Key developments since May 2004: FYR Macedonia joined CCW Amended
Protocol II on 31 May 2005. No survey activities were carried out in 2004, and
detailed reporting of clearance activities in 2004 has not been obtainable.
International funding of mine action continued in 2004, but at a reduced level
with donors indicating the need for greater national ownership of the mine/UXO
problem. In January 2005, responsibility for mine action was passed to a new
Directorate. There were no confirmed reports of mine or UXO casualties during
2004; however, no national agency carries out comprehensive recording of
mine/UXO incidents.
Mine Ban Policy
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYR
Macedonia) acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 9 September 1998 and became a State
Party on 1 March 1999. No specific administrative or legislative measures have
been taken to implement the treaty. FYR Macedonia has reported that prohibited
activities are covered by existing criminal
law.[1] Penal sanctions for
violations of the Law on Production and Trade of Armament and Military Equipment
can include a monetary fine of 30,000MKD to 300,000MKD (some US$6,300), and a
suspension of related activities for a period of six months to three
years.[2]
As of September 2005, FYR Macedonia had not submitted its annual Article 7
transparency report, which was due on 30 April 2005. Four previous transparency
reports were submitted, most recently on 30 April
2004.[3]
On 22 October 2004, FYR Macedonia introduced UN General Assembly Resolution
59/59 on the Maintenance of International Security - Good Neighborliness,
Stability and Development in South Eastern Europe. Article 15 of the resolution
“recognizes the seriousness of the problem of antipersonnel mines and
explosive remnants of war in some parts of South Eastern Europe, welcomes in
this context the efforts of the countries in the region and of the international
community in support of mine action, and encourages States to join and support
these efforts.” The resolution was adopted by the General Assembly
without vote in December 2004.[4]
Fuad Hasanovic, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, led the country’s
delegation to the First Review Conference in Nairobi in November-December 2004.
He highlighted two issues of “utmost importance:” further assisting
victims, and the achievement of the UN Millennium Development Goals, which are
hindered by the presence of mines.[5]
At the conference, FYR Macedonia was part of a joint proposal to create a
mine-free region in South Eastern Europe by
2009.[6]
FYR Macedonia also attended the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in
Geneva in June 2005, where it made a presentation on mine action. FYR Macedonia
has not engaged in the extensive discussions that States Parties have had on
matters of interpretation and implementation related to Articles 1, 2 and 3.
Thus, it has not made known its views on issues related to joint military
operations with non-States Parties, antivehicle mines with sensitive fuzes or
antihandling devices, and the permissible number of mines retained for
training.
FYR Macedonia is a State Party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons and
joined Amended Protocol II on 31 May 2005. It attended, as an observer, the
Sixth Annual Meeting of States Parties in Geneva in November 2004.
Production, Transfer, Stockpiling and Destruction
FYR Macedonia never produced or exported antipersonnel mines. Some of the
former Yugoslavia’s mine production facilities were located in FYR
Macedonia, but the government states that production had
ceased.[7] All of FYR
Macedonia’s Article 7 reports state “nothing to report” as
regards the status of conversion or decommissioning of former production
facilities. Destruction of FYR Macedonia’s stockpile of 38,921
antipersonnel mines was completed on 20 February 2003, in the presence of
invited observers, just ahead of the treaty-mandated deadline of 1 March 2003.
In its Article 7 reports submitted in May 1999 and June 2002, FYR Macedonia
reported that it would retain 50 mines for research and training purposes.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed Landmine Monitor in June 2002
that the quantity retained had been increased to 4,000
mines.[8] No explanation was given
for the increased quantity. The 4,000 figure is cited in FYR Macedonia’s
Article 7 reports of February 2003 and April 2004, and includes these mines:
PMA-1 (1,400), PMA-2 (600) and PMR-2A
(2,000).[9]
As the number of retained mines did not change, it appears that none of the
mines were consumed (exploded) from June 2002 to April 2004. FYR Macedonia has
said that it is retaining mines “solely for training
purposes.”[10] However, it
has not yet reported in any detail on the intended purposes and actual uses of
its retained mines―a step agreed to by States Parties in the Nairobi
Action Plan that emerged from the First Review Conference.
Use
There have been no reported incidents of new use of landmines, either
antipersonnel or antivehicle, in the first half of 2005.
In 2004 and in April 2005, three individuals were sentenced to 10-14
years’ imprisonment for their role in a 2003 landmine incident involving a
NATO vehicle that ran over an antivehicle mine on the Sopot-Susevo road. Two
NATO peacekeepers from Poland and a local resident were killed, and two other
individuals were severely injured. The accused were convicted in the District
Court of Kumanovo on charges of “terrorism” and
“co-perpetrating in
terrorism.”[11] On 20 May
2005, the trial began of three individuals accused of planting an antivehicle
mine on the Tabanovce-Skopje railroad on 17 March 2003. The defendants were
charged with “terrorism” and “undermining the constitutional
order and security of the citizens of
Macedonia.”[12]
Landmine and UXO Problem
The mine/UXO (unexploded ordnance) problem in FYR Macedonia derives from the
conflict in 2001 between government forces and ethnic-Albanian insurgents, and
World Wars I and II. The 2001 conflict affected northwestern areas bordering
Kosovo and Albania, while areas in the south of the country are contaminated by
UXO from World Wars I and II. In the 2001 conflict, use of mines was limited
and localized but there was widespread UXO contamination affecting about 80
villages.[13]
In early 2005, EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) teams noted that in the Kumanovo
region there remain two areas known to be contaminated with UXO and possibly
mines. The first area was described as a marked minefield near the village of
Alasevce. The second was described as an unmarked minefield “probably
containing booby traps,” around Matejce monastery. Both areas are marked
on maps. EUMM reports there are no known minefields in the Tetovo region,
although local people suspect two unmarked areas may be
mined.[14]
The Unit for Humanitarian Demining reported in 2004 that in Kumanovo and
Tetovo regions “some suspected areas remain unchecked due to the fact that
those areas are located in a borderline strip with Kosovo and Albania under
military/police control and movement for civilians is
restricted.”[15] However, in
November 2004 the Ministry of Defense was reported as acknowledging that mines
and UXO remaining in these areas do not pose a serious
problem.[16]
UXO contamination in the southern regions does represent an extensive
problem, according to the Unit for Humanitarian Demining, and requires a
“permanent national capacity.” The unit also claimed that if
funding were provided, clearance of UXO in the south could be completed in three
to five years. It reported that the Ministry of Defense was considering a
clearance project involving the NATO Partnership for Peace
program.[17]
FYR Macedonia’s Article 7 reports have provided no data on the location
of mined areas, or on programs for the destruction of antipersonnel mines in
mined areas under their jurisdiction or control. Prior to 2001, there was no
mine problem in FYR Macedonia, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs
statement in 2002.[18]
The mine/UXO problem remaining in FYR Macedonia may be measured by the number
of casualties. In 2004, there were no confirmed reports of mine/UXO casualties,
as compared to five people killed and three injured by mines in
2003.[19] However, no organization
investigates and records mine or UXO incidents. (See later section on
Landmine/UXO Casualties.)
According to the Ministry of Defense, all mined areas that are known but not
yet cleared, including priority areas for operations in 2004, were reported to
be permanently marked with signs and mine
tape.[20]
Mine Action Coordination and Planning
During 2004, the Unit for Humanitarian Demining (part of the Department for
Civilian Protection in the Ministry of Defense) included 21 deminers in three
teams. All were Macedonian citizens, and were trained and certified by the
International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance
(ITF).[21] As noted in last
year’s Landmine Monitor, a national strategy for mine/UXO clearance was
lacking due, reportedly, to the absence of funding. Clearance priorities were
decided on the basis of requests from local residents and international
monitors.[22]
On 10 June 2004, parliament adopted a law that allowed the creation of a new
Directorate for Protection and Rescue, combining the Ministry of Defense
Department for Civil Protection and Unit for Humanitarian Demining, and the
Ministry of Interior Fire Fighting Units. The directorate was created on 31
January 2005 and started work in June 2005, developing a new action plan for
mine action and UXO clearance. The headquarters is in Skopje. Eight regional
offices and 27 local offices were planned, each with a UXO advisor. The
directorate acquired the resources of the Unit for Humanitarian Demining. It
will maintain a team of 20
deminers.[23]
When the Ministry of Defense took over coordination of mine action in FYR
Macedonia from the UN Mine Action Office (UNMAO) in July 2003, UNMAO donated its
Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) database. This has
collected operational demining data, but is not used to record mine incidents
and casualties.[24]
Mine/UXO Survey and Clearance
No survey or assessment activities have been reported since those conducted
by UN agencies in 2003. The Unit for Humanitarian Demining stated in June 2004
that national authorities have not conducted “general or technical
survey.” But inhabited areas have previously been “checked and
cleared identifying mostly UXO problem and locating [a] small number of
classical minefields.”[25]
The unit has provided EUMM monitors with mine/UXO maps indicating a small number
of remote, high-risk areas in the areas of Tetovo, Kumanovo and
Skopje.[26]
During 2004, the Unit for Humanitarian Demining prioritized areas in the
former conflict region previously inaccessible because of security concerns,
identifying six areas with known or suspected mine/UXO contamination. Clearance
of three of the six priority areas started on 17 May
2004.[27] Results of clearance
activities in the priority areas during 2004 had not been reported as of
September 2005, either in the form of the Article 7 report required by 30 April
2005 for the 2004 calendar year, or in response to Landmine Monitor
enquiries.[28]
The Unit for Humanitarian Demining reports that there are projects that need
to be implemented, “but there is a lack of funds” and “due to
limited funds they are not in [a] position to do
more.”[29]
Regarding clearance activities in the southern areas contaminated with UXO
from World Wars I and II, FYR Macedonia reported in June 2005 that one
antipersonnel mine, six antivehicle mines, 541 hand grenades, 35 mortars, 1,322
pieces of artillery ordnance and seven aerial bombs were located and destroyed
during 2004.[30]
A media report in December 2004 stated that, “...a mission is expected
to wrap up this year clearing an area of 4.453 million square meters. A total
of 22 mines and 762 pieces of unexploded ordnance have been destroyed
there.”[31] However, it was
not clear which area of FYR Macedonia was being referred to in this report.
Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty, FYR Macedonia’s deadline to
destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control
is 1 March 2009. Estimates of when clearance will be completed differ.
According to the Unit for Humanitarian Demining, if the necessary funding is
found, “all suspected areas, minefields, UXO contaminated areas would be
checked and cleared, making Macedonia a mine-free country” by 2007. The
unit also noted that “according to ITF estimates Macedonia could achieve
[the] status of mine-free country by the end of
2005.”[32] The joint proposal
for a mine-free region in South Eastern Europe, presented by Slovenia at the
First Review Conference, noted that FYR Macedonia was planning to declare itself
mine-free in 2004.[33] In May 2005,
however, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that FYR Macedonia had not
yet declared itself
mine-free.[34]
Funding and Assistance
In June 2005, FYR Macedonia’s representative to the Standing Committee
meetings reported that Slovenia had donated $30,000 and the ITF $48,000, in
2004.[35] The ITF reports donating
0.3 percent of its expenditure in 2004, which is approximately $75,000; this was
reported to include the Slovenian government’s donation, as well as
unspecified donations from the US and the European Agency for Reconstruction,
based in Skopje. The funds were donated for refresher training and operations
of Macedonian battle area clearance and demining
teams.[36] For 2004, the Unit for
Humanitarian Demining had requested a budget of $150,000, of which 10 percent
was provided by the national government for office
costs.[37]
The Unit for Humanitarian Demining states that since the UNMAO closed in July
2003 funding from international donors has diminished, which represents “a
threat to continuous work in MA.” The unit also considered that the
“Government of Macedonia should be more involved in national mine action
efforts.”[38] The ITF advised
in its 2004 annual report that, “The Macedonian government should make
every effort to assume full ownership of the program themselves and include
trained and equipped CP [civil protection] teams in their own national
structure...which could perform any future emergency response clearing in
Macedonia as well as
abroad.”[39] From 2001 to
2004, ITF provided all the expenses of the clearance program, including
remuneration for the national demining teams and five office
staff.[40]
Landmine/UXO Casualties
In 2004, there were no confirmed reports of mine or UXO casualties in FYR
Macedonia, as compared to five people killed and three injured by mines in
2003.[41] However, no organization
investigates and records mine or UXO incidents. Prior to its closure in July
2003, UNMAO used IMSMA to record mine casualties.
The total number of mine survivors in FYR Macedonia is not known. Based on
incomplete reports, at least 24 people were killed and 43 injured by mines or
UXO between 1999 and the end of 2003 in the mine-affected
areas.[42] FYR Macedonia also
reported 156 casualties (14 people killed and 142 injured), caused by UXO in the
south of the country from 1965 to
2002.[43] No information on
casualties in 2003-2005 in this area has been identified by Landmine Monitor.
Survivor Assistance
Public health services in FYR Macedonia have suffered from a decade of
regional instability and difficulties in socioeconomic transition. The only
specialist accident and emergency unit is at the Clinical Center in Skopje.
Social care for persons with disabilities is reportedly poorly developed. The
Institute for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Skopje is the principal
center for rehabilitation in the country. The Slavej orthopedic center, located
within the Clinical Centre, works in close cooperation with the institute and
with the Clinic for Orthopedic Surgery. It is the only facility in the country
providing orthopedic devices. In 2004, the Slavej center produced 220
prostheses and 360 wheelchairs, and provided 3,000 crutches, canes and walkers.
The number of mine survivors is not known, since the Slavej center does not
record the cause of disability.[44]
In 2004, ITF provided funding for one student from FYR Macedonia to study
prosthetics and orthotics at the College for Health Studies at the University of
Ljubljana in Slovenia.[45]
Disability Policy and Practice
At the First Review Conference in Nairobi in November-December 2004, FYR
Macedonia stated that it “attaches utmost importance to: Further assisting
victims through enhanced health-care services, social rehabilitation and
economic reintegration.... Raising awareness on the rights and needs of persons
with disabilities must continue. To this end, we all need to further our
constructive partnership with the media and to establish appropriate national
legal frameworks....”[46]
FYR Macedonia has three laws (and their subsequent amendments) in particular
that are intended to benefit persons with disabilities: the 2000 Law on
Employment of Disabled Persons; the 1997 Law on Social Protection; the 1993 Law
on Pension and Disability
Insurance.[47]
[1]FYR Macedonia response to
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Questionnaire, 22
January 2004, p. 2, and 3 January 2003, p. 3. See also Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 545; Landmine Monitor Report 2002, p. 329.
[2]Republic of Macedonia,
“Law on the Production and Trade of Arms and Military Equipment,”
Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia, No. 54, 15 July 2002.
[3]Article 7 reports submitted on
30 April 2004 (for the period 15 April 2003-15 April 2004); 24 February 2003
(for the period from 6 November 2002); 25 June 2002 (for the period 30 April
2001-30 April 2002); 25 May 1999 (for the period 4 December 1997-31 March 1999).
The reports do not cover calendar years, as called for in the treaty, and leave
the period April 1999-April 2001 unreported. There is also a gap around the
period from May 2002 to March 2003, since the third transparency report,
submitted on 24 February 2003, is unclear on its reporting period.
[4]United Nations General Assembly
Resolution 59/59 (A/RES/59/59), 16 December 2004.
[5]Statement by Fuad Hasanovic,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World (First
Review Conference), Nairobi, 3 December 2004.
[6]The “Mine Free Regions
Initiative: The Example of Mine Free South Eastern Europe by 2009,”
prepared by Slovenia, delivered to the First Review Conference, Nairobi, 1
December 2004. Supported by Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada,
Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Norway, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia and the European
Commission.
[7]There had only been
manufacturing capacity for antivehicle mines at the government-owned Suvenir
factory in Samokov, which was closed in the mid-1980s. Fax response to Landmine
Monitor from Ministry of Defense, Skopje, 20 April 2004.
[8]Email response to Landmine
Monitor Questionnaire, Ruzica Zanteva Angelova, Counselor, Multilateral
Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 25 June 2002.
[9]Article 7 Reports, Form D, 24
February 2003 and 30 April 2004.
[10]FYR Macedonia Answers to the
European Union Accession Questionnaire, Chapter 27-Common foreign and security
policy, Question 4, p. 27, submitted to the EU on 14 February 2005.
[11]“Kaliqi sentenced to
10 years in prison,” Makfax News Agency (Kumanovo), 6 April 2005;
“Sopot trial postponed,” Makfax News Agency (Kumanovo), 1
March 2005.
[12]“Trial of Cakala,
Xhemaili and Beljulji gets underway,” Makfax News Agency
(Kumanovo), 20 May 2005.
[13]UNMIK, “MACC Update
10/08/2001,” 10 August 2001. In mid-2001, the International Committee of
the Red Cross reported that, due to the use of old or low quality ammunition,
the UXO problem is relatively worse than after other conflicts. See Landmine
Monitor Report 2002, pp. 331–333.
[14]Information provided by
James Collins, Senior Operations Officer, EUMM, Skopje, 25 April 2005.
[15]Ivo Perkovski, Head of Unit
for Humanitarian Demining, “Report: Preparing for the First Review
Conference: Elements of Plans to implement article 5,” 8 June 2004, p. 2,
www.mineaction.org.
[16]Irene Gelevska, “Some
border regions still not cleared of mines,” A1 Television (Skopje), 24
November 2004; “Minefields situation in Macedonia less serious than
reported-official,” BBC Monitoring, 27 November 2004 (translation of
article by Daliborka Demjanska, published in the Skopje newspaper Vecer, 27
November 2004).
[17]Ivo Perkovski,
“Report: Preparing for the First Review Conference: Elements of Plans to
implement article 5,” 8 June 2004, p. 5.
[18]FYR Macedonia response to
Landmine Monitor Questionnaire, 25 June 2002; see also Article 7 Report, Form E,
25 May 1999.
[19]For details, see Landmine
Monitor Report 2004, pp. 550-551.
[20]Interview with
representatives of the Department for Civil Protection, Ministry of Defense,
Skopje, 7 June 2004.
[21]Interview with Ljupcho
Zajkovski, Department for Civil Protection, Ministry of Defense, Skopje, 2
February 2004. For details of the ITF training, see Landmine Monitor Report
2003, p. 323.
[22]Interview with
representatives of Unit for Humanitarian Demining, Department for Civilian
Protection, Ministry of Defense, Skopje, 7 June 2004.
[23]Interview with Kiro
Atanasov, Director, Directorate for Protection and Rescue, Geneva, 14 June 2005.
[24]Interview with
representatives of Unit for Humanitarian Demining, Department for Civilian
Protection, Ministry of Defense, Skopje, 7 June 2004.
[25]Ivo Perkovski,
“Report: Preparing for the First Review Conference: Elements of Plans to
implement article 5,” 8 June 2004, p. 3. For details of previous surveys,
see Landmine Monitor Report 2004, p. 549.
[26]Information provided by
James Collins, Senior Operations Officer, EUMM, Skopje, 25 April 2005.
[27]Interview with
representatives of the Department for Civil Protection, Ministry of Defense,
Skopje, 7 June 2004.
[28]See Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 548.
[29]Ivo Perkovski,
“Report: Preparing for the First Review Conference: Elements of Plans to
implement article 5,” 8 June 2004, pp. 2-4.
[30]Presentation by Kiro
Atanasov, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine
Action Technologies, Geneva, 14 June 2005.
[31]“Slovenian-Run
Demining Fund to Make SE Europe Mine-Free Area,” STA News (Ljubljana), 29
December 2004.
[32]Ivo Perkovski,
“Report: Preparing for the First Review Conference: Elements of Plans to
implement article 5,” 8 June 2004, p. 4.
[33]Statement on
“Mine-Free Regions Initiative: The example of Mine-Free South Eastern
Europe by 2009,” First Review Conference, Nairobi, 1 December 2004.
[34]Email from Nenad Kolev, Head
of UN Section, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Skopje, 22 May 2005.
[35]Presentation by Kiro
Atanasov, Director of Directorate for Protection and Rescue, Standing Committee
on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine Action Technologies, Geneva, 14
June 2005.
[36]ITF, “Annual Report
2004,” pp. 24, 53.
[37]Ivo Perkovski,
“Report: Preparing for the First Review Conference: Elements of Plans to
implement article 5,” 8 June 2004, pp. 2–4.
[38]Ivo Perkovski,
“Report: Preparing for the First Review Conference: Elements of Plans to
implement article 5,” 8 June 2004, pp. 2-3.
[39]ITF, “Annual Report
2004,” p. 53.
[40]Ivo Perkovski,
“Report: Preparing for the First Review Conference: Elements of Plans to
implement article 5,” 8 June 2004, p. 4.
[41]For details, see Landmine
Monitor Report 2004, pp. 550-551.
[42]For details, see Landmine
Monitor Report 2004, pp. 550-551.
[43]Presentation by Kiro
Atanasov, Standing Committee on Mine Clearance, Mine Risk Education and Mine
Action Technologies, Geneva, 14 June 2005. For details see Landmine Monitor
Report 2004, p. 551.
[44]Email from Borce Stojkov,
Sales Marketing and Quality Assurance Manager, Slavej A.D. Orthopedic and
Prosthetic Center, Skopje, 5 May 2005. For more information on mine victim
assistance in FYR Macedonia, see Handicap International, “Landmine Victim
Assistance in South East Europe,” Brussels, September 2003; see also
Landmine Monitor Report 2004, pp. 551-552.
[45]ITF, “Annual Report
2004,” p. 32. Funding is for a three-year course of study, which began in
2002.
[46]Statement by Fuad Hasanovic,
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, First Review Conference, Nairobi, 3 December
2004.
[47]For more information see,
“Landmine Victim Assistance in South East Europe;” see also Landmine
Monitor Report 2004, pp. 551-552.
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