If we put aside the crisis with Greece regarding the the right for the name of the country ongoing for years, the argument of the Albanian nationalists after the proclamation of the independence of Kosovo that Macedonia is like a corridor between Albania and Kosovo, and it can be argued that the dread of a “Great Albania” propagated by certain centers, may prepare the ground for a much deeper ethnic strife. Possibly, for the reason of such concerns, some developments emerge denoting that a nationalist surge is gaining strength among the Macedonian youth recently. Macedonians who have no option but to form a coalition with Albanians, the second largest ethnic community in the country at present, realize the value of EU accession negotiations as an opportunity for dealing with the problems taking root from ethnic dissimilarities and for dispelling the worries of separation. Excepting nationalist trends, the representatives of the ethnic communities in the country also evaluate the EU negotiations as an opportunity for the maintenance of the social integrity and for economic development. Nonetheless, Albanian leaders, who reacted against the Macedonian administration by not participating to the celebrations of 20th anniversary, perpetuate the criticism that the Ohrid Framework Agreement is ex-parte and is unable to enforce the egalitarian implementations it promises. In the midst of these debates, the prime ministers of Turkey, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Kosovo gathered in New York on September 22 at the Balkans Leaders Summit (or Balkan Forum), and they gave the message that what is needed to overcome regional problems by way of reconciliation is a strong collaboration. On the other hand, as a sign of ongoing political disagreements, Greece and Serbia did not take their part in the summit because of multi-dimensional problematic issues they have with Macedonia and Kosovo respectively, which make the implementation of the messages given difficult. Because, the way the two key states in the region, Greece and Serbia, pursue will call forth an important effect for the regional peace and stability.
Prime Minister Erdoğan speaking at the summit with the confidence resulting from the active and conciliatory politics Turkey pursues during last few years in the region stressed that the Balkan countries have to learn a lesson from their former horrid experiences and work together for peace, prosperity and development. Even though the regional economic integration and investment were the main themes of the New York Summit, ethnic aggressions and racist demonstrations in Bulgaria verified one more time that the ethnic separation and human rights are the fundamental regional problems that must be solved primarily.
The rallies started just after the dead of 19-year-old Angel Petrov who was living in the village of Katunitsa, on the south-east of Plovdiv which is the second largest city of Bulgaria, because it is thought that the car that run over Petrov was of a driver who has ties with one of a rich Roma clan leaders, and the rallies get out of control when the nationalist Bulgarian youngsters attacked on the houses and offices belonging to Romans. When the racist upsurge spread over to the other cities and the Turkish minority also became target of the demonstrators, the President Georgi Parvanov called a meeting of the Consultative National Security Council and he highlighted that the ethnic tension was inclined to escalate.
It must be realized that the ethnic nationalist movements in Bulgaria become a matter of great concern and the country is drift into a fearsome process as a result of the demands of the ultra-nationalist ATAKAN Party for the re-implementation of the death penalty abolished years ago and for the use of weapons with ease. It is also foreseen that especially in Bulgaria, Greece, and Macedonia; the ethnic Roma people will be exposed to much more racism and discrimination due to the immense presence of ethnic Roma in the Balkans. What is more, there is a widespread belief that racism is triggered back in the region by reason of racist campaign French government committed regarding the deportation of ethnic Roma from France to where they had arrived.
Coinciding with the days of ethnic tensions in Bulgaria, the official visit of Erdoğan to Macedonia chiefly carried a message of the enhancement of the economic ties between the two countries, and putting emphasis on the situation of the Turkish ethnic minority as an integral part of the political and legal structure of Macedonia was also appreciated during the visit. Besides this, Erdoğan criticized the inanity of ethnic polarization which is one of the problems of the Muslim minority by asserting “The mosque of Arab is not different from the mosque of Persian. They all turn the same kiblah.” It is not difficult to deduce from this statement of Erdoğan that as a matter of fact he insinuates his criticism to Albanian-Turkish disagreement. Furthermore, Erdoğan stressed Turkey’s support for EU accession process of Macedonia stating “We want the Balkans not to be perceived at the edge of Europe but in the heart of it as a region of peace and prosperity,” by which words it can be also understood that EU accession negotiations are evaluated as a means of regional stability as well.
It may be expected that Erdoğan’s visit to Macedonia will cultivate the political and economic relations between the two countries; however this expectation must gain a steady ground to become true. First and foremost, the establishment of a sustainable political stability in Macedonia requires the obligations of the Ohrid Framework Agreement to be implemented among the all ethnic minority groups equally. In order to appease the most important risk factor- nationalist perceptions and attitudes- on the ground of human rights law, a mighty political administration must be sustained and the needs and demands of the minority communities must be granted on the basis of equality. For a Macedonia staying in between Muslim minority and Orthodox majority, political and economic integration seems impossible. While on the one side of Skopje, which is separated into two by the Vardar River, there is poverty and ostracism, and on the other side there are so many factors symbolizing economic prosperity and on the mount Vodno there is a gigantic cross, it will not be that easy to prevent social and cultural disintegration among the religious and ethnic minority groups become much deeper. It is clear that an atmosphere which allows the communities to try to prevail over one another by means of some religious and ethnic symbols will not contribute to development of Macedonia. Similarly, in Bulgaria, by no means it must be disallowed that the rise of racist and discriminatory inclinations among the youth people arouse the horrid memories of the trauma the country experienced during 1980s. In order to achieve this goal, some political decisions must be taken promptly and executed decisively to obviate the social, cultural and economic gaps between different communities from growing. Not only will the enforcement of fierce security measures to counteract the racism be an unrealistic solution, but also it may cause Bulgarian nationalism even to exacerbate. ,
Turkey has to maintain its dedicated and peaceful efforts for the aversion of new polarizations resulting from ethnic, religious and cultural differences between communities. What is more, it can be stated that these efforts will be much more meaningful when they are updated according to the regional facts and when the new risk factors emerging are evaluated correctly.
Selvet Çetin (SDE Expert)
Translation: Burçak Sağlam