Macedonia Albanians warn of destabilization unless Hague cases closed Text of report by Macedonian newspaper Dnevnik on 21 July [Report by Mariela Trajkovska, Tatjana Popovska: Hague Cases To Be Closed by Ilinden] DUI [Democratic Union for Integration - BDI in Albanian] leader Ali Ahmeti is exerting pressure on Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski for the Assembly to close the Hague cases by Ilinden [ 2 August national holiday]. This would be carried out through an authentic interpretation of the Amnesty Law, for which the DUI has already received the preliminary consent of the parties of the Macedonian bloc, a senior DUI official has told Dnevnik. Otherwise, if the cases continue to be processed, Ahmetis party has warned of the states potential political destabilization. The VMRO-DPMNE [Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity] has refused to comment on whether an agreement has been reached on closing these cases, whereas the SDSM [Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia] claims that it has not discussed this subject with the DUI. Political Solution According to our source, the Hague cases can be closed most legally with an authentic interpretation of the Amnesty Law, that is, the Assembly should confirm that these cases fall under this law and that the amnesty applies for these, too, because it covers the criminal deeds committed during the 2001 armed conflict. This is not an act of political interference in the judiciary. We have already talked to all Assembly groups and they are mostly all aware of the consequences of the Hague cases that are being processed now. The Macedonian political bloc realizes that, unless this issue is closed soon, the Albanians may politically destabilize the state, because the Albanian bloc is unanimous regarding this problem. The request for an authentic interpretation has already been harmonized and it is expected that all the Assembly parties and deputies will uphold it. This is not about political kudos, because we will not receive anything, whereas the Macedonian parties will not lose a thing. They will instead obtain something because Macedonias stability will be reinforced. We insist on the Hague cases being closed before the Assembly deputies vacations, because we have other obligations in September, the DUI official said. The closing of the Hague cases is one of the demands that Ahmeti openly delivered to Gruevski for the purpose of the relaxation of interethnic ties. Following the Sopot case, the dilemma remains of whether the deadline set to Gruevski for the Hague cases to be closed by Ilinden is aimed at increasing the DUIs rating or whether the ruling coalition partners are preparing the turf for a political resolution to the Hague cases. The VMRO-DPMNE has refused to express its official stance on this subject, despite our insistence. Party sources have said unofficially that, at the executive committees latest session, Gruevski tried to raise the Hague cases issue, but his attempt was futile because of the members harsh reaction. Party sources say that they are in an unpleasant situation because, on one hand, the DUI is pressuring for this issue to be closed, whereas the VMRO-DPMNE, on the other, understands that this is absolutely unacceptable for the members and the base. Yet, they say that they are facing a potential breakup of the coalition if Ahmeti wins over the oppositions support through lobbying, that is, as they put it, if Crvenkovski buys the DUI leader for a coalition partner with the Hague cases. As opposed to the DUIs claims, the SDSM categorically denies that the two parties have had any contacts on the resolution of the Hague cases. Still, the SDSM leadership refuses to publicly express their position on this issue. Let the VMRO-DPMNE air its stance, because they are coalition partners, they are in the government, and this is their responsibility, SDSM members said. Branko Crvenkovskis [SDSM leader] party thus clearly indicates that it will totally keep aside and leave the VMRO-DPMNE and the DUI resolve this delicate issue, which was part of Gruevskis and Ahmetis May agreement as well. NSDP [New Social Democratic Party] Chairman Tito Petkovski also claims that they have not met or talked with the DUI about the Hague cases. Still, unlike the SDSM, he asserts that this problem cannot be solved with authentic interpretation. Being a lawyer, I claim that these cases cannot be absolved with authentic interpretation, because these are deeds against humanity, regulated under international law. The Hague cases must be processed in court, Petkovski said. The LDP [Liberal Democratic Party], too, has denied the DUIs claims, by saying that they have held no meeting on this issue. Lost in Court Labyrinths Although three years have passed since the Hague tribunal returned the four cases to the Macedonian judiciary, they have still not been processed, but are part of political bargains and calculations. Different excuses have been used for one year now for the Mavrovo workers case alone, the court proceedings for which have already commenced, so that this trial would not start at all. DUI Assembly Deputy Hisen Xhemaili was stripped of his immunity last year for this case, so, even if he is charged with serious acts against humanity, he is defending himself while free and continues to perform his job as Assembly deputy. The cases of the Lipkovo dam, the ONA [National Liberation Army, NLA - UCK in Albanian] leadership, and the kidnapped Macedonians have been lost in the court and prosecution labyrinths. The DUIs demand for an authentic interpretation of the Amnesty Law is not a novelty. It was precisely because of the refusal of the Assemblys Legislative-Legal Commission to debate the need for the authentic interpretation that made the DPA [Democratic Party of Albanians - PDSh in Albanian] leave the Assembly last year. This is precisely why the DUI insists on the parliamentary parties previous consent before it submits the motion for an authentic interpretation to the Assembly. The Macedonian and Albanian legal experts, in addition to politicians, also differ on whether there can be a political solution for these cases. The Macedonian legal experts assert that the authentic interpretation of any national law, such as the Amnesty Law or any other act, cannot suspend the international conventions on war crimes and the criminals prosecution. They believe that no one has the exclusive right to prosecute and try people for these atrocities. On the other hand, the Albanian legal experts explain that, because the Hague tribunal did not raise proceedings for these cases, this means that it found no fault in the same, so the domestic courts are not authorized to act on the same. They, moreover, are unanimous that these cases should be covered by the Amnesty Law. Source: Dnevnik, Skopje, in Macedonian 21 Jul 10 BBC Mon EU1 EuroPol zv (c) Copyright British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 12:29:55 +0000
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