Publication

This report addresses background and development of the outbreak of violence in Macedonia in early 2001 that involved Albanian insurgents and Macedonian security forces. The paper introduces the incidents that took place in the Kosovar-Macedonian border village Tanusevci and in the city of Tetovo, which were hot spots of the crisis. In addition, the paper sheds light on factors contributing to the escalation, including Kosovo, deteriorating inter-ethnic relations and an erosion of political legitimacy. The paper calls for strong international support to Macedonia’s government to ensure that political dialogue leads to real action.