http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=27943&cid=56&p=03.06.2008
Voice of Russia
June 3, 2008
SPILLOVER OF ALBANIAN NATIONALISM
-This dangerous turn of developments has been
predicted.
But that prediction was ignored by the United States
of America, which encouraged the Kosovar separatists,
and the European democracies, which placed their bet
on the dismemberment of Serbia.
The general elections in Macedonia show that Albanian
nationalism is spilling over beyond the border of
Kosovo.
Held last Sunday, the ballot-casting was accompanied
by clashes between people of different ethnic
backgrounds.
A few shootouts were reported in predominantly
Albanian-populated northern Macedonia.
One person was shot dead and about a dozen wounded.
The electoral committee had to order an end to the
ballot-casting in several precincts.
Response to the Macedonian developments was quick to
come. The European Union’s mission in Macedonia
described what happened as a national tragedy.
A spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, Sean
McCormack, suggested that the government of Macedonia
order a second round of ballot-casting in the troubled
areas.
Kosovo, which, in defiance of the Serbian position,
proclaimed itself a sovereign republic last February,
was quick to respond, too.
It urged the militant Albanians of Macedonia to show
restraint and refrain from violence. Why it did so is
quite clear. Macedonian developments jeopardize its
quest for international recognition.
Everyone knows that Macedonia imports Albanian
extremism from Kosovo.
The leading members of the Albanian communities of
those republics maintain close contacts.
Alexander Karasyov, who is well versed in the history
of the Balkans, feels that the rash proclamation of
Kosovar sovereignty puts a big question mark over the
territorial integrity of other Balkan countries.
Karasyov blames the turn for the worse in the
situation in Macedonia on that destabilizing factor.
There are many people of Albanian roots in Macedonia
and, Karasyov says, their political parties will
surely try to take advantage of what Kosovo did.
One can say that Albanian nationalism is spilling over
beyond the border of Kosovo.
This dangerous turn of developments has been
predicted.
But that prediction was ignored by the United States
of America, which encouraged the Kosovar separatists,
and the European democracies, which placed their bet
on the dismemberment of Serbia.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
