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Macedonia to Form Broad Coalition Government
Macedonia's four main political parties on Friday finally agreed to form a broadly-based coalition government, dragging the country back from the verge of a civil war.
Prompted by the military's restraint of fire at the rebels and pressed by NATO and European Union officials, the key opposition ethnic Albanian Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP) agreed to join the coalition.
This development led to the announcement that the PDP, along with the three other main political parties -- two Slav parties and a larger ethnic Albanian group -- would form a new government.
In a joint statement, the parties agreed that the new government is designed to guarantee Macedonia's security and stability, continue inter-ethnic dialogue and prepare for a fair parliamentary election ahead of schedule.
Apart from the four political forces, other small parties are also welcome to join in the cabinet, which is expected to be approved by parliament on Saturday, the statement said.
But on the same day, leaders of the rebels proclaimed that the new coalition has no help to the settlement of the crisis.
Macedonia is currently facing a political crisis and unrest, aroused by an insurgency, starting from February, of ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army guerrillas, who has meant to carve up the country to build a Greater Albania or Greater Kosovo.
Prime Minister Ljupco Georgievski announced on Tuesday the formation of a national unity government, but the PDP refused to join unless government forces stop fighting the Albanian guerrillas. With the help of EU security chief Javier Solana, the government refrained from announcing a state of war in the country, which would certainly drive the ethnic groups further apart.
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