Ugovor između Savezne Republike Jugoslavije i Makedonije o protezanju i opisu državne granice
The Contract Between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Macedonia Concerning the Borderline with the Description of the Latter

Summary/Abstract: The contentious matter of the borderline (1992-1996) was solved in several parts: diplomatic agreement (the activity of the joint diplomatic-experts’ commission), political decisionmaking (eventually only at the end of 2000), and finally, contractual solution on February 23, 2001. A number of “vexed questions” was “solved” through the process of agreement to recognize the former administrative border “as” an international borderline between FR of Yugoslavia and Republic of Macedonia. The contract on the borderline and its description stipulates that the demarcation and marking of the common state frontier be executed on the spot within two years of its becoming valid (on June 16, 2001). Due to the need to legally regulate the matter of the continuation of the works after this date (June 16, 2003), the delegation of Serbia and Montenegro have handed out to their Macedonian counterpart the draft of an annex of the contract, foreseeing the change of the article 5, so as to abolish the time limit to the demarcation and marking of the borderline. The reasons for this were pointed out already earlier: unsolved status of Kosovo, security of the personnel during the works, funding etc. Since November 2002 (when the three-borders pyramid was set up at the spot where the borders of FR of Yugoslavia, Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Bulgaria meet ) two mixed working groups at the 5th and 6th border section (of which Macedonia was in charge), from the meting point of borders with Bulgaria to Preševo have been putting up border marks “strictly according to the textual description of the borderline”. Until the end of 2003 the border commission of Serbia and Montenegro has put up 54 main bordermarks and 260 auxiliary ones, whereas the Macedonian commission has put up 41 main and 36 auxiliary bordermarks. However, “a big problem will arise when one starts marking the border from Preševo to the Albanian border”, i.e. at Kosovo and Metohija. The major problem there is security of people and goods needed for marking the border. Therefore the diplomacy of Serbia and Montenegro demand that the representatives of the international community the UNMIK and KFOR who are, in accordance with the Security Council Resolution 1244, in charge of controlling and securing safety at that part of the state territory and the state frontier (at Kosovo), should take part in creating a safe environment. It is the vital national interest to finish the process of demarcation and marking of the borderline with Republic of Macedonia before the international community “start” the process of decisionmaking about “the final status of Kosovo.”

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