Serbia has withdrawn its diplomatic staff from the neighboring country of Macedonia, allegedly for security reasons. The observers suspect but a political game around Kosovo, NATO, and the retention of power.
The struggle for power: Aleksandar Vucic (left) and Zoran Zaev (on the right)
Alleged espionage, artificially created tensions, and a lot of hot air – standard material to many of the Balkan drama. But what the Serbian government did on Sunday, is unique: the whole of The diplomatic personnel was ordered out of the Macedonian capital Skopje to “urgent consultations” after Belgrade. You have evidence of a “very offensive” intelligence activities, the concise statement of the Serbian President, Aleksandar Vučić. As Vučić could not say more, or wanted to, cooked the same, the media rumor mill.
“Scandal: The Macedonians eavesdrop even Vučić?!” – was the headline in the tabloid of hatred against Jews “Informer”, the unofficial mouthpiece of the Serbian government. The rest of the high-circulation tabloids were the new Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in the pillory: “Zaev Serbia declared war” and “Zaev stabs us with a knife in the back” was read on the title sheets.
The secret to a secret service agent
To overthrow the long-standing autocrats, Nikola Gruevski, had to arrange the social Democrat, Zaev with leaders of the Albanian parties in Macedonia. The Deal included various concessions to the Albanians, who account for about a quarter of the population. So Zaev came at the beginning of June to the Power of the old rulers Gruevski to the attention of the justice, abuse of authority, election fraud and massive corruption accusations.
Currently empty: The Serbian Embassy in Skopje
It is primarily the “Albanian question”, which is why the Serbian leadership until the end of Gruevski noted. As his followers at the end of April as the angry Mob, the Parliament in Skopje, stormed in order to prevent the formation of new government coalition, showed video footage of a Serbian intelligence officers at the top of the onslaught. Several deputies were injured, including Zoran Zaev.
The Belgrade embarrassing Episode was played down, the new Macedonian government sought a diplomatic tone towards the Northern neighbour. May this scandal has moved the Macedonian services to the Serbian diplomats in the country are more stringent under the shell, says Bojan Elek, researcher at the Belgrade centre for security policy. In Skopje, officially, all the spy will be denied the accusations. In the Macedonian press, but it’s believed that Belgrade has taken a spectacular step, in order to qualify potential intelligence activities against Zaev and to disguise.
The Kosovo as a bone of contention
Many observers suspect, however, other reasons for the re-inflamed the dispute. At the end of October the General Assembly of the UN cultural organisation (UNESCO) will decide again on the inclusion of Kosovo. Serbia does not recognise the 2008 unilaterally declared independence of the former southern province continue to Macedonia. Two years ago, failed of Kosovo, which is inhabited almost exclusively by ethnic Albanians, the UNESCO membership just. There are only three votes for the necessary two-thirds majority was lacking.
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Although Zaev signaled in may that Macedonia could be the next vote, “neutral”, there are increasing clues that Skopje will once again vote for the inclusion of Kosovo. “We have no such information”, said the Serbian President Vučić in a news broadcast. In Skopje it is, you’ll be geared to the majority of the members of the EU.
“The Serbian side may not understand that we are a multi-ethnic country. The government must always take into account the interests of all citizens,” said the former Macedonian foreign Minister Denko Maleski of the DW. You should not endanger stability in the country, he said in allusion to the duration of tensions between Macedonia and the Albanians. “We are likely to vote for the inclusion of Kosovo in the UNESCO – this corresponds to our national interests.”
NATO-surrounded
After the recording the small Adriatic Republic of Montenegro in the NATO-Serbia is surrounded almost completely by the States of the Atlantic military Alliance. Also, the new Macedonian government is aiming for a quick NATO accession. The Regime of former ultra-nationalists Vučić in Belgrade is to reform and Pro-European, but NATO remains a taboo. The Alliance bombed Serbia heavily in the Wake of the Kosovo war in 1999. In addition, the Serbian political elites are constantly striving to maintain the best relations with Russia.
Zoran Zaev: After the attack in Parliament, with blood smeared
The Macedonian-Albanian Diplomat, Alajdin Demiri suggests that’s why the “hysteria” from Belgrade, as an attempt to the EU and to prevent the NATO accession of Macedonia. “Behind it is an attempt to support Moscow is likely to be. I believe that this was only the beginning and soon new steps will follow,” predicts Demiri in the DW-interview.
The way for membership must free must of Macedonia to settle first, the year-long dispute with Greece over the state name. Behind the name “Macedonia” smells Athens a claim to the Territory on the homonymous Greek Region of Macedonia. The new coalition government in Skopje is clearly trying to reach a compromise. It would hit hard, if, in the future, Belgrade, as the Minister of foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic has threatened not to recognise Macedonia under this name.
The Crisis Of Production
The analyst elect the government believes to have the pattern of Serbia’s strongman Vucic recognized: he is creating artificial crises with neighboring countries – Croatia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia – to the inside of a political than a clever and cool politician stage. The neighbors would be perceived as a threat. “And then the Serb politicians will come as the Savior, the eliminate the Problem.”
Serbia’s President Vucic: “Artificial crises created?”
So he think the domestic audience in suspense. Real problems resulted, however, in the Background: the economic misery, the arbitrary distribution of Jobs in the public service by the party of grace and the media censorship.
On Wednesday the phone Vučić and Zaev, in order to calm the situation and to emphasize the really friendly relationship between the Serbs and the Macedonians. They wanted to stay in dialogue, economic relations strengths, and each other on the EU path support, so the common opinion. The Serbian diplomats should be back next week in Skopje.