Word: albanian
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...Both the Albanian and Slav populations of Macedonia have been radicalized by the new insurgency. Voices of moderation are growing fewer. There's a lot of anger in the Slav population about the Albanian guerrilla offensive, particularly because Macedonia took in refugees from Kosovo two years ago, and they feel like they're being paid back with this violence...
...There was a major protest over the weekend by Macedonian Slavs from Tetovo, calling for civilians to be armed. On the Albanian side in Macedonia, the political leadership seems to be playing a double game. On the one hand they're making conciliatory statements to the Macedonian audience. On the other hand, when they're talking to foreign journalist they're calling for things Macedonia will never accept, such as creating a federation. The government won't accept this solution, because they see it as an inevitable step toward the disintegration of Macedonia and the creation of a Greater Kosovo...
...Surely, though, if the Macedonians see this as an insurgency exported from Kosovo, then they could see their way clear to continue working with Macedonia's Albanian population...
...Macedonians certainly see this problem as exported from Kosovo, and deny that the guerrillas have indigenous roots. So there's some hope among Slavs that there are still moderate Albanians in Macedonia who would be willing to work toward some kind of political solution. But even the Albanian leaders here who have been working in the Macedonian political system have been calling for constitutional changes, such as a federation, which the government won't do. In theory there should be some room for further talks, further conciliation. But the presence of these rebels in the hills, and the fact that...
NATO officials concede that the problem is partly of their own making. A three-mile-wide buffer zone along the Kosovo border, created by NATO to keep Serbian forces at bay, has become the perfect working environment for Albanian rebels. NATO's new plan allows for lightly armed Serbian troops to patrol a section of the zone near Macedonia in order to disrupt rebel incursions. Meanwhile, in Kosovo, U.S. troops have stepped up their patrols...