installed in the government, leaving thus people to wonder what this dirty exchange portends for the future.

Simply said, which force can implement justice and order in the region under control of Xhaferi's party, and against some of the individuals under his protection, if they break law and order? What stops someone else to deliver another blackmail to this government if it is already known that the authorities in this state capitulate easily and quickly? Whenever they had to choose between their own interests and the interests of the state the authorities have until now frequently chosen their interests and protection of their positions. At this point it is not any more important whether the whole affair was organized by someone (?) for internal political reasons or whether it was a consequence of pressure from abroad. The already scant prestige and dignity of Macedonia has been spent with enormous speed. In every democracy in the world the government would either resign or be thrown out of power after a similar scandal. That will not happen here. Thus, it is up to us citizens to decide whether we will continue to agree with the future destruction of our state or will put a stop to it. In our interests and the interest of Macedonia.


Translated on April 15 2000; translation assisted by D.Nikolovska
Macedonia