Turk ethnic minority still denied rights in North Macedonia under Ohrid Agreement even after 23 years

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Though the Ohrid Agreement was signed in North Macedonia 23 years ago, the ethnic Turk minority, which constituted about 4% of the total population, continues to be denied their rights according to the pact signed on Aug. 13, 2001.

Turks, the third-largest community in North Macedonia, seek greater representation in the government, particularly in local administrations, which they have yet to receive, citing the importance of revising the Ohrid Agreement, which would allow them to have proper representation in the country.

The agreement to end internal conflict in North Macedonia was signed 23 years ago.

The first Constitution adopted in Macedonia, as the country was then known, following independence from the former Yugoslavia limited the rights of the country's minority groups, including Albanians.

Demanding the right to higher education in their native language, Albanians founded a university of their own in 1994.

Deeming the university illegal, authorities responded by demolishing it. One person was killed in a brawl that broke out, while several others were injured.

In another incident, members of the Albanian community hung their flag on municipal buildings in Gostivar and Tetovo in 1997, but government officials similarly banned the movement and ordered the banners to be taken down.

An intervention by the police resulted in more detentions and deaths.

- Ohrid Agreement

To put an end to the turmoil, the country's largest political parties signed the Ohrid Framework Agreement on Aug. 13, 2001, in the presence of special representatives from the EU and US.

It took two months for the government to prepare for the signing of the agreement between all parties involved in the conflicts in the southwestern city of Ohrid.

The accord officially put an end to the civil war and laid the groundwork for expanding the rights of ethnic Albanians in the country.

Under the deal, Albanian, spoken by more than 20% of people in any city, was named the country's co-official language alongside Macedonian on Jan. 15, 2019.

In addition, the deal addressed issues such as the development of local governments, non-discrimination, fair representation, and special parliamentary procedures on issues such as language, culture, education, and identity.

A secretariat responsible for the implementation of the deal was also established, which was turned into the Political System and Inter-Community Relations Ministry in 2019.

- Road to deal

The internal turmoil that culminated in the Ohrid Agreement began on January 22, 2001, when a group of armed Albanians attacked a police station in the village of Teartse, near the northwestern city of Tetovo.

One police officer was killed and three others were injured. A group called the National Liberation Army (UCK) claimed responsibility for the attack.

Clashes continued in other cities that spring, albeit with varying intensity.

A general cease-fire agreement was reached on July 5 through mediation by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and NATO, but both sides repeatedly violated it.

During the course of these events, which some have referred to as a "civil war," hundreds of people from both sides of the conflict died and tens of thousands were displaced between Jan. 22 and Nov. 12, 2001.