FM Milososki threatened 24 March to end name dispute negotiations if Athens vetoed Macedonia’s NATO entry. EU Enlargement Commissioner Rehn urged resolution and political, economic reforms. Democratic Party of Albanians rejoined government coalition 24 March 10 days after withdrawal amid minority rights row.

Protests against possible name change: up to 5,000 rallied 19, 27 Feb, stoned Greek embassy, after UN Special Envoy Nimetz offered new compromise proposal ahead of 19-27 Feb rounds of name dispute talks in Athens. Opposition parties Democratic Union for Integration and Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia called on Interior Minister Jankulovska to resign over Nov 2007 Brodec counterterrorism operation that killed 6.

Macedonia proposed mutual friendship declaration with Greece after fresh talks on name issue began 21 Jan. NATO Secretary-General de Hoop Scheffer 23 Jan said further internal reforms required to gain NATO membership. EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said EU membership talks start date to be agreed 2008; benchmarks for priority reforms to be set March. Deputy Interior Minister Refet Elmazi resigned for “personal reasons”.

Parliament adopted legislation on prosecutor’s office and council required for NATO membership 4 December. Skopje and Athens agreed 5 December to hold talks on name issue in January.

Police raid on armed gang near Kosovo border killed 8 Albanian gunmen; mortars, anti-tank weapons, mines and surface to air missiles recovered 7 November. Tensions in ruling coalition after Democratic Party of Albanians issued no-confidence motion against Deputy PM Zivko Jankulovski of New Social Democratic Party. Skopje rejected UN proposal for name change in dispute with Athens 2 November.

Constitutional Court President Jusufi and judge Polozani resigned over court ruling restricting display of Albanian flag on public buildings 30 October. EU expressed concern over reform process during PM Crvenkoski’s visit to Brussels 3-5 October. Policeman killed in car attack in Tanusevci near border with Kosovo 25 October. UN-hosted talks with Greece on name due 1 November after Athens threatened to veto Skopje’s NATO accession; suspended financial aid 17 October. 5,000 rallied in Tetevo 19 October for Kosovo independence. New centrist Party of Free Democrats formed around former parliamentary speaker Ljupco Jordanovski.

Clash during attempted arrest in Vaksince near Kosovo border 10 September left policeman, gunman, both ethnic Albanian, dead. Government submitted electoral code amendments to parliament extending voting rights to diaspora and increasing representation of ethnic Turks, Roma, Serbs, Bosniaks, Vlachs; opposition objected to submission prior to inter-party consensus. Subsequent brawl 25 September during parliamentary debate between ethnic Albanian parties Democratic Union of Integration and Party for Democratic Prosperity prompted police intervention. Greek PM Karamanlis said would veto Skopje’s NATO membership if name dispute unresolved; President Crvenkovski threatened to withdraw from negotiations with Athens.

President Crvenkovski warned against Kosovo partition after National Security Council met 23 August to discuss potential Kosovo security threats. Parliament lifted immunity of former PM Buckovski after police filed embezzlement charges over 2001 arms deal. Authorities described 6 August grenade attack on government building “terrorist attack”; no injuries.

Ethnic Albanian opposition Democratic Union for Integration briefly left parliament, accusing government of altering agreed terms for changes in parliamentary procedures ensuring minority safeguards, before parliamentary business resumed. Government and opposition leaders agreed to reform of prosecution office, one of contentious issues in judicial reform, 1 July.

Parliament rejected no-confidence motion by opposition 7 June.