Kosovo criminals constantly crossing into Macedonia

Kosovo criminals “constantly" crossing into Macedonia - Skopje paper
BBC Worldwide Monitoring - January 27, 2005, Thursday

Text of V.R. report entitled "Arms will not pass this time" published by the Macedonian newspaper Vecer on 27 January

Criminal groups are constantly crossing into Macedonia from Kosovo. Some of these criminals are the same ones who were present in Kondovo village, intelligence sources have told Vecer. One of their leaders is so-called commander Malisheva, who is close to Hysni Shaqiri former deputy Assembly Speaker . The latter is said to have gone to Kosovo and brought his friend straight to the Skopje village in a bid to solve the Kondovo crisis. Vecer's sources have said that the infiltration of criminal groups cannot be controlled, as the control is weak at the Kosovo side of the border. They have not ruled out the possibility that if he fails to score points in the battle with the DUI Democratic Union for Integration - BDI in Albanian , Shaqiri may help his former friends in the ONA National Liberation Army . Many say that Shaqiri is closer to Maliseva than he ever was to Ali Ahmeti.

The groups coming from Kosovo operate in the Kumanovo and Tetovo areas. According to our sources, groups that operate in a similar criminal manner are also present in Montenegro. It is feared that these criminals may very easily become fighters in Macedonia during the local elections, when possible problems have been announced in the country's western part. Whatever our problems as published - our sources say - the intention is to use these group to exert direct pressure on the local and international public for a sooner resolution of the Kosovo issue. This is in addition to the intention to use them to score results in the elections. This resolution of Kosovo issue envisages independence for the province, whereby the formation of institutions in charge of controlling the borders will be made possible. The situation will become especially tense if Kosovo Prime Minister Ramus Haradinaj departs for The Hague, our sources have said.

The plans of Albanians in the region to take up arms again do not correspond with the plans some Albanian circles in the United States. The Albanian lobby close to the Republicans, along with the latter, has a strategy to make the situation calm in the region, Kosovo's independence being in the background. The US recognition of Macedonia's constitutional name was just one point in this agenda. We have learned from diplomatic sources that the idea is for Kosovo to gain independence and have the border with Macedonia fully delineated by then. In the course of this and next year Macedonia should receive 50m dollars in direct investments. Apparently, Washington officials believe that the newly-adopted Law on Territorial Organization should be revised in the parts referring to 10 critical municipalities. They would give the country financial aid to see this though. The completion of the AMBO oil pipeline project is also said to be a part of this plan. In addition to Kosovo's independence, the Albanians would in this way get another chance to raise the issue of the Albanian minority living in the Chameria Thesprotia in Greek area in Greece. Diplomatic sources have told Vecer that whatever the Albanians try to achieve by force, this time they will not have Western support.

SOURCE: Vecer, Skopje, in Macedonian 27 Jan 05 p7