Македонски центар за меѓународна соработка - МЦМС

Editor in Chief: Sašo Klekovski
Date: 2005 year
ISBN: 9989-102-17-1
PDF: 5-years-mcic-in-kosovo.pdf

The first activity of the Macedonian Center of International Cooperation (MCIC) on Kosovo was realized on June 28, 1999 with the assistance provided in Dragas, followed by the opening of office in Gjakovica on July 15, 1999. MCIC on Kosovo? Why?

In April 1999, upon the appeal of El Hilal, MCIC got involved in providing assistance to the displaced persons in “no man’s land” between Kosovo and Macedonia. Since then and throughout the Kosovo crisis, MCIC was one of the leading organizations coping with the consequences of the Kosovo crisis in Macedonia: the refugees and the political instability. Such involvement gave an opportunity to MCIC to see not only the threat on the political stability caused by the numerous refugees, but also to see the human tragedy in the midst of the crisis.

Those were not refugees from Kosovo, but our people, our neighbors in trouble. Regardless of  the political or ethnical or any other differences help should be provided to the people, to our neighbors in deed. So, it was natural decision of MCIC to help the neighbors and in their country, Kosovo, to play the role of “ice breaker” in the relations between the two neighbors and the ruling prejudices.

Organization from Macedonia helps in Kosovo, with mixed teams from Macedonia and Kosovo, and of ethnic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians both from Macedonia and Kosovo. And teams capable of working both with Kosovo ethnic Albanians and non-Albanians (first of all Gorans). And to work in the areas fiercely suffering from the war, such as Gjakovica or Mala Krusa in Prizren.

In 2001, following its principle of local capacities development the operational presence has transformed into partnership of three organizations. Two of them stem from MCIC’s team in Gjakovica: Kosovo Development Center and Kosovo Women Initiatives.

In the past years we witnessed the great sacrifices of many people in Kosovo’s reconstruction, but also the establishment of many friendships on all levels. I am sure that many of the involved people support the friendship between the people from Macedonia and Kosovo. That is our small contribution towards peace and stability, development and building of good relations.