We have created a monster that is destroying MACEDONIA now
When Canadian pilots joined the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in March of 1999, we
When Canadian pilots joined the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in March of 1999, we
were told by Lord Axworthy and Art Eggleton that the NATO intervention in Kosovo was
were told by Lord Axworthy and Art Eggleton that the NATO intervention in Kosovo was
necessary to prevent the violence there from spreading and destabilizing the Balkans. Yet
necessary to prevent the violence there from spreading and destabilizing the Balkans. Yet
we now know that, long before the bombing, NATO countries were inciting violence in
we now know that, long before the bombing, NATO countries were inciting violence in
Kosovo attempting to destabilize that Serbian province. Media reports have revealed that as
Kosovo attempting to destabilize that Serbian province. Media reports have revealed that as
early as 1998, the Central Intelligence Agency, assisted by the British Special Armed
early as 1998, the Central Intelligence Agency, assisted by the British Special Armed
Services, were arming and training the Kosovo Liberation Army members in Albania to
Services, were arming and training the Kosovo Liberation Army members in Albania to
foment armed rebellion in Kosovo. The KLA terrorists were sent back to into Kosovo to
foment armed rebellion in Kosovo. The KLA terrorists were sent back to into Kosovo to
assassinate Serbian mayors, ambush Serbian policemen and do everything possible to incite
assassinate Serbian mayors, ambush Serbian policemen and do everything possible to incite
murder and chaos. The hope
murder and chaos. The hope was that with Kosovo was that with Kosovo in flames, NAin flames, NATO could intervene and, inTO could intervene and, in
so doing, not only overthrow Slobodan Milosevic, the Serbian strong man, but more impor-
so doing, not only overthrow Slobodan Milosevic, the Serbian strong man, but more impor-
tantly, provide the aging and increasingly irrelevant military organization with a reason for
tantly, provide the aging and increasingly irrelevant military organization with a reason for
its continued existence.
its continued existence.
After bombing Yugoslavia into submission, NATO then stood by and submissively
After bombing Yugoslavia into submission, NATO then stood by and submissively
allowed the KLA to murder, pillage and burn. The KLA was given a free hand to do as it
allowed the KLA to murder, pillage and burn. The KLA was given a free hand to do as it
wished. Almost all of the non-Albanian population
wished. Almost all of the non-Albanian population was „ethnically cleansed“ from Kosovowas „ethnically cleansed“ from Kosovo
under the watchful eyes of 40,000 NATO troops. Moreover, in defiance of United Nations
under the watchful eyes of 40,000 NATO troops. Moreover, in defiance of United Nations
Resolution 1244, which brought an end
Resolution 1244, which brought an end to the fighting, NAto the fighting, NATO adamantly refused to disarmTO adamantly refused to disarm
the KLA fighters. Instead, NATO converted this ragtag band of terrorists into the Kosovo
the KLA fighters. Instead, NATO converted this ragtag band of terrorists into the Kosovo
Protection Force – allegedly to maintain peace and order in Kosovo.
Protection Force – allegedly to maintain peace and order in Kosovo.
To add insult to injury, NATO appointed an alleged war criminal, Agim Ceku, as com-
To add insult to injury, NATO appointed an alleged war criminal, Agim Ceku, as com-
mander of this force. Some news reports have suggested that there is a sealed indictment
mander of this force. Some news reports have suggested that there is a sealed indictment
against Mr. Ceku held by the War Crimes Tribun
against Mr. Ceku held by the War Crimes Tribunal in The al in The Hague but not acted Hague but not acted upon becauseupon because
to do so
to do so would embarrass his NAwould embarrass his NATO bosses. MrTO bosses. Mr. Ceku is . Ceku is an Albanian Kosovar who an Albanian Kosovar who led theled the
Croatian Army in 1995 in „Operation Storm“, which ethnically cleansed almost all of the
Croatian Army in 1995 in „Operation Storm“, which ethnically cleansed almost all of the
Serbian population from their ancestral lands in Croatia. On June 10, 2001,
Serbian population from their ancestral lands in Croatia. On June 10, 2001, The Times of The Times of London reported that in early March, Mr. Ceku ordered 800 KLA reservists from London reported that in early March, Mr. Ceku ordered 800 KLA reservists from Kosovo to enter Macedonia to help their fellow Albanians i
Kosovo to enter Macedonia to help their fellow Albanians in their rebellion against then their rebellion against the Government there
Government there..
Few Albanian nationalists in the Balkans had forgotten that, under the fascist and Few Albanian nationalists in the Balkans had forgotten that, under the fascist and Nazi regimes of the 1940s, Albania was given control of Kosovo, parts of Macedonia Nazi regimes of the 1940s, Albania was given control of Kosovo, parts of Macedonia and northern Greece. Those latent dreams of Greater Albania have been given new life and northern Greece. Those latent dreams of Greater Albania have been given new life by NA
by NATO’s policy of actively supporting the Albanians TO’s policy of actively supporting the Albanians in Kosovo in tin Kosovo in the use of violencehe use of violence and force to achieve their political goals. It appears our NATO leaders did not realize and force to achieve their political goals. It appears our NATO leaders did not realize (or did not care) that by supporting Albanian extremists, the scourge of Albanian (or did not care) that by supporting Albanian extremists, the scourge of Albanian racism would be unleashed
racism would be unleashed..
Now
Now, in , in Macedonia, the Macedonia, the broader consequences of broader consequences of NANATO’TO’s ill-considered s ill-considered intervention inintervention in
that troubled region of Europe are becoming more evident.
that troubled region of Europe are becoming more evident.
The KLA learned
The KLA learned early in early in the Ythe Yugoslavian campaign that NAugoslavian campaign that NATO countries are unwillingTO countries are unwilling Cancel Download And Print
to risk the lives of their soldiers to resolve Balkan problems. It is one thing to bomb targets
to risk the lives of their soldiers to resolve Balkan problems. It is one thing to bomb targets
in Yugoslavia from 15,000 feet with little risk to its pilots; it’s quite another to become
in Yugoslavia from 15,000 feet with little risk to its pilots; it’s quite another to become
involved in armed conflict on the ground against a well-armed, determined enemy.
involved in armed conflict on the ground against a well-armed, determined enemy.
Confirmation of this
Confirmation of this was evident when the was evident when the KLA went into southern KLA went into southern Serbia, and NASerbia, and NATO wasTO was
not prepared to intervene military to
not prepared to intervene military to halt that aggression. It was only when halt that aggression. It was only when NANATO was ableTO was able
to strike a deal with the new democratic powers in Serbia to have Serbian troops restore
to strike a deal with the new democratic powers in Serbia to have Serbian troops restore
order in that region that the KLA was stopped.
order in that region that the KLA was stopped.
Thwarted, at least temporarily, in southern Serbia, the KLA then turned its attention to
Thwarted, at least temporarily, in southern Serbia, the KLA then turned its attention to
Macedonia, and in March started a
Macedonia, and in March started a new military campaign in that country. The group’s tac-new military campaign in that country. The group’s tac-
tics were the same as those used successfully in Kosovo, i.e. assassination, ambush, and
tics were the same as those used successfully in Kosovo, i.e. assassination, ambush, and
intimidation of the local population. As in Kosovo, the KLA is armed and equipped by
intimidation of the local population. As in Kosovo, the KLA is armed and equipped by
W
Western powers. To put down the armed estern powers. To put down the armed rebellion, the Macedonian authorities have rebellion, the Macedonian authorities have used theused the
same tactics the Serbian forces employed in Kosovo: shelling villages occupied by KLA
same tactics the Serbian forces employed in Kosovo: shelling villages occupied by KLA
fighters, with consequent civilian casualties and refugees.
fighters, with consequent civilian casualties and refugees.
Unlike Kosovo, however, NATO authorities are unable to react in the Macedonian cri-
Unlike Kosovo, however, NATO authorities are unable to react in the Macedonian cri-
sis, as they did two years earlier in Kosovo, because obviously bombing Macedonia is not
sis, as they did two years earlier in Kosovo, because obviously bombing Macedonia is not
the answer. Macedonia is not headed by Slobodan Milosevic and its record in dealing with
the answer. Macedonia is not headed by Slobodan Milosevic and its record in dealing with
its Albanian minority is, by Balkan standards, exemplary. The issue is further complicated
its Albanian minority is, by Balkan standards, exemplary. The issue is further complicated
by the fact that the KLA is NATO’s own creature and is looked upon favorably by its pre-
by the fact that the KLA is NATO’s own creature and is looked upon favorably by its pre-
vious masters. There seems little doubt that NATO intends to ensure that Kosovo remains
vious masters. There seems little doubt that NATO intends to ensure that Kosovo remains
under KLA control.
under KLA control.
Even more alarming is the fact that the KLA and its brethren in Macedonia continue to
Even more alarming is the fact that the KLA and its brethren in Macedonia continue to
receive assistance and military help from NATO countries. Last month when Macedonian
receive assistance and military help from NATO countries. Last month when Macedonian
forces were closing in on KLA rebels near the town of Aracinovo, NATO intervened and
forces were closing in on KLA rebels near the town of Aracinovo, NATO intervened and
helped evacuate the KLA fighters. According to German media reports, it did so because
helped evacuate the KLA fighters. According to German media reports, it did so because
among the KLA forces were 17 Americans, advisers from a U.S. mercenary organization
among the KLA forces were 17 Americans, advisers from a U.S. mercenary organization
that has been
that has been actively engaged in the actively engaged in the Balkans during the YBalkans during the Yugoslav wars, and it ugoslav wars, and it wouldn’t dowouldn’t do
to have had a number of
to have had a number of former U.S. military personnel captured along with KLA terrorists.former U.S. military personnel captured along with KLA terrorists.
Although it is embarrassed by the actions of the KLA in Macedonia, NATO has shown
Although it is embarrassed by the actions of the KLA in Macedonia, NATO has shown
no inclination to bring a stop to this naked aggression against a democratic and peaceful
no inclination to bring a stop to this naked aggression against a democratic and peaceful
nation. To do so would mean armed clashes with the KLA, with consequent loss of NATO
nation. To do so would mean armed clashes with the KLA, with consequent loss of NATO
lives. It would also underline the bankruptcy of NATO’s policy in the Balkans – not some-
lives. It would also underline the bankruptcy of NATO’s policy in the Balkans – not some-
thing NATO’s secretary-general, Lord George Robertson, or our NATO political leaders
thing NATO’s secretary-general, Lord George Robertson, or our NATO political leaders
wish to have highlighted.
wish to have highlighted.
Unwilling to confront the KLA, NATO’s response so far has been to bring diplomat- Unwilling to confront the KLA, NATO’s response so far has been to bring diplomat- ic pressure on the Government of Macedonia, forcing it to yield to Albanian demands. ic pressure on the Government of Macedonia, forcing it to yield to Albanian demands. Lord Robertson and t
Lord Robertson and the European Union’s foreign Ministerhe European Union’s foreign Minister, Javier Solana, , Javier Solana, have gone tohave gone to Skopje to press home
Skopje to press home NANATO’s insistence that Macedonia’s sovereignty must be compro-TO’s insistence that Macedonia’s sovereignty must be compro- mised. In the meantime, KLA rebels are reinforcing their forces which have occupied mised. In the meantime, KLA rebels are reinforcing their forces which have occupied most of western and northern Macedonia. So mush for NATO’s dedication to democrat- most of western and northern Macedonia. So mush for NATO’s dedication to democrat- ic ideals, the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of international disputes.
ic ideals, the rule of law and the peaceful resolution of international disputes.
(Canada’s former ambassador to Yugoslavia James Bisset. The Globe and Mail)
(Canada’s former ambassador to Yugoslavia James Bisset. The Globe and Mail) Cancel Download And Print