Word: macedonia
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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TIME.com: Macedonia's main ethnic-Albanian political party has joined a unity government created to resolve the country's political crisis. Why have they taken this step...
...Dejan Anastasijevic: All of Macedonia's political parties really had no choice but to go into a unity government, because it really is the last chance to save the country from being split along ethnic lines. This government will be authorized to make the necessary changes in the constitution to accommodate Albanian grievances, and as long as there is a multiethnic government, it's still possible to talk of Macedonia as a state...
...Arber Xhaferi (leader of the largest Albanian group, the Democratic Party of Albanians) had refused to join the government, that would have been the end of Macedonia as a state. And it would be the end of Xhaferi, too, because then the guys currently fighting in the hills would take over the political leadership of Macedonia's Albanians. So it was in the mutual interest of Xhaferi and the parties representing the Slav majority to reach a compromise. It's in everyone's interests, except the guerrillas...
...state in the "process of dissolution." Well, it took 10 years of bloodshed, but the job is almost done. The original six Yugoslav republics have been whittled down to two. First Slovenia and Croatia went their own ways, then Bosnia withdrew, triggering the long siege of Sarajevo, then Macedonia managed to get out miraculously without violence. Now, with a seemingly minor election later this week in the small mountain republic of Montenegro, Serbia's remaining partner in the incredible shrinking federation is set to leave as well. That will close the book on one of the least successful political entities...
...Secession, should it take place, will likely trigger a new contest for power in Serbia between disparate members of the 18-party coalition led by Vojislav Kostunica. In the longer term, it could also encourage other breakaway groups, from ethnic Albanians in Macedonia to Croats in Bosnia...