The fire of ethnic strife may burn in Macedonia again

01.03.2011

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia can become the next hot spot in the world. Recently, the local Interior Ministry called the administrators of Facebook to block the profiles of the users who incite ethnic strife. It is not ruled out that the country may soon become another stage for the Slav-Albanian conflict.

"According to Putytin, the Macedonian statehood is seriously threatened. "Many Macedonians have Bulgarian passports, and it is possible that in the future the territory of Macedonia will be divided between Bulgaria and Kosovo, and Macedonians will be a minority in both countries. Serbia could play an important role in defending the independence of Macedonia, but difficult economic and political situation does not allow it to be a stabilizing factor in the Balkans," he said.

In mid-February in the capital of the country Skopje a brawl broke out between Macedonians and Albanians. The latter did not like the fact that a museum shaped like an Orthodox church will be placed in the city center. As a result, eight individuals, including policemen who tried to bring order, were injured with various degrees of severity.

After the incident Macedonian Interior Ministry has asked the administration of Facebook to deactivate the profiles and pages of the groups that citizens have created to appeal to ethnic hatred. The police emphasized that the network is used by extremists to promote the idea of hatred and religious intolerance, which may threaten Macedonian statehood.

The concerns of the Macedonian security forces are well grounded. Approximately a quarter of the two million population of the country are Albanians. The maps of "Greater Albania" issued in Albania and Kosovo from time to time display the capital of Kosovo, as well as one of the main shrines of the Balkan Slavs, Ohrid Monastery. When we consider what the Albanians have done to the Kosovo churches and monasteries, the possibilities look cheerless.............................

more see:........http://english.pravda.ru/hotspots/conflicts/01-03-2011/117047-macedonia_ethnic_strife-0/.