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Thread: Balkan watching (catch all)

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    Default Balkan watching (catch all)

    17 Nov. Reuters report - Bosnia Looks Beyond Dayton a Decade after War.

    Ten years after the ceasefire in Bosnia, the Dayton peace treaty that stopped Europe's worst conflict since World War Two is in need of a serious overhaul.

    ... as one of Europe's poorest nations prepares to embark on the long road to membership in the wealthy European Union, it faces stern warnings that ethnic divisions still enshrined in its governing structures could greatly delay its progress.

    The watchword in no longer stabilization but transition, Bosnia's powerful peace overseer, British diplomat Paddy Ashdown, told a conference on Dayton in Geneva last month.

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    Default Wahhabism in the Balkans

    ARAG, 3 Mar 08: Wahhabism in the Balkans
    Key Points

    * Growing concern over the rise of Wahhabism in the Balkans have dictated that the issue has shifted from the margins to the mainstream, fast becoming recognised as one the key political-security issues in the Western Balkan region.

    * The growth of Wahhabi groups in the region should be treated with caution. Incidents involving Wahhabi groups in Serbia (including Kosovo), Montenegro, and Macedonia demonstrate that the Wahhabi movement is no longer isolated within the territorial confines of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    * Its proliferation presents a challenge for already strained inter-ethnic relations and, more importantly, intra-Muslim relations in the region. It is imperative that the ongoing situation is not ignored or misunderstood by Western policy-makers.
    Complete 19 page paper at the link.

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    ARAG, 4 Aug 08: Political and Religious Conflict in the Sandžak
    Key Points

    * The rising tensions within the Islamic Community are causing growing concern. The split within the Community has led to an increase in violent incidents in the past year.

    * The current conflicts are linked to political struggles, but the instrumentalisation of the split threatens to destabilise intra-Bosniak relations, as well as inter-ethnic relations throughout the Sandžak and within an unstable Serbia.

    * The Balkan region is in a state of flux in the aftermath of Kosovo’s independence, and thus areas of potential instability such as the Sandžak should be closely monitored and treated with sensitivity.
    Complete 23 page paper at the link.

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    SWP Comments, 5 Aug 08: The End of an Odyssey in Bosnia and Herzegovina
    When a considerably modified version of the police reform crossed the final hurdle in the upper house of the parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 16 April 2008, officials not only in Sarajevo but in Brussels as well breathed a sigh of relief. The road to signing a Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) with the European Union (EU) was finally clear, bringing an end to an odyssey that had lasted years. Yet the wrangling over the police reform was really just a symptom of the structural deficits that continue to prevent a progressive dynamic developing in the country, each of which reveals a dilemma that hampers the involved parties’ ability to act: First of all there is the "dysfunctionality of Dayton", a derogatory term used to denounce the complex constitutional structure and the lack of willingness by elites in Bosnia and Herzegovina to engage in political reform. Thus, although desirable, a reform of the constitution is not realisable in the short term. Second, in recent years the international community, in particular the High Representative and the European Union, have acted in ways that have proved to be counterproductive. So while external actors continue to be the most important engine of reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, their presence at the same time is an obstacle to further democratisation.....

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    Default Wahhabi gathering held in Bosnia

    Wahhabi gathering held in Bosnia

    Source: http://www.serbianna.com/news/2008/02912.shtml

    August 18, 2008
    SERBIANNA

    A Wahhabi gathering was held over the weekend in a Bosnian village of Grmusa near the city of Bosanska Krupa where over 50 senior Bosnian Muslim wahhabi representatives met on the property owned by Fuad Vukovic.

    "There is nothing to record. This is a private gathering and reporters are not invited," said leader to the interested media that was stopped by the Wahhabi security at the outskirts of the village.

    A spokesman for the group who identified himself as Emir then told the media that the gathering is private and that its intent is to exchange ideas and to talk, mostly, about religious topics.....
    Last edited by Jedburgh; 08-20-2008 at 12:42 PM.

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    Bosnian Wahhabis recruiting al-Qaeda


    Source: http://www.serbianna.com/blogs/newspost/?p=370

    Serbianna, August 20, 2008

    Bosnian politician Dzevad Galijasevic says that the reason for the recent gathering of Bosnian Wahhabis in the village of Bosnian Krupa was to plan a recruitment strategy of Bosnian Muslims via its Active Islamic Youth organization and their media outlets such as SAFF and others.
    Last edited by Hajduk; 08-25-2008 at 02:23 AM. Reason: Add link

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    Gun fire, explosions 40km from #Macedonia capital.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKSJlS--Scc
    Police fights w/ unknown armed group
    @MaximEristavi
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 05-09-2015 at 11:03 AM. Reason: Copied to this new thread from Ukraine thread and edited down

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    Default Balkan watching (catch all)

    Outlaw09 highlighted an unexplained exchange of gunfire in Macedonia (see the first post, after this thread appears) and a gap in our coverage of the region.

    So aware that WW1 started with a spark with an assassination @ Sarejevo, it's time for a thread to collect posts and discussion on the region - mainly small, new states.

    There are a few historical, closed threads for background reading:

    1) Kosovo Independence:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=4924
    2) Wahhabism in the Balkans:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...ead.php?t=5041
    3) Bosnia looks beyond Dayton:http://council.smallwarsjournal.com/...read.php?t=163

    If jihadism appears I suggest readers consult the articles by John Schindler's blog, which regularly reminds us how fertile the region can be:http://20committee.com/category/terrorism/

    Although the shooting is not explained these two BBC reports explain, 6th May 2015, there is a political crisis in Macedonia, with some public violence:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32610951 and http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32612508
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 05-09-2015 at 11:06 AM.
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    Limited reporting via Twitter on the shooting:
    A Reuters photographer said special police units in armoured vehicles had locked down a suburb of Kumanovo, some 40 km (25 miles) north of the capital Skopje in an area that saw fighting during an ethnic Albanian insurgency in 2001. Gunfire was heard throughout the morning.
    Link:http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/0...0NU0EU20150509

    From a local report (not in English):
    3 policemen killed, 12 wounded
    Link:http://portalb.mk/170442-koha-tre-po...r-ne-kumanove/

    A ten minute street scene film clip; looks like army and police deployed:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6rrOYEtkEE
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 05-09-2015 at 01:27 PM.
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    #Kumanovo RIGHT NOW!
    @Op_Albania
    pic.twitter.com/oRowR5ymuK

    Heavy gunfire in #Kumanovo filmed by a resident:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz7YDiKbcNg

    A year ago, I was in my family's village in #Macedonia watching news about ethnic tension with neighbour. 'It will pass' she told herself

    AFP: 4 police injured in #Macedonia after clashes with gunmen in a region that has history of ethnic tension http://www.globalpost.com/article/65...sh-armed-group

    Macedonia narrowly avoided all-out ethnic war in 2001...looks like it's getting close again http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/0...0NU0EU20150509

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    Serbian press: some 450 Serbian military policemen + some armoured vehicles deployed this afternoon along border with #Macedonia.

    #Kumanovo clashes getting regional attention:
    #Serbia beefs up border
    #Albania's MFA to hold Press Conf
    #Kosovo issues statement

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    Grenades and shots heard from part of town known as #DivoNaselje. 2, maybe 3 houses burning. #Kumanovo
    via @JordanIva
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 05-09-2015 at 05:55 PM.

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    Situation in #Kumanovo far from over it seems, just some minutes ago, many houses on fire. pic via @Nikicakupic.twitter.com/2OQrsIygzn

    Reportes on scene say there is increased exchange of gunfire and at least six houses on fire in #Kumanovo now.
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 05-09-2015 at 05:55 PM.

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    Reports: #Kumanovo situation is over. 30 terrorists surrendered to police. Locals say no gunfire since 30 minutes. Let's hope it's true!
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 05-09-2015 at 05:54 PM.

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    Quote Originally Posted by OUTLAW 09 View Post
    Reports: #Kumanovo situation is over. 30 terrorists surrendered to police. Locals say no gunfire since 30 minutes. Let's hope it's true!
    Sound of grenades and gunfire audible in #Kumanovo now, 27 terrorists reportedly surrendered but apparently there are more of them

    Kumanovo, Macedonia - Unconfirmed reports say 5 dead, 15 injured in fighting http://europe.liveuamap.com/en/2015/...rts-say-5-dead … via @L0gg0l

    Heavy gunfire and explosions still audible in #Kumanovo this evening:
    https://twitter.com/MitkoBojmacalie/...97884534874112
    Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 05-09-2015 at 06:02 PM.

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    Serbia-#Macedonia border crossing. Albanians leaving their homes pic.twitter.com/KlHNeDe9lv #Kumanovo
    via @TeaBegolli

    According to @glusce, fighting in #Kumanovo not over, gunfire, explosions non stop.

    #Kumanovo quiet since a while now. Let's hope this is finally over now. Event completely ignored in western media. (Added by Mod: BBC report:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32674121 )

    Statement of Foreign Minister of Albania on #kumanovo #macedonia
    http://www.punetejashtme.gov.al/en/p...s-in-macedonia … pic.twitter.com/BspIvjHqpX

    One hour ago heavy fighting in #Kumanovo filmed by locals:
    https://www.facebook.com/10000031270...07719/?fref=nf

    At the moment it is still very unclear who the #Macedonia government is fighting in #Kumanovo. Albanians? Serbs? Kosovans? Local uprising?
    Terrorist in civilian clothes and sneakers in #Kumanovo arrested.
    http://telma.mk/vesti/eksluzivno-fot...bleka-i-patiki … pic.twitter.com/opOvdz1USZ

    Shooting starts again after 30 min pause ensured by OSBE. Pictures from citizens #Kumanovo #Macedonia pic.twitter.com/zSy3WkNDy6
    @VleraGjakova

    Exactly 14 years ago, on 9 May, Macedonian army has fought Albanian rebels in Kumanovo
    http://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/eu...nia/index.html

    Serbian chetniks who fought in Crimea & Ukraine say they'll come to #Macedonia to help the police. Just what we need. http://www.pravda.rs/2015/05/09/srps...u-na-kumanovo/
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 05-09-2015 at 08:05 PM. Reason: Add BBC link

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    Some days ago an attack had happened on a police station in Gošince, #Macedonia
    http://balkans.aljazeera.net/vijesti...i-u-makedoniji
    pic.twitter.com/8HfgFa1WgR

    Best article so far giving insight in what's going on in #Kumanovo #Macedonia http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0NU06X20150509
    via @jjflehva

    Russian intelligence general Leonid Reshetnikov stirs the Balkans for #Putin. Here's how @20committee http://20committee.com/2015/04/27/pu...kan-offensive/

    According to @AlsatM, police action in #Kumanovo ended, leaving 4 out of 9 dead of last armed group, and one suicide.
    http://a1on.mk/wordpress/archives/488375
    Last edited by davidbfpo; 05-10-2015 at 09:35 AM.

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    Macedonia police fight an 'armed group from a neighbouring state' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32674121

    2 crime groups from Kosovo hired to incite conflict in Macedonia http://www.focus-fen.net//news/2015/...macedonia.html

    BREAKING: MACEDONIA - LAST POCKET OF 9 TERRORISTS ELIMINATED
    http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/27372/1/

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    @AlexandruC4 Reports that Macedonian police battled with more than 120 well trained and armed terrorists
    http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/27367/45/

    Minister of Interior confirms 5 policemen killed in #Kumanovo fighting

    PoliceMin Gordana Jankulovska press conf.:
    5 policemen dead, 30 wounded.
    #Macedonia #Kumanovo
    Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 05-09-2015 at 09:21 PM.

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    Problem seems to be still there--this from this morning--shooting has not been verified.

    Cvetin Chilimanov @Cvetin
    #Macedonia Reports of renewed shooting in Kumanovo after a largely peaceful night

    Jasmin Mujanović @JasminMuj
    #Kumanovo also saw fighting during the 2001 insurgency in #Macedonia. Situation right now seems volatile. pic.twitter.com/67nCKdJHFj

    Killed police in #Kumanovo: Zharko Kuzmanovski (Tetova, aged 32), Nenad Serafimovski (Gostivar, aged 28), Sasho Samojlovski (Tetova,aged 32)

    Chronology & status of more notable security incidents in #Macedonia (late 2014-2015) #Kumanovo pic.twitter.com/ic8DpoFtGl
    PoliceMin Gordana Jankulovska press conf.:
    Last edited by OUTLAW 09; 05-10-2015 at 08:09 AM.

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