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Macedonian bishop seeks peace talks
Ethnic Albanians seek recognition
To save Macedonia from the threat of war, the only solution is peaceful discussion among all the political leaders in the country, according to Auxiliary Bishop Marko Sopi of Skopje-Prizren, the leader of ethnic Albanian Catholics in the Balkans.
“I am neither a politician nor a military expert, but I have certain pastoral responsibilities,” the bishop told the Fides news service. “And I believe the only solution is to find ways for peaceful talks between Macedonia’s political leaders and the consistent Albanian component of the population, who are demanding recognition and guarantee of rights.” He added, “The government must find a solution: until now the problem has never been tackled realistically. Perhaps the political groups, which include also Albanians, were not mature enough but now a spirit of negotiation must prevail.”
Ethnic Albanians are battling with police in Macedonia’s second largest city, Teotovo, causing thousands to flee the city. Bishop Sopi said the exodus involves not only Orthodox Christians but also Catholics and Muslims, as panic and war-like fervor spread. The bishop, presently in Kosovo, explains that “Macedonia is not Kosovo,” insisting that the situation is quite different.
The Albanian rebel advance is seen with anxiety by the European Union. NATO, the United States, and Russia have also expressed concern.