Crisisridden Parts Of Macedonia Are Getting Back To Normal

The situation in the crisisridden parts of Macedonia is getting back to normal after the events of November 11, when Albanian terrorists held several dozen people hostage and killed three policemen. Apart from a shell explosion next to a police station, there was no armed provocation on the night of November 13. At the same time, a significant police presence remains in the area of the villages of Trebosh and Neproshteno, where, according to some sources, the common graves of Macedonians kidnapped by Albanian terrorists last summer are located. The burial ground will not be touched unless authorisation to do so is received from the international community and the Hague Tribunal. According to reports from Skopje, Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski is insisting on such an authorisation. Political observers in the Macedonian capital believe that a new war has been avoided in the country. The Albanian terrorists were ready to start large-scale actions immediately, following the arrest of seven rebels from the officially disbanded National Liberation Army. The seven men kidnapped 60 civilians. Macedonian Prime Minister Lubco Georgievski and Parliamentary Chairman Stojan Andov demanded that the president order troops and police to use force to free the hostages. However, the president followed the advice of NATO Secretary General, European Union Coordinator, and U.S. Secretary of State and refrained from using force to free the hostages. Once representatives of the international community became involved, lengthy and difficult negotiations were over, and the Albanian side received confirmation that the arrested Albanians were alive, then the hostages were released. Now the Macedonian parliament is to start considering changes into the country's constitution. The ratification of the amendments is crucial for resolving the conflict in the country.