NATO in Macedonia

Standard Grade Modern Studies – Europe

Macedonia

Macedonia Macedonia is bordered by

Serbia to the North, Albania to the West, Greece to the South and Bulgaria to the East.

Since 1993 it has been referred to as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Macedonia has 3 major groups making up its population; the Slavs, the Albanians and the Serbs.

In February 2001 a war begun in the Western regions of Macedonia.

Why conflict in Macedonia? In February 2001 a war begun in

the Western regions of Macedonia.Albanian fighters, aided by

sympathisers and weapons from Kosovo and Albania, began a seven month war with the Macedonian army and police who are predominantly Slav.

During the conflict nearly 100 people lost their lives and an estimated 150,000 fled their homes.

NATO Actions in Macedonia From February to August,

various talks took place in attempts to reach peace, however these talks failed and violence continued.

In August 2001, NATO authorised deployment of 3500 troops to Macedonia in order to collect and destroy weapons and act as peacekeepers.

This plan was called ‘Operation Essential Harvest’.

Operation Essential Harvest In order for NATO to deploy

troops for Operation Harvest, conditions had to be met in the country, these were;

An enduring cease-fire respected by all parties.

A general political agreement among the main political parties.

A disarmament plan agreed with the government and the ethnic Albanians.

Operation Essential Harvest NATO worked in Macedonia to

ensure peace and collected and destroyed weapons from armed groups.

From June to August in 2002 KFOR had seized over 3,300 weapons and 73,000 bounds of ammunition.

Today there are still troops in Macedonia, although much less – many have been redeployed to Afghanistan.

NATO’s role in Macedonia today is more about maintaining peace and cooperation in the country.