Macedonia (FYROM): A Durable Peace Depends On Respect For Human Rights
* News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty International *
15 August 2001
The Framework Agreement, signed Monday in Ohrid, represents the best opportunity to ensure greater respect for the human
rights of all people in Macedonia by establishing the principle of non-discrimination and equal treatment of all under
the law. It provides a legal framework through which respect for the civil, political, economic, social and cultural
rights of ethnic Albanians and other ethnic minorities could finally be realized.
As sporadic fighting continues in Macedonia, Amnesty International calls on the Macedonian government, representatives
of the ethnic Albanian community and the international community to ensure that the peace agreement is effective in
bringing an end to the human rights abuses experienced by civilians over the past six months.
Since February this year both the Macedonian forces and the armed opposition group, the National Liberation Army (NLA),
have been responsible for indiscriminate killings of unarmed civilians. Macedonia has also seen incidents of
"disappearances" and abductions, torture and ill-treatment, arbitrary arrests and the massive displacement of both the
ethnic Albanian and Macedonian populations, within and outside of the country.
Those responsible for violations of international humanitarian law and serious human rights abuses in Macedonia must be
brought to justice before the courts, in proceedings which respect the rights of each person suspected, as guaranteed
under national law and international standards.
The Macedonian authorities have said they will investigate and prosecute war crimes allegedly perpetrated by members of
the NLA. Amnesty International reminds the authorities of their obligations under domestic law, the European Convention
for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, and other international standards relating to arrest,
detention and fair trials. The organization also calls on the Macedonian authorities to promptly and impartially
investigate allegations of human rights violations perpetrated by the Macedonian military and police forces, and to
bring the perpetrators to justice.
As part of the Framework Agreement troops from 12 of the 19 member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO) will be deployed in Macedonia to collect arms voluntarily surrendered by the NLA, provided there is a "durable
cease-fire". Amnesty International is also calling on NATO to ensure that the human rights of all civilians are
respected and protected by the 3,500 NATO troops, due to be deployed in "Operation Essential Harvest".
The organization further calls on all parties to the agreement, and the international community, to ensure the safe and
sustainable return of displaced persons and refugees - including those who fled without documentation.
Amnesty International reiterated that a durable peace depends on respect for the human rights of all people from all
communities in Macedonia.
The Framework Agreement The Framework Agreement was signed on 13 August 2001 by the Government of Macedonia - which
includes the leaders of the two main Albanian political parties - and representatives of the European Union and the USA.
The NLA - who were not a party to the talks - have generally welcomed the agreement; it has been opposed by another
smaller armed opposition group, the Albanian National Army.
Amnesty International welcomes the provisions of the Framework Agreement which aim to redress the past human rights
abuses and institutionalized discrimination which have contributed to the current crisis.
Amnesty International particularly welcomes proposed constitutional amendments which guarantee the internationally
recognized human rights of all citizens of Macedonia, and the expansion of the Public Attorney's mandate to redress
alleged violations of those rights by public authorities.
The organization also welcomes measures proposed for human rights training - with the assistance of the international
community - of members of the police force and other actors in the criminal justice system. Amnesty International and
other human rights organizations have, over the past ten years, documented many cases of ill-treatment and torture, and
unfair trials of ethnic Albanians and other minorities.
The agreement aspires to create a multi-ethnic police force reflecting the overall make-up of the population by July
2004. Amnesty International notes that, in effect, this will increase the numbers of ethnic Albanians serving in police
forces where that community is in a majority. The police will remain under the control of the central government.
Provisions of the Framework Agreement, which require amendment of the Constitution are due to be approved by the
Macedonian parliament within the next 45 days. These, and proposed changes to the law, aim to ensure respect for the
ethnic identity and interests of all Macedonian citizens, and aspire to improve respect for the economic, social and
cultural rights of ethnic minority communities, and in particular, the ethnic Albanians, who make up an estimated one
third of the population of Macedonia.
Reflecting the demands of ethnic Albanians and others to be acknowledged as citizens, the preamble to the constitution
will be amended to refer to "citizens of the republic of Macedonia", rather than listing Albanians, Turks, Vlachs and
Roma and others - as in the previous constitution - as minorities.
Laws regulating employment in public administration will be amended to ensure an equitable representation of all
communities. Other measures aim to ensure that where ethnic Albanians - or other ethnic minorities - make up at least 20
per cent of the population of a municipality, that minority groups will be able to conduct official business in their
own language and educate their children up to university level in their own language. Albanian will also be recognized
as a second official language throughout Macedonia.
In order to achieve these aims, the Framework Agreement requires the international community to come forward with the
necessary financial and technical assistance.
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