Biodun.BBC: Macedonia

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Adea Shabani: Body of missing actress 'found' in California

by Tamara Kachelmeier and Biodun Iginla, BBC News Entertainment reporters, Los Angeles

California police say they believe they have recovered the remains of an aspiring actress who vanished from her Hollywood home last month.

Adea Shabani, 25, was found over 400 miles (645km) away from her apartment buried in a shallow grave in a remote wildlife area of northern California.

Officials say a man they identified as her boyfriend, Christopher Spotz, was involved in her presumed murder.

Spotz killed himself after a chase and standoff with police last week.

Her death is being investigated as a homicide.

"Something happened, and I believe it to be somewhat untoward - that there was foul play involved," said Captain William Hayes of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) at a press conference on Thursday.

A post-mortem examination is planned for Wednesday morning, and police caution that her remains have not yet been positively confirmed.

"We cannot say that conclusively at this point in time because the condition of the remains," added Capt Hayes.

missing person poster — Image captionA reward was offered for Shabani's whereabouts

Shabani was born in Macedonia and attended high school there before moving to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.

She was credited with a small role in an independent film released last year.

Shabani was last seen leaving her apartment with Spotz on 23 February carrying luggage to an elevator.

Spotz, 33, who was engaged to another woman, told police at the time that he let Shabani out of the car only 25 miles from her home after they got into an argument.

Image captionChristopher Spotz pictured on his YouTube channel

Last Thursday, Spotz led police on a 60 mile chase in a stolen vehicle before shooting himself.

The LAPD spokesman said he believed Spotz - who was also an aspired actor - was "somehow involved in her death".

Her mother had flown from Macedonia, and hired a private investigator to aid in the over one-month long search.

The private investigator told KABC in early March that a $25,000 reward was being offered for her whereabouts.

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Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Macedonia: the decades-long quarrel over its name--analysis

17 January 2018 - 08H54 GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME

by Elodie Bagnol and Biodun Iginla, France24 News Analysts, Paris

PARIS -

The name chosen by the small eastern European country of Macedonia at its independence 27 years ago has been steadfastly rejected by its neighbour Greece.

The bitter dispute has stalled the young Balkan nation's efforts to take its place in the European Union and other international institutions.

Amid a new push for a solution, here is an outline of the row:

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- Rejected from the start -

Macedonia proclaims its independence from the former Yugoslavia in September 1991 but its recognition by the international community is immediately blocked by Greece, which claims the name as part of its own ancient heritage.

Greece also has a northern province bordering the new country that has the same name and fears Skopje may be harbouring territorial ambitions.

- A provisional name -

It is only with the adoption of a provisional name -- the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) -- that the country is finally admitted into the United Nations in April 1993.

Most countries, including Russia and the United States, later recognise its constitutional title, the Republic of Macedonia.

- Greece clamps down -

In February 1994 Greece imposes an economic embargo on Macedonia, including stopping the landlocked country from using the port of Thessaloniki, its main trading post.

Greece also demands Macedonia drops from its flag the rayed sun of Vergina, which it claims is an ancient Greek symbol, and certain articles from its constitution.

- A thaw in relations -

In September 1995 the neighbours sign in New York an accord opening the way for a normalisation of their trade and political ties, but leave hanging the name dispute.

The following month they open liaison offices in their respective capitals and a new Macedonian flag -- with the controversial sun replaced -- is raised for the first time at the United Nations.

In 2001 Greece announces its support for its neighbour as it battles rebels from the significant Albanian minority.

- New lows -

Macedonia becomes a candidate for membership of the European Union in December 2005 but Greece blocks the start of negotiations, which must be agreed unanimously.

In April 2008 it presents itself as a candidate for membership of the NATO military alliance, under the provisional name, but is again met with a Greek veto.

Relations sink even further with the erection in Skopje in 2011 of a huge statue of Alexander the Great. Athens perceives this as an effort to appropriate the ancient conqueror, one of its greatest military heroes.

The flood of migrants into Europe fuels the tensions. In April 2016 Athens accuses Skopje of using excessive force against hundreds of migrants trying to cross the border into Macedonia.

- 'A solution is feasible' -

Soon after his election in June 2017, new Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev promises a new push to end the dispute and relaunch the drive for EU and NATO membership.

"I know that if we have friendly relations and a good approach then a solution is feasible," he tells reporters.

Biodun Iginla, BBC News