Macedonian-Albanian relations in the country were thrown into crisis due to the Bit Pazar shooting. The event placed the spotlight on the real possibility of violent conflict in the state, similar to the ongoing war in Bosnia-Hercegovina. For Macedonians, it sparked fears regarding the future and whether Albanians were loyal to Macedonia. The Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs, dominated at the time by former communist members with anti Albanian sentiments, used the Bit Pazar incident as a reason not to recruit Albanians into the security service.