Macedonia - Kosovo Border Demarcation
Macedonia-Kosovo Border Demarcation
In the latest report of the International Crisis Group on Kosovo, the demarcation of the Kosovo-Macedonian border is not mentioned as one of the issues which are part of resolving Kosovo’s status.
According to the Europe Programme Director in the ICG, Nicholas Whyte, senior representatives of the Macedonian authorities requested the border not to be part of the negotiations on Kosovo, in order to avoid Macedonia being put in Kosovo’s context. The final decision will be passed by the Security Council and therefore it is illogical for Macedonia to ask from the UN to decide on this issue, which has already been resolved with the agreement concluded between Belgrade and Skopje in 2001, they said in ICG. “This position was clearly stated by the Macedonian representatives of all political parties. They did not want to be part of the Kosovo process from the beginning, but a consequence of this position is that the demarcation issue cannot be part of the final package for Kosovo,” Whyte stated. The expectations of Skopje - Macedonia not to be part of Kosovo’s situation - imply that the demarcation issue will definitely not be mentioned in the final package for Kosovo. According to Whyte, this issue will be discussed once it is determined on international level who is Macedonia’s partner in the process of placing border stones. The latest explanations of the ICG are opposite to the requests and promises given thus far – that the demarcation issue will be resolved in the course of negotiations on Kosovo’s final status.
In the latest report of the International Crisis Group on Kosovo, the demarcation of the Kosovo-Macedonian border is not mentioned as one of the issues which are part of resolving Kosovo’s status.
According to the Europe Programme Director in the ICG, Nicholas Whyte, senior representatives of the Macedonian authorities requested the border not to be part of the negotiations on Kosovo, in order to avoid Macedonia being put in Kosovo’s context. The final decision will be passed by the Security Council and therefore it is illogical for Macedonia to ask from the UN to decide on this issue, which has already been resolved with the agreement concluded between Belgrade and Skopje in 2001, they said in ICG. “This position was clearly stated by the Macedonian representatives of all political parties. They did not want to be part of the Kosovo process from the beginning, but a consequence of this position is that the demarcation issue cannot be part of the final package for Kosovo,” Whyte stated. The expectations of Skopje - Macedonia not to be part of Kosovo’s situation - imply that the demarcation issue will definitely not be mentioned in the final package for Kosovo. According to Whyte, this issue will be discussed once it is determined on international level who is Macedonia’s partner in the process of placing border stones. The latest explanations of the ICG are opposite to the requests and promises given thus far – that the demarcation issue will be resolved in the course of negotiations on Kosovo’s final status.
