By: Risto Karajkov
Osservatorio Balcani

18 December 2008

Earlier this year The Economist had a piece on Macedonia titled ‘A Balkan Belgium?’ The article essentially argued that similar to Belgium, Macedonia is ethnically strongly divided, and that the only thing that keeps both countries still in one piece is Europe. Could be, but where does that leave Bosnia? It also kind of sounds better â?? Bosnia, the Balkan Belgium.

Comparisons can be a powerful tool of analysis, but in order to be relevant they should scan deeper. Otherwise they just stay (of course pleasant and engaging) elements of style.

When Macedonian hajjis departed to Mecca for the Hajj this year, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski came to see them off. It is a first in Macedonia’s history as independent state. Wishing them a safe trip, he said that the ‘Hajj was part of the country’s tradition and culture‘. The government provided an ambulance vehicle to accompany the hajjis during the long travel. The chief of the Islamic community in the country, Mr. Sulejman Rexhepi, expressed gratitude for the honors and said the hajjis ’should also pray for the Prime Minister and the government’. Sentimental but, why not? A secular government being too close for comfort to religion? It is just a nice gesture after all.

In somewhat similar vein, the Minister of Health, Bujar Osmani, recently added circumcision on the list of medical procedures fully paid for by the government. He justified, the move and fairly so, with medical arguments. Circumcision greatly reduces the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, and some types of cancer. He also cited other arguments concerning public health, such as that at present circumcisions are often done in improvised, unhygienic conditions. Last he said this would be a small expense for the government; it would cost some 50,000 Euros per year to circumscribe 10,000 children.

As much as medical arguments are absolutely in place, in a country like Macedonia, the cultural aspect of the measure can not be avoided. A few skeptics questioned the move; some said the government should in such a case also pay for the baptism of Christian children. Overall, nobody made any big deal about it however.

The bottom line is that the government is trying hard to pay respect to diversity whenever possible. Prime Minister Gruevski practically never misses a chance to address audiences in Albanian (by reading out the first few words of course). When recently the 100- year anniversary of the creation of the Albanian alphabet was celebrated in Bitola, he was one of the keynote speakers. It is fair to say that Macedonian politicians were not inclined to such gestures in the past. Some note his Albanian has been improving too.

This is of course not enough. But it is nevertheless important. And it does kind of add to the overall effort to, well, live together.

The most important thing of course is that all communities in the country feel they have equal chance and equal ownership of the common good. Many analysts would argue that blending and liking each other are not as important. At least in part they are probably right. One can have, in some situations, a fair share or inter-marriages, but that does not help a community deprived of the feeling of equality… feel any more equal.

Macedonia had hard time getting it right in the 90s. The country was not an exception to the primitive nationalisms which tore up former Yugoslavia. The ‘resurrection‘ of Alexandar the Great, but above all the unreasonable politics toward the Albanians are the most highlighted examples.

According to some analysts, it was a miracle â?? given Macedonian-Albanian relations in the 90s â?? that the conflict took so long to actually happen. Yet, other scholars have pointed out to the fact of the preceding centuries of multicultural co-existence by making the point that Macedonians and Albanians have actually never fought in their history before the conflicts in the 90s, over education (’95), the flag (’97) and finally the armed conflict in 2001. This is likely also not unconditionally accurate, but it does convey the sense of the generally peaceful of co-existence between the two communities.

The Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA) which ended the (luckily) short war in 2001 did redesign the political arrangements between Macedonians and Albanians to make the latter feel more equal co-owners of the state, and it definitely stabilized the country for the long haul.

And even before the OFA, the political setup of the country did generally produce stability: the two major Macedonian political parties are arch -enemies, same as the two major Albanian parties. A government which would not rest on Macedonian-Albanian partnership is difficult to imagine in Macedonia at present.

And then, beyond the Macedonian-Albanian anxiety, the country has been a comfortable salad bowl for most other ingredients. The Vlach from the Balkans and beyond recently had a regional meeting in Macedonia, and praised the country for its advanced entitlements for the small Vlach minority. They said that nobody else recognized them and respected them the way Macedonia did. Roma have had their MPs, mayors, and TV channels ever since the early 90s. The country even has an Egyptian minority which emerged in the 90s. The region between Struga and Ohrid has several communities of Egyptians. Neighbors still call them ‘Roma’ but what counts of course is how one feels about him/herself. The Turks, Serbs, Bosniaks, Torbesh, and all the others have lived well integrated; enjoyed minority protection, and had full political representation ever since Macedonia’s independence in 1991.

It is of course never enough, and one should always strive to improve, but what Macedonia has by regional, or even the standards of some European states, is not little.

Passions do inflame occasionally, but there is no going around it. Nationalism is an endemic beast and domesticating it through education takes time. In a short term, cracking down on it when things get critical, might still be the only alternative. Appeasing it has probably never done else but aggrandizing its appetites.

Multiculturalism is of course not easy. Nevertheless, opposite from the gloomy assessment from the beginning, some analysts argue that Macedonia remains the only viable example of successful ethnic co-existence in the Balkans.

This may also be an exaggerated statement, but it is worth thinking about it. Maybe Europe should give it some more thought too.

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Popularity: 24% [?]

The European Commission (EC) annual reports on would-be members brought a mixture of hope and bitterness in the Balkans, after being published early last month. Brussels regularly assesses the progress of aspirant countries in meeting the conditions for membership and hands out the carrot or the stick accordingly. Countries are commended for progress and promoted in the process, or criticized for lack of reforms and passed for rewards.

Croatia had much to be content with this year. It got a clear sign it can complete the negotiations for membership by the end of 2009, which theoretically can make it an EU member by 2011. There was a last minute chill with the high profile assassination of a journalist, Ivo Pukanic, founder of weekly Nacional, in the capital Zagreb just days before the reports were published, but the damage was controlled after all.

Serbia was waved a big carrot, but it can only taste it next year if continues to behave. In the words of Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, Belgrade could get the status of a candidate country by end 2009, in a ‘best case scenario”. This year Serbia did very good. It arrested a war criminal-turned â?? spiritual healer, Radovan Karadzic; voted democrats as opposed to hard -core radicals, and essentially behaved when Kosovo declared independence.

It is Macedonia â?? EU candidate country since 2005 - who got a serious rebuke by the Commission. Brussels told her bluntly â?? and it rarely uses direct language - that it does not meet the political criteria for membership. Thus the country did not get the date for start of membership negotiations it hoped for. Skopje made a lot of progress in the economy lately, but failed miserably in the early elections in July. They were sham, marred by violence and irregularities. It may well be just the action of a few political scoundrels and not reflect the overall political culture (does it not really?), but political leaders should get it in their heads that this is just not acceptable.

Bosnia started the year well and made a step closer to the EU by signing a Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Brussels, but the car went downhill since. Rising nationalism has again been threatening to disrupt its fragile fabric. Senior statesmen have warned recently that Bosnia is at risk. The West needs to watch over. Speeding up its accession process could help, but that also needs firm political will in Brussels, not just reforms and progress on the part of the candidate. Such will is not visible at present.

Albania and newly founded Montenegro - declared independence in 2006- received moderate commendation for their efforts. Brussels said the implementation of their SAA’s went smoothly. The next step for them would be to obtain candidate status, but that carrot is not yet at reach.

Finally there is Kosovo, which is quite new to the race. It is too early to tell. Pristina only declared (a highly contested) independence earlier this year. It will take her some time.

It is often said every country runs the race alone. Alas, that’s way too simple. There is a dispute of how many runners there actually are in the case of Serbia and Kosovo, and the referee, who watches the finish line, is also not sure. They are bound to trip over.

Commissioner Rehn said recently that 2009 could be an important year for the Balkans, provided optimistic predictions come true. It would be about time. Croatia aside, all the others are in a race with a finish line nowhere in sight.

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Popularity: 20% [?]

By Ed Rollins:

NEW YORK (CNN) — A campaign at war with itself cannot fight its opponent effectively.

“…And while chaos and disarray reigned supreme in Sen. Barack Obama’s opponents’ campaigns, the steady, disciplined and strategically driven Obama campaign marches forward toward likely victory.”

“….We now see something similar in the McCain campaign. There have been at least three major managerial changes or overthrows in the past 18 months.”

“….John McCain is saying one thing on the stump, his running mate another. But the worst sin is that his advertising campaign is incoherent and putting out multiple and inconsistent messages….”

James Carville’s famous slogan in Bill Clinton’s 1992 victory over the first Bush: “It’s the economy stupid!” can now be replaced with “You morons, what have you done with my money, my life and my kids’ future?” …[MORE]

Popularity: 7% [?]

Hillary and Bill Clinton are still seething and are planning to “take a dump” at the Democratic convention later on this month, if their ROLE is not properly negotiated.

She told a gathering of supporters last week that she’s looking for a “strategy” for her delegates to have their voices heard and “respected” at the Democratic National Convention — and did not rule out the possibility of having her name placed into nomination at the convention alongside Sen. Barack Obama’s.

Time Magazine reports that while in public Clinton is doing everything she’s been asked to help Obama, behind the scenes she secretely wishes Obama should lose.

No matter how much they Tip-Toe around the issue, I strongly believe that their strategy (Clinton & Clinton) is to weaken Obama even further, in anticipation of running for office in 2012….[ MORE >> ]

Hillary is torn between two forces - one, is the “private wish” that McCain beats Obama this fall, and the other is “what-if Obama wins“….”how will we look if we don’t throw our ‘fake‘ support behind him?”

   [Enlarge PIC]

Bill Clinton on the other hand seems to be very bitter that he was labeled a racist during the Democratic primary. Interviewed by ABC News in Monrovia, Liberia while on his world AIDS tour with his foundation, Mr. Clinton talked a bit about the role he played in the failed presidential bid of his wife. And he still seemed to be smoldering about his portrayal by the media and others….as a BIGOT.

“But I am not a racist,” he said. “I’ve never made a racist comment and I never attacked him (Obama) personally.” Asked if he thought Obama was ready to be president, Bill gave some lame excuse that ‘nobody is ever ready’ and that the Constitution sets out qualifications for president.

Shut Up Bill!

What a selfish egomaniacal duo! Here are some illustrative comments.

I don’t place you in the same category as the despicable right-wing THUGS in the Republican party, but you did exhibit behavior that millions of black people construed as racism — and that’s the one big reason which precipitated your wife’s defeat. Had you behaved yourself in South Carolina, I believe we might be looking at a power-packed Clinton-Obama ticket.

Apologize and move on….you will be forgiven!

We have a much more venomous snake to beat down — The ReTHUGlican Hate-Machine, starring: John “Drill My Wife” McCain.

   THE REPUBLICAN CRIMINAL HATE-MACHINE — NOW HEADED BY JOHN MCCAIN
   [Clockwise: Sean Hannity, James Dobson, Rush Limbaugh, Anne Coulter,
   Glenn Beck, Greta Van Susteren]

   A Fellow Snake, ‘White-Nationalist’ THUG Pat Buchanan Skewers McCain
   

SPECIAL REFERENCES: evilgopbastards.com | Hawking Racism — Pat Buchanan’s latest book is a White Nationalist Screed

Popularity: 14% [?]

By Zachary A. Goldfarb

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign accused Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign of fanning a controversy over her describing the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy late in the 1968 Democratic primary as one reason she is continuing to run for the presidency.

“The Obama campaign … tried to take these words out of context,” Clinton campaign chairman Terence R. McAuliffe said on “Fox News Sunday.” “She was making a point merely about the time line.” ….[more]

RELATED: All About Eve

Popularity: 19% [?]