Makedonien: Probleme eines neuen Staates

Macedonia, one of the successors of the former Yugoslavia, is, by its political independence, confronted with complicated political and economic problems. As regards foreign affairs, there is the "Macedonian questi on": Is there a Slav-Macedonian nation or is it merely an artificial construction? The tension within the country stems from the presence of the ethnic Albanians: being an important part of the population, they demand constitutional rights like the Macedonians. The main economic problem is the conversion of the Yugosocialist economy into a market system. Thanks to Macedonian concessions, the "Macedonian question" has been nearly eliminated, and the neighbouring countries are recognizing more and more the advantageous role of this new state as a regional factor of stabilization in the heart of the Balkans. Though the inter-ethnic relationship was not free of dissonances, serious crises did not take place because of integrationing efforts by the authorities, such as participation in government. The Albanians know very well that their political and economic position is comparatively satisfactory. Their aim, therefore, is not a secession of the western part of the country, where they are chiefly concentrated, but an improved status within the state of Macedonia. By a rigorous austerity policy macroeconomic terms have been stabilized, and privatization of social property in industry is largely complete, though not entirely convincingly. However, the main aims to be achieved are sustainable agreement with the Albanian minority, the industrial restruction and the improvement of the miserable social conditions especially reduction of the tremendous unemployment and the betterment of the dismal material state of the people