4th Muslim Lawyers Conference, Potsdam 1st July 2001

Declaration on The State of Conflict in Macedonia

Posted: 11 Rabi-u-Thani 1422, 3 July 2001

In the Name of Allah, All-Merciful, Most Merciful

Background

• The Muslims of Macedonia have been subjected to a consistent abuse of their position in society.
• The Muslims of Macedonia consist of Albanians, Turks, Pomaks, Bosnians and Gypsies.
• The Muslims of Macedonia constitute 50% of the Macedonian society.
• The Albanians of Macedonia constitute less than 30% of Macedonian society.
• The Muslims of Macedonia have been erroneously identified as an ethnic minority of Albanians.
• The attacks against the culture, heritage and religious unity of the Muslims have been directed at all the Muslims not just the Albanians.
• The war being initiated by the Government of Macedonia is not an ethnic issue, it is a clear attack against the Muslims and therefore against 50% of the society.
• The Muslims of Macedonia seek neither the breakup of, nor secession from the republic of Macedonia.

Political Issues

• The current development of the impending war is a replica of the procedure used in Bosnia and Kosovo.
• It will result not only in the extension of NATO & EU occupation of the Balkans and the breakup of the Muslim integrity of the area, but also in the loss of independence of the Republic of Macedonia.
• NATO instruments and forces are being used to occupy the lands surrounding the future oil pipeline from Bulgaria through Macedonia to Albania.
• No Muslim dominance will be tolerated in this area.

The Muslim Position

• The Muslim Lawyers Association of Europe view with extreme gravity the buildup of a further genocidal campaign against the Muslims of the Balkans under the disguise of nation-state and ethnicity.
• We strongly condemn, and urge resistance to, a third round of NATO control in the area.
• We do not accept the "ethnic Albanian" labeling of the Muslims of the Balkans.
• We call for the support of all the Muslims of the World to help the Muslims of the Balkans and Macedonia in this situation.
• We call for the banner of Islam to be raised high in the affair, and the truth to be brought forward.
• We urge both parties in the impending Macedonian conflict to draw back from war and resolve their problems through negotiations, and thereby to bring about peace.

Potsdam 1st July 2001