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Verification/Monitoring Mechanism: Ohrid Agreement

Implementations

Verification/Monitoring Mechanism – 2001

After signing of a peace agreement, NATO officially started the operation “Essential Harvest” on 27 August 2001, for 30 days. This 30-day mission involved the sending of approximately 3,500 NATO troops, with logistical support, to disarm ethnic Albanian groups and destroy their weapons.¹

On 26 September 2001, NATO completed its 30-day mission to disarm ethnic Albanian militants. “NATO forces collected a total of 3,875 weapons from the rebels, exceeding their stated goal of 3,300. The first of the 4,500 NATO troops in the operation began departing Macedonia on 27 September. The troops were to be replaced by a security force of 700 new NATO troops, who for three months would join 300 soldiers currently stationed in the region. The 1,000-strong deployment, to be led by Germany, would be charged with providing security for unarmed international monitors who would oversee the country’s return to peace.”² After collection of arms, NATO urged the Macedonian parliament to discuss the concrete amendments of the Constitution. It also asked to proceed with the Amnesty law.

On 7 December 2001, NATO extended its military mission in Macedonia by three months until 26 March. The purpose of the extension was to protect the international monitors who were overseeing the implementation of the peace plan.³

“NATO’s role in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,” NATO, accessed March 3, 2011, http://www.nato.int/fyrom/.
“Macedonia: NATO Disarmament Mission Ends; Other Developments, Facts on File,” World News Digest, September 26, 2001.
“NATO extends Macedonia force mandate,” Morning Star, December 8, 2001.

Verification/Monitoring Mechanism – 2002

The NATO Mission was extended until 15 December 2002. The Mission was “mandated to contribute to the protection of international monitors from the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, who are overseeing the implementation of the peace plan.”¹

“NATO’s role in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,” NATO, accessed March 3, 2011, http://www.nato.int/fyrom/.

Verification/Monitoring Mechanism – 2003

The Mission was extended until March 2003. The extension was designed to “provided support for the international monitors; its advisory elements assisted the government in taking ownership of security throughout the country.” The NATO Mission was terminated on 30 March 2003 with the replacement of a successor operation from the European Union.⁴ The EU operation was set to finish by the end of the year.⁵ The purpose of the EU operation in Macedonia was to contribute further to a stable and secure environment for the implementation of the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement. This operation was completed on 15 December 2003.

Ibid.
“EU appoints Portuguese general to head Macedonia force,” Agence France Presse, July 25, 2003.

Verification/Monitoring Mechanism – 2004

Since provisions of peace agreement were implemented, there was no international monitoring present in 2004.