Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Volume 11 Issue 1 The Journal of Mine Action Article 41

July 2007

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COUNTRY PROFILES Profile: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia COUNTRY PROFILES { {

Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Serbia and Montenegro by Matthew Voegel [ Mine Action Information Center ] by Rachel Canfield [ Mine Action Information Center ]

en years after gaining independence, the UXO threat. ERW have still prevented sessions to media campaigns and a travel- he State Union of Serbia and then came under the General Secretariat’s They were able to collect 719 AP mines, T the Former Yugoslav Republic of the use of land while also affecting economic ing theater program. The International T Montenegro has faced many political control in 2003. When a new government 30 anti-vehicle mines, 977 cluster bomblets Macedonia faced the uprising of an armed development, communication and tourism. Committee of the Red Cross ended its MRE and social difficulties since the dissolution was formed in 2004, the mine-action center and 1,378 pieces of UXO in 2005.9 From group of ethnic Albanians demanding An estimated 40 people have been killed and work in Macedonia in 2003. ICRC’s two of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On was made solely responsible for mine-action June 1999 to the end of 2005, an estimated greater civil rights.1 The hostility between 1,043 injured by mines and UXO from 1965 years of activities along with UNICEF’s in- 18 September 2003, the then-unified coun- activities independent of government inter- 41,488,255 square meters (10,252 acres) of the ethnic Albanians—who called them- to 2003.5 volvement in 2001 resulted in over 17,000 try of Serbia and Montenegro acceded to ference. The Serbian government supervises land were cleared.9 selves the National Liberation Army—and individuals being reached.8 the Ottawa Convention,1 becoming a State the MAC but the center refuses to allow fed- the Macedonian government lasted seven The Road to Clearance Party on 1 March 2004. In June 2006, eral institutions (i.e., the army) to participate The Future months and ended with the signing of the Macedonia became a State Party to the The Road Ahead Montenegro declared independence from in demining operations in civilian areas.5 Even though the breakup of the Federal Framework Agreement in August 2001.2 Ottawa Convention6 1 March 1999 and is The Directorate formulated an action Serbia. Montenegro subsequently acceded to In Montenegro, the RCUD observes all Republic of Yugoslavia led to the formation This conflict, in addition to World Wars I a State Party to the Convention on Certain plan in 2005. The plan details the the Convention as a separate country; Serbia aspects of mine action. It was established by of new countries, relationships have not been and II, left Macedonia with contamination Conventional Weapons.7 Macedonia com- period 2006 to 2010 and involves remained bound by the original agreement. the government of Montenegro in 2002 and severed. Organizations such as the South- from landmines and other explosive rem- pleted stockpile clearance two and a half three phases:5 Both Serbia and Montenegro are party to organized by its Ministry of Internal Affairs. Eastern Europe Mine Action Coordination nants of war3 along the northern borders years before the Ottawa Convention-man- 1. Developing national capacities and the Convention on Certain Conventional It is recognized as a public institution and Council have helped all the countries in the with Kosovo and Albania and the southern dated deadline. In September 2006, four obtaining equipment. This phase has Weapons,2 having assumed the obligation of yet works independently to achieve the tasks region share the burden of the landmine border with Greece. In September 2006, five years after starting, Macedonia completed been completed. the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Though set forth by the government of the Republic problem and work together to resolve it. The years after the end of the internal conflict, landmine clearance.2 The Macedonian gov- 2. Conducting surveys to establish fu- a ratification bill was drafted by the foreign of Montenegro.7 organization currently seeks to make all the Macedonia completed landmine clearance2 ernment set priorities for mine clearance, ture clearance priorities. This phase ministry and sent to the defense ministry for The Office of the Kosovo Protection countries in Southeast Europe “mine free” and continues to work towards clearance of which began in 2002. Among the greatest is set to take two years and should be finalization while Serbia and Montenegro Corps Coordinator, under the authority by 2010.10 other ERW. concerns were areas that prevented internally completed by 2008. were united, neither country has yet to be- of the Special Representative of the U.N. Serbia and Montenegro, under Article displaced persons from returning home and 3. Developing operationally and estab- come party to the 1996 Amended Protocol Secretary-General, handles all mine action 5 of the Ottawa Convention, must destroy Landmine/Unexploded Ordnance Slupchane village, because a hospital was to lishing international and national II3 on landmines.4 and explosive ordnance disposal in the prov- all AP mines under their control no later Contamination be built there. partnerships. This phase is a continu- ince of Kosovo. As the status of Kosovo is than 1 March 2014. Serbia plans to clear After the fighting between the NLA and Organizations that participated in clear- ing process. Landmine and UXO Problem still being decided, there is no current mine- all anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines by Macedonian government forces ended, the ance of the region contaminated after the Although landmine clearance has been Serbia has recorded 710,000 mines and, action organization run by Kosovo citizens; the end of 2008, which could be achieved United Nations Mine Action Coordination 2001 conflict were Handicap International, completed, UXO still pose a threat to the as of March 2006, cluster bomblets re- however, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal given that the country is well underway with Centre and the International Trust Fund MineTech International (contracted by southern region of the country, and the mained in six main areas of Serbia, affecting Management Section of OKPCC, which minefield clearance.5 A meeting in Sarajevo for Demining and Mine Victims Awareness CARE International) and the International Directorate will continue to carry out its ac- approximately 24 square kilometers (9.27 currently serves as the national mine-ac- in April 2005 concluded that, “similarly, conducted surveys to assess the ERW Trust Fund for Demining and Mine tion plan. This contamination is expected to square miles).5 The Regional Center for tion authority, has plans to become an ac- Montenegro should be declared free of land- threat.4 The northern region of the country, Victims Assistance.4 The U.S. Department be cleared by 2009 Underwater Demining, which was founded tual mine-action organization as soon as mines if demining projects at the border specifically the northwestern borders with of State also contributed to mine action in See Endnotes, Page in 2002, controls mine action in Montenegro Kosovo’s status is decided.9 with Albania progress as planned.”4 Kosovo and Albania, was found to be rife Macedonia through the ITF and by fund- and focuses primarily on underwater mine See Endnotes, Page with landmines. ing the deployment of six demining teams and UXO removal but also oversees general Progress While landmines posed a serious threat, from Bosnia and Herzegovina.2 By the end demining.5 As of April 2006, RCUD found Demining in the region has taken a turn the surveys established that “the greater of 2004, 200,000 mines/UXO had been that contamination consisted of about 46 for the better. Serbia, which began to de- threat ‘by far’ came from UXO.”4 According found and destroyed.5 minefields of unknown size containing stroy its stockpile of anti-personnel mines in to government authorities, mines and UXO A United Nation Mine Action Office around 424 mines in Montenegro.4 August 2005, destroyed a total of 649,217 from the conflict contaminated 80 villages, was established in September 2001 after Border territories around Serbia and cached mines, nearly half of its stockpile as including the regions of Kumanovo, Tetovo the UNMACC survey,4 and the Ministry of Montenegro remain contaminated by land- of 2 March 2006.5 Additionally, 1,373,520 and Skopje.1 During the conflict, 70,000 Defense took over in 2003. Shortly thereaf- mines and other explosive remnants of square meters (339 acres) of land were people fled their homes, and mine contami- ter, the Protection and Rescue Directorate war.6 Cluster bombs and large aerial bombs cleared in 2005 with 634 mines and 27 clus- nation hindered their safe return. was formed, becoming the only body re- from the NATO action in 1999 are spread ter bomblets destroyed.5

In November 2002 the United Nations sponsible for mine/UXO clearance in Rachel Canfield has worked as an throughout the area. There are also signifi- In Montenegro, the RCUD was able to Matthew Voegel has been an Editorial Mine Action Office assessed the UXO Macedonia. The Directorate began its work Editorial Assistant for the Journal cant amounts of landmines and UXO on the clear the Verige trench in the Bay of Kotor Assistant for the Journal of Mine Action problem in the southern region of the in 2005. The Directorate’s role in mine ac- of Mine Action since January coast of Montenegro, some of which date to in November 2004 with financial help from since October 2006. He is currently country caused by World Wars I and II. tion involves surveys, clearance, mine de- 2006. She is currently pursuing an the First World War.7 the United States.5 Additional projects in- pursuing an undergraduate degree in print journalism at James Madison The Thessalonica Front, the 250-kilometer struction, marking and fencing minefields, undergraduate degree in public rela- In the province of Kosovo the danger cluded UXO clearance in other locations in tions and print journalism at James University. 5 5 (155-mile) border with Greece, was found to and medical treatment of victims. Madison University. from anti-personnel mines is decreasing, but the Bay. Also, demining of UXO around Contact Information be contaminated in the areas of Gevgelija, the threat of cluster bombs and other UXO the coastal resort of Budva has begun, Kavardaci and Bitola.4 Mine-risk Education remains large. Due to conflict, these bombs along with on-shore demining around the Matthew Voegel Macedonia’s landmine threat was con- The 2001 conflict and resulting border Rachel Canfield and other UXO lie in many areas, including town of Ulcinj.5 Editorial Assistant Editorial Assistant Journal of Mine Action sidered “localized and easily defined” be- contamination created a need for mine-risk Journal of Mine Action heavily forested ones. In 2005, demining in Kosovo was very Mine Action Information Center cause the NLA laid mines specifically in education campaigns in the northern region Mine Action Information Center successful with the help of several differ- E-mail: [email protected] areas that led to their defensive locations.4 of the country. The International Committee E-mail: [email protected] Mine Action ent organizations including the Kosovo The threat was limited to certain areas of the Red Cross led MRE efforts with help The Mine Action Center of Serbia Protection Corps, the internationally- where minefield locations were identified. from the Macedonian Red Cross. MRE formed in March of 2002. It was originally staffed Kosovo Protection Force, Handicap However, this knowledge does not extend to activities ranged from community-based part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but International, HALO Trust and others.