DUI Wants An Anthem Without Text

The new national anthem should be a melody without text, because only then will all the citizens of Macedonia recognize it. This is the DUI's (Democratic Union for Integration) initial reaction to party leader Ali Ahmeti's announcement that the national anthem and coat of arms should be changed and that the coalition partners are ready to discuss the issue. Both the SDSM (Social Democratic Union of Macedonia) and the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) have denied having discussed any changes to the state symbols.

"The Albanians cannot identify themselves with Macedonia's current national anthem. An anthem should be acceptable for all citizens. The best way to a quick compromise is for the anthem to be a melody without text. This is only a preliminary proposal," DUI Deputy Chairman Rafiz Aliti says.

In response to a question of whether the Albanians will stop playing the Albanian national anthem in the event that the Macedonian national anthem is eventually changed, Aliti has said:
"No, you cannot expect us to renounce the anthem of Albania because we, too, are Albanians. We shall then play the Albanian national anthem at our party meetings, while paying respect to the national anthem, as well."

Ali Ahmeti recently told Dnevnik that changing the symbols affects the people's sentiments.
"I didn't say that I do not accept the national flag. That issue has never been raised. The coat of arms needs to be discussed. I believe that the coat of arms should also include elements related to the Albanian community. The anthem is an issue that should be raised," Ahmeti said.

DPA (Democratic Party of Albanians) leader Arben Xhaferi was the first to initiate changes to the state symbols. Unlike Ahmeti, he believes that the national anthem, coat of arms, and flag need changing, because the Albanians cannot identify themselves with the current national symbols. According to Xhaferi, one cannot expect Albanians to rise to an anthem that sings of Goce Delcev or Jane Sandanski, nor can one expect Macedonians to identify themselves with an anthem that mentions Jumni Jonuzi. He suggests that the anthem should have a more humanistic message, similar to Beethoven's "Ode of Joy" or some composition by Bach.

SDSM spokesman Boris Kondarko says that his party will not comment on Ahmeti's statement, adding that the party has not discussed this and that it is not a priority for the SDSM.

Andrej Zhernovski of the LDP says that his party has never discussed changes to the national symbols with the DUI, adding that it is not true that the LDP is willing or prepared to change the national anthem.

http://realitymacedonia.org.mk/web/news_page.asp?nid=4362

kai pou na deite otan to Kossovo tha ginei anexartito !!!!

Skopje, December 28 (MIA) - Pontiff of the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MPC), HH Stefan said Wednesday that the problem of MPC's recognition would be resolved with Macedonia's accession in the European Union and other international institutions.

"I believe that the problem with the Macedonian church will thus be resolved, without the influence of politics", Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia said.

In the New Year greeting to the citizens, the Pontiff also wished for a sooner recognition of MPC and resolution of the dispute with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC).

According to him, politics is the biggest obstacle for the dispute's resolution, adding that each people with a state named its church accordingly.

"MPC is not different from the Bulgarian, Serbian, Russian and other national churches", MPC Pontiff Stefan emphasized.

With all due respect to the bishop of Skopje but his church was founded by the communist party of Yugoslavia. Tito's plans were purely political when he did this and was not out any love for any Church. How soon this is forgotten though.

World

Schuessel for quick accession of Macedonia into European Union

Paris, 17:34


The Austrian Prime Minister Wolfgang Schuessel sent a message suggesting his pledge for quick accession of Macedonia into the European Union, which would take place shortly after admission of Bulgaria and Macedonia, Makfax reports.

The Federal Chancellor of Austria, which took over the EU Presidency at the beginning of 2006, told International Herald Tribune he intended to instigate the plans for accession into EU of four additional countries, in spite of the common disappointment of the 2004 enlargement.

Bulgaria and Romania should be able to enter the Union in 2007 or 2008 at the latest, said Schuessel, adding that Croatia and Macedonia should follow them shortly after.

In the next few months, the European Commission is to voice its stand whether Bulgaria and Romania are ready to enter in EU in due time. Bulgaria has made significant progress in the battle against organized crime, said Schuessel.

As regards Turkey, which launched in October the negotiations for fully-fledged membership in EU, Schuessel said this country deserved the candidacy. "The outcome should stay open", said the Austrian Federal Chancellor in the interview with International Herald Tribune. /end/

Nice respect by the the European Media calling these Bulgars M<acedonian.

Macedonia Not Ready Yet for Specific EU Membership Talks

Vienna. Macedonia is not ready for specific EU membership negotiations yet, the EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn stated, Macedonian agency Makfax reports.
Commenting on the EU enlargement Rehn evaluated that the accession of new members is important on account of numerous strategic reasons but that the EU must first solve its social, political and institutional problems.
The Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel has also estimated that they have to be careful, “not to demand too much of Europe�. “I clearly state: Bulgaria and Romania – this is an already solved issue. The Balkans have a clear European perspective too. Turkey, on the other hand, is a different matter: we will still start the negotiations but we do not yet know what the outcome will be�, Schuessel stated. According to him besides Croatia it should not be forgotten “that Bosnia, together with Macedonia, are an example of a very successful politics on the Balkans. Today peace rules there, no matter how fragile it is. But it still rules and to a high extent so does stability. This is a success for European politics�, Schuessel stressed.

Macedonia (FYR): Wobbling toward Europe

Europe Briefing N°41
12 January 2006
OVERVIEW

The European Union summit’s December 2005 decision to grant EU candidacy status is a significant milestone on Macedonia’s path to European integration. However, its open-ended nature, with no start date for accession talks, indicates the practical and policy challenges the country still faces to become a stable post-conflict democracy. Implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended incipient civil war in 2001, is nearly complete and essential reforms are underway but progress, while significant, is also relative. The international community needs to keep pressure on the government to move faster and more seriously in vital sectors, including the police and especially the judiciary, which still lag and where on-the-ground implementation often does not keep pace with government rhetoric.

Just as the aptly-timed American recognition of Macedonia’s constitutional name did in November 2004, the EU’s decision gave an important boost to prestige and self-confidence. However, the cautionary language used indicates the EU will continue to press, as it should, for more movement on a number of fronts. Police and judicial reform are particular issues of critical concern for average Macedonians as well as their political leaders. Progress on them is not only a prerequisite for EU membership but also directly impacts coalition ability to govern responsibly.

The police reform mandated by Ohrid has made notable progress in recruiting and training new cadets, adding Albanian officers, and assuming responsibility for the borders. But until the government moves beyond a “ticking the box” approach and tackles fundamental management issues, including decentralising authority and instituting a merit-based personnel system, the police will still not be a transparent and accountable community-based service.

The judicial system remains unreformed and dysfunctional. A country of two million citizens has a backlog of some 1.2 million cases. The crippled system, which is still subject to excessive executive branch influence and corruption, suits entrenched political interests. The international community recognised the problem late, only after the judicial system began to endanger progress in other areas. The government has drafted several constitutional amendments aimed at promoting judicial independence, including life tenure and a required two-thirds parliamentary majority for appointments, but must now actually implement these measures and take immediate steps to improve quality and accountability by rooting out corrupt and incompetent judges and training the capable and qualified.

Two unrelated issues require particular attention in 2006. The imminent return of four war crimes cases from The Hague Tribunal threatens to stir up ghosts of the 2001 conflict and challenge the inadequate judicial system. How these cases are handled – operationally and politically – will have an impact on domestic politics and Macedonia’s relationship with its international partners. Increasing tension within the Islamic community, whose leadership disputes have spilled into the public arena, has raised the question whether the country is threatened by radical Islam. There is no genuine Wahhabi threat, but ethnic Albanian leaders are concerned that the power struggles reflect poorly on their community and could be manipulated by political foes.

Although the insecurities which culminated in the November 2004 referendum – including concerns about power-sharing among ethnic communities and the brief emergence of a group of armed ethnic Albanians on Skopje’s outskirts – seem long gone, Macedonia is still an immature democracy, vulnerable to spoilers seeking to hijack or exploit an imperfect reform process. The road to Europe will be secure only if it implements necessary initiatives and manages political challenges before they grow into crises. These are some of the necessary steps:

Judiciary. The international community and Macedonia should lobby the Hague Tribunal to delay return of the four cases until at least late 2006 (preferably 2008) while donors work with the government to fast-track judiciary reforms, including specialised training for judges on serious crimes; crime scene investigation techniques; a viable witness protection program; and a court for serious crimes. Once the constitutional amendments are passed, the government must quickly purge corrupt and non-performing judges, set up the new administrative court for misdemeanours, and establish a permanent judicial and prosecutorial training academy.
Police. The pending Law on Police should devolve authority to more, not fewer, police districts. Staff and resources (including an EU presence) need to be added to the Professional Standards Unit so it can investigate internal corruption and police abuse, and a merit-based career path, including a fast-track program for the best and brightest officers and recruits, should be developed. The police also need to coordinate work closer with other government agencies.
EU. Drawing staff and expertise from the former Proxima and the interim successor EUPAT police missions, Brussels should establish a new mission, to begin in June 2006, with increased financial and staff resources. Reporting to the new EU Special Representative (EUSR), it should be mandated to expand its scope to include the full justice sector including judges, prosecutors and prisons. It should place advisers in the justice and interior ministries, the public prosecutor’s office and the recently established regional police headquarters. EUSR should also work with the government to establish a justice and home affairs adviser in the prime minister’s office charged with pushing reforms and coordination between ministries and other government entities.

Skopje/Brussels, 12 January 2006

Parliament briefed on EU summit, Macedonia issue talks

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Valynakis on Friday categorically denied that Greece had engaged in "secret diplomacy" over the dispute over the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Valynakis was replying to questions posed by main opposition PASOK MP Christos Papoutsis during a briefing of Parliament's European Affairs Committee on the results of December's EU summit.

In his question, Papoutsis had referred to press reports from FYROM that linked the so-called Macedonia issue with an invitation to FYROM Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva to attend an conference of Balkan countries in Athens.

"There is no secret diplomacy between Skopje and Greece concerning the name of the neighbouring country. What Skopje's newspapers write is their own affair. Ms Mitreva could not be excluded and not be invited to the Inter-Balkan Conference in which all Balkan countries will participate," Valynakis underlined.

The deputy minister did not rule out the possibility of bilateral talks between Greek Foreign Minister Petros Molyviatis and his Balkan counterparts on the sidelines of the meeting, however.

PASOK MEP Stavros Lambrinidis, on his part, said the government lacked a "Balkan" policy and urged particular caution in negotiations with FYROM to "avoid what happened with Turkey's EU accession, where we lost whatever we had won".

Briefing the committee on the results of the EU summit, Valynakis described the outcome as a "important success" for Greece, which had managed to secure a satisfactory funding package of €21 billion.

"Greece fought and won the crucial wager of the CAP, both in order to secure a satisfactory sum for the structural funds and for their proper utilisation," he said.

Mustafaj says no border guarantees upon division of Kosovo

Tirana, 19:03

Albania cannot guarantee inviolability of borders with Macedonia and Kosovo if the Serbian province undergoes division, Albanian Foreign Minister Besnik Mustafaj said on Tuesday.

"Tirana stands ready for any contingency, and if Kosovo is divided, Albania could not guarantee inviolability of the borders", Mustafaj told Alsat TV station, as commenting the thesis of Kosovo-Albania merge upon granting province's independence.

"As soon as last October, I said in front of high officials in Brussels that if division of Kosovo takes place, Albania could no longer guarantee inviolability of borders with Kosovo, but with Albanian part of Macedonia as well", Mustafaj said in Alsat's TV programme.

"We keep a close eye on the current developments, and I assure you, Albania would not be caught without contingency plan for any given situation", said the Albanian Minister.

In the same TV programme, the Vice-President of DPA Menduh Taci said "establishing an independent Kosovo and national identity of Kosovars raises the issue of the identity of Albanians living in Macedonia".

"I am against forming new identities. As we grow accustomed to the identity of Kosovars we will start forgetting that they are Albanians. Personally, I can accept that compromise, since 90 percent of Kosovo's citizens are Albanians and the official language in all institutions is the Albanian. However, such a move gives no answer as to what will be the identity of the Albanians living in Macedonia", said Taci. /end/

FYROM - Sold Out
-----------------------
For the Good of Macedonia

2006/04/05

SKOPJE/BERLIN/VIENNA

(Own report) - 15 years after its, German supported, secession from the Yugoslav Federation, Macedonia is confronted with having to sell out all of its national holdings to foreign companies. "(A)lmost all national net assets have been sold", summarized the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, closely affiliated to the ruling CDU, after the takeover of the state-owned, ESM, power supplier monopoly, by an Austrian-German enterprise. While the poverty ratio in the Macedonian population soars to new heights, Berlin and Brussels are requiring of Skopje expensive measures for the fortification of the national borders, to prevent unwanted immigration into the prosperity centers of the EU. Sitting in the upper echelons of German expansion enterprises are politicians, who had played prominent roles in the Macedonian secession and the war against the FR Yugoslavia.
EnBW
In March, the Austrian EVN AG (Energy Supply Lower Austria) bought, for approximately 225 million Euros, a 90-Percent-majority of the Macedonian monopoly power supplier, Elektrostopanstvo na Makedonija (ESM). This was preceded - in autumn 2005 - by the signing of an agreement, in which seven Southeast European states (among them Macedonia) obligated themselves to a complete opening of their energy markets to foreign companies.[1] This sellout is being supervised by a Vienna based "European" authority - based, of all places, in the country of the speculative Austrian energy purchaser. So far, the EVN AG owns two Bulgarian electro-power suppliers and is shareholder in a subsidiary in the water sector of twelve East and Southeast European nations. The EVN AG hopes that, from the takeover in Macedonia, it will be in a better position for further expansion, in the gas and water industries of those countries on the verge of selling out. This expanding enterprise is owned, to 30 percent, by the German EnBW (energy Baden-Wuerttemberg AG) and figures in the plans of the company in Karlsruhe for its expansion to East and Southeast Europe.
Usually Far Under Valued
The sale of ESM provoked weeks of protests in Macedonia. The Macedonian monopoly owned not only extensive net assets, such as convalescent homes and hotels, it also possessed eleven hydro-electric power plants, to which an important economic potential is attributed. Contrary to earlier privatization deals, which were sold "usually far under valued", this time, Skopje was able to negotiate a reasonable price, writes the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. But now "Macedonia's board silver is slowly running out".[2] Not unnoticed in the Macedonian capital, is that certain German development assistance funds sent to the country, now benefit the EVN AG and thus EnBW: Berlin had supported the integration of Macedonia to the European electric power grid as well as the stabilization of the electrical grid of the country, with funds from the budget of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ). The money can now be transferred from Berlin directly to Karlsruhe.
From Two to Thirty
Following the sale of ESM, the Macedonian public is particularly fearful of layoffs and a rise in the price of electricity. Since the former Yugoslav republic declared its secession, in 1991, with German support, unemployment has continuously risen and reaches at present approximately 40 Percent.[3] Two per cent of the population lived in poverty in 1990, today the proportion living in poverty is at 30 percent.[4] 170,000 households must make ends meet on less than 200 Euros per month. German enterprises, that use the country as a site for cheap labor, profit from poverty in Macedonia.[5] Macedonians work for German companies as economical risk personnel in theaters of war. More than 1,000 Macedonians are currently working for the German company, Ecolog, in Iraq and Afghanistan [6]; four of them were recently assassinated.[7] They took the lethal jobs because of the luring pay level, which amounts to seven times the Macedonian average wage - in Germany it amounts to a moderate remuneration.
Humiliated
The evisceration of the Macedonian economy, by the EU core states, is being accompanied by substantial restrictions on the freedom of travel of Macedonian citizens, when they attempt to travel into the EU. Because of high visa fees, only one per cent, for example, of the country's students have had an opportunity to visit an EU country, it was learned in the capital. Besides, Macedonian citizens, awaiting their visas in diplomatic missions of EU states, have been mishandled and humiliated.[8] A comprehensive facilitation of the allocation of visas had been rejected by an EU delegation just a few days ago. Condition was that Skopje should take wide-ranging measures for the defense against migration.
Closed Borders
These measures would include Macedonia's fulfillment of the EU's expectations of a more consistent application of the so-called readmission agreement and the conclusion of these contracts with all EU states. Germany had already concluded a readmission agreement with Macedonia four years ago. It has been in effect since May 1, 2004 and provides for Skopje's unconditional acceptance of the deportation to Macedonia of anyone without a valid residence permit. For relaxation of visa requirements, the EU requires the Macedonian government to make the means available for the fortification of its borders. Among the measures demanded is the issuance of new passports. The Romanian government has, in a comparable situation, accordingly placed an order to a German company.[9] It has been reported from Brussels, that in addition, Macedonia must electronically monitor its border traffic. The appropriate equipment are usually kept in stock at German companies, who earn billions on deliveries to contracting states of the EU.[10]
Pseudo
Under western pressure, the Skopje government's scope of possibilities for action tends toward zero, in a country that since 1991, has designated itself as being independent. The next henchman's service will be performed in mid-April by the prime minister of the country. He will sign a treaty acknowledging the demarcation of the border separating South Serbia (Kosovo) and Macedonia. His counterpart, at the signing will not be the legal representatives of Serbian sovereignty in Belgrade, but the EU's proconsul of Kosovo, Agim Ceku. This is how the EU and USA are attempting to upgrade the regime of the Kosovo province and lend it an international pseudo legitimacy under international law.
War
Indictments are out against Ceku, for suspected war crimes committed in 1993 and 1995, when he was active in the Croatian army, along with his being made responsible for war atrocities, as former chief of staff of the UCK, during the course of the NATO aggression on Yugoslavia. Ceku is also said to have supported the UCK war against Macedonia in 2001.[11] With his signing of the common border treaty, the Macedonian prime minister de facto recognizes, internationally, his former Kosovo war adversary, as head of a sovereign state.
Conspicuous
The occupancy of the posts of "advisors" and the "advisory boards" is indicative for discerning the link between the German policy of secession and war, on the one hand, with interests of major German energy enterprises, on the other. The former German Foreign Minister, Klaus Kinkel (FDP) is active at EnBW, which has successfully established itself in Macedonia. Kinkel played a prominent role in the breakup of Yugoslavia. The former German Finance Minister, Theo Waigel (CSU), also works for EnBW. Likewise active with EnBW is Thomas Oppermann (SPD), who meets there with Rezzo Schlauch (The Greens) the former parliamentary undersecretary of state. Whereas the Christian Democrats openly endorsed the assault on Belgrade, it was the SPD and the Greens, who ensured the skeptical segment of German public opinion for the war course. As particularly conspicuous are the activities on the EnBW "Advisory Board" of Matthias Wissmann and Dr. Rolf Linkohr: Wissmann (CDU) is chairman of the parliamentary committee for EU Affairs, Linkohr (SPD) calls himself the "special advisor to the EU Commissioner for Energy Questions" and has attained the post of director of the "Centre for European Energy Strategy" (C.E.R.E.S) - surely for the good of Macedonian energy supply.

http://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/fulltext/55991

Guys a quick heads up.

Dick Cheney is going to visit skopland in the coming days so watch out for references to fyrom as Macedonia.Just today I heard the news anchor say:

"Cheney is scheduled to visit U.S. allies Albania and Macedonia."

EE προς ΠΓΔM: FYROM η μόνη αποδεκτή ονομασία

04/08/2006 - 09:51
Mε πλήρη σαφήνεια η Eυρωπαϊκή Eνωση επαναλαμβάνει στην ΠΓΔM στο πλαίσιο υπογραφής της Συνθήκης για την ίδρυση της Eνεργειακής Kοινότητας ότι αποδέχεται μόνο την ονομασία «Πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Mακεδονίας» και καμία άλλη για τη χώρα αυτή.
Yπενθυμίζεται πως η Συνθήκη για την ίδρυση της Eνεργειακής Kοινότητας υπογράφηκε στην Aθήνα τον περασμένο Oκτώβριο και σε αυτήν έχουν προσχωρήσει η Eυρωπαϊκή Eνωση, η Δημοκρατία της Aλβανίας, η Δημοκρατία της Bουλγαρίας, η Bοσνία - Eρζεγοβίνη, η Δημοκρατία της Kροατίας, η Πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Mακεδονίας, η Δημοκρατία του Mαυροβουνίου, η Pουμανία, η Δημοκρατία της Σερβίας, (εφεξής αποκαλούμενες χώρες που προχωρούν), και η Aποστολή των Hνωμένων Eθνών για προσωρινή διοίκηση στο Kοσσυφοπέδιο κατ’ εφαρμογή του ψηφίσματος 1244 του Συμβουλίου Aσφαλείας των Hνωμένων Eθνών.
Προ ημερών δημοσιεύθηκε στην Eπίσημη Eφημερίδα της Eνωσης Aπόφαση του Συμβουλίου για έγκριση της Συνθήκης όπως και το κείμενο αυτής με τις δύο επιστολές της Kοινότητας και της ΠΓΔM στις οποίες γίνεται η αναφορά στο θέμα της ονομασίας.

H Συνθήκη προβλέπει τη δημιουργία ολοκληρωμένης αγοράς φυσικού αερίου και ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας στη Nοτιοανατολική Eυρώπη και δημιουργεί προοπτική προσέλκυσης επενδύσεων σε δίκτυα φυσικού αερίου, στην ηλεκτροπαραγωγή και σε δίκτυα μεταφοράς.
H Συνθήκη, όπως με σαφήνεια αναφέρεται στην απόφαση του Συμβουλίου βελτιώνει την ασφάλεια εφοδιασμού των συμβαλλομένων μερών, διότι συνδέει την Eλλάδα με τις αγορές φυσικού αερίου και ηλεκτρικής ενέργειας της Hπειρωτικής Eυρωπαϊκής Eνωσης και παρέχει κίνητρα για τη σύνδεση των Bαλκανίων με τα αποθέματα φυσικού αερίου της Kασπίας, της Bόρειας Aφρικής και της Mέσης Aνατολής.

Oι επιστολές
A) Eπιστολή ΠΓΔM προς Eνωση

«Δημοκρατία της Mακεδονίας - Γραφείο του αναπληρωτή πρωθυπουργού Minco Jordanov - Aθήνα, 25 Oκτωβρίου 2005. Eξοχότατε, με το παρόν έγγραφο δηλώνω ότι το κείμενο της Συνθήκης για την ίδρυση της Eνεργειακής Kοινότητας είναι αποδεκτό για την κυβέρνηση της Δημοκρατίας της Mακεδονίας. Mε την παρούσα επιστολή, η κυβέρνηση της Δημοκρατίας της Mακεδονίας θεωρεί ότι έχει υπογράψει τη Συνθήκη για την ίδρυση της Eνεργειακής Kοινότητας. Eν τούτοις, δηλώνω ότι η Δημοκρατία της Mακεδονίας δεν αποδέχεται την ονομασία που χρησιμοποιείται για τη χώρα μου στα προαναφερθέντα έγγραφα, εν όψει του ότι το συνταγματικό όνομα της χώρας μου είναι Δημοκρατία της Mακεδονίας. Mε εξαιρετική εκτίμηση, Minco Jordanov».


B) Eπιστολή Eνωσης προς ΠΓΔM

«Συμβούλιο της Eυρωπαϊκής Eνωσης - H Προεδρία - Aθήνα, 25 Oκτωβρίου 2005, κ. Minco Jordanov, Aντιπρόεδρο της κυβέρνησης της Πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβικής Δημοκρατίας της Mακεδονίας Aξιότιμε κύριε: H Eυρωπαϊκή Kοινότητα σημειώνει την επιστολή σας με σημερινή ημερομηνία και επιβεβαιώνει ότι η επιστολή σας και η απάντηση παρούσα από κοινού επέχουν θέση υπογραφής της Συνθήκης για την ίδρυση της Eνεργειακής Kοινότητας από την πρώην γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Mακεδονίας. Eν τούτοις, αυτό δεν μπορεί να ερμηνευθεί υπό την έννοια ότι η Eυρωπαϊκή Kοινότητα αποδέχεται ή αναγνωρίζει με οποιαδήποτε μορφή ή περιεχόμενο, άλλη ονομασία πέραν του «Πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Mακεδονίας». Με εξαιρετική εκτίμηση, εξ ονόματος της Eυρωπαϊκής Kοινότητας».


http://www.express.gr/index.php?selida_id=103&article=79904&categ=3&lang_id=1

US Congressmen Urge FYROM to Stop Nationalistic Propaganda (http://www.focus-fen.net/index.php?id=n95014)



Athens. US congressmen urge FYROM to stop its nationalistic propaganda as News.in informs.

This is what has been noted in a draft resolution introduced at the US Congress by Democrat Caroline Maloney. By now the draft resolution has been signed by 77 congressmen from the Republican and Democratic parties.
The resolution reads that FYROM should stop with the “negative and nationalistic propaganda� and start cooperating with the UN and Greece for finding an acceptable official name for the republic.

The site notes that last month Republican Party congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, called on Skopje to accept the proposal of UN Special Envoy on FYROM Matthew Nemitz. In an article in the National Review magazine the congresswoman stresses that Mr. Nemitz’s proposal is the basis for talks on finding an acceptable solution to the name dispute “in favor of both states and the stability on the Balkans�.


source
http://www.in.gr/news/article.asp?lngEntityID=734968&lngDtrID=244

GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION CLASH OVER MP ANITA KIPARIZOVSKA- KRSTEVSKA' S ETHNIC NATIONALITY


MPs form the governing and the opposition party yesterday fiercely clashed over
the new Committee for Ethnic Relations members, more specifically, over the
ethnic nationality of VMRO-DPMNE MP Anita Kiparizovska- Krstevska. ""Dnevnik"
said the opposition questioned Kiparizovska- Krstevska' s ethnic nationality,
asking whether she had in the past declared herself of Vlach or 'Macedonian'
nationality, or had now decided to be of Vlach ethnicity just to provide the
Government with the Badenter's majority. Revolted by her nomination for a member
of the Committee, without examining her ethnic background, DUI-PDP MPs left the
Committee session, withdrawing its MPs from the Committee. DUI-PDP called on the
international community to intervene in the case, saying the Committee for
Ethnic Relations was a body formed as obligations included in the Framework
Agreement and that it carried significant importance. They added that the issue
had to be resolved, saying if left unsolved it could lead to abuse of the
Badenter's principle.

SDSM MPs Nikola Kjurciev and Radmila Sekerinska urged Kiparizovska -Krstevska to
revel whether she considered herself of Vlach ethnic nationality and whether she
had in the past declared herself to be of 'Macedonian' nationality. Replying to
Kjurciev and Sekerinska, Kiparizovska -Krstevska said she had no intentions of
proving whether she was of Vlach of 'Macedonian' nationality, saying all
interested in her ethnic background should read the book "The Vlachs of Ohrid",
which according to her contained biographical data about her family. The Speaker
of Parliament, Ljubisha Georgievski and governing parties MPs panned the
opposition for violating the Convention of Human Rights, saying nobody had
rights to debate about a person's ethnic nationality, adding that it was an
intimate right of all citizens.

A1 TV said with the votes of DPA MPs and of several other MPs representing
ethnic communities in parliament and with Kiparizovska -Krstevska's vote, the
Government intended to secure the Badenter's majority needed for passing
important laws and to prevent DUI-PDP from obstructing Parliament's work.
Channel 5 TV said Kiparizovska -Krstevska's vote in the Committee for Ethnic
Relations was of great impotence as this body decided on which laws need support
from a Badenter's majority. Moreover, Channel 5 TV claimed it possessed
documents dating from 15th July this year showing Kiparizovska -Krstevska being
of 'Macedonian' nationality.

Brussels leaves FYROMacedonia in the dark on EU entry talks



31.01.2007 - 09:26 CET | By Lucia Kubosova

The European Commission says it is too early to set a start date for FYROMacedonia's EU entry talks, despite Slovenia dropping hints that its EU presidency - in the first half of 2008 - could see Skopje get a firm timetable for negotiations.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting with FYROMacedonian president Branko Crvenkovski on Tuesday (30 January), commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said "We cannot now commit ourselves to a date."

He added that Skopje must first make progress in several areas, particularly the police and judiciary, with the commission to evaluate the problematic issues in a detailed autumn report.

Mr Crvenkovski said that while his country does not "expect this [the starting date] to be presented to us as a gift" and intends to work hard to achieve it, adding it is crucial as an incentive for further reform efforts.

Earlier this month, the ex-Yugoslav country of 2 million received a positive statement from Slovenian prime minister Janez Jansa who said in the European Parliament that his government would "try to help this candidate country to get a date."

The promise by the first "new" EU member state to take up the bloc's presidency in January 2008 to consider FYROMacedonia's membership bid as one of its priorities was later echoed by Slovenian foreign minister Dimitri Rupel on his visit to Skopje.

Intestinal conflict

FYROMacedonia is currently facing a political crisis after a party of ethnic Albanians accused the governing coalition of breaching the so called Ohrid treaty - a peace deal agreed in 2001 after a conflict between FYROMacedonian majority and Albanian minority in the country.

The dispute was sparked after the biggest Albanian party and its coalition partner were excluded from the government although they had won the majority of ethnic Albanian votes in last year's elections.

The main ethnic Albanian party has also accused the country's prime minister Nikola Gruevski and his coalition - which includes another Albanian party - of ignoring one of the Ohrid deal principles which requires that laws concerning minorities be approved by the MPs that represent them.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told the FYROMacedonian president on Tuesday to start a deep dialogue among the country's political parties, adding that it is crucial also for achieving a political consensus on EU talks.

EUobserver.com (http://euobserver.com/9/23384)

They're digging their own grave. That's bad news for us, as FYROM is a useful state in the region because it counterbalances Bulgarian and Albanian expansionist designs against Greece. If they can't join the EU anyway because of ethnic issues, then Greece saying "I'll veto you if you don't compromise on your name" isn't much of a menace.

EU warns FYROMacedonia over entry


The European Union's Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn, has issued an unusually stark warning to FYROMacedonia, the former Yugoslav republic which gained EU candidate status in 2005.

In a speech in the FYROMacedonian capital Skopje on Thursday, Mr Rehn described developments in the country over the last year as "alarming and a cause for concern".
Mr Rehn's main worry is the tension between the ruling conservatives and FYROMacedonia's largest ethnic Albanian party DUI, led by Ali Ahmeti.
Sixteen deputies, mainly from Mr Ahmeti's party, walked out of parliament and are threatening to boycott municipal authorities.
DUI is accusing the government of lacking legitimacy and ignoring the rights of ethnic Albanians, who form about one-quarter of the country's population of two million.



Changing times

Mr Ahmeti is a guerrilla leader turned politician.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif One of the founders of the Kosovo Liberation Army, he returned to his native FYROMacedonia to lead ethnic Albanians in the 2001 revolt against government forces that took the country to the brink of civil war.
He then joined the coalition government formed as a result of the Ohrid peace accord, mediated by the EU and Nato.
But despite winning most Albanian votes in the 2006 election, Mr Ahmeti has found himself in opposition for the first time, after Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski chose a smaller Albanian party for his coalition.
A year ago, the EU praised Macedonia as the only functioning multi-ethnic democracy in the Balkans, rewarding it with the coveted candidate status.
Now things are different, with Mr Rehn criticising all parties for "obstruction and lack of faith".
He called on them to work within the democratic institutions they had worked so hard to set up.

'Wake-up call'

To press his point, the EU commissioner met the Macedonian prime minister no less than five times during his one-day trip.
He also held separate talks with all party leaders one by one.
Even the silver-haired Mr Ahmeti was persuaded to return to the parliament building to meet the man from Brussels.
"It's very important that at the time of negotiations on the future status of Kosovo and concerns over the stability of the region, we can prevent the political stalemate in this country turning into a crisis," Mr Rehn told the BBC.
"We need to exert pressure on both the government and the opposition to respect the rules of the game and ensure the legitimacy of the political system.
"This was meant to be a strong wake-up call and I hope we'll see a reinforcement of mutual trust, a consensus on the rights of minorities and reforms related to European aspirations."


Sluggish reforms

Diplomats are concerned that reforms have slowed down in FYROMacedonia after it received candidate status, especially in key areas such as fighting corruption and reforming the police.
EU membership was not automatic, Olli Rehn warned, and substantial reforms were needed before the European Commission could seriously consider recommending the start of membership talks. The government hopes to receive a date for accession negotiations at the end of this year, but that looks increasingly unrealistic.

BBC NEWS | Europe | EU warns FYROMacedonia over entry (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6344907.stm)

Question on FYROM decision endangering flight safety

Parliamentary acts (http://www.balkanium.com/forum/)
02:04 pm - Sunday (http://www.balkanium.com/forum/)
European Parliament: question on FYROM decision endangering flight safety (http://www.balkanium.com/forum/)
Strasbourg, France - By Georgios Karatzaferis (IND/DEM)
(WAPA) - "Written question E-0050/07
by Georgios Karatzaferis (IND/DEM)
to the Council

Subject: FYROM decision endangering flight safety

The government in Skopje recently decided - in breach of the interim agreement with Greece - to rename that city's airport 'Alexander the Great', after the great Greek military commander and civiliser.

The Greek Civil Aviation Service and the Hellenic Air Force, however, registered the airport of Chrysoupoli (Kavala) under that name with the ICAO (and with all other international organisations) 15 years ago. The result of this situation is that enormous risks have now been created which endanger flight safety owing to the fact that two neighbouring FIR will be using the same name for two airports in close proximity.

How has the Council responded to make FYROM (which aspires to EU accession) understand that its decision endangers the safety of thousands of passengers?".

(Avionews)


(006) 070209140410-73804 (World Aeronautical Press Agency - 2007-02-09 02:04 pm)
http://www.avionews.com/index.php?co...ante=index.php (http://www.avionews.com/index.php?corpo=see_news_home.php&news_id=73804&pagina_chiamante=index.php)
__________________

Has everyone seen the BBC article entitled "EU warns Macedonia over entry". Here are some of the more interesting quotes:

In a speech in the Macedonian capital Skopje on Thursday, Mr Rehn described developments in the country over the last year as "alarming and a cause for concern".

...

[Mr Rehn told the BBC]:

"We need to exert pressure on both the government and the opposition to respect the rules of the game and ensure the legitimacy of the political system.

"This was meant to be a strong wake-up call and I hope we'll see a reinforcement of mutual trust, a consensus on the rights of minorities and reforms related to European aspirations."

...

EU membership was not automatic, Olli Rehn warned, and substantial reforms were needed before the European Commission could seriously consider recommending the start of membership talks.

The government hopes to receive a date for accession negotiations at the end of this year, but that looks increasingly unrealistic.

Retrieved from http:/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6344907.stm

It seems that FYROM will not be joining the EU in the near future. It'd be advisable a) for Greek businessmen to get a move on and buy as much as possible in FYROM before membership talks start and the prices start rising, and b) the Greek government to hint to the FYROM leaders that Greece is prepared to turn a blind eye to certain of their faults and will advise EU leaders to do the same if they agree on a compromise name.

FYROM concerned over position of NATO and EU

SKOPJE (ANA-MPA)

Reservations with which many NATO and European Union countries are facing the prospect of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's (FYROM) accession to the two international orgnisations is a cause of concern for the country's leadership which, in past weeks, has started a campaign aimed at promoting its candidacy.

However, the results of this campaign have created scepticism among FYROM's leaders, since both the country's President Branko Crvenkovski and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who visited Brussels successively, had the opportunity of ascertaining that the scene is vague for FYROM and the pending issue concerning the country's name is making it even more vague.

As regards the EU, political analysts, both in Skopje and Brussels, were surprised by the tough and not particularly diplomatic language used by Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn during his recent visit to FYROM.

The Finnish Commissioner made it clear that the feeling prevailing in Brussels is that reforms are "dragging their feet" and that democratisation in FYROM (particularly with regard to minority rights) is inadequate.

On the question of NATO, which FYROM hopes to join in 2008, the climate is also problematic. FYROM's leaders have ascertained in past weeks that the issue of the name is on the agenda of discussions they are having with NATO officials and constitutes one of the many obstacles existing in FYROM's course towards NATO accession.

http://www.hri.org/news/greek/ana/20...15.ana.html#08 (http://www.hri.org/news/greek/ana/2007/07-02-15.ana.html#08)

FYROM Military museum removes exhibit on ancient Macedonia

Skopje /8.03/ 18:19

The maps and artifacts of the Alexander the Great's phalanx have been removed from the Military Museum's room dedicated to ancient Macedonia, upon recommendation of NATO member-countries initiated by the Greek government.

Electronic media reported today that instead of exerting direct pressure on authorities in Skopje, Athens called Brussels to make the move.

According to the same sources, official Athens also raised objections in the Alliance on the book "Military History of Macedonia" written by Vanco Stojcev, which contains maps showing borders of the ancient Macedonia.

Representatives of the Defense Ministry confirmed to some of the media that certain NATO member-countries suggested to Minister Lazar Elenovski to remove the maps and the artifacts in order to avoid provoking Greece.

http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=10&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=57999&NrIssue=290&NrSection=10 (http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=10&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=57999&NrIssue=290&NrSection=10)

About time that government did something respectable! Well I suppose the war isn't quite over like they had hoped!

Nothing to applaud thought!

The exhibition will be there a month after they enter in NATO and/or EU!

Organization OMO Ilinden – Pirin facing sentence for document fraud?

6 April 2007 | 12:28 | FOCUS News Agency

Sofia. The Bulgarian political organization VMRO will report to the Prosecutor’s office about violations, made by the unregistered organization OMO Ilinden – Pirin, the leader of VMRO Krasimir Karakachanov said in an interview for FOCUS News Agency.
‘Stoyko Stoykov’s insolence has passed any boundaries with his constant abuse of Bulgaria and we have decided to report to the Prosecutor’s office about the criminal activity of the unregistered OMO Ilinden’, Karakachanov said.
On November 15 2006 the Prosecutor’s office in Sofia has requested the National Police service in Bulgaria to carry out an additional check concerning the registration of OMO Ilinden – Pirin. The check has been carried out on the territories of the regions of Blagoevgrad, Varna, Pleven, Shumen, Plovdiv, Pazadrdzhik, Sofia, etc.

The check revealed that from a total of 5,800 signatures, submitted by OMO Ilinden – Pirin:

1,168 persons never gave their permission to be included as members of this party;
158 persons do not live on the address noted in the lists;
2 persons are minors;
5 persons are registered as mentally ill;
28 persons are members of other parties;
48 persons have been residing abroad at the time the lists were prepared;
13 persons have died.
The information has been submitted to the Prosecutor’s office.

OMO Ilinden – PIRIN is a non-government organization, which declares itself as an organization, which’s aim is to protect the rights, language and the nationality of people, living in Bulgaria, who define themselves as Macedonians. It was registered as a political party in 1999.
At the local elections in 1999, OMO Ilinden – PIRIN won two mayor’s offices in villages in Bulgaria.
On February 2000 it was declared anti-constitutional by the Constitutional court in Bulgaria and banned from participation at political elections.
On June 25, 2006 OMO Ilinden – PIRIN held a founding meeting in the town of Gotse Delchev. At that meeting Stoyko Stoykov was elected Chairman of the party.
Journalists were not allowed to attend the meeting.
According to the Bulgarian laws, in order to register a political party, it must submit 5,000 signatures in three months following its founding meeting.
One day before the deadline, information appears, according to which representatives of OMO Ilinden – PIRIN were offering money to people in the Roma areas of villages to sign the subscription.

On October 31st, the court refused registration of the party, as it becomes clear that 116 declarations for the founding of the party were filled by 25 persons – several declarations have been filled by one person.



Hippokrates

Ti malakes!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

To all of the keyboards andtarts of macedoniaontheweb.com, I would like to accent that in all of the articles you posted in the begining of this thread, IN ALL OF THEM only the name Republic of Macedonia was mentioned. Neither Skopia republic, nor Fyrom - only MACEDONIA.

That is an indicator of who is winning this name struggle

Read the thread is says FYROM contstantly

To all of the keyboards andtarts of macedoniaontheweb.com, I would like to accent that in all of the articles you posted in the begining of this thread, IN ALL OF THEM only the name Republic of Macedonia was mentioned. Neither Skopia republic, nor Fyrom - only MACEDONIA.

That is an indicator of who is winning this name struggle

I really don´t think so Komitadji. :nono: Have a closer look at this:

http://europa.eu/abc/maps/images/regions/greece_r/dytmak_r.gif

http://europa.eu/abc/maps/images/regions/greece_r/anat_r.gif

http://europa.eu/abc/maps/images/regions/greece_r/kentr_r.gif

Source (http://europa.eu)


Here some sites about "FYROM":

BBC NEWS | World | Europe | Country profiles | Country profile: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/country_profiles/1067125.stm)
WHO | The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (http://www.who.int/countries/mkd/en/)
former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the IMF -- Page 1 of 4 (http://www.imf.org/external/country/MKD/index.htm)
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - Country information - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/fyrom/index.html)
EUROPA - Education and Training - The Tempus programme - Partner countries : The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/tempus/countries/fyrom_en.html)
Mission of the European Union to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (http://www.delmkd.cec.eu.int/en/index.htm)
Internet Resources on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (http://www.ssees.ac.uk/macedon.htm)
THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA (http://www.ipu.org/cntr-e/maced.htm)
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - UNESCO World Heritage Centre (http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/mk)
UNICEF - The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia - Background (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/TFYRMacedonia.html)
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia EPR (http://www.unece.org/env/epr/studies/former_yugoslav_republic_of_macedonia/welcome.htm)
The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Homepage (http://www.ohchr.org/english/countries/mk/index.htm)
Country Profile - The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (http://www.un.org/esa/earthsummit/maced-cp.htm)

...and so on.



Hippokrates

Ti malakes!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Δε ντρέπονται με τίποτα! :thumbdown


Ιπποκράτης

That is an indicator of who is winning this name struggle

But we all here know that this is a fake name, don't we Komi ??

It will be just another win of the LIE against TRUTH.

κατηιμερινι
Hμερομηνία δημοσίευσης: 14-04-07



Aναγνώριση της «mακεδονίας» διά της πλαγίας οδού
Του Σταυρου Τζιμα

Στο τουριστικό θέρετρο της Αχρίδας η βρετανική πρεσβεία στα Σκόπια σε συνεργασία με το Βρετανικό Συμβούλιο διοργανώνει σήμερα εκδήλωση για την παρουσίαση προγράμματος εκπαίδευσης νέων σε θέματα πληροφορικής, αθλητισμού κ.λπ. Οι προσκλήσεις που εστάλησαν από τον πρέσβη κ. Ρόμπερτ Ντίκσον φέρουν φαρδύ πλατύ το λογότυπο «πρεσβεία του Ηνωμένου Βασιλείου στη “Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας”».

Κανονικά θα έπρεπε να χρησιμοποιήσει το Fyrom, μιας και η Βρετανία δεν έχει αναγνωρίσει επισήμως τη γείτονα με τη συνταγματική της ονομασία. Ανεπισήμως, όμως, το έχει πράξει από το 1999, ανεξαρτήτως αν δεν το ομολογεί. Υπάρχει πολιτική απόφαση του Φόρεϊν Οφις αμέσως μετά τους βομβαρδισμούς του ΝΑΤΟ στη Γιουγκοσλαβία για αναγνώριση ως «Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας» στις διμερείς σχέσεις, η οποία είναι γνωστή από τότε στην Αθήνα, που μάλλον την αποσιώπησε. Εκτοτε όλες οι συμφωνίες μεταξύ των δύο χωρών υπογράφονται με τη συνταγματική ονομασία.

Η Βρετανία δεν είναι η μόνη που παραβιάζει την κοινοτική αλληλεγγύη, η οποία «επιβάλλει» τη χρήση εκ μέρους των χωρών-μελών της Ε.Ε. της ονομασίας Fyrom σε κάθε επίσημη συναλλαγή με αυτό το κράτος. Πριν από λίγες μέρες το Λουξεμβούργο, από τις πιο παλιές χώρες της Ε.Ε., αφήνοντας στην άκρη τις «τυπικότητες» υπέγραψε συμφωνία για την προστασία των επενδύσεων με τη «Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας». Ενας μετά τον άλλον οι ευρωπαϊκοί μας εταίροι αναγνωρίζουν διά της πλαγίας οδού τα Σκόπια με το συνταγματικό τους όνομα στις μεταξύ τους σχέσεις.

Η Πολωνία το έκανε επισήμως με απόφαση του κοινοβουλίου της. Η γερμανική βουλή, επίσης, ανεξάρτητα αν η κυβέρνηση δεν υιοθέτησε την απόφαση για προφανείς λόγους, με τον τότε καγκελάριο κ. Σρέντερ, όμως, στη δημόσια εμφάνισή του με τον Ελληνα πρωθυπουργό κ. Κώστα Καραμανλή να μιλάει ανοιχτά για «Μακεδονία». Η Βουλγαρία και η Ρουμανία το έκαναν προτού ακόμη ενταχθούν, με τη βοήθειά μας, στην Ε.Ε., πολλά νέα κράτη-μέλη διαπιστεύουν τις διπλωματικές τους αντιπροσωπείες όχι στη Fyrom αλλά στη «μακεδονική κυβέρνηση» για να παρακάμψουν τα εμπόδια και να μη δυσαρεστήσουν τους φίλους τους Ελληνες. Οι παραδοσιακοί μας φίλοι οι Σκανδιναβοί, με πρώτους και καλύτερους τους Σουηδούς και τους Νορβηγούς, εμφανίζουν στις επίσημες ιστοσελίδες των υπουργείων τους επί των Εξωτερικών τα Σκόπια ως «Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας», αγνοώντας τις επίσημες διαμαρτυρίες των πρεσβειών μας.

Οσο για τη συμπεριφορά των ανά τον πλανήτη άλλων κρατών, έχει χαθεί ο λογαριασμός: 114 χώρες έχουν αναγνωρίσει την ΠΓΔΜ με τη συνταγματική της ονομασία. Σε αυτές συμπεριλαμβάνονται οι ΗΠΑ, Ρωσία και Κίνα, τα τρία, δηλαδή, από τα πέντε μόνιμα μέλη του Συμβουλίου Ασφαλείας. Από τα άλλα δύο η Βρετανία προχώρησε ήδη σε σιωπηρή αναγνώριση και η Γαλλία κρατάει απλώς τους τύπους, αφού δεν υπάρχει πολιτικός ηγέτης σε όλη την κλίμακα της ιεραρχίας που να μην αποκαλεί τα Σκόπια «Μακεδονία».

Μια νέα, ηχηρή αναγνώριση, επίκειται και είναι αυτή της Νοτίου Κορέας, πατρίδας του νέου γ. γ. του ΟΗΕ κ. Μπαν Κι Μουν, την υποψηφιότητα του οποίου η Αθήνα στήριξε προσδοκώντας στη συμπαράσταση του ίδιου και της Σεούλ.

Η περίφημη αλληλεγγύη, λοιπόν, των χωρών-μελών της Ευρωπαϊκής Ενωσης, στην οποία πολλά στηρίζει η Αθήνα για να κάμψει την αδιαλλαξία των Σκοπίων έχει, τουλάχιστον από μέρους των περισσοτέρων εξ αυτών, προ πολλού ατονήσει στην καλύτερη περίπτωση. Το πώς θα συμπεριφερθούν όλοι, όταν έρθει η στιγμή κατά την οποία η Ελλάδα θα την επικαλεστεί, είναι μάλλον εύκολο να το υποθέσει κανείς, αν μάλιστα λάβει υπ’ όψιν και την επιρροή της Ουάσιγκτον στους νεότερους εταίρους μας στην Ε.Ε.

Με απλά λόγια οι Ευρωπαίοι μάς έχουν «αδειάσει» και οι όποιες ελπίδες της Αθήνας για μια έστω επώδυνη λύση στρέφονται, με αφορμή και τη συζήτηση για την ένταξη της ΠΓΔΜ στο ΝΑΤΟ, πέραν του Ατλαντικού. Επ’ αυτού στα Σκόπια τελευταία επικρατεί μια περίεργη σιωπή, με τον πρόεδρο κ. Μπράνκο Τσερβένκοφσκι πάντως να κάνει λόγο σε κατ’ ιδίαν συζητήσεις του για πρόταση στο θέμα της ονομασίας, μετά τις ελληνικές εκλογές, η οποία θα είναι «δύσπεπτη», δίχως να διευκρινίζει για ποιον.

Last chance for FYROM solution


The open wound that is Greece’s issue with the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been festering for 16 years, but it seems there might be just one last chance to resolve it, namely within the context of FYROM’s fervent desire to join NATO at the next summit in 2008.
Assuming, of course, that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
As with the Cyprus issue, things have deteriorated since the early days of the problem, but there appears to be some, albeit faint hope for a compromise.

Athens has let it be known that it will block FYROM’s accession to NATO unless it receives satisfaction in its dispute centering on the neighboring country’s use of the name “Macedonia,� a name by which the US has officially recognized the Balkan state.

However, the Greek-American lobby has persuaded Congress to add mention of the term “FYROM� in the reference to “Macedonia� in legislation on the next enlargement of NATO, signed by President George W. Bush just a few days ago.

Skopje strongly protested the move, fearing backpedaling by the US and seeing it as the first step in a move to coerce it over its use of the name.

Any solution will be a painful compromise. Those who are hoping for a national triumph will be disappointed. Any such hopes were lost back in 1993 when maximalist claims stirred up patriotic fervor in the form of mass rallies around the world – from Thessaloniki to Washington – which merely resulted in a deadlock.

The international community was not convinced, not because of any conspiracy against Hellenism, but because Greece’s objection to the use of the name “Macedonia� was seen as irrational.

In 1993, moderate voices in favor of a combined name such as “Nova Makedonia,� as a more feasible and realistic compromise, simply fell on deaf ears.

Back then, members of the New Democracy government, as well as PASOK leader Andreas Papandreou, left Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis no scope for negotiation.

Even the latter’s suggestion of “Slavomacedonia� raised cries of “treason,� an insulting accusation that is all too easily bandied about in Greece. Yet it was those maximalist patriotic slogans that led to the “Republic of Macedonia.�

If we are presented with one more opportunity to resolve the FYROM issue, it would be wise this time to avoid divisive excesses. For we might end up with something even more objectionable than the “Republic of Macedonia� which we are faced with today.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_columns_4680884_13/04/2007_82278

Poios diaolos to grafei afto to ar8ro re gamwto ?

Mou 8umize poli kapoion apo to Vima pou e3eutelizei o ..... ka8e antistasi thw Elladas sta sxedia twn exrwn ths me ton idio tropo: Ka9e persi kai kallitera!

Pote oi Skopianoi dextikan ton oro Nova Makedonija h to Slavomacedonia? Min trella8oume dhladh !!

Greece And Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Renew UN-Led Talks

Friday, 18 May 2007, 2:31 pm
Press Release: United Nations


New York, May 17 2007 7:00PM

Representatives of Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) have held a fresh round of United Nations-mediated talks over the question of the official name of the latter country.

Matthew Nimetz, Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for the Greece-FYROM talks, initiated yesterday’s discussions, which took place in New York.

Greece was represented by its Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis, while FYROM was represented by Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov.


“The parties continued to exchange views in the context of Article 5 of the Interim Accord” of 13 September 1995, according to an update released by the UN after the talks. “They decided to meet again on a date to be agreed.”

Article 5 of the Interim Accord, which was brokered by the UN, details the difference between the two countries regarding the official name of FYROM. It also obliges the two sides to continue negotiations under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General to try to reach agreement on their dispute.

Letter to the Editor
Ambassador: South Korea has not recognized ‘Macedonia’

I would like to draw your attention to an article carried by your newspaper on Sunday, May 20, 2007, Page 17 (Greek edition) and on Monday, May 21, 2007, Page 3 (English Edition) by Tom Ellis. The article is pertaining to the “FYROM” issue and stating “Greece’s position has been exacerbated by a decision by South Korea, homeland of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, to recognize the ‘Republic of Macedonia’ compromising the position of Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis… by the UN.”

I read this article with much embarrassment because the above-stated paragraph of the article is an absolutely unfounded allegation which doesn’t reflect the state of affairs regarding the issue.

The Government of the Republic of Korea has neither recognized FYROM as the “Republic of Macedonia” nor made any decision yet in relation to the recognition of and establishment of diplomatic relations with Skopje. You can confirm the relevant facts with the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Given the sensitivity of the naming issue of FYROM as well as the high profile of Kathimerini, I am very much worried that such an article containing incorrect information may affect adversely the friendly and cooperative relations between Greece and Korea by irritating so many interested readers of your newspaper. Therefore, I kindly request your cooperation and assistance for Kathimerini to take necessary measures for the correction of the said statement as well as to avoid making similar mistakes in the future.

Thanking you in advance for your personal intervention in bringing this issue to an early conclusion, I remain for your prompt response, sincerely yours,

YOUNG HAN BAE, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Korea.

US exerts pressure on Skopje –Athens name dispute

Washington warns that if FYROMacedonia does not achieve all the necessary reforms and compromises, its NATO perspective will not be so nice, Greek newspaper Eleftherotypia writes today.

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary Rosemary DiCarlo recommends Skopje not to do “odd things� with Greece.

A month ago the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sent a letter to her FYROMacedonoan counterpart. The letter reads that Washington’s hope for the integration of Skopje in NATO couldn’t be understood as a commitment, because the discordance between Athens and Skopje may turn into a real obstacle for FYROMacedonian integration to the Alliance.

Åëåõèåñïôõðßá - Ã�ðïãåõìáôéÃ*Þ Ã�äÃ�óìåõôç Åöçìåñßäá (http://www.enet.gr/online/online_text/c=110,id=11230268)


http://www.focus-fen.net/Images/space.gif

Menduh Thaci: DPA leaves government

FOCUS Information Agency (http://www.focus-fen.net/)



Skopje. Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) is leaving the ruling coalition, Menduh Thaci, Vice-President of the Party, told the electronic media on Saturday.

He said that the ruling VMRO DPMNE's failure to fulfill the obligations of their agreement and the low level of communication prompted the move, Makfax reported.

The Prime Minister and leader of VMRO DPMNE, Nikola Gruevski, who is abroad at the moment, has not been notified about the decision, Thaci said, adding that he had several telephone conversations with the Prime Minister on Friday.

The decision for dropping out is definite and made upon previous consent of DPA's leader, Arben Xhaferi, Thaci said. According to him, the decision will be formally confirmed by the party's leadership until Monday.

DPA is leaving the governing coalition few days after VMRO DPMNE and the non-parliamentary Democratic Party for Integration (DUI) announced they were about to reach an agreement.

One of Menduh Thaci's remarks is that VMRO DPMNE reached the agreement with DUI without opening the issues that according the agreement with DPA, were necessary to be solved. He declined to specify the issues in question.

Recently, four members of DPA stepped down from their posts in the Interior Ministry, which most likely served as an immediate cause for DPA's drop-out.
Deputy Minister of Interior Refet Elmazi was first to offer his resignation, which was followed by yesterday's resignations of the Directors of Public Security Office and of Intelligence Service, Vasfi Doko and Remzi Salihu, as well as of the Head of the Civilian Affairs Department with the Interior Ministry, Nafi Doko.

The recent operation of the police's special forces in Tanushevci, which was subject of different interpretations, was hinted as the most likely cause of resignations.



27 May 2007 | 10:07 | FOCUS News Agency

Skopje. The crisis in the ruling coalition between the International FYROMacedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity(VMRO-DPMNE) and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) is going deeper. The resignation of the Deputy Minister of Interior Refet Elmazi involved more ministers’ resignations. As a mark of solidarity to Elmazi the Deputy Director of the Bureau for Public Safety Vsfi Doko, the high standing official in the Safety Security office Remzi Salihu and the Head of Department for Civil Affairs Nafi Doko handed their resignations yesterday, Macedonian TV channel Kanal 5 announced.

FYROMacedonian Deputy Minister of Interior resigns over failed police raid in the village of Tanusevci: A1


26 May 2007 | 14:39 | FOCUS News Agency


Skopje. FYROMacedonia’s Deputy Interior Minister Refet Elmazi handed in his resignation, FYROMacedonian TV channel A1 informed. Elmazi has announced to his Democratic Party of the Albanians (DPA) and to Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski that his resignation is about the failed police raid in the village of Tanushevci.

According to his words the unsuccessful police operation overshadows the DPA’s achievements.

On Wednesday the police conducted an operation in the village of Tanushevci aiming to find weapons. The given information was untrue.


Ethnic Albanians Threaten to Quit FYROMacedonian Govt


The ethnic Albanian party in FYROMacedonian coalition has threatened to quit the government and end its slim majority, in a power struggle with the country's other main Albanian party.

A senior member of the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) said late on Saturday it would leave the coalition after reports emerged that Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski had reached a deal to end a parliamentary boycott by the DPA's chief Albanian rivals, the opposition Democratic Union for Integration (DUI).

The deal has yet to be confirmed, and the DPA ministers in his cabinet have not formally resigned. Gruevski would have to look elsewhere to keep his parliament majority if they did.

Gruevski has been under intense pressure from the European Union to reach out to the DUI, FYROMacedonia's largest Albanian party, made up of ex-guerrillas who fought an insurgency in 2001 for greater rights for the 25 percent Albanian minority.

The DUI found itself in opposition last year for the first time since the conflict. It has been boycotting parliament over Gruevski's decision to form a coalition with the smaller DPA, branded by the DUI as a betrayal of the Albanian vote.

FYROMacedonian media reports suggest a deal between the DUI and Gruevski's conservative VMRO-DPMNE is imminent, offering a welfare package to veterans of the 2001 insurgency, and agreement that certain laws can be adopted only with the backing of a majority of Albanian deputies in the 120-seat parliament.

DPA deputy leader Menduh Thaci told media shortly before midnight that Gruevski was negotiating with the wrong party. "The DPA was waiting for the right moment ... when this subject would be addressed within the governing coalition," he said.

"We have decided to leave the government coalition. The dialogue between the DUI and VMRO is a manipulation. The VMRO is not ready to talk about the serious problems facing Albanians."

It was uncertain whether the DPA would carry out its threat.

The West is anxious for FYROMacedonia to remain stable as the United Nations nears a decision in the coming months on whether to give Albanians in neighbouring Kosovo the independence they demand from Serbia after eight years of U.N. administration.

At least a quarter of FYROMacedonia's 2 million people are ethnic Albanians. Their 2001 insurgency, led by DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, ended in a Western-brokered deal offering Albanians greater rights and representation.

But the deal has been years in coming to fruition and tensions remain. The EU, which made FYROMacedonia an official membership candidate in late 2005, has warned that the political stalemate is slowing much-needed reform

Javno - World (http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=47478)

Special police units ambushed in Tanusevci


30 May 2007 | 14:33 | FOCUS News Agency

Skopje. Few dozens of Special unit services from Interior Ministry’s rapid deployment forces were in an ambush of a criminal group last Wednesday in Tanusevci, anonymous senior officials of the Interior Ministry announced, FYROMacedonian newspaper Vreme writes today.

According to the information the special units were sent to check up two houses in the village. The police had information for a large amount of weapons used by the criminal group of Dzhezair Shakiri a.k.a. commander Hodja.

The police were attacked immediately after they came into the village. The shooting was for 20 minutes, the units succeeded to draw off. The Interior Ministry tried to cover the case giving orders to the policemen to keep silent, the newspaper informed.

http://www.vreme.com.mk/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=3&tabid=1&EditionID=1110&ArticleID=71927 (http://www.vreme.com.mk/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabindex=3&tabid=1&EditionID=1110&ArticleID=71927)

The citizens of FYROM become Europeans through Bulgaria. The daily cites information of the Italian newspaper Stampa. According to the Italian press, about 8,000 Skopjeans have obtained Bulgarian citizenship since the beginning of this year, and there are 40,000 more in a waiting list. The number of FYROM citizens, who have obtained Bulgarian citizenship for the last five years is 20,000, the newspapers inform.

The article in the Greek newspaper Ethnos, comments that the information of the Italian daily Stampa, according to which the former Prime Minister of FYROM and Leader of VMRO-NP Ljupco Georgievski, eight MPs and 15 Mayors have double citizenship, is surprising. The daily comments that the fact has also political dimensions, since Bulgaria was the first country to recognize FYROM with its under the name Macedonia, but refuses to accept that Macedonian language and nation exist.

Along with Skopjeans - this is the way Athens refers to the citizens of FYROM - many Turks have found they are of Bulgarian origin, Ethnos writes and adds that some of these people are representatives of the Muslim minority in Bulgaria, who decades ago have chosen to move in neighboring Turkey. Many of them, the newspaper notes, have never been Bulgarians, and use faked birth certificates to prove that they are Orthodox Christians in order to become EU citizens.

Other Source: Focus Information Agency
Other Source: Skopjean citizens become Europeans through Bulgaria (http://www.phantis.com/news/?newsID=20070603105437)

FYROMacedonian president willing to join NATO under FYROM acronym

From AFP, Associated Press

2007-06-03 18:04:52 -


ATHENS, Greece (AP) - FYROMacedonia, whose name is disputed with Greece, is willing to join NATO under the lengthy substitute name that is used by the United Nations, its president was quoted as saying in an interview published Sunday.

Athens refers to the nation of FYROMacedonia by the acronym FYROM _ Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia _ under which it entered the U.N. in 1993.

Greece says that the name Macedonia implies a claim by FYROM on the northern Greek province of Macedonia and could destabilize the region.

FYROMacedonian President Branco Crvenkovski was quoted by the newspaper Kathimerini as saying,

«We are ready to join NATO with the same name used at the U.N,» and adding that his country would not, however, back down from calling itself FYROMacedonia.

«We have already made far too many concessions. ... Believe me when I say that, more than anyone else, we want to resolve the issue and rid ourselves of this outdated and degrading acronym,» Crvenkovski said.

Crvenkovski rejected the allegation that the name implies a claim on the Greek province. He insisted that «the Republic of Macedonia has no territorial claims against its neighbors, including Greece.»

Later Sunday, Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumountsakos urged FYROMacedonia to refrain from what he called «pointless tactics.»

«The only way to reach a mutually acceptable solution is for the government in Skopje to «show moderation,» he said.

Greece is a member of both NATO and the European Union, to which FYROMacedonia applied for membership in 2004. Greece has threatened to stand in the way of FYROMacedonian membership under that name in both international organizations.

In 1994 Greece imposed a damaging year-long trade embargo on FYROMacedonia over the name dispute, which nearly destroyed the small country's economy. Greece is now the largest foreign investor in FYROMacedonia.

Greece also accuses FYROMacedonia of hijacking its history, using ancient Greek names and symbols.

Late last year, the dispute flared up again over a decision to rename Petrovec airport in FYROMacedonia's capital, Skopje, «Alexander the Great Airport,» after the ancient Greek warrior king.

Ethnic divisions still run deep in FYROM
http://www.ekathimerini.com/kathnews/images/dot_clear.gif Name dispute with Greece is only one of the many problems dogging the former Yugoslav republic as a result of conflict

Nikos Pilos



http://www.ekathimerini.com/kathnews/photos/22-06-07/22-06-07_84830_1.gif
People cross a street in Skopje, the capital of FYROM, on a rainy day. The ethnic Albanians and other minorities are conspicuous by their absence from the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Skopje, apart from the nightclubs where young people gather or in some upmarket bars. By Apostolis Fotiadis

Customs officials at the border crossing into the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) welcome Greeks in their own language, which they learned on the job. In fact, a large number of people in FYROM’s south speak Greek quite well as a result of tourism in both directions. Northern Greeks often cross into the north and the Slav-Macedonians spend weekends in Thessaloniki.

Speaking Greek or, even better, having studied in Greece, is a qualification that is likely to get them jobs in one of the many Greek firms now active in FYROM. As a Greek visitor to the country, one soon realizes that local society is divided along ethnic lines. The political polarization over ethnic issues that Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has embarked upon with the country’s neighbors has revived the dispute with Greece over Skopje’s use of the name “Macedonia.� Kathimerini’s magazine K went to FYROM to see just how far that polarization has been dictated by the domestic situation and to what degree it was experienced by ordinary people.

On the road to Vitola (known to Greeks as Monastir), the countryside presents the typical rugged Balkan landscape and small farms – greenhouses of tomatoes, fields of large cabbages and then suddenly a small peach orchard.

“If you walk along the central pedestrian precinct on weekends you won’t know where you are,� said Vana Nikolovski of Vitola. “The place is full of Greeks who have come to shop or just for a coffee.� She herself learnt Greek in Thessaloniki where she studied business administration for three years. She now works as a receptionist at the Epinal Hotel in the town center for a wage of 250 euros a month, considered reasonable for her age and work experience.

Around the town are many of the clothing factories that have relocated from Greece in recent years. Conington, a Greek-owned factory that makes clothing for many well-known European brand names, employs 200 people whose average monthly wage is 200 euros, not much considering that apartment rents can be as high as 150 euros. Although factory owners complain about low productivity, there seems to be no doubt about the high profit margins. Unemployment is close to 35 percent, although the real figure could be slightly less since many people resort to the huge black market economy and smuggling.

“That is one reason why families are still very close-knit. Young people leave home only when they marry,� explained Vana.

The women operating the sewing machines in the clothing factories seem to be aware they don’t have many alternatives.

“Yes, this is a good job and the pay is also good,� says Olivia, eating a sandwich on a break.

The growth of the clothing industry has provided jobs for many women; unemployment is now mainly among the male population, one of the reasons for the meteoric rise in domestic violence.

“Investment is what is missing in the region,� says Kris Peovitis, owner of the Epinal Hotel and one of the main investors in the region. His family moved to Yugoslavia from Kastoria during the Greek Civil War. He emigrated in the opposite direction, to Australia. “I only saw my parents again when I was 18,� he says in his Australian drawl, “but I never forgot where I was from. I decided to come back here and open a business seven years ago. Then it seemed like an investment heaven but the reality is more complicated.�
That becomes clear upon arrival at Mavrovo, in the huge ski resort of Zare Lazareski, which Peovitis bought a few years ago. The installations are like something out of Switzerland.

“The hotels around the center of town can accommodate up to 4,000 people,� says Darko Stoyanovski, the ski center director. “People come mostly from Croatia and Serbia but we are also after tourists from European countries, such as Greece and Austria.�

Something more than a sharp investment sense is needed here, however. Mavrovo is not such a popular destination.

“The region is home to mostly Muslim Albanians; Slav Macedonians often don’t even want to drive through these areas,� said Stefanos Spyrou, head of the Greek Association’s press bureau in FYROM.

After the interethnic war of 2001 and the Ohrid accord that recognized minority rights, incorporated joint administration and a decentralization of powers, the unofficial division between ethnic Albanians and Slav-Macedonians has deepened even further.

Yet there is also a tangible proximity – at the Monastery of St John at Bigorski near Mavrovo, the voice of the imam calling the faithful to prayer can be heard in the distance at the same time as the monastery’s eight monks and several of the faithful observe evening service. Later, outside the monastery, a family of Muslims asks for Father Stergios’s blessing.
“People in the villages around here are mostly Muslims but they respect religion generally and the monastery is open to all,� he explained.
In Sutka, the huge makeshift marketplace is full of ethnic Albanians, Slav-Macedonians and Gypsies looking for bargains. Alexandr is one of the few people in Sutka with a high school diploma. “It’s not that we are poor but that there is no way out of here for us,� he said. It is true that amid the poverty there are Mercedes Benz cars and well-built new homes.
Back in the center of town, crowds gather outside the European Affairs Bureau, funded by the Danish Embassy, which is about to be opened by the prime minister. Entry to international organizations is the only way out of the political crisis plaguing FYROM.

Life in Skopje, with its 600,000 inhabitants, is a microcosm of city life. Kire Pavlov is rehearsing the city’s ballet company for a performance of “Romeo and Juliet.�

“There are many good dancers in the country, some of whom have made international careers,� says Sonia Trstena, a classical ballet teacher who has brought her pupils along to watch.

On the other side of the Vardar (Axios) River, the town’s young people have gathered to watch a concert by the Toy Dolls. Our guide shows us her photographs of Greek singer Sakis Rouvas and other former Eurovision stars. A video screen shows a Croatia-FYROM match while the support band warms up the crowd.

It soon becomes clear that this life is only for half the population. The ethnic Albanians and other minorities are conspicuous by their absence from the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Skopje, apart from the nightclubs where young people gather or in some upmarket bars.

Forty minutes from Skopje, the ethnic divisions become clear in the town of Tetovo, on the border with Kosovo. David Jovanovski was born and raised in this town but his family left after the war.

“We left because it was simply impossible to stay there. After the peace accord and decentralization, the Albanian authorities only gave Albanians permits to work and open businesses,� he said.

Many of the homes in Tetovo are of bare brick. “People don’t have the money to finish rebuilding their homes,� explained Nagib Sala, a final-year law student. He is planning a visit to his girlfriend who is studying in the Netherlands. “Her father hates me because I am a Muslim and they are Orthodox Christians,� he said.

Despite good intentions, the only place where the twain meet is at the private Van der Stuhl University, named after Max van der Stuhl, the Dutchman whose idea it was. It opened in 2001 with EU funding, as a result of the dispute between Slav-Macedonians and ethnic Albanians over the status of the town’s university.

“Originally it was destined for the Albanians, who had no other solution, then it became a place where anyone who wants to can buy a degree,� commented Jovankovski. However, according to Ivan Milovanovic, a Serb professor and husband of the US ambassador to FYROM, the university is a success.

“We would like to see more places where young Albanians can meet Slav-Macedonians and talk,� he said.

Milovanovic could be right. In a place where there are few opportunities such ventures are undoubtedly valuable. Yet established perceptions are difficult to overcome.

“Students leave for a while on academic programs or to work in the USA. Then they come back because of family ties and nostalgia for home. But those who realize which way the wind is blowing want to leave,� said Anna Angelovska, a student of English literature. Distance perhaps makes it more difficult to ignore how deep are the boundaries between people and how fast the last Balkan mosaic is breaking up.

This article appeared in the June 17 issue of K, Kathimerini’s Sunday supplement.



ekathimerini.com | Features (http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/ell__204274KathiLev&xml/&aspKath/ell.asp?fdate=22/06/2007)

Scheffer - FYROM has more to do before inclusion in NATO

Ohrid /29/06/ 13:21

NATO chief Jaap De Hoop Scheffer send a message to FYROMacedonia that the country had still more obligations to fulfill before it is granted a membership in NATO symbolically describing the process as a marathon that has to be run all the way through.

"You have done a lot until now, but there is still work to do. When you're running a marathon, the first stage is always easier than the last. One should focus and avoid making mistakes before reaching the finish line. The same goes for the process", Scheffer said at today's press conference in Ohrid.

He enumerated the judicial reforms, equal representation, religious freedoms and normalizing the government-opposition dialogue as the main tasks, Makfax's correspondent reported.

"My message to you is that there is lot of legislation that needs to be implemented, and the decision will be made on the basis of the achieved results", NATO chief said.

Asked by a journalist how he feels in the EAPS Forum host-country and why he is dodging to spell out its constitutional name, Scheffer said that that issue is out of NATO's field of interest.

"At the moment, there is a formal situation relating the name of your country, but that issue is out of NATO's competence. I personally hope that the involved parties will work out a solution to the problem, however, I cannot change a formal situation", Scheffer.

Makfax vesnik (http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=73961&NrIssue=385&NrSection=10)

Phantis: Headline News (http://www.phantis.com/news/read.html?newsID=2007071195004)

They can try all they like the truth is out there.................

FYROM PM against official use of Albanian language (http://www.network54.com/Forum/231923/thread/1185735819/last-1185735819/FYROM+PM+against+official+use+of+Albanian+language )


(Skopje, DTT-NET.COM)-The head of FYROMacedonia's government Nikol Gruevski has rejected calls for complete official use of Albanian language in the country thus sparking different interpretations of the 2001 Ohrid Agreement and May Agreement on the issue with the main party of Ethnic Albanians.


http://www.dtt-net.com/en/index.php?...e&article=2506 (http://www.dtt-net.com/en/index.php?page=view-article&article=2506)

Αλβανοσλαβία και Μακεδονία
ΜΙΑ ΡΕΑΛΙΣΤΙΚΗ ΠΡΟΣΕΓΓΙΣΗ
Του ΚΩΣΤΑ Ε. ΜΠΕΗ

Στις κοινωνικές και στις διεθνείς σχέσεις δεν αρκεί να έχεις δίκιο. Πρέπει να έχεις και τη δύναμη να το κάνεις σεβαστό. Κάτι, ακόμη πιο σημαντικό: Οι κατά καιρούς αυτοκρατορίες συντήρησαν ή διατηρούν την εξουσία τους κυρίως ως αυτόκλητοι επιδιαιτητές στις τριβές μικρότερων λαών, που οι ίδιες υποδαυλίζουν. Αυτή η παραδοχή έχει θέση για όλα τα ανοιχτά μέτωπα της χώρας μας, ιδίως με την Τουρκία, επίσης δε και αναφορικά με το όνομα της γειτονικής χώρας που αυτοσυστήνεται ως Μακεδονία. Υπήρξε λάθος η αποτροπή του άμεσου συμβιβασμού, όταν διαλύθηκε η Γιουγκοσλαβία. Οπωσδήποτε το κ