Skopje tomorrow under KLA flags – a risk of incidents or a demonstration of Albanian unity?

The protest in support of former KLA leaders, scheduled for tomorrow in Skopje, will either demonstrate Albanian unity in the Balkans or create a risk of new interethnic tensions in North Macedonia – opinions are divided among Kosovo Online’s interlocutors.

By: Veljko Nestorovic

Protests in support of former KLA leaders who are being tried in The Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity have previously been held in Pristina, The Hague, and Tirana.

Organizers estimate that around 20,000 people will attend tomorrow’s protest in Skopje, although some, such as Gazmend Silja from the KLA War Veterans Organization, claim that former KLA members might even be arrested if their names appear on the list that Serbia sent to Europol.

Still, the idea of holding such a protest in the capital of North Macedonia is not welcomed by everyone.

Analyst Risto Nikovski told Kosovo Online that there is no reason to hold such a protest in Skopje.

“First, it is an anti-Macedonian act that de facto creates unease and opens periods of crisis. In general, it is a Greater Albanian move, because it is clearly more important to Albanian leaders than anything else. It also creates interethnic animosity because, as I say, first and foremost, what they are doing has nothing to do with Macedonia. Every element speaks against holding such a thing in Skopje. However, as I say, the Albanians are pushing their own line. Albanian issues are more important to them than anything else, and that is the reality we have to live with,” Nikovski says.

He believes that interethnic tensions will arise again.

“You can be sure that the imagery that will appear there will not be in the interest of the Macedonian state, nor in the interest of any Balkan peace or order. On the contrary, it is actually an act against justice. And it is good that in the end the court in The Hague, after pursuing, monitoring and prosecuting cases from Serbia and Macedonia, has now also reached the Albanians. This move by DUI shows their constant fear that their turn will come too. There were four Macedonian cases that were in The Hague, but they were returned to Macedonia for political reasons, because the court in The Hague is to a great extent political. Through political pressure, DUI managed to relativize them into a kind of amnesty. However, one of those four cases involved the command responsibility of Ali Ahmeti, the leader of DUI. We hope that this case will one day be returned and prosecuted again, because such crimes do not expire. It is unacceptable for something like this to be held in Macedonia, because it undermines the peace and stability of the state. But, as I say, the Greater Albanian tendencies of Albanian leaders, whether here, in Kosovo, in Albania, or in southern Serbia, and even in Montenegro though to a lesser degree, are pronounced and obviously continuing,” Nikovski says.

Residents of Skopje hope that tomorrow’s rally in support of former KLA leaders will proceed peacefully.

The protest is scheduled to take place at Skanderbeg Square, and one Skopje resident says he expects everything to go completely normally.

“As it was in The Hague, as it was in Tirana, so it will be here. There will be no problems whatsoever,” he says.

Another resident believes that the people of North Macedonia’s capital should support the protest.

“Yes, I’m aware of it, and we all need to be there, because this is about justice. We know that we have never been against others, because that army fought for the freedom of the people, specifically for the Albanians, and we are currently living together in one state without any problems. We only want justice for those who are in prison in The Hague. I think many people will come. This concerns every Albanian who cares about justice and loves his nation, and they will be there,” he said.

There are also those who were unaware that the protest would take place tomorrow.

“Well, to be honest, I wasn’t informed. This is the first time I’m hearing about it, so I don’t even know exactly what the gathering will be about,” one Skopje resident told us.

Bashkim Selmani, professor at the Faculty of Law in Tetovo, believes that the protest in support of former KLA leaders in Skopje does not represent a threat, but rather shows that democracy is functioning.

Selmani told Kosovo Online that as a professor and someone who believes in democratic values, he considers public participation, including peaceful protests, a fundamental tool through which citizens express their views and concerns.

“That is why I personally support the protest, because I see it as a healthy democratic process in which citizens draw attention to issues that matter to them. The protest is being held in Skopje for a logical reason. This is the political and institutional center, the place where the most important decisions are made. When citizens want their voices to be heard, it is natural for them to protest in front of the institutions that have the power to make decisions, and I believe Skopje is such a city. As a professor, I consider protests not a threat, but a sign that democracy is functioning. They create space for dialogue, reflection, critical thinking, values that every democratic state should uphold,” Selmani says.