As has so often been the case in the Balkans, a political minority is making big waves in Macedonia. For once, however, a government seems to be trying to accommodate that group rather than fanning the flames of discontent. Prodded by NATO and the European Union, the government in Skopje is trying to establish a power-sharing formula that meets ethnic Albanians' demands for more power and an end to discrimination against them. That action will be essential if separatist rebels are to be isolated and defeated.
Macedonia's main problem is establishing equality between the country's two ethnic groups, Slavs and Albanians, the latter of which make up about one-third of the country's 2 million people. Failure to respond to the grievances of the Albanian minority has sparked a guerrilla insurrection in the northern part of the country that is led by the National Liberation Army. Fighting erupted last February and has continued off and on despite the use of the Macedonian Army's superior firepower.
Not only has the military failed to put down the insurrection, there is fear that indiscriminate violence will win the rebels more sympathizers. The European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are also concerned that the fighting could spill over Macedonia's borders and create a much bigger war that would once again destabilize the region. Therefore, both the EU and NATO have been doing some arm-twisting in Skopje.