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May 14, 2005
   
The Macedonian government said that its civilian-controlled Border Police were now responsible for patrolling Macedonia's northern border with Kosovo. The border had been under the control of the Macedonian Army. The Macedonian Border Police operate under the control of the Interior Ministry. The government said that the Border Police would eventually be responsible for patrolling all of Macedonia's borders, including the very sensitive Albanian border. (though as of May 6 the Border Police were only in charge of the Greek and Bulgarian borders). The Macedonian government believes the police are better suited to interdicting smugglers and stopping organized crime. That's probably the case. "civilianizing" the border is also a political statement that says right now the Balkan states are feeling more secure.