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32. Peace in Presevo: Quick Fix or Long Term Solution?
- Publication Date:
- 08-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Crisis Group
- Abstract:
- The past decade in the Western Balkans has seen very few peacefully negotiated transfers of territorial control. The most recent example ñ albeit one not involving any change of sovereignty - was also the only one achieved by NATOís direct mediation. In May 2001, the Presevo Valley was brought back under Serbian government control, ending an ethnic Albanian insurgency that had lasted some seventeen months.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Ethnic Conflict, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe and Balkans
33. Macedonia: Still Sliding
- Publication Date:
- 07-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Crisis Group
- Abstract:
- Despite the ceasefire announced on 26 July 2001, and the promised resumption of political talks in Tetovo on 27 July, Macedonia is still locked in crisis and threatened by war. Neither ethnic Macedonian nor ethnic Albanian leaders have been converted to belief in a 'civic' settlement that would strengthen democracy by improving minority conditions, without weakening the integrity of the state. Ethnic Macedonians fear that civic reforms will transform the country exclusively to its, and their, detriment, while ethnic Albanians are sceptical that any reforms can really be made to work in their favour. Nor have separatists from both sides, within the country and in the diaspora, given up their conviction that security for their communities can only be achieved by demarcating – and hence competing for – ethnically “pure” territory.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Ethnic Conflict, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe, Macedonia, and Albania
34. No Early Exit: NATO's Continuing Challenge in Bosnia
- Publication Date:
- 05-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Crisis Group
- Abstract:
- NATO-led troops have played a vital part in securing the peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia) since their arrival in December 1995. Although authorised by the Dayton Peace Agreement to assist civilian implementation, the military is not obliged to do so. Yet, by evolving in response to developments, the mission has contributed - albeit belatedly and inconsistently - to international civilian efforts to construct a viable state. This shift was reflected in the change of the mission's name in 1996 from Implementation Force (IFOR) to Stabilisation Force (SFOR).
- Topic:
- Security, NATO, and Ethnic Conflict
- Political Geography:
- Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Eastern Europe
35. The Macedonian Question: Reform or Rebellion
- Publication Date:
- 04-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Crisis Group
- Abstract:
- In late February, violence flared in Albanian-inhabited villages in northern Macedonia close to the border with Kosovo. In mid March, the violence spread to Macedonia's second largest city, Tetovo. The rebels claimed to be defending themselves against Macedonian security forces, i.e. their own government, and to be fighting for Albanian national rights in Macedonia. The coalition government in Skopje promptly raised the alarm, blaming Kosovo Albanian elements for exporting rebellion to Macedonia, and calling for the NATO-led forces in Kosovo (KFOR) to seal the border. The rebels claimed they were local Albanians, numbering 2,000 and recruiting dozens of volunteers from the surrounding area every day.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, International Relations, and Ethnic Conflict
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe, Kosovo, Macedonia, and Albania
36. Montenegro: Time to Decide. A Pre-election Briefing
- Publication Date:
- 04-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Crisis Group
- Abstract:
- The extraordinary parliamentary election to be held in Montenegro on 22 April 2001 is focused on the single issue of the republics future status, whether in a continued federal union with Serbia, or as an independent state. The election was called following the break-up of Montenegros ruling coalition at the end of December 2000 over this very question. Following the ouster of Slobodan Miloević as president of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in October 2000, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanović opted to formalise the republics break with the FRY, which in practice had already ceased to function in any meaningful sense. On 28 December 2000 two of the parties in the ruling .For a Better Life. (D.B) coalition, Djukanovićs Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the Social Democratic party (SDP), adopted a new Platform on relations with Serbia, which envisaged a loose association of fully independent states. The anti independence Peoples Party (NS) promptly left the DŽB coalition, thus precipitating the forthcoming election.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, International Relations, and Ethnic Conflict
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe, Yugoslavia, and Serbia
37. Turning Strife to Advantage: A Blueprint to Integrate the Croats in Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Publication Date:
- 03-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Crisis Group
- Abstract:
- The current attempts by the leadership of the Croat Democratic Union (HDZ) of Bosnia and Herzegovina to secede from the legal and constitutional structures of the state are the most serious challenge yet to the post-war order established by the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords.
- Topic:
- Diplomacy, Ethnic Conflict, and Government
- Political Geography:
- Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Eastern Europe
38. Religion in Kosovo
- Publication Date:
- 01-2001
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Crisis Group
- Abstract:
- This report seeks to describe the current position of the three major religious communities in Kosovo. In part, it aims to clarify misconceptions about the involvement of religion in the Kosovo conflict. It also proposes some areas where religion might serve as a means to encourage reconciliation among the peoples of Kosovo.
- Topic:
- Ethnic Conflict, Religion, and Ethnic Government
- Political Geography:
- Eastern Europe and Kosovo
39. Ethnic Democracy and Estonia: Application of Smooha's Model
- Author:
- Priit Järve
- Publication Date:
- 07-2000
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- European Centre for Minority Issues
- Abstract:
- This paper applies a model of ethnic democracy elaborated by Professor Sammy Smooha of Haifa University, Israel, to Estonia, a case which is usually regarded as marginal in this regard. This application shows that Estonia can be characterised as a combination of a strongly-defined ethnic democracy (citizens of the core ethnic nation are dominating the other citizens) and a control system (citizens of the core ethnic nation are dominating the stateless individuals of non-core ethnic origin). As the number of stateless persons is diminishing, the system of control slowly disappears and ethnic democracy may prevail. The legal foundation of ethnic democracy in Estonia is in the Preamble of its Constitution.
- Topic:
- Democratization and Ethnic Conflict
- Political Geography:
- Israel, Eastern Europe, and Estonia
40. War Criminals in Bosnia's Republika Srpska: Who are the People in Your Neighbourhood?
- Publication Date:
- 11-2000
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- International Crisis Group
- Abstract:
- Five years after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords, which brought an end to almost four years of bloody war in Bosnia, many of those believed to have carried out some of the war's worst atrocities remain at large. The continued presence in the municipalities of Republika Srpska (RS) of individuals suspected of war crimes—some indicated either publicly or secretly by the International War Crimes Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)—represents a significant obstacle to the return of ethnic minority refugees. It also undermines seriously Bosnia's chances for building central institutions, generating self-sustainable economic growth, and achieving the political transformation necessary to begin the process of integration with the rest of Europe. Moreover, the continued commitment of most war crimes suspects to the goal of a Greater Serbia, and their willingness to use violence to achieve it, could—in the long term—provoke renewed conflict in Bosnia and continued instability in the Balkans.
- Topic:
- Security, Ethnic Conflict, Human Rights, and Politics
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Bosnia, Eastern Europe, Yugoslavia, Serbia, and Balkans