The Ohrid Framework Agreement (OFA) was signed on 13 August 2001. The signing of this agreement was a response to the armed conflict in Macedonia between the Macedonian army and police and the Albanian Paramilitary National Liberation Army (NLA). Together with the OFA, some claims of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia were accepted. Although the agreement was officially signed in Skopje, it was referred to as the Ohrid Framework Agreement, as the signing was preceded by a series of negotiations that took place mainly in Ohrid. The signatories of the OFA were the leaders of the four main political parties in Macedonia (the two main Macedonian ethnic parties and the two main Albanian ethnic parties), the President and a special representative of the United States and the European Union (EU)1. That is why the agreement is guaranteed by the international community. 2 The purpose of this chapter is to analyse and comment on the ten points of the agreement that served as the basis for a new system of power-sharing and internal restructuring of Macedonia, mainly through constitutional amendments and the adoption of new old and revised laws. Despite the fact that the OFA may seem controversial, it was a response to the circumstances in which it was signed – an armed conflict and strong international pressure. Debates on the decisions of the agreement, its importance and its role continue to this day. There was a precondition for the effective retention of the ceasefire agreement for NATO intervention. However, ceasefire violations have been reported in various locations. This trend continued until January 2001.

It can be said that the ceasefire has been maintained overall. Albania`s main Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) party, which emerged from the National Liberation Army (Ushtria Clirimtare Kombetare, KLA), was not admitted to the government dethough it was Albania`s largest party. Although this was not contrary to the Ohrid Framework Agreement, the government did not have a double majority in Parliament and the government made efforts to circumvent the need for a double majority. In addition, the Albanian party was boycotted, followed by a specific agreement between the Macedonian Internal Revolutionary Organization (Vnatrešna makedonska revolucionerna organizacija, VMRO) and DUI. Constitutional amendments were made in November 2001, as decided in the framework agreement. Reparation for refugees was completed in 2004. This provision of the agreement has been fully implemented. The framework agreement provided for the voluntary dissolution of the Albanian rebel group National Liberation Army (NLA) by 5 July 2001. This resolution did not take place within the time limits. However, when the goal of collecting NATO weapons was reached in September 2001, on September 27, NLA leader Ali Ahmeti said at a press conference that ethnic Albanian rebels in Macedonia had formally disbanded and returned to their normal lives.

He also invited Macedonian police to enter former NLA-controlled areas. [fn] “The rebels in Macedonia are officially dissolving”, Agence France Presse, 27 September 2001. [/efn_note] 6.2. Public funds are allocated to higher education in languages spoken by at least 20% of the Macedonian population on the basis of specific agreements. The first amendment to the Constitution (November 2001) allowed the Albanian language in the Assembly`s rules of procedure. . . .