Post by Kassander on Jul 7, 2005 13:02:18 GMT 10
Rijeka, July 5 (MIA) - I am an incurable optimist and I think that the Macedonian state will survive, former Macedonian President, Kiro Gligorov says in an interview with Rijeka daily "Novi List".
"We have fought for our country for centuries and nobody can destroy it with rebellions. It is not ideal, but a positive process has begun", Gligorov says responding to a question what is Macedonia's future and can it exist as an independent state or become some type of protectorate like Bosnia.
Gligorov stresses that a political-constitutional solution was reached after the 2001 conflict, which guaranties all civic and political rights of Albanians.
"During my presidency from 1991 through 1999, I received Albanian representatives every two weeks. I agreed with them on the lack of Albanian schools and we improved that. There were dramatic moments and incidents, while Albanians created an atmosphere of them being second-rank citizens. The armed conflict began in Tanusevci, spread to Tetovo, where Albanians set up guns and shot towards the town. It is a historical fact that Macedonians never warred with Albanians because we were in a similar position", Gligorov says.
Regarding Kosovo's final status, Gligorov stresses that Albanians want to talk only of independence, because they don't want to live together with Serbs, adding that Kosovo's independence cannot be proclaimed with a unilateral decision.
Gligorov also refers to the alleged agreement among former Croatian and Serbian presidents, Franjo Tugjman and Slobodan Milosevic in Karadjordjevo for division of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"I was summoned in Tugjman's cabinet. He went to the safe and took out geographic maps, which marked Croatian and Serbian territories. He said that Muslims will have what is left", Gligorov says, adding that he was asked to present such an idea to former B&H president Alija Izetbegovic.
"We have fought for our country for centuries and nobody can destroy it with rebellions. It is not ideal, but a positive process has begun", Gligorov says responding to a question what is Macedonia's future and can it exist as an independent state or become some type of protectorate like Bosnia.
Gligorov stresses that a political-constitutional solution was reached after the 2001 conflict, which guaranties all civic and political rights of Albanians.
"During my presidency from 1991 through 1999, I received Albanian representatives every two weeks. I agreed with them on the lack of Albanian schools and we improved that. There were dramatic moments and incidents, while Albanians created an atmosphere of them being second-rank citizens. The armed conflict began in Tanusevci, spread to Tetovo, where Albanians set up guns and shot towards the town. It is a historical fact that Macedonians never warred with Albanians because we were in a similar position", Gligorov says.
Regarding Kosovo's final status, Gligorov stresses that Albanians want to talk only of independence, because they don't want to live together with Serbs, adding that Kosovo's independence cannot be proclaimed with a unilateral decision.
Gligorov also refers to the alleged agreement among former Croatian and Serbian presidents, Franjo Tugjman and Slobodan Milosevic in Karadjordjevo for division of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
"I was summoned in Tugjman's cabinet. He went to the safe and took out geographic maps, which marked Croatian and Serbian territories. He said that Muslims will have what is left", Gligorov says, adding that he was asked to present such an idea to former B&H president Alija Izetbegovic.
