STOP NATO: �NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- ListBot Sponsor -------------------------- Start Your Own FREE Email List at http://www.listbot.com/links/joinlb ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BBC News June 27, 2001 Viewpoint: 'We don't need a war' Many ordinary Macedonians say the government is not in control Maria is a 44-year-old Macedonian living in Skopje. She teaches English and is a mother of two boys, one a 17-year-old and the other 13. She spoke to BBC News Online from Skopje about the current crisis, and her fears for the future. "I am worried because I would like to see order in the country. But at the same time my feelings are very mixed, because I feel very confused. Click here for an Albanian view on the conflict. "In one way I understand the people - and my relatives were at the rally on Monday night - because people are poor, and the country is in deep crisis, and many of us are jobless. Most Macedonians think it is humiliating to negotiate with terrorists who have several times threatened the capital of the country, and who are terrorising everybody "In this situation, when we have just started doing something, we don't need a war. "I think the people were demonstrating against everything. First of all people are very unhappy with the whole situation. People think the government and the president are not in control of the situation. "Most Macedonians think it is humiliating to negotiate with terrorists who have several times threatened the capital of the country, and who are terrorising everybody. "What is this peaceful resolution the government wants? We want to see results. We don't understand any more what is peace and what is war. "After what happened on Monday, when the international community rescued the terrorists with buses, people were very angry. People think that the international community has taken sides and is directly supporting the Albanians. This is no longer a question of human rights. What are the results of this war for human rights? Everybody is afraid, nobody is working on the land, the cattle are who knows where, people have left their villages "In this country we have lived with Albanians all our lives. I go to the market every day, I am housewife, and I buy my vegetables from people who are selling in the market... both Albanian and Macedonian farmers. I work with people, both Macedonians and Albanians, and everybody is extremely worried. "Normal people hate this situation because finally after all that has happened in the last few months we have realised that the peace that we had is much more valuable than any kind of peace that will come after all this war, negotiations, and I don't know what. "I don't believe that the changes in any constitution after all this will improve the situation in this country. This country was a very nice country - we were considered as the model over the last 10 years of a country that seceded peacefully from the former Yugoslavia... I really don't see a deep reason for a war "What are the results of this war for human rights? Everybody is afraid, nobody is working on the land, the cattle are who knows where, people have left their villages. "What is the result of these 'liberated territories', where is that liberty, what is the point of that liberty? "I am afraid because I don't want my son to go to war. He is still young, but maybe next year if this situation continues he will be mobilised. I want normal life to come back. "This country was a very nice country. We were seen as the model over the last 10 years of a country that seceded peacefully from the former Yugoslavia... I really don't see a deep reason for a war." __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ ______________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
