Dispute over recognition of Kosovo puts Macedonian government on verge of collapse
Macedonian government junior coalition partner, the Democratic Party of Albanians (PDSh), threatened to leave the cabinet Wednesday, unless Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski meets a series of serious demands, including the recognition of neighboring Kosovo.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Thursday, March 13, 2008
Macedonian political scene has been tense ever since Pristina unilaterally declared the independence from Serbia in mid-February, largely due to the obvious gap between the Macedonian majority and the ethnic Albanian minority which comprises roughly a quarter of country's 2 million population, which demands have now been boosted.
PDSh chief Menduh Thaci warned of a grave political crisis in Macedonia, following the government's slow response to demands, which include recognition of independent Kosovo, state-funded care for former ethnic Albanian rebel fighters, and the recognition of Albanian as the country's second official language.
Thaci said senior PDSh officials had "unanimously accepted" his proposal to quit the government, in a move widely seen as a deliberate attempt to destabilize Macedonia in the aftermath of Kosovo's unilateral decision to declare the independence.
"If you ask me, the decision is definite," said Thaci.
PDSH's decision to quit the government came amid U.S.-sponsored diplomatic initiative aimed towards Macedonia's accession into NATO - a move which will largely annul the possibility of division of the tiny Balkan state between Macedonians and Albanians.
PDSh, formerly led by ultra-nationalist Arben Xhaferi has often been accused of wanting to secede the country's Albanian-dominated western part and possibly join neighboring Kosovo.
