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Macedonia’s government is attempting to maintain peace in Skopje in the aftermath of riots that saw thousands of people protest the sentencing of six people on terror-related murder charges. These sentences are obviously deepening the cleavage between ethnic groups in Macedonia.
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told reporters on Monday that the state will not let these protests escalate to an extent where they can jeopardize the interests of the people and Macedonia’s institutions. “We support peaceful protests like in any democratic country, but no one, nowhere, can support those protests where violence is used” he added.
After the mass Albanian riots and the government’s proposal on the constitution, an ethnic Albanian opposition party said that it would only support the Macedonian government’s proposed constitutional changes if Albanians are granted more cultural and political rights.
The Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) announced that it will file amendments to the proposed constitutional changes in a bid to provide extended use of the Albanian language and national symbols and emblems in the country.
The demographics of the country are but one of the most important reasons for the demands to extend minority rights in Macedonia. According to the 2002 census, the country’s demographic composition is as follows: Macedonians 64.2%, Albanians 25.2%, Turks 3.9%, Romas (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serbs 1.8% and others 2.2%.
The DPA stated that it would make its case at the start of the parliamentary session on Tuesday. The party has seven seats in the 123-seat parliament and its support is key for the passage of the constitutional package.
The DPA believes that the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party and the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), which is the smaller partner in the coalition government, and the biggest ethnic Albanian party have been failing to tackle ethnic issues and minority rights.
“From what the government has proposed, it is obvious that the government partners have decided to stay away from inter-ethic issues. We are against this so that is why we will file additional amendments and our support of the entire package will depend on it,” a well-informed DPA member told Balkan Insight under the condition of anonymity.
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told reporters on Monday that the state will not let these protests escalate to an extent where they can jeopardize the interests of the people and Macedonia’s institutions. “We support peaceful protests like in any democratic country, but no one, nowhere, can support those protests where violence is used” he added.
After the mass Albanian riots and the government’s proposal on the constitution, an ethnic Albanian opposition party said that it would only support the Macedonian government’s proposed constitutional changes if Albanians are granted more cultural and political rights.
The Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) announced that it will file amendments to the proposed constitutional changes in a bid to provide extended use of the Albanian language and national symbols and emblems in the country.
The demographics of the country are but one of the most important reasons for the demands to extend minority rights in Macedonia. According to the 2002 census, the country’s demographic composition is as follows: Macedonians 64.2%, Albanians 25.2%, Turks 3.9%, Romas (Gypsy) 2.7%, Serbs 1.8% and others 2.2%.
The DPA stated that it would make its case at the start of the parliamentary session on Tuesday. The party has seven seats in the 123-seat parliament and its support is key for the passage of the constitutional package.
The DPA believes that the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party and the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), which is the smaller partner in the coalition government, and the biggest ethnic Albanian party have been failing to tackle ethnic issues and minority rights.
“From what the government has proposed, it is obvious that the government partners have decided to stay away from inter-ethic issues. We are against this so that is why we will file additional amendments and our support of the entire package will depend on it,” a well-informed DPA member told Balkan Insight under the condition of anonymity.
