Macedonia

Background

Macedonia was spared the inter-ethnic violence that raged elsewhere in the Balkans following the break-up of Yugoslavia in the early 1990's, but it came close to civil war a decade after independence.
 
Rebels staged an uprising in early 2001, demanding greater rights for the ethnic Albanian minority. After months of skirmishes, the late president, Boris Trajkovski, struck a peace deal, with the support of the international community. Under the Ohrid agreement, Albanian fighters laid down their arms in return for greater recognition within a unitary state. Albanian was recognised as an official language and ethnic Albanians were given increased access to public-sector jobs, including the security forces.
 
In August 2004, parliament also approved legislation to redraw local boundaries, giving ethnic Albanians, who account for about a quarter of the population, greater local autonomy in areas where they predominate. Recognition of the republic's progress from the brink of civil war came in December 2005 when leaders from the European Union (EU) agreed that it should become a candidate for membership.

Our work

In 2002, Interpeace brought together a multi ethnic team of local experts to support the peace and reconciliation process in Macedonia following the conflict.
 
The team took the Macedonian word for singing, pev, as the basis for their name, the Project for Common Vision. It strongly believed that "the time had come for everyone not to just talk to each other but to start singing together again".
 
PEV created an opportunity for citizens of different ethnic origins and political affiliations to have their voices heard in a "neutral" and safe environment, and to propose solutions to the deep rifts caused both by the conflict and previously unsolved problems.
 
Our work came at a time of renewed public discontent over the implementation of the Orhid agreement. Decentralisation of state decision-making and plans to redraw municipal borders in certain areas were major sources of division between Macedonians and ethnic Albanians as well as between political parties.

Key achievements
 
Opened channels of communication - PEV extensively consulted with all sectors of society, listening to and bringing together previously isolated or opposing groups, as well as members of ethnic Albanian diaspora in Switzerland, to discuss key areas of concern. The team facilitated meetings in 15 regions of the republic, engaging some 3,000 people in 24 communities affected by the conflict in outlining their vision for a better Macedonia.

Strengthened social networks at community level -  The project created room for people from across the divide to talk and meet face to face. This helped them to better understand and trust each other. Their confidence in their ability to articulate their vision and influence the political process also grew.
 
A common vision for a multi-ethnic state - The results of PEV's research and consultations showed that a large majority of the population wanted a stable, inclusive multi-ethnic society as well as a state that allows for peaceful coexistence. Most people saw economic and social issues as the main challenges to the new state, rather than combating ethnic tension. Their priorities were to overcome poverty, reduce unemployment and have access to good quality social services. 
 
Better historical understanding of the causes of the 2001 conflict - During and after the conflict, politicians and the media perpetuated the stereotypes of the Albanians as the "separatists" and the Macedonians as the "oppressors." However, according to the participants, institutional ethnic discrimination in access to jobs, education and health care were the real reasons behind the violence. 
 
Message to the politicians - Most Macedonians were loud and clear in their demands for an end to inter party rivalries that aggravated inter-ethnic relations and to the endemic political corruption. They also called on state institutions to be democratic, fair and equitable and to embrace all cultural identities. 

 
Completion of the project
 
Since the unexpected death of the Macedonian President, Boris Trajkovski, a strong supporter of the project, in Spring 2004, it had begun to lose momentum and was not able to make a significant impact on policy-makers. Political parties involved in fighting the subsequent elections were unable to give the project their full attention. It also became increasingly difficult to engage the international community.
 
In September 2004, the project had completed its two and a half year life cycle and, with a lack of donor support, a decision was taken not to extend it.
 
The ineffectual cooperation between politicians, social organisations and the people remains the main stumbling block in establishing a truly pluralist Macedonian society.