akritas
05-23-2007, 05:09 PM
Embassy, May 23rd, 2007
A Liberal MP puts forth a motion to recognize the Republic of Macedonia which stirs ire within the Liberal caucus and the Greek community.
By Lee Berthiaume
A private member's bill calling on the Canadian government to officially recognize the Republic of Macedonia was tabled in the House of Commons last week.
Lui Temelkovski, a Toronto-area parliamentarian who was born in what is now known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), introduced the bill in the House of Commons last Wednesday.
The naming dispute carries significant historical baggage that dates back centuries, but re-emerged as a current issue following the break up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s when several independent states emerged. One of those wanted to call itself the Republic of Macedonia. But Greece has vehemently opposed the idea, saying it implies ownership of a Greek province of the same name.
In introducing his bill, Mr. Temelkovski noted that numerous countries, including the United States, China and Russia, have recognized the state as the Republic of Macedonia.
Speaking to Embassy last Thursday, Mr. Temelkovski said his bill was prompted by lobbying on the part of the Macedonian community, which includes about 1,000 members in his riding.
He did not know what the chances of his bill being adopted were, but acknowledged objections within the Liberal caucus by some members of Greek descent.
"We haven't had any discussions about it and I don't think we need any discussions," Mr. Temelkovski said when asked whether the Liberal party had discussed the bill. "It's just an administrative point."
However, he blamed the Greek lobby for Canada's continued decision not to call the country by its constitutional name.
"I think it's clear that the fact Canada has not recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name is all due to the Greek lobby," he said. "It's not up to Greece to tell Macedonia what it can call itself. It's a matter of self-identity.
"They've got to forget it. I can't go naming you Peter. My name is Lui and you can call me whatever you like, but my name is Lui."
Mr. Temelkovski, who moved to Canada with his family in 1968, said Greece believes recognizing the country as the Republic of Macedonia is an attempt by the Slavic country to rob it of territory, but he said that isn't the case.
The Macedonian Embassy in Ottawa referred questions to Mr. Temelkovski's office.
Deepak Obhrai, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, said the bill has just been introduced and it is too early to determine what position the government will take.
'Precedent Has Been Set'
Liberal MP John Cannis, who was born in Greece, questioned his colleague's decision to table the bill at a time when FYROM and Greece are negotiating over a possible compromise and enjoying good economic and political relations.
"What are we doing fanning the flames of a fire that isn't there?" he said. "I don't believe these two countries are involved in this. What are we doing it discussing it here?"
Mr. Cannis said it was Mr. Temelkovski's right as a parliamentarian to table the motion, and that he appreciated the community he was representing.
He said he had not discussed the bill with Mr. Temelkovski, but he intended to find out what "compelling reasons" prompted him to table it at this point in time.
However, Mr. Cannis said the international community and Canada have already set a precedent by referring to the country as FYROM, and for Canada to backtrack now would send the wrong signal.
"I think we base our views on precedent, and precedent has already been set," he said. "Are we then going to say to the UN that we don't care what decisions you've made, we're going to set new precedents.
"To me, let them sort it out."
Fellow Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis, who was also born in Greece, also said he understood why Mr. Temelkovski had to bring the motion forward and that it was his right to do so as a parliamentarian.
But he also felt it was not Canada's place to intervene.
"It's an issue that has been worked upon for the last 16 years," Mr. Karygiannis said. "The European Union still has to make a ruling, the United Nations still has to make a ruling. I think it's between the two neighbouring countries that have to sort out the issue before we are able to do it here and voice it here."
Ioannis Petsilas, press counsellor at the Greek Embassy, said his government is opposed to the bill.
"We are against it because we do not believe a country that forms part of a region should assume the name that represents the whole of the region," he said last week.
"The greatest part of the geographic area of Macedonia is in Greece and has been since time immemorial. We also have cultural objections."
However, he insisted the proposed bill is not an issue at the moment, especially given the fact that the UN still refers to the country as FYROM.
"Canada follows international law and respects what the UN does," he said.
Macedonia Dispute Goes to the House - Embassy - Newspaper Online. (http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2007/may/23/macedonia/)
A Liberal MP puts forth a motion to recognize the Republic of Macedonia which stirs ire within the Liberal caucus and the Greek community.
By Lee Berthiaume
A private member's bill calling on the Canadian government to officially recognize the Republic of Macedonia was tabled in the House of Commons last week.
Lui Temelkovski, a Toronto-area parliamentarian who was born in what is now known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), introduced the bill in the House of Commons last Wednesday.
The naming dispute carries significant historical baggage that dates back centuries, but re-emerged as a current issue following the break up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s when several independent states emerged. One of those wanted to call itself the Republic of Macedonia. But Greece has vehemently opposed the idea, saying it implies ownership of a Greek province of the same name.
In introducing his bill, Mr. Temelkovski noted that numerous countries, including the United States, China and Russia, have recognized the state as the Republic of Macedonia.
Speaking to Embassy last Thursday, Mr. Temelkovski said his bill was prompted by lobbying on the part of the Macedonian community, which includes about 1,000 members in his riding.
He did not know what the chances of his bill being adopted were, but acknowledged objections within the Liberal caucus by some members of Greek descent.
"We haven't had any discussions about it and I don't think we need any discussions," Mr. Temelkovski said when asked whether the Liberal party had discussed the bill. "It's just an administrative point."
However, he blamed the Greek lobby for Canada's continued decision not to call the country by its constitutional name.
"I think it's clear that the fact Canada has not recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name is all due to the Greek lobby," he said. "It's not up to Greece to tell Macedonia what it can call itself. It's a matter of self-identity.
"They've got to forget it. I can't go naming you Peter. My name is Lui and you can call me whatever you like, but my name is Lui."
Mr. Temelkovski, who moved to Canada with his family in 1968, said Greece believes recognizing the country as the Republic of Macedonia is an attempt by the Slavic country to rob it of territory, but he said that isn't the case.
The Macedonian Embassy in Ottawa referred questions to Mr. Temelkovski's office.
Deepak Obhrai, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, said the bill has just been introduced and it is too early to determine what position the government will take.
'Precedent Has Been Set'
Liberal MP John Cannis, who was born in Greece, questioned his colleague's decision to table the bill at a time when FYROM and Greece are negotiating over a possible compromise and enjoying good economic and political relations.
"What are we doing fanning the flames of a fire that isn't there?" he said. "I don't believe these two countries are involved in this. What are we doing it discussing it here?"
Mr. Cannis said it was Mr. Temelkovski's right as a parliamentarian to table the motion, and that he appreciated the community he was representing.
He said he had not discussed the bill with Mr. Temelkovski, but he intended to find out what "compelling reasons" prompted him to table it at this point in time.
However, Mr. Cannis said the international community and Canada have already set a precedent by referring to the country as FYROM, and for Canada to backtrack now would send the wrong signal.
"I think we base our views on precedent, and precedent has already been set," he said. "Are we then going to say to the UN that we don't care what decisions you've made, we're going to set new precedents.
"To me, let them sort it out."
Fellow Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis, who was also born in Greece, also said he understood why Mr. Temelkovski had to bring the motion forward and that it was his right to do so as a parliamentarian.
But he also felt it was not Canada's place to intervene.
"It's an issue that has been worked upon for the last 16 years," Mr. Karygiannis said. "The European Union still has to make a ruling, the United Nations still has to make a ruling. I think it's between the two neighbouring countries that have to sort out the issue before we are able to do it here and voice it here."
Ioannis Petsilas, press counsellor at the Greek Embassy, said his government is opposed to the bill.
"We are against it because we do not believe a country that forms part of a region should assume the name that represents the whole of the region," he said last week.
"The greatest part of the geographic area of Macedonia is in Greece and has been since time immemorial. We also have cultural objections."
However, he insisted the proposed bill is not an issue at the moment, especially given the fact that the UN still refers to the country as FYROM.
"Canada follows international law and respects what the UN does," he said.
Macedonia Dispute Goes to the House - Embassy - Newspaper Online. (http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2007/may/23/macedonia/)