| Thunder from down under |
ARMED FORCES SUMMARY
TOTAL STRENGTH
16,000
Organisation
The armed forces of the Republic of Macedonia were established in April 1995 and organised into three operational arms: The Land Forces (Kopnena vojska - KoV), Air Force and Air-Defence (Voeno vozduhoplovstvo I protivvozdusna odbrana - VViPVP) and the Lake Service (Ezerska Sluzba - ES). The Armed Forces of the Republic of Macedonia were established by the adoption of the Defence Law of the independent Republic of Macedonia on 14 February 1992. The Armed Forces were organised into two operational arms: the Army and the Air Force and Air Defence Forces. The present officer corps is over 2,500-strong (many formerly JNA - former-Yugoslav army) and there are plans to continue the recruitment of regular non-commissioned officers.
The departing JNA removed all heavy military and other equipment, reportedly down to light fittings, and vandalised what it could not transport. The Macedonians have been left with only small arms, limited quantities of mortars and man-portable air defence and anti-tank weapons.
Several organisational concepts were tried between 1993-99, but virtually all of them suffered from being over ambitious for a small country with limited means. The initial concept was a scaled-down former Yugoslav model, based on the `total national defence' concept. As Macedonia joined NATO's Partnership for Peace programme the thinking slowly changed, resulting in a new doctrine adopted in 1997-98 which was never fully implemented.
A new Defence Law was adopted in September 2000. It defines the role of the armed forces and establishes precise division between the civilian Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces General Staff in accordance with NATO-standards and was judged to be fully NATO-compatible, although its full implementation is expected to take up to two years.
According to the plans adopted between 1995-98, Macedonia proposed to develop a fully equipped force of up to 24,000 soldiers, including conscripts. This, however, proved to be an overoptimistic task for a poor country with many other pressing problems and under NATO influence the plan was modified to allow for a significant reduction to 14,000. The original plans to maintain a possibility to raise a wartime reserve of 200,000 trained soldiers, or 10 per cent of the population have also been revised and reduced. In late 1999 the government announced a possibility of re-structuring the Army on a two-corps model in 2000. No firm decision has been taken to date.
The latest ARM re-organisation plan was presented in May 2000. According to this plan, which is co-ordinated with the Action Plan for National Defence, the ARM should number between 14,000 and 16,000 active member and 60,000 reservists, a significant reduction from the previously planned strength of 24,000 active and 120,000 reserve members. Half of the active strength will be professional soldiers and another half national service recruits. The present corps structure will be radically changed with the introduction of rapid reaction forces, strategic reserve and support forces. NATO welcomed the announcement that a dedicated border brigade will be formed.
The first of the two new active brigades, which will comprise between 2,500 and 3,000 members will be operational in Stip by 2001, while the second, in Kocani, will follow by 2005.
The new doctrine was modified soon after it was announced, with elements of the Scorpions, originally earmarked to form the backbone of the new active brigade in Stip, being incorporated into the 1st Border brigade.
At present, there are about 16,000 personnel in the ARM: 10,450 in the ground forces, 600 in air defence, and approximately 400 men are assigned to `naval' duties. There is no navy and the `token' air force is vaguely adapted towards air defence and anti-aircraft defence. This is less than 1 per cent of the total population and within the standards of Western countries.
Chain of Command
According to Macedonia's constitution, the president of the republic is the supreme commander of the armed forces of Macedonia. His duties were defined in Chapter VII, which deals with defence.
The Ministry of Defence is concerned with the realisation of defence policies and strategies. It is headed by a civilian minister of defence, appointed by the government. The Ministry, according to the Law on Defence, shoulders the following duties: it prepares the defence strategy, plans the development of the ARM, initiates and orchestrates international co-operation for its defence and controls the professional and administrative activities as and when necessary for the preparation of defensive measures.
The General Staff of the ARM, headed by the chief of the General Staff, carries out the duties related to the preparations necessary for armed combat and combat activities in time of war. The General Staff is also involved in peacetime preparations for the eventuality of war.
The armed forces are under civilian control and there is a principle of transparency in the planning and budgeting of defence matters.
Doctrine and Strategy
The first regular units of the Macedonians were established at the beginning of the struggle against the Axis in 1943. They consisted of partisan detachments. The first law adopted by the parliament of the Independent Republic of Macedonia in February 1992 was the Law on Defence. Skopje had, until recently, absolutely no effective army as a deterrent against a potential invader. It relied on its foreign policy to take on the role of its defence policy - albeit on the diplomatic battlefields of 1991-95. It successfully mobilised world attention to its peaceful intentions, good human-rights legislation and extreme vulnerability.
If the country is invaded, its strategy is to hold on just long enough for outside help to arrive and then resort to guerrilla warfare. Tension on the Kosovo border and repeated armed incidents in 2001 have prompted the ARM to reconsider its strategy and doctrine. Containment and anti-insurgency operations are likely to be given a more dominant role.
In September 1998 Macedonia presented its first Defence White Book defining doctrine and strategy. Macedonia perceives the main threats as coming from the resistance to post-Cold War realities, expansion of militant nationalism with the aim of creating ethnically or religiously pure states, international terrorism, opposition to creation of democratic societies, particularly in Bosnia, the unresolved issue of Kosovo and the territorial aspirations of some of its neighbours.
To counter those threats the primary tasks of Macedonia is the creation of a stable and secure democratic society with full political freedom and human rights and economic security. That is to be achieved through increased economic and political integration in the EU and building its own defence forces with an aim of military integration into the collective security umbrella of NATO, WEU, OSCE and UN.
Armed forces are to undergo a 10-year transformation with the aim of creating a professional rapid-reaction force, while maintaining its conscript element as a basis for reserve units. NATO standards are to be adopted in transparency, civilian control, command and training.
Strategic Weapons
There are no plans to procure or develop any strategic weapons.
Declared Policy
The national declared policy is for no strategic weapons.
Ballistic Missiles
There is no evidence of any ballistic missile inventory.
Nuclear Weapons
There are no reported nuclear weapons on Macedonia's soil.
Biological Weapons
There is no evidence of biological weapons having been developed or stockpiled.
Chemical Weapons
Other than riot control gases, there are no chemical weapons in Macedonia.
Assessment of Covert Programmes
Macedonia is unlikely to have the political will or financial resources to develop strategic weapons in the medium or long term.
Inventory: Strategic Weapons
None. . top
ARMY SUMMARY
STRENGTH
14,300
INFANTRY
Re-organised into 2 active brigades
ARMOUR
104 Main Battle Tanks
ARTILLERY
178 Howitzers and Mortars
Organisation The process of organising the ARM began in earnest in 1995.
In 1996, the system for educating and training officer cadres was completed. FYROM started training the officer cadre in the Military Academy of the ARM in 1995 and, in 1996, the Dr Joseph Kruzel Centre for Education and Training was opened.
The ARM is aware of the need to have a professional person available to handle the forthcoming complex military equipment and systems.
The land forces consists of the following arms: infantry, artillery, armoured-mechanised units, engineering units, signals and NBC units. All units are classed into three categories: A, B and C. In peacetime A-units are manned with at least 80 per cent nominal strength, B-units are manned at 30 per cent with a nominal mobilisation time of 24 hours, while C-units are manned at less than 10 per cent (headquarters units).
The new organisation of the General Staff of the ARM, which is fully NATO-compatible, has officially been in force since 20 February 2001. The new organisation is expected to be completed in subordinate units by 2003.AssessmentIt is unlikely that Macedonia could hold out against a capable aggressor for longer than a few hours. This is largely due to the few number of troops and the near absence of heavy weapons and aircraft.
In March 2001 the ARM mounted a counter-insurgency operation against ethnic-Albanian rebels in the area of Tetova. The operation demonstrated old-fashioned Soviet-style tactics completely unsuited to the role. If the ARM draws quick lessons from its performance it will have to secure funds for a further intake of professional soldiers and create smaller mobile COIN units.
Macedonia's geography has some advantages. There are a limited number of access routes into the country, of which most are narrow passes easily defended.
Before the realities of the conflict in Kosovo forced Macedonia to rethink its defence strategy, the intention was to rely heavily on the international community as the guarantor of the country’s security and the protector of its borders. The restructuring, aided by significant donations from the US, Germany, France, Italy and Bulgaria, came just in time, as the UNPREDEP mandate ended in March 1999 and the Kosovo crisis reached its culmination with NATO air strikes and the refugee crisis. Continued instability in Kosovo and frequent clashes with armed smugglers on the border prompted the ARM to establish a professional border brigade in June 2000. The 1st Border Brigade quickly established itself as an elite unit of the ARM, incorporating some of the former special units.
Foreign donations included 36 105mm howitzers from the US, former East-German Army BTR-70 APCs from Germany, M-113 tracked APCs from Italy and T-55 main battle tanks, 122mm and 152mm howitzers from Bulgaria. Most of this equipment was second hand used and was surplus to its original operators. In the latest donation Germany provided some 300 cross-country vehicles and a consignment of G-3 rifles.
In November 1997, encouraged by the performance of ARM in PfP exercises, Macedonian Defence Minister Lazar Kitanovski proposed a so-called `rapid intervention unit' composed of Macedonians, Albanians, Bulgarians, Greeks, Italians, Romanians and Turks that would be able to respond to any Balkan flash-point situation. The idea is not that far-fetched, as most of these countries have been participating in PfP exercises.Role and Deployment
Unit
Location
A-units
ARM HQ
Skopje
1st Corps
Skopje
2nd Corps
Stip
1st Guards Brigade
Skopje
Communications regiment
Skopje-Petrovec
Special unit
Stip
Military police battalion
Skopje
Military Academy cadet battalion
Skopje
B-units
3rd Corps
Bitola
AF&ADF HQ
Skopje
2 mechanised brigades
4 infantry brigades
2 light brigades
1 air-defence brigade
1 engineering regiment
1 air defence regiment
C-units
8 light brigades
2 infantry brigades
1 armoured brigade
1 mixed artillery brigade
2 mixed artillery regiments
3 mixed infantry-artillery regiments
1 air-defence missile regiment
1 logistical base with 10 battalions
Note: Despite their designations, these units are usually of much lower strength than the designation would indicate. Thus the total strength of an ARM `Corp' is typically 6,000 soldiers. Under the new reorganisation, unit designations are to be brought in line with NATO practices.
New organisation (currently in the process of implementation:
Active Brigade
× 2
Border Brigade
× 1
The ARM is currently deployed in three cadre headquarters formations. The present corps structure will be changed with the introduction of rapid reaction forces, strategic reserve and support forces. A border brigade was formed in June 2000. The first of the two new active brigades, which will comprise between 2,500 and 3,000 members will be operational in Stip by 2001, while the second will be operational in Kocani by 2005. The peacetime role of the ARM is to guard the borders and national airspace, to maintain regular and raised military readiness and to carry out preparations for mobilisation. A permanent duty of the ARM is the training and mobilisation of the reserve component of the armed forces of the Republic. In early March 2001 the ARM announced a partial selective mobilisation of reserves to strengthen the Kosovo border sectors, but exact figures are unknown.UN ContributionsNo UN contributions have been made.Operational Art and Tactical DoctrineThe main scenario for an invasion is not of a purely military nature. It is of one executed by civilian and armed Albanian refugees from Kosovo. In this case, the ARM's role would be to create humanitarian corridors that would see most of the refugees moved on to Albania or Greece.
A military exercise in 1996, `Rescue '96', seems to have taken on board such considerations. It was a staff exercise in Ohrid and the first part of a humanitarian-style operation, supposedly taking place after a chemical factory exploded in the wake of an earthquake. Observers included the US, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Albania and Bulgaria. The field aspect of the exercise took place in June 1997 in Krivolak.TrainingIn 1996, the Dr Josepf Kruzel Centre for Education and Training opened. It consists of three units: the School for NCOs, for which the best professional soldiers are selected. Courses last six to eight months and the capacity is for 50 cadets; the School for Reserve Officers, with a capacity for 90; and the Training Centre, whose role is to prepare for defence duties the civilian institutions and the youth.
The Military Academy, General Michajlo Apostoloski, is a higher education and scientific institution, specialising in defence. Its capacity is 140 cadets.
ARM conducted its first field training exercise in October 1993, in the presence of invited Turkish regular, reserve and retired officers. The base in Krivolak, in central FYROM, was one of the best in ex-Yugoslavia.Training AreasThe Goce Delcev Centre for military education and training is in Skopje, as is the Dr Josepf Kruzel Centre for Education and Training. Field training occurs in Krivolak.Army BasesDefence HQ is located in Skopje. Provincial Home Defence Centres are situated at Kumanovo Bitola and Stip.
Garrisons
Bitola
Kumanovo
Prilep
Skopje
Stip
Tetovo Inventory: Armour Type
Role
Quantity
In Service
T-55A
Main Battle Tank
120
84
T-55AM2
Main Battle Tank
36
20
BTR-80
Armoured Personnel Carrier
10
10
BTR-70
Armoured Personnel Carrier
60
60
M-113
Armoured Personnel Carrier
63
63
ELBO Leonidas 1
Armoured Personnel Carrier
10
10
Thyssen Hermelin
Armoured Personnel Carrier
24
24
Inventory: Artillery Type
Role
Quantity
In Service
105 mm
Howitzer
36
36
122 mm
Howitzer
n/a
n/a
152 mm
Howitzer
n/a
n/a
76 mm
Howitzer
76
76
82 mm
Mortar
n/a
n/a
60 mm
Mortar
n/a
n/a
128 mm
Rocket Launcher
n/a
n/a
57 mm
Rocket Launcher
n/a
n/a
Inventory: Anti-Tank Weapons Type
Role
Quantity
In Service
82 mm M 60
Recoilless Rifle
45
35
60mm and 90mm
AT Rocket
100
100
Inventory: Air Defence Weapons Type
Role
Quantity
In Service
Strela-2M (SA-7)
Man-portable SAM
20
20
20 mm M75
Light Anti-Aircraft Gun
12
10
Note: The ARM has a limited quantity of these short-range weapons, which were left behind when the JNA pulled out in 1992. Operational control is thought to rest with the Anti-Aircraft Defence Command.
Inventory: Infantry Weapons Type
Role
7.62 mm M70A82
Assault Rifle
7.62 mm Heckler and Koch G3
Assault Rifle
5.56 mm M80
Assault Rifle
7.92 mm M76
Sniper Rifle
12.7 mm M-84 Black Arrow
Large-calibre Sniper Rifle
Inventory: Army Aviation
Battlefield aviation is controlled by the Air Defence Command. top
AIR FORCE SUMMARY
STRENGTH
600
FIGHTER
None
CLOSE SUPPORT
Mi-24D
TRANSPORT
Mi-17, Mi-8MTV
Organisation
The air force has been dramatically increased by the need to patrol the border area and engage in couter-insurgency. It is understood that an air brigade is in the process of being formed. Assessment
For a long time the Macedonian air force consisted of four Mi-17 helicopters and some Zlin fixed-wing trainers and the country was mulling over various potential donations of fixed-wing aircraft, which all proved too costly and with little justification.
The fighting that broke out between ethnic-Albanian insurgents and the ARM prompted the government to react and in March 2001 Ukraine delivered two Mi-24D helicopter gunships (with a further two understood to be on order) and four Mi-8MTV (with four more on order). This has significantly boosted the air wing's capabilities, although it is not clear if there are sufficient pilots for the Mi-8/17 fleet and those of the Mi-24s have yet to be trained. One of the original fleet of four Mi-17s was lost in a landing incident during the fighting.
Turkey’s offer to supply up to 20 Northrop F-5A/B fighters from its own stocks has been turned down, as Macedonia would have had to pay for their refurbishment. In the face of the Kosovo threat Macedonia decided to allocate its limited funds to infantry equipment and armour.
In late 1999 various sources reported that Bulgaria offered to donate 12 MiG-21 aircraft and 12 Mi-24D attack helicopters. Sources claimed the aircraft were almost time-expired, with approximately 100 hours of airframe life left.
In December 1999 Defence Minister Nikola Kljusev confirmed that the Bulgarian offer was received, but announced that ARM was likely to turn down the offer for the fixed-wing aircraft, on the grounds of costs. However, he considered helicopters to be a priority for border patrols and announced that negotiations will continue. Following the tensions caused by fighting along the Kosovo border, Bulgaria renewed its offer for technical assistance in March 2001. The Macedonian side is understood to be seriously considering the viability of operating a small air group based on up to 8 MiG-21 aircraft, which would be donated by Bulgaria.
Role and Deployment
The main helicopter base is Petrovec near Skopje. Additional bases are located with the ARM's main garrisons at Stip, Bitola, Kumanovo, Tetovo and Veles as well as within the Krivolak range.
UN Contributions
No UN contributions have been made.
Training
In-country training is performed at the country's main training range Krivolak. Limited over-water training is done at Lake Ohrid.
Training Areas
No details are available.
Air Force Bases
Skojpe
Inventory: Fixed-Wing
Type
Role
Quantity
In Service
Learjet 25B
Communications
1
1
Beech Super King Air 2000
Communications
1
1
Zlin 242L
Training
3
3
Note: All aircraft are operated with civilian markings.
Inventory: Rotary-Wing Type
Role
Quantity
In Service
Mi-17
Utility
3
3
Mi-8MTV
Utility/Attack
4
4
i-24D
Attack
2
2
Inventory: Air Defence Systems Type
Role
Quantity
In Service
20-40 mm
Anti-Aircraft Gun
140
140
Arrow 30 mm
Anti-Aircraft Gun
n/a
n/a
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NAVY SUMMARY
STRENGTH 400
Organisation
Officially called Lake Service (Ezerska sluzba - EZ), a total of 400 soldiers man several border post on the lakes including the five patrol boats which were left on Lake Ohrid by the Yugoslav People's Army (JPA) in March 1992. There are two small patrol boats on Lake Prespa.
Chain of Command
Macedonia maintains no navy. Although the Lake Service is nominally an independent arm of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, in practice it is almost integrated with the Land Forces (KoV).
Assessment
Macedonia is landlocked. It has no navy as such but about 100 soldiers are tasked with patrolling lakes Ohrid and Prespa in the fight against smugglers.
Role and Deployment
The boats are used to patrol lakes Ohrid and Prespa.
UN Contributions
No UN contributions have been made.
Navy Bases
Ohrid
Inventory: Surface Fleet
The small arm operates only five larger and two smaller patrol boats. Their type is unknown. top
SECURITY AND FOREIGN FORCES
POLICE TOTAL STRENGTH
7,600 (15,000 inc. reserves)
Organisation
The national police's role is standard law enforcement, with emphasis on civilian crime, rather than serious crime. It is described as an `old style' service and has been known to arrest for personal reasons, as well as stop cars spontaneously as barter for cigarettes, or money. It is not used for political repression, although the ethnic-Albanian community has repeatedly complained of anti-Albanian bias. The issue was addressed by Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski's new government with ethnic-Albanians being appointed as police chiefs in majority ethnic-Albanian areas. A programme to reorganise the police along Western standards was partly financed by the OSCE and included the establishment of the new police code of conduct.
Following the outbreak of armed incidents on the border with Kosovo, Macedonia mobilised police reserves for border duty in late February 2001. The notion of "police reserves" is a relic of the old JNA-doctrine in which the police acted in wartime and during crisis as an internal security militia and a small percentage of reservists would be assigned to such policing rather than regular army duties. The mobilisation of police reserves indicates that the transformation of the police reserves indicates that the transformation of the police is far from complete.
The police operated alongside the army in anti-NLA operation and in mopping up.
With the opening of communications following the NATO action in Kosovo in 1999 Macedonia's importance as a transhipment point for Asian heroin, cocaine and hashish has grown considerably. Trafficking seems to be organised by various Albanian gangs who use Macedonia as an entry point into both Kosovo and Albania. This has also lead to an increase of smaller drugs trafficking operations out of Macedonia. In November 2000 an Avioimpex crew was arrested at Zurich airport trying to bring commercial quantities of drugs from Macedonia into Switzerland.
INSURGENT FORCES
TOTAL STRENGTH
n/a
Organisation
Following the assassination attempt against President Gligorov in October 1995, one government statement indicated that `the brain' was an international, politico-economic mafia-style organisation operating through its local branch in a `neighbouring country'. In early 2001 sources in Serbia claimed that the wife of former President Slobodan Milosevic, Mirjana Markovic, was behind the attempt, as President Gligorov allegedly endangered the criminal and smuggling activities of the Milosevics' son Marko. There was no immediate confirmation of those claims, but the opening of secret service files in Serbia might offer some proof, if there is any.
There have also been a couple of terrorist incidents between 1992 and 1994. One against the withdrawing Yugoslav Army, and the second where the railway line between Kumanovo and the Yugoslav border was attacked with dynamite. No group claimed responsibility.
The attack against the Yugoslav army was by a group claiming to belong to VMRO-DPMNE, but a spokesman from the party's headquarters in Skopje suggested that the group was financed by pro-Bulgarian elements with a view to creating an atmosphere of unrest that would ultimately benefit Sofia. Certainly, elements associated with terrorist activities in Macedonia have contacts with sympathising elements in Bulgaria, but their intentions are not clear. Their organisation seems to have been of a temporary nature, prompted by the collapse of the Iron Curtain rather than a long-standing association.
Macedonian responded to the outbreak of violence in Kosovo with demands for arms to be distributed to the civilians. Although the government resisted those calls, the possibility of paramilitaries being trained for a possible resumption of the fighting cannot be excluded. Intelligence information on any such groups would probably come from Western sources, as Macedonian secret services are fully oriented towards assessing the ethnic Albanian threat.
Albanians
It would be inaccurate to associate armed Albanians as a paramilitary body within Macedonia. There is a tradition of carrying/possessing arms in the Balkans and old habits certainly die hard within the Albanian community. There have been no serious incidents and the type of weapons owned vary from 19th century mementoes to the latest firearms on the market. They are part of a person's ethos, rather than a reflection on insurrection based goals.
There was some Albanian paramilitary activity in 1991-92, but they were worried about the JNA before it withdrew. Their targets were Serbs. They were arrested in the autumn of 1993 and tried in May 1994. Eleven of them were released. It has been described as `just an initial organisation'.
Following the outbreak of fighting in Kosovo in the summer of 1998, Macedonia became an important arms smuggling route for the UCK. Some of the weapons were stored in Macedonia for later shipment into Kosovo, but a number of stockpiles are believed to be held in the country. In April 1999 Macedonian authorities uncovered a suspected UCK arms depot in a disused mine.
An estimated 1,000 ethnic Albanians from Macedonia have volunteered to join the UCK, prompting fears that they would set up a similar organisation in Macedonia when they return. There have also been fears of former UCK members entering the country and re-organising and re-grouping. There might be some foundation to these claims. It appears that the northern border village of Tanusevci is quickly becoming the centre of would-be Albanian insurgents.
Armia Kombetare Shqiptare (Albanian National Army - AKSh)
Allegations that an ethnic-Albanian paramilitary force styled along the lines of Kosovo's UCK might be forming in Macedonia, were released to the local press in Spring 2000. The reports claimed that the alleged AKSh had already established a command core comprising former Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and ARM officers. The AKSh's task would, reportedly, be to attract young radical ethnic Albanians from all the countries in the region who are willing to fight for a Greater Albania. Although these allegations were not conclusively proven, the revelation allegedly claimed a number of senior ARM security officers who were removed for failing to warn of the threat. Nothing is known of the strength and mobilisation potential of the AKSh and it appears that the organisation as such does not exist at all.
An armed group of Albanians is operating out of the village of Tanusevci, which is split in two by the Macedonia-Kosovo border. This group was involved in a number of armed incidents which escalated in late February 2001 and prompted the ARM to completely close the border and ask for KFOR action.
Despite claims in most of Macedonia's hypersensitive media, there seems to be no serious indication that the armed Albanians are part of an organised guerrilla or terrorist organisation. KFOR sources confirm indications that the core of the group is made up by some 30-50 armed smuggles who are eager to maintain Tanusevci, blessed by its unique position across the border, as a centre of smuggling. However, the signing of the border agreement with Serbia prompted the Macedonia authorities to move the police and Army into the village, for the first time in five years. That attempt apparently prompted the attacks by armed Albanians from Tanusevci.
More reason for concern is the fact that at least 50 young radical Albanians are believed to have joined the ranks of the Tanusevci gang. As ethnic-Albanian political parties in Macedonia repeatedly refused to endorse the formation of UCK-style insurgencies, the radical youths now appear to be turning to the Tanusevci smugglers and the insurgent UCPMB in the neighbouring Presevo valley of Serbia for political support.
National Liberation Army - NLA (Ushtria Clirimtare Kombetare - UCK)
An ethnic-Albanian organisation using the same Albanian-language acronym as the disbanded Kosovo Liberation Army, the NLA appeared virtually overnight in late March 2001, as a result of the fighting in Tanusevci. Its core is believed to consist of local Albanians with previous experience in Kosovo, but its creation was made possible by the heavy handed approach of Macedonian security forces. When the Tanusevci armed gangs were dispersed, the radical Albanians who were there for ideological, rather than for smuggling reasons, withdrew into the hills above Tetovo, the unofficial ethnic-Albanian capital of Macedonia. They were organised by a hardcore, which may have come from Kosovo but has indigenous political agenda.
The NLA probably consisted of less than 100 fighters at the beginning of the Tetovo operation, although in 10 days of fighting its ranks may have been swollen by a large and immediate influx of volunteers to some 800. Small arms were certainly readily available for all, as well as a small quantity of RPGs and light mortars. Following operations by the Macedonian security forces the NLA has apparently dispersed and mixed with the population. It is unlikely that its members retreated to Kosovo.
The NLA has a political directorate headed by Ali Ahmeti. Following NLA's appearance a new party was formed by ethnic Albanians to accommodate the more radical political demands, generally in line with NLA's requests of redefining the constitution and issuing guarantees for the position of Albanians in Macedonia. The National Democratic Party (PKD) is led by Kastriot Haxhirexha, a former MP.
CUSTOMS
TOTAL STRENGTH
None
Organisation
Customs service is unarmed. Customs officers rely on the police for personal protection.
BORDER GUARDS
TOTAL STRENGTH
None
Organisation
The Border Brigade was formed within the Macedonian Army (ARM) in June 2000, but it remains fully integrated into the military chain of command. Since the number of border incidents involving arms smugglers on the western and northwestern borders increased and included several casualties, ARM purchased body armour for all border guards on active duty. In 1998 France donated 16 infantry surveillance radars which are used to detect illegal crossings. Security at official border crossings is provided by border security units of the regular police.
NATO units undertake patrols in the northern border area, but they are understood to remain outside the border belt.SECURITY FORCES
TOTAL STRENGTH
n/a
Organisation
Uprava za bezbednost i kontrarazuznavanje (UBK) - Security and Counter-intelligence Directorate
The re-organised and renamed (formerly the Agencija za razuznavanje AR - - Intelligence Agency) Macedonian civilian intelligence gathering agency replaced the previous intelligence-gathering of the Interior Ministry. Originally organised under the former Director Vlado Popovski, the UBK is now headed by Dragi Grozdanovski who was appointed by President Boris Trajkovski. In July 2000 Grozdanovski changed the internal organisation of the agency, which now has tow main directorates - Operations Directorate (Direkcija za operativno rabotenje) headed by Kosta Tomovski and the Analytical Directorate headed by Grozdan Cvetkovski. Two formerly independent directorates have been placed under the subordination of these top level directorates: the Centre for Intelligence Gathering on International and Organised Crime (CRMTOK) under Tome Batkovski became a sector within the Operations Directorate, while the former Strategic Research Directorate under Alekso Donevski has been placed under the Analytical Directorate.
The AR became the subject of a heated controversy as the ethnic Albanian community demanded the post of Deputy Director for Zekirija Rexhepi. Although the government was willing to accept his appointment , the largely Albanophobic intelligence community tired to block it claiming that AR's statue does not foresee such a post. The issue remains unresolved.
FOREIGN FORCES
TOTAL STRENGTH
12,500 NATO (UK, France, Italy, Germany, US)
Organisation
UNPREDEP mandate ended on 1 March 1999. Most of the original UNPREDEP forces have left the country, except for a small Nordic contingent which is expected to remove the remaining surveillance equipment from high mountain outposts when weather and security permit. Elements of the former US contingent of UNPREDEP remain in the country, but they have not been formally incorporated into NATO forces.
Deployment of NATO forces began in late 1998 with the deployment of the Kosovo Extraction Force. The task of the originally 1,250-strong force, which eventually grew to 2,100, was to evacuate the OSCE unarmed `compliance verifiers' from Kosovo should they come under fire or be taken hostages. The force, based in Kumanovo, Petrovec airport and Tetovo under French operational command, was not used in anger and was integrated into other NATO forces.
The Extraction Force, under the command of Britain's General Sir Michael Jackson, started deploying in early 1999 in anticipation of the signing of the Kosovo Interim Agreement that was being negotiated in Rambouillet. It was to have been the advance party of a 28,000 strong force. The task of the advance force was to start deploying within 12 hours of the signing of the agreement, with 6,000 troops deployed within the first week. The agreement was never signed, and the force remained in Macedonia in expectation of a `permissive environment' which would allow it to move into Kosovo. A total of 50,000 troops are expected to pass through Macedonia on their way to Kosovo. It is not known how many will remain stationed in Macedonia in support of the Kosovo operation.
The only element of this force, which is being used in operations over Kosovo, are the UAVs and German-operated reconnaissance drones.
Role and Deployment
In expectation of a `permissive environment' which would allow it to deploy to Kosovo, NATO forces remain ready to deploy at short notice. In the meantime, significant contributions have been made to civilian aid agencies in alleviating the refugee crisis.
The current NATO force in Macedonia, despite being heavily armed, including Challenger 2 main battle tanks and helicopters, is not earmarked for any operations in `non-permissive' environment.
The main bases are Veles, Prilep, Tetovo, Krivolak, Petrovec airport, Kumanovo and Tetovo.
Training
NATO forces in Macedonia have been using Krivolak training range for training, including live firing exercises. There has been a limited amount of cross-training with ARM.
There are indications that the Macedonian government would like to arrange some form of military training agreement with the US. The authorities are understood to be offering the Krivolak range to NATO members, particularly France and Italy, for live-firing exercises on a commercial basis.
Assessment
The NATO force currently present in Macedonia represents a formidable deterrent against any retaliatory attacks and incursions from FRY. It also contributes to controlling of ethnic tensions and provides a significant contribution to refugee operations |