By Matt Prodger BBC, Macedonia

The Prime Minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Branko Crvenkovski, is poised to become its next president.

If he is elected in the final round of voting on 28 April, then he will be filling the gap left by President Boris Trajkovski, who died in a plane crash in Bosnia-Hercegovina in February.

Some Macedonians blame Crvenkovski for economic problems

Mr Crvenkovski would be moving to a largely ceremonial position. That is no bad thing, say many Macedonians. Under his prime ministership the economy has gone from bad to worse.

Unemployment stands at nearly 40%, and foreign investors are wary of putting their money here. After all, Macedonia was on the brink of civil war just three years ago.

Fighting between the Macedonian army and the country's ethnic Albanian minority (who make up between 25% and 30% of the population) led to dozens of deaths in 2001.

Since then, much has been done to bridge the gap. Under what has become known as the Ohrid framework, the mainly Muslim ethnic Albanians have been given greater representation in state institutions, and won the right to have their children educated in their own language.

But many are dissatisfied with the pace of progress. Outside the polls in the Albanian-dominated town of Tetovo, voters criticised the Ohrid framework, pointing out that Albanian unemployment remains above the national average and they have few positions in government.

Identity

The comments are dismissed by the Albanian presidential candidate Gzim Ostreni, who produces an array of statistics in his office to show how things have improved.

His DUI party is in government with Branko Crvenkovski's SDSM, and will support him in the second round. Both Macedonian candidates know the importance of the Albanian vote now.

US stars and stripes were flown alongside Albanian flags

Albanian identity is strong in this part of Macedonia. Over the snow-capped mountains above Tetovo lies Kosovo. Many men from this area fought against the Serbs there, and then the Macedonian army here.

On election day in the nearby village of Poroj some 2,000 people attended a rally to celebrate the memory of fallen Albanian fighters. If the United States is struggling to find allies in the Muslim world just now, it can take heart here.

People waved not just Albanian flags, but in tribute to the 1999 Nato campaign over Kosovo, the stars and stripes as well. But not a single Macedonian flag fluttered in the spring breeze.

There was fighting between ethnic Albanian and Orthodox Macedonian youths in Tetovo just a year ago, but now there is an uneasy peace.

Harmony

Macedonian Novic Kocevski says: "I have good friends and neighbours who are Albanians. We live together. We've always lived together. We have to live together.''

Martir Iseni, an Albanian student, says it is crucial that the Ohrid framework is seen to be properly implemented.

"I don't think there will be any more fighting, but only if the politicians do their jobs properly,' he said.

He voted for an Albanian candidate in the first round, but will he vote for a Macedonian now the Albanian candidates have been eliminated?

"No," he said. "I'd rather not vote.''

On one issue all of Macedonian's people are united: the economy. Over a third of the Macedonian workforce is without a job.

The country is on track to enter the European Union, but not until 2010 at the earliest. If prosperity is the key to peace, then living standards have to improve.