MACEDONIA 1995 [Main Title]

Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections. Click here to find out more.


  • Title: MACEDONIA 1995 [Main Title]
  • Film Number: UNT 550
  • Other titles: UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION (UNTV) ZAGREB COLLECTION, YUGOSLAVIA [Allocated Series Title]
  • Summary: Will Macedonia be able to surmount ethnic tensions and preserve the peace that has existed so far? UNTV talks to politicians, international observers and the man on the street to assess what the future holds.
  • Description: Opening shots of Skopje city centre, NORDBAT soldiers beside tanks, USBAT checkpoint. UNTV goes onto the street to speak to Skopje residents about the current situation. One woman says that the biggest problem is Macedonia’s economy as the government faces the huge task of privatising the economy and preserving peace. A man, surrounded by a group of young men and women, angrily exclaims that unemployment is crippling people. His wife (?), crying, says that neither of them can find work. A young man says that the biggest danger is the “lack of education”. Shots of children playing football and walking home through the traffic. The UN is keen to educate the people here about the civilian role they are playing in stabilising the state. Interview with Hugo Anson, UN Delegate, who says that the UN were very involved in a political declaration before the elections that calmed inter-ethnic tension, they observed the election to make sure that it met international standards and they have monitored the arrival and distribution of aid to the country. The Macedonian economy is struggling, faced with UN sanctions against trade with the former Yugoslavia and a closed trade border with Greece. Interview with Paul Thomsen, of the International Monetary Fund, who explains that Macedonia was experiencing hyper inflation, but after they implemented a programme to stabilise economy, inflation dropped to two percent a month. Interview with Christian Poortman, of the World Bank, who links a stable economy with a stable region. Street scenes. Interview with Ljubomir Frckovski, Macedonian Interior Minister, who explains the government’s opposition to an Albanian language university being set up in Tetovo. He says that the university must be set up through official channels and regulate itself according to state laws. If it does not, then the university threatens to destabilise Macedonia. Back on the street, UNTV interviews one resident who thinks that the university would destabilise relations between different ethnicities and he regrets that the Albanians wish to set up their own university. Interview with Professor Doctor Fadil Suljmani, Initiator of the Albanian University, who says “we respect this state but it must also respect us”. Interview with Abiodun Williams, UN Civil Affairs Officer, who says that it is the UN’s role to mediate between the government and its Albanians citizens to promote a peaceful solution to the problem. The President announced the new government, which included the Albanian PDP within the coalition, and an Albanian became the Deputy Prime Minister. Interview with Branko Crvenkowski, Macedonian Prime Minister, who says Macedonia is a positive example in a region with extensive ethnic tensions. The election boycott by the Democratic Party and the Democratic Party for National Unity (VMRO–DPMNE), who held most seats in the previous Parliament, and their calls for civil disobedience have raised concern. Interview with Petar Gosev, Democratic Party Leader, who says that they will use all direct forms of communication to propagate their ideas among the Macedonian people. Interview with Janusz Sznajer, UN Deputy Civil Affairs, who disapproves of the election boycott by the two parties. The UN is trying to talk to them and find out what their intentions are for the future. UNTV Voiceover: The man in the street often echoes the statesmen. In the final interviews, a man says that “in the Balkans you just need one match and it could all easily go up in flames”, another man says that Macedonia needs to free itself from “dark forces”, which lead men to fight each other, and everything else would fall into place. Sunset over a bridge in Skopje.
  • Alternative Title: UNITED NATIONS TELEVISION (UNTV) ZAGREB COLLECTION, YUGOSLAVIA [Allocated Series Title]
  • Colour: English (Tape Code A)
  • Digitised:
  • Object_Number: UNT 550
  • Sound: Bosnian (Tape Code B)
  • Access Conditions:
  • Featured Period: 1990-2000
  • Production Date: 1994-12 1995-01-06
  • Production Country: UN
  • Production Details: Stamkoski, George (Production individual)
  • Personalities, Units and Organisations:
  • Keywords: Macedonia & Skopje (geography)
  • Physical Characteristics: Colour format: English (Tape Code A) Sound format: Bosnian (Tape Code B) Soundtrack language: Croatian (Tape Code C) Title language: Serbian (Tape D)
  • Technical Details: Format: Beta-SP Number of items/reels/tapes: 1 Running time: 9 mins 50 secs
  • HD Media:
  • Link to IWM Collections page:

    UNT 550

  • Related IWM Collections Objects:

    UNT 561 (UNTV PROGRAMME NO 47 [Main Title]) UNT 550 X (MACEDONIA 1995 (UNEDITED RUSHES) [Allocated Title])
Register