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Macedonia's Civil War:

'Made in the USA'Scott Taylor reports from Tetovo

August 20, 2001

ast Monday, international envoys and government officials

in Macedonia hammered out a last minute peace accord.However, this eleventh hour attempt to avoid another Balkan

civil war may yet prove to be a case of "too little, too late," asthe fighting here continues to escalate.

Under the terms of the agreement, once a solid cease-fire canbe established, a NATO force of some 3,000 peacekeepers willbe deploying into Macedonia. The major task of these NATOtroops will be to disarm the ethnic Albanian guerillas (UCK)

who have successfully established control of nearly 30% ofMacedonia's territory.

For the battered Macedonian security forces that have foughtthe UCK over the past six months, the arrival of the NATOforce will be a bitter pill to swallow.

"If NATO hadn't been arming and equipping the UCK inKosovo there would be no need for them to 'disarm' theseguerillas now in Macedonia," said Goran Stevanovic, a sergeant

with an elite Macedonian police unit.

'GOD BLESS AMERICA'

t the diplomatic level, the provision of military aid to the

UCK is vehemently denounced, but on the ground inMacedonia, there is no denying the massive amount ofmateriel and expertise supplied by NATO to the guerrillas.

The UCK commanders welcomed me with a shout of, "Godbless America and Canada too for all that they have providedto us!" In the well constructed UCK bunkers overlooking the

besieged city of Tetovo, there is ample evidence of US militaryhardware. Everything from sidearms and sniper rifles to

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menacing-looking grenade launchers are emblazoned with a"Made in the USA" logo.

An abundant stock of sophisticated night vision gogglesprovides the UCK with a tremendous tactical advantage overthe Macedonian security forces. By nightfall, the Macedoniansare compelled to hole-up in their bunkers while the UCK roam

with impunity throughout the Tetovo streets.

"Snake" Arifaj, a 22-year-old platoon commander with theUCK, proudly displayed his unit's impressive arsenal and said,"Thanks to Uncle Sam, the Macedonians are no match for us."

COMMANDANT 'MOUSE'

wo weeks ago, there was a flurry of diplomatic protests

filed by the Macedonian government when two US helicopterswere observed delivering supplies to an Albanian village in themountains above Tetovo. Officially, the US claimed theiraircraft were only transporting vital "humanitarian aid."However, the local UCK commander "Commandant Mouse" contradicted this statement and confirmed that the

Americans had in fact delivered "heavy mortars andammunition" to the UCK.

As proof of "Mouse's" claim, Thursday, 16 August, the UCKbegan bombarding Tetovo with 120mm and 82mm mortars.Judging from the duration and intensity of the bombardment,

which I witnessed, ammunition supply is not a problem for theUCK fighters.

The US also frequently used their tactical helicopters to gatherintelligence inside Macedonia, without authorization from theMacedonian government. The sight of the US choppers

prompted the ethnic Albanian villagers to cheer wildly, wavingtheir arms to encourage "their" airforce.

Further illustration of this Albanian sentiment toward USaircraft can be found at the UCK brigade headquarters, justoutside Tetovo. Here the security platoon wear T-shirtsemblazoned with a Nike logo and the phrase, "NATO Air Justdo it!"

MACEDONIA HARD-PRESSED

n the other side of this conflict, the woefully equipped

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Macedonian forces have been hard-pressed to field a crediblefighting force. In order to obtain a peaceful secession from

Yugoslavia in 1992, the fledgling Republic of Macedonia agreedto turn over all the federal military assets toSerbia/Montenegro. As a result of their bankrupt treasury andslumping economy, Macedonia did not put a priority on

re-equipping an army.

However, once the Albanian guerillas began their insurgency inMarch of this year, the Macedonians had no choice but torapidly enhance their tiny security forces. Over the past sixmonths, there has been a tremendous infusion of modern

weaponry (and mercenary "advisors") into Macedonia, with thebulk of support coming from Ukraine.

At the height of last week's fighting, both George Robertson

and Javier Solana respectively the NATO and EuropeanUnion Secretary Generals made personal entreaties to theUkraine to cut off this vital military aid. Given suchinterference, it is little wonder that the Macedonian majorityhave staged violent anti-NATO riots, attacking embassies andMcDonald's restaurants over the past several weeks.

Scott Taylor is editor ofEsprit de Corps magazine and writes for theCanadian press."

Thanks to Benjamin Works of theStrategic Issues Research Institute ofthe US (SIRIUS).

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