Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
Presentation on Supporting the Peace Process in Macedonia
by Using the Northern Ireland Experience
Aisling Lyon: Barcelona, Spain, Saturday 24 July 2004.
PERSONAL INTRODUCTION
Very happy to be here today and to be given the opportunity to share with you
all the work I have been involved with recently.
Over the past few years I have been working with former Communist countries
in central and eastern Europe. My work has focused on using the UK’s
experience – both positive and negative – to assist candidate countries in their
efforts to secure European Union membership. The variety issues I been
managing projects in the region on have been:
•
the strengthening of legal institutions and the rule of law;
•
anti-corruption strategies;
•
the promotion of an independent media;
•
and inter-ethnic community relations.
I am currently working specifically with the development of local government
and managing projects to build the capacity of local government overseas, by
promoting the experience – both positive and negative – of local authorities
from throughout the UK.
I would like to talk to you today about a variety of activities I have been
managing over the past 2 years to assist the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia with its accession towards the EU.
This work has focused around linking Macedonia with another marginalized
region of the EU – Northern Ireland. NI’s specific experience is in many ways
an appropriate example to use for Macedonia.
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
1/13
Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
Overview:
- Background to the conflict in Macedonia;
- Key features of the peace process;
- How the experience of another post-conflict society (Northern Ireland)
can be of benefit to Macedonia.
1. COUNTRY BACKGROUND - MACEDONIA
Population: 2 million (2002)
Capital city: Skopje (pop: almost 500,000)
People: (2002 Census) Macedonian 64%, Albanian 25%,
Others: Turks, Roma gypsy, Serbs, Bosniaks, and Vlachs.
Languages: Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, Serbian
Religion: Orthodox 67%, Muslim 30%
Recent History:
- Declared independence in September 1991.
- March 1992: Yugoslav army withdrew peacefully of from its territory.
(unlike in Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina).
2. INTER-COMMUNAL RELATIONS
- Albanians form the principal ethnic minority.
- Live mainly in the west of the country, territory bordering Albania and Kosovo.
- The Albanians feel deprived of full cultural, educational and civil rights:
* Lack of representation in the public sector: central and local government,
the police, army, etc.;
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
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Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
3. INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF MACEDONIA
The name:
- Greece does not recognise name ‘Macedonia’: they say the name
“Macedonia” is Greek and refers to a larger geographical area which
incorporates parts of northern Greece, around city of Thessaloniki.
-
For international purposes, given the temporary name of “The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” or FYROM.
The flag:
- For similar arguments, Greece did not initially recognise the flag – the
Star of Vergina a Greek symbol. Flag was changed.
The language:
- Disputed primarily by the Bulgarians but also by many linguists – say it
is too similar to be a separate language and is merely a dialect of
Bulgarian.
The Church:
- The Serbian Orthodox Church does not recognise the Macedonian
Orthodox Church.
Ironically, out of all Macedonia’s immediate neighbours, Albania is the only
state which does not support any of these arguments against MK identity.
The 2 countries enjoy good diplomatic relations.
However, Macedonia feels threatened by ethnic Albanians, as opposed to the
Albanian state:
-
primary concern is aspirations of a “Greater Albania” or a “Greater
Kosovo” – eventual partition of Macedonia;
-
high birth rate among ethnic Albanians living in west.
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
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Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
Identity crisis of the majority is very significant: the result being that
Macedonian nationalism is asserted more aggressively as a means of
hiding insecurities:
-
affects the majority’s tolerance of and attitude towards other minority
ethnic groups;
impacts upon the State’s notion of what constitutes a ‘Macedonian’
citizen.
(very narrow definition).
For example:
In 1989, when Communism was unraveling in Eastern Europe, but before the
breakup of Yugoslavia, the constitution was reworded:
-
Socialist Republic of Macedonia was redefined as “a nation-state of
Macedonian people”;
-
previously the constitution had referred to “a nation of the Macedonian
people and the Albanian and Turkish minorities”.
Rise of nationalism and attempts at creating a ‘nation state’, coupled with a very
narrow sense of who is a Macedonian results in a significant proportion of the
population having no allegiance or sense of belonging towards the state.
4. CONFLICT IN 2001 AND THE OHRID FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT
Period between independence and 2001: characterized as various attempts
by ethnic Albanian political parties to redress grievances through political
means
- largely unsuccessful.
Conflict: March to August 2001
The reason for violence – depends on who you ask:
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
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Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
-
largely seen by International Community as an attempt by ethnic
Albanians to improve their political rights and their ability to participate
within state;
-
fear of ethnic Albanian separatist movement and an attempt to divide
Macedonia along ethnic lines (‘Greater Albania’ myth and fear that western
Macedonia would join either Albanian proper or an independent Kosovo.
Why conflict in 2001?
- ethnic Albanians losing patience with the political process?
-
Impact of war in Kosovo in 1999?:
* perceived improvement of rights for Kosovan ‘brothers’ and possibility
of independence of Kosovo;
* increased availability of weapons;
* increase in organised crime and paramilitary groups with an interest in
maintaining instability of the region.
Peace talks, which were facilitated by the International Community - produced a
settlement based around a Framework Agreement - signed in August 2001.
The Agreement called for an end to the conflict by disarming the ethnic
Albanian National Liberation Army, offering its members an amnesty, and
initiating a reform process which would seek to address ethnic Albanian political
aspirations.
Parliamentary Elections were held following year and the current Government
is a coalition of two ethnic Macedonian parties, and the main ethnic Albanian
party: a new party based on the National Liberation Army of 2001 and led by
former National Liberation Army commander, Ali Ahmeti.
5. IMPLEMENTING THE PEACE AGREEMENT
Commitment to Territorial Integrity:
Agreement calls for “Macedonia's sovereignty and territorial integrity … There
are no territorial solutions to ethnic issues.”
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
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Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
Constitution:
Preamble refers to: “citizens of the Republic of Macedonia” and “all
communities in Macedonia”.
Main Themes:
A.) Equitable Representation:
Overarching theme of the Agreement was that “the multi-ethnic character of
Macedonian society must be preserved and reflected in public life”.
That “Laws regulating employment in public administration will include
measures to assure equitable representation of communities in all central
and local public bodies and at all levels of employment within such bodies …”
“The authorities will take action to correct present imbalances in the
composition of the public administration …”
B.) Police Reform:
“Particular attention will be given to ensuring as rapidly as possible that the
police services will generally reflect the composition and distribution of the
population.”
C.) Development of Decentralised Local-Self Government:
Local Self-Government is essential for encouraging the participation of citizens
in democratic life, and for promoting respect for the identity of all communities.
- capacity building of local government is trend followed by all former Yugoslav
republics.
- Use of Languages:
The official language throughout Macedonia is the Macedonian language.
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
6/13
Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
However, with respect to local self-government, in municipalities where a
community comprises at least 20 percent of the population, the language of
that community will also be used as an official language.
- Expression of Identity and Use of Community Symbols:
”With respect to emblems, next to the emblem of the Republic of Macedonia,
local authorities will be free to place on front of local public buildings emblems
marking the identity of the community in the majority in the municipality …”
6. USING THE NORTHERN IRELAND EXPERIENCE
No two conflicts are the same, but there are many similarities linking Northern
Ireland’s experience over the past 30 years with recent events in Macedonia:
•
Majority vs. minority conflict – divided on nationality, religious, and
linguistic lines;
•
Territorially – minority community located in west of countries;
•
Legacy of state sponsored discrimination or perceived
discrimination against minority community – resulting in minority
community showing little or no allegiance to state structures;
•
Threat to territorial integrity of the State:
- Macedonia: partition along ethnic lines:
- NI – minority Nationalist community supporting a United Ireland.
•
Both have political parties in government coalition with links to
former paramilitary organizations:
- MK: Democratic Union for Integration, now in government coalition
- NI: Sinn Fein, linked to the Provisional IRA, largest Catholic party, after
last October’s Assembly elections.
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
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Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
•
Result being a majority community with a chronic identity crisis and
all the problems that stem from this.
“Easier to win the war than it is to keep the peace.”
The words of a peace agreement are worth less than the paper it is written on
unless they are implemented effectively.
Implementation is always very difficult, especially if your peace agreement is
prepared in hast and the text raises more questions than it does answers.
Looked at the Good Friday / Belfast Agreement 1998 and other
subsequent legislation and the various institutions that have been
established as a result of it.
Study visit (October 2003): group of 12 senior politicians and civil society
representatives, including a former Deputy Prime Minister, the Vice-Speaker of
Parliament, and a Constitutional Court Judge
– cross party and mixed ethnic backgrounds.
Programme to study key themes of NI peace process relevant to Macedonia.
- variety of meetings with politicians, key institutions, and community reps.
Out of this initial visit, 3 themes of reform have been developed and I would like
to share with you 3 examples of co-operation which have stemmed from this
visit:
A.) Equality:
Very precise equality legislation - Section 75 of peace agreement – 2 themes:
•
•
anti-discrimination practice;
public authorities have a positive duty to promotion of good relations and
neutral working environments;
Eg: Training seminar for representatives from ministries and local municipalities
including presentations by the Equality Officer at Belfast City Council.
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
8/13
Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
Establishment of an independent Equality Commission:
•
Arranged for Deputy Prime Minister Musa Xhafferi to visit Belfast and the
Commission earlier this year.
B.) POLICE REFORM:
NI: Reform has focused around:
• change of image for the police: the name Royal Ulster Constabulary
changed to the more inclusive Police Service for Northern Ireland;
•
multi-ethnic composition of police officers (NI following policy of
positive discrimination to increase the recruitment of underrepresented
communities);
•
confidence building measures: establishment of independence Office
of the Police Ombudsman – investigate incidents of police corruption,
use of excessive force, and reports of collusion.
Established an exchange between the Office of the Police Ombudsman
and the Ministry of Interior in Macedonia.
- Mrs Nuala O’Loan visited Macedonia in April this year to assess the
current situation regarding reform in Macedonia.
- Four representatives from the Macedonian Ministry of Interior have just
returned from Belfast a couple of weeks ago.
Issued discussed:
•
issue of correcting ethnic balance of police service:
- encouraging early retirement for over-represented communities
- or offering retraining schemes for those interested in leaving police
service.
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
9/13
Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
•
riot control – how to avoid the unnecessary use of force by police (when
to use CS gas, when to use water cannon, why not to use plastic bullets),
avoid escalation of tensions by police being present;
•
methodology for using forensic evidence and procedures for avoiding
the contamination of evidence;
•
how interviews are managed at police stations – recording of interviews
(not presently done in Macedonia);
•
Police Ombudsman’s Office – no plans to establish similar institution in
Macedonia but intend to expand powers of current Macedonian
Ombudsman to work on police issues.
- BUT through exchange Macedonian interior ministry are learning about
principles of transparency of investigations, collection of evidence etc.
C.) DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT:
Clear that NI has a lot of experience in managing sensitive issues at the local
level.
Just established 4 partnerships between the municipalities in the UK and
Macedonia – 2 of whom involve partners from Northern Ireland:
•
•
Derry / Londonderry, the largest Catholic majority city in NI with Tetovo in
western Macedonia.
Prilep in central Macedonia is partnered with Unionist-majority area
Larne, north of Belfast.
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
10/13
Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
Derry / Tetovo match particularly important:
- both located near to borders in the west of the country;
- both cities where the ethnic minority community is in the majority;
- similar population size (approx. 90,000);
- both birth places of civil rights movements for respective minority
communities.
Together all partnerships will focus on general issues of local government:
•
overall management of the council, how decisions are made in a
transparent way – management of committee structures;
•
recruitment processes – based on merit and equality of opportunity;
•
communication strategies – how to deal with the media and to promote
the work of the council in a positive light – especially regarding sensitive
issues;
In addition, asked to develop particular projects on the following:
•
waste management and the protection of the environment;
•
e-governance and use of the internet to promote council services
(particularly important in rural communities);
•
economic development – how to attract overseas investment and
promoting municipality positively to potential investors.
In addition, the partnerships involving Northern Ireland local authorities:
•
the use of community flags and symbols;
•
creation of politically neutral working environments;
•
bilingualism – (Kichevo – Gwynedd partnership in north Wales.)
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
11/13
Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
Conclusion:
The programme of activities been extremely successful in terms of experience
sharing – from both sides. It is clear that NI’s peace process is neither perfect
or complete.
During discussions became evident that there are many examples where NI can
learn from Macedonia – in particular maintaining communication between diff.
political parties during sensitive periods.
Activities are important psychologically for both countries:
Macedonia:
• under great pressure to implement a plethora of complicated reforms
within a short space of time – may of which address hugely sensitive
issues.
( – whilst at the same time coping with the painful process of economic
transition from socialism to capitalism);
•
important to have a partner within the EU to assist with this process and
to lobby on Macedonia’s behalf for EU membership;
•
important to realise that they are not alone - other states experience
conflicts, even a current member of the EU.
•
happy to be given the opportunity to give something back to the EU and
to be given the opportunity to promote themselves in a positive light.
NI:
Could go on and on talking about other community – based likes which are
currently being established, but am conscious we have other presentations to
hear.
Diàlegs - Fòrum Universal de les Cultures – Barcelona 2004
12/13
Nom del diàleg: La riquesa ètica de les nacions
Data: 24 Juliol
Sessió: “Bones pràctiques: valors i capital social”
Ponent: Aisling Lyon
Thank you for your attention and would be more than happy to answer any
questions.
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