UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities

Fifty-first session

Provisional agenda item 8

Prevention of discrimination against and the protection of minorities

Oral statement by the Transnational Radical Party, a non-governmental

organisation in general consultative status

Geneva, 17 August 1999

Delivered by Olga Cechurova

Mr. Chairman,

The tendency of defining a multiethnic State as a property of one ethnicum directly causes the marginalisation or colonisation of the non-dominant nation and results in interethnic conflicts and wars. This misconception has led to a violent break-up of Yugoslavia and creates new waves of tragic conflicts around the world. It is a fatal political mistake to define a country system and the social order as an ethnic property. Modern countries

have to be an effective instrument serving the citizens.

This wrongful policy is under way in Macedonia: the multiethnic Macedonia is defined as a property of Macedonians, while every attempt of the Albanians to create their own space for their historical continuity, for developing their cultural values, for building their institutions of cultural development is being demonised and labeled as "paralelism, radicalism and secessionism". The theoretical explanation of this policy seems to be fine, even to those who are concerned with preserving human

rights and freedoms: there is no problem that Macedonia is a centralised country governed exclusively by Macedonians as long as they "allow" the non-dominant ethnic populations to enjoy some rights, the "minority rights". However, the practical consequence of this is that everything is controlled and allowed by the dominant ethnicum, which jealously preserves its property from the "other" people who are looking for their "part", and logically results in discrimination.

On the basis of this conception, some conflicts happened so far, as in the case of the University of Tetova, forbidden by the Macedonian authorities with an argument that the project of the establishment an Albanian University provokes paralelism in the multiethnic Macedonia. In the name of the battle against Paralelism, a satanised label for the demands of Albanians, the use of Albanian language is forcibly reduced and the higher education in Albanian language and the equal employment of Albanians in the institutions of the system is prevented.

According to the statistics, Albanians constitute one third of the population of Macedonia, however, they represent only 3 per cent of total employment in the public institutions. For example, in the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Macedonia, thereare 569 Macedonian and only 1 Albanian soldier, the personnel is from 87,8 per cent Macedonian and 3, 49 per cent Albanian. Similar situation is in other Ministries and institutions, despite the promises given by Macedonia to the international

community.

Albanian leaders and parties in Macedonia, notably the Democratic Party of Albanians, speaks for and supports a common life with Macedonians and the political activities in the frame of the institutions of the state. Mistrust makes both sides insufficiently sincere, undermines the democratic system, whose aim is to articulate not only the interests of the majority

but also the interests of the ethnic Albanians and other minorities in multiethnic Macedonia.

In the societies, which are deeply divided along religious, ideological, linguistic, ethnic or racial lines, in almost completely separated sub-societies, majority rule is not only undemocratic, but can be dangerous. This is because other ethnic inhabitants who have not the access to power, feel excluded and discriminated, and lose their loyalty to the regime. Therefore, these societies need to start the process of overcoming

the emphasis of ethnic belonging, and of building a consensus instead of opposition.

We are convinced that the solution, which prevents the conflicts in the multiethnic countries, is the principle of the consensual democracy.

The Transnational Radical Party therefore requests this session of the Sub-Commission to take all the necessary steps to encourage the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to put in law and practice the equal rights of all its citizens.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.