The republic of Macedonia and the Russian federation after framework agreement: consolidation of partnership

Author(s):  P.A. Smirnov, North-West Institute of Management, branch of RANEPA, Saint-Petersburg, Russia, ps.mir.nov@yandex.ru

Issue:  Volume 46, № 1

Rubric:  Topical issues of political science

Annotation:  The article is devoted to the study of dynamics of bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Macedonia after the signing of Ohrid («framework») agreement in 2001. Considering the issues, the author gives a brief description of the diplomatic relations in the first decade after collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic Of Yugoslavia. The article explores the main aspects of cooperation between the two countries, including partnership in the energy sector. The article discusses the position of the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization concerning the political situation in Macedonia and the meaning of this as a reflection of geopolitical interests of Western countries and the United States in the Balkans. The author emphasizes the fact that the use of the Albanian nationalism was a tool of pressure on Macedonia by the international community in 2001 – 2017. The author pays special attention to analysis of the Russian Federation’s position on the political situation in Macedonia in connection with the implementation of Russia's geopolitical interests in the Balkans. The author points out the danger of radicalization of the Islamic Albanian minority in Macedonia in the light of struggle against global terrorism. In addition, the emphasis is placed on cooperation in the energy sphere and on the involvement of the Republic of Macedonia in the Russian export projects such as «South stream» and «Turkish stream». The main goal of the study is the estimation of Russian-Macedonia relations in their movement.

Keywords:  Macedonia, Russia, Balkans, European Union, South stream, Ohrid agreement.

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