Greek press on the Macedonian issue (news in English)

[Paulos Melas]

Μήνυμα προς τα Σκόπια 23/7/2008 14:32:00

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Πηγή: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105,8-ΑΠΕ/ΜΠΕ

Μήνυμα στα Σκόπια ότι τα Βαλκάνια δεν έχουν ανάγκη από εθνικιστικές εξάρσεις έστειλε η Υπουργός Εξωτερικών μετά τη συνάντηση της με τον Κροάτη ομόλογό της αλλά και τον πρέσβη του Παναμά. Η κ. Μπακογιάννη σημείωσε επίσης πως η απόφαση για μια κοινά αποδεκτή ονομασία εξαρτάται 100% από τη στάση των Σκοπίων και πρόσθεσε ότι η Ελλάδα κάνει μια διεθνή ενημέρωση για το θέμα της ονομασίας. Όπως δήλωσε ο πρέσβης του Παναμά η χώρα του αλλάζει την πολιτική της έναντι των Σκοπίων και στο εξής θα αποκαλεί τα Σκόπια , Πρώην Γιουγκοσλαβική Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας, καθώς μέχρι σήμερα χρησιμοποιούσε την συνταγματική ονομασία της γείτονας χώρας.





Αλλαγή θέσης από τον Παναμά


Σαφές μήνυμα προς την ΠΓΔΜ, έστειλε μετά τη συνάντηση με τον Κροάτη ομόλογό της Γκόρνταν Γιαντρόκοβιτς, η υπουργός Εξωτερικών Ν. Μπακογιάννη.

"Τα Βαλκάνια δεν χρειάζονται άλλον εθνικισμό, χρειάζονται ένα σύγχρονο ευρωπαϊκό όραμα. Οι υπεύθυνοι ηγέτες οφείλουν με διορατικότητα και σοβαρότητα να υλοποιούν αυτό το όραμα για τους λαούς των Βαλκανίων", επισήμανε και σημείωσε ότι "η Ελλάδα θα συνεχίσει τη διεθνή ενημέρωση για το θέμα και θα συνεχίσει να είναι παρούσα στις διαπραγματεύσεις υπό τον ΟΗΕ με εποικοδομητικό πνεύμα. Αν τα Σκόπια αφήσουν στην άκρη την αδιαλλαξία, πιστεύω ότι μπορούμε να καταλήξουμε σε μια λύση. Η απόφαση αυτή εξαρτάται 100% από την πολιτική ηγεσία των Σκοπίων".

Η Υπουργός αφού ανέφερε ως παράδειγμα "διορατικότητας και σοβαρότητας" την Κροατία, η οποία προχωράει γρήγορα και κερδίζει το ευρωπαϊκό στοίχημα, τόνισε ότι "Χωρίς αυτά τα δύο στοιχεία δεν κερδίζεται η ευρωπαϊκή προοπτική. αλλά η παραμονή στο περιθώριο".

Νωρίτερα και μετά από συνάντηση που είχε με την κ. Μπακογιάννη ο πρέσβης του Παναμά Αντόνιο Φότι Τάκι Οτσόα, μετέφερε στην Υπουργό τη διαβεβαίωση της κυβέρνησής του ότι υποστηρίζει τις προσπάθειες των Ηνωμένων Εθνών για εξεύρεση αμοιβαία αποδεκτής λύσης και ότι δεσμεύεται να τηρεί τις σχετικές αποφάσεις του ΟΗΕ για διεθνή και διμερή χρήση.

Ο κ Οτσόα τόνισε ότι η θέση αυτή αποτελεί αποτέλεσμα της εκτίμησης όλων των πτυχών και τελευταίων εξελίξεων που σχετίζονται με το θέμα της ονομασίας.

Η τοποθέτηση αυτή αποτελεί αλλαγή θέσης του Παναμά, ο οποίος το 2002 είχε αναγνωρίσει την ΠΓΔΜ με το συνταγματικό της όνομα.

[Boreas]

Bakoyannis Message to FYROM
23/07/08-19:21

In a message to Skopje after her meeting with her Croatian counterpart and Panama ambassador to Athens, Greek Foreign Minister, Dora Bakoyianni stresses that the Balkans do not need nationalistic tensions. She also underlines that decision for a mutually acceptable solution to name dispute depends 100% on Skopje's stand, adding that Greece has launched an international campaign to brief on the name issue. Panama ambassador said that his country will change its policy over Skopje and use the name FYROM instead of its constitutional name it used till present.

Greek Foreign Minister, Dora Bakoyianni sent a clear message to Skopje after her meeting with her Croatian counterpart, Gordan Jandroković. "The Balkans do not need more nationalistic tensions but a modern European vision. Responsible leaders owe with insight and sobriety to materialize this vision for the peoples of the Balkans." She added: Greece will continue international campaign on the issue of name dispute and will participate at UN negotiations in a constructive spirit. If Skopje abandon its intransigent stand, we will reach a solution, the decision depends 100% on the policy of Skopje's leadership."

http://www.express.gr/news/news-in-e...072355471.php3

[Boreas]

Nimetz Statements regarding "Macedonian minority"

24/07/08-13:26

In an exclusive interview with NET, UN mediator Matthew Nimetz stresses that the UN-sponsored talks will focus on the name issue. His statement came as a reply to a question on the alleged "Macedonian minority" issue raised by Skopje. Mr Nimetz is urging indirectly Skopje to diffuse tension, stressing that calm and lucidity should prevail. Moreover, he reports that additional work is needed until a solution is reached.

Referring to the minority issue FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) has raised, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has pointed out that priority should be given to the name issue. Moreover, she said that the minority issue should be referred to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Meanwhile, as per information, the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso will answer to FYROM PM Nicola Gruevski's letter in 24 hours.

As per diplomatic circles, the reply will refer to the EU Summit Meeting decisions, which constitute Greece's fixed position.

http://www.express.gr/news/news-in-e...072455718.php3

[Tsontos]

July 26, 2008

Barroso rebuts Gruevski note

The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has told Nikola Gruevski, the prime minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), that he cannot intervene over allegations of a “Macedonian minority” in Greece and suggested that Skopje should make efforts to improve its relations with Athens.

In a written response to Gruevski’s letter made public yesterday, Barroso said that the European Union “has no general competence to deal with issues such as identities of minorities, their rights, acquisition of citizenship and restitution of properties, arising in its member states.”

He also reminded Gruevski that FYROM will need to improve its relations with Greece, which includes settling the name dispute, if it wants to join the EU.

“A fundamental aspect of having a European vocation is to approach such difficulties with a constructive and cooperative spirit, open to dialogue and to finding an agreed way forward. Maintaining good-neighborly relations remains essential for the progress of your country toward the European Union,” he said.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w.../07/2008_98947

[Tsontos]

Europe Raises Wall against Gruevski

25 July 2008

By Katerina Ioannidou



FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) PM Nicolas Gruevski has failed in involving the European Union with his allegations about a Macedonian minority in Greece. The Commission is not competent in dealing with issues related to minorities’ identities, their rights, nationality and the restoration of properties in its member-states, stresses in his two-paragraph letter to Gruevski, Jose Manuel Barroso. In parallel, he stresses that good neighbourly relations are a prerequisite for FYROM’s progress with he Commission.

He also reports that a country which has European ambitions should be approach such issues in a constructive way and be willing to adopt the agreed outlet.



A. Loverdos' Statement on Barroso's Letter

PASOK Head responsible for the party’s Foreign policy Andreas Loverdos stated in relation to Barroso’s reply letter that Skopje’s fanatic nationalism is unwanted in the EU, especially for the troubled western Balkans. "The blind nationalism of the new FYROM politicians is absolutely dangerours," he states, adding however, that Commission’s letter is dominated by a balancing intention. Finally, he urges Skopje to pay attention to the last phrase of the letter on good neighbourly relations for its successful course to the EU.

http://news.ert.gr/en/c/7/34174.asp

[Slayer]

FYROM sends EC second note

The foreign minister of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Antonio Milososki, has sent a letter to the European Commission broaching the issue of a supposed Macedonian minority in Greece just two days after EC President Jose Manuel Barroso responded to a letter from FYROM’s prime minister on the same issue, it emerged yesterday.

“Macedonia... has a number of ethnic groups which are politically active, use their own language in formal communication and develop their own cultural values,” Milososki wrote to Leonard Orban, commissioner for multilingualism. He also called on the EC “to encourage Greece, as an EU member, to provide a constructive model for the implementation of basic human rights, including language, that express the identity of ethnolinguistic minorities.” Athens had not commented on the letter by late yesterday.

On Friday Barroso sent a letter to FYROM PM Nikola Gruevski, saying he could not intervene over claims of a “Macedonian minority” in Greece and suggested that Skopje should try harder to improve relations with Athens.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w.../07/2008_98980

[akritas]

FYROM PM Gruevski’s “Macedonism” Boomerang



Article by Athanasios Ellis, Kathimerini, 27 July 2008
Translated into English by Captain Agras

The manufactured “Macedonism” that Nikola Gruevski tried to promote over the last few weeks has turned into a diplomatic boomerang for him. His attempts to dilute, to re-shape and finally to distort the content of his dispute with Greece have all but miserably failed. The UN, the EU and even the USA have all distanced themselves from the “Macedonian minority” issue that Gruevski tried to raise, whilst the notion that the Prime Minister of the neighbouring country not only does not seek an honorable to solution to the name issue but is even prepared to sacrifice the stability of the entire Balkan region for his own political gains internally, gains credence internationally.

Gruevski’s downward roll in the path of arrogance, which is now being observed by the international community with skepticism, my in the short terms bring him internal political gains, but in the longer terms damages the interests of his country and his people since it takes them further away from the security of NATO and the prosperity of the EU. At the same time, with his spasmodic actions, he damages even further whatever prestige he may have had left after the violence and fraud which marked the elections of the 1st June.

The Prime Minister of FYROM has been doubly “unlucky” since the “timing” has not worked out in his favor either. At the time when he sought to invest in an individually tailored ultra nationalism, the arrest of Radovan Karadic has come to remind us of the disaster that ultra nationalism can create in the Balkans. Even when nationalist ideology makes a comeback, even in a milder form, it remains analogously equally disturbing. Despite the ambivalent position of Greek governments, in the past, concerning irrepressible nationalism which happened to come from “friendly” countries, the latest elevation of the problem with the arrest of the former leader of the Bosnain Serbs and his probable trial at the International Court for war crimes in the former Yugoslavia, does not provide fertile ground for Gruevski’s irredentist claims.


Mathew Nimitz

The actions of FYROM’s Prime Minister have worried Mathew Nimitz also, who in accordance with the Security Council resolutions and the Interim Accord of 1995 remains devoted to the resolution of the real bilateral problem between Greece and FYROM, which is the agreement on an acceptable name of the latter. The last thing that the international negotiator would want now is an unending discussion concerning additional issues which would forestall any successful conclusion of his current mission. At the same time, he is not elated with what amounts to the undermining of the long-time negotiator Nikola Dimitrov [by Gruevski] with whom he had established a relationship of trust.

The UN Negotiator will continue with his efforts during August, and September is thought to be critical, when world leaders and Foreign Ministers will gather in New York to participate in the UN General assembly, at a time when the Bush presidency is nearing its end and the EU will be preparing to consider the prospects for FYROM’s future entry.

Having received encouraging signs on the name “North Macedonia”, Mr. Nimitz sought to take advantage of the situation and to submit a complete proposal with the hope that it would be accepted within the fall, 13 years after the signing of the Interim Accord where he himself participated as assistant to Cyrus Vance.


Greek Diaspora

Dora Bakoyianni, who will be at the UN Headquarters during the last ten days of September, will be ready to join in meaningful discussions if Mr. Nimitz decides that enough progress has been achieved which would justify the “final move” for the achievement of an agreement.

At the same time, just one month before the presidential elections, the head of Greek diplomacy will take advantage of her presence in the USA to meet with the sizeable and influential Greek communities in New York and in Chicago, where Barack Obama is elected. The Democratic candidate has co-signed, together with the well known philhellene Senator Robert Menendez and Olympia Snowe, a Congress Resolution calling on FYROM to cease all irredentist activities and to cooperate productively with Greece for a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue.

Leading members of the Greek community believe that the potential election of Obama will create a more favourable climate for Greece in relation to the FYROM name issue.In contrast, the republican candidate, John McCain, is likely to move in the direction set by the Bush administration, especially since amongst his close advisors there are former collaborators of the government of FYROM.

The American Position

Even Washington, who has proven to be the strongest supporter of FYROM, did not follow Gruevski on the lonely road that he chose. And this, because the maximalist nationalism that the FYROM Prime Minister espouses basically entraps the policy of the Bush Administration in the Balkans, since it distances the possibility for an agreement on the name, and consequently, the possibility of FYROM gaining entry to the NATO alliance.

Publicly, Washington steers clear of taking a public stance and restricts itself to stating that a solution to the name issue must be found as soon as possible. Privately, however, American diplomats state that they are not surprised by the “inappropriate” behavior of Mr. Gruevski and they admit that this is interfering with the negotiations on the name issue. At the State Department, there are signs of a general apprehension, since the apparent “dead end” in the relationship between Athens and Skopje is creating serious hurdles to the application of US foreign policy in the Balkans. Not only has the objective of FYROM’s entry into the NATO alliance not been achieved, but recently Senators Menendez and Snowe “froze” the appointment of the new US Ambassador to Skopje, Philip Riker, incurring the ire of Condoliza Rice

In fact, Olympia Snowe in a recent letter urged Condoleza Rice to “encourage FYROM to stop violating the terms of the Interim Accord and to recognize her with the name that will be agreed by both countries”. The State Department replied that it is applying pressure on both governments to “intensify their efforts and against internal groups and to avoid provocations and other non-helpful actions which may be interpreted as counterproductive for the negotiations”. Despite the attempt (by the State Department) to keep “equal distances”, it is clear that Mr. Gruevski was the intended recipient of this message.

In theory, the White House can overcome the problem by appointing an interim ambassador during the Senate’s programmed spring break, a move that would, however, provoke tension in the relationship of the government with the External Affairs Committee, something that President Bush would prefer to avoid as he depends on the Senate’s support on other more significant foreign affairs issues.

[Slayer]

ATHENS RESPONDS

Greece rebuffs second FYROM letter to European Commission

Athens yesterday rebuffed a second attempt by the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to broach the issue of a supposed Macedonian minority in Greece with the European Commission. Commenting on a letter sent by FYROM’s Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki to Leonard Orban, the commissioner for multilingualism, addressing the issue of a purported Macedonian minority and language, alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros referred to “an initiative with no real aim apart from that of derailing the [negotiation] process.”

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w.../07/2008_99023

[akritas]

CEH : Recent FYROM's views are gravity of irredentism and territorial threats against Greece
http://www.greekamericannewsagency.c...3298&Itemid=83

WASHINGTON, DC , July 28, 2008
- An obstacle to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) name impasse was revealed in a recent State Department letter to Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and in the Congressional testimony of America 's Ambassador-designate to FYROM in response to a question from Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

In both the letter and the testimony, the State Department implied that it views FYROM's concern regarding individuals' claims to portions of family property abandoned in Greece more than half century ago and concern about ethnic expression with comparable gravity to FYROM's irredentism and territorial threats against Greece , according to leaders of the Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH).

In the June 19, 2008 Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing of Philip Thomas Reeker to be U.S. Ambassador to FYROM, Senator Menendez asked if "school textbooks and maps [in FYROM] showing parts of Greece belonging to the so-called `greater Macedonia,'" was "an act of good-neighborly relations" by FYROM. Mr. Reeker responded by saying, "Senator, I have seen reports from both sides in the Greece-Macedonia dispute accusing each other of taking actions or making statements that have inflamed the issue of the name."

In a July 10 letter, Senator Snowe asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to "confirm that the administration will encourage FYROM to stop the utilization of materials that violate provisions of the United Nations-brokered Interim Agreement between FYROM and Greece regarding `hostile activities or propaganda'..." A State Department official responded by saying in a letter received on July 22 that, "Both sides have accused the other of actions and statements that run contrary to the Interim Accord or otherwise make a solution harder to achieve. We have pressed the Governments of Macedonia and Greece to intensify their efforts, including with their domestic interest groups, to avoid provocations or other unhelpful actions that might be perceived as harmful to the negotiations..."
"The State Department's unbalanced weighting of Greece's concerns may be an unseen reason that FYROM feels justified in holding so tenaciously to its irredentism - teaching it in state schools, displaying behind their Prime Minister maps showing Greek territory to be their own, and, most importantly, insisting on a name that describes a geographical area most of which is located in Greece," said a CEH spokesperson.

Many members of the U.S. Congress have expressed concern about the gravity of FYROM's irredentism in the modern world. The Chairmen of both the Senate and House Europe Subcommittees are leading a legislative effort to oppose FYROM's irredentism. Thus far 120 members of the U.S. House and 9 Senators have cosponsored legislation that urges FYROM to end its implied threats to Greek territory.

"Property and ethnic claims are common throughout the world and, unlike irredentism, alone they do not carry the potential for regional destabilization. Members of Congress have recognized the gravity of FYROM's irredentist threats in comparison to these property disputes," said a CEH spokesperson.

According the CEH leaders, the security interests of Greece , FYROM and the United States suffer from this inaccurate depiction of the severity of FYROM's irredentism. The security interests of FYROM, Greece and the United States would benefit if FYROM were to abandon its irredentist actions in order to become a NATO member, they said.

NATO members made clear that FYROM's membership will not move forward while it insists on a name that describes territory in Greece . The April 3, 2008 NATO Bucharest Summit Declaration issued by the heads of state and government participating, stated that, "...we agree that an invitation to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be extended as soon as a mutually acceptable solution (to FYROM and Greece) to the name issue has been reached."

"In order to advance FYROM's NATO membership prospects, it is essential that the State Department send a consistent message to FYROM about the unacceptability of its irredentist actions against Greek territory. Current mixed signals are injurious to FYROM, Greece and U.S. security interests," said a CEH spokesperson.

The Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH) is an organization made up of Americans of Hellenic ancestry that encourages American policies that strengthen bilateral relations. Members include Andrew A. Athens, Chairman, National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH); National Chairman, United Hellenic American Congress (UHAC), Honorary President, World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE); Philip Christopher, Vice Chair, National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH); President, International Coordinating Committee--Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA); President, Pancyprian Association of America; Andrew E. Manatos, President, National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes (CEH); Executive Board Member, UHAC and PSEKA; Panicos Papanicolaou, Supreme President, Cyprus Federation of America; Nikos Mouyiaris, Executive Vice President, Pancyprian Association of America; George Tsunis, Chairman/CEO Chartwell Hotels; Tasos Zambas, Alternate President, PSEKA; Endy Zemenides, President, Hellenic American Leadership Council; Dr. Nicolaos Alexopoulos, President, American Hellenic Council of California ; Zenon Christodoulou, President. Greek-American Chamber of Commerce

[akritas]

Manoeuvres from USA for FYROM issue.

Article by Mihalis Ignatiou, Ethnos Newspaper, Aug 2nd 2008
Translated into English by Ariadni_Nefeli, Aug 2nd 2008

With new tactic and Magdalene role appears itself the US administration, afterwards the entanglement and the refusal of Senate to allow the nomination of new US ambassador in the FYROM. US administration finally accepted in written that FYROM creates confusion with their insistence of exploiting the name ''Macedonia'', while they even accept, indirectly, that the neighbouring country is accountable for the appearance in the limelight of danger of irredentism.

The change of attitude and tactic in Congress from the State Department is owed in the refusal of senator Robert Menendez to allow the nomination of new US ambassador in FYROM, Fillip Reeker, with the argument that the Bush administration is responsible for the irredentist disposals that the Prime Minister of FYROM , Nikolas Gruevski expressed recently. The nomination froze on July 9th with demand of Mr Menendez and senator Olympia Snow. According to information of “Ethnos”, Mr Menendez made known a day before yesterday in the leadership of State Department that he would only terminate the “freeze of” nomination, if he was satisfied by the explanations that he asked and concerned the justified concerns of Athens and the elation of irredentism.


The letter
The day before yesterday, in the morning - with approval of Mrs Kontoliza Rice- he received a letter from the State Department Undersecretary, Mathew Reynolds, who reported that he dispatches more clarifications on behalf of the government Bush, for the politic of Skopje.

Specifically he writes, accepting in the substance that the name “Republic of Macedonia”, cannot be considered as final for Skopje: “We seek solution that solves confusion between the country of Macedonia and the wider historical geographic region of Macedonia. Certain people in Greece have expressed their concern that this confusion could lead to irredentism”.Mr Reynolds accepts also another demand of the US senator, which he asked for the new ambassador in Skopje to inform the leadership of the country for the content of the US Senate Resolution 300, which he requires for the un-Hellenic propaganda to be ceased immediately.



Hostile energies
As it is reported in the letter of the US undersecretary, the resolution expresses “the sense of Senate that the FYROM should terminate the utilization of material which forces the provisions of Intermediary Agreement, in regard to hostile energies and propaganda” against Greece.

''Our ambassador - writes Mr Reynolds in Mr Menendez- provided that the nomination will be approved, “will help these leaders (It means those of FYROM) to comprehend the dangers of irredentism and the importance evasion of synecdoche’s of irredentism in any form, as well as the need of growth of good relations with all her neighbours”.

With its statement, the “Coordinated Effort of Greek-American women” (CEH) greets the role of senators Robert Menendez and Olympia Snow, which - by denying to allow to the Senate to approve the placement in Skopje of the new US ambassador, Philip Reeker - “they led to the change of the American policy, that it was presented equally critical against the FYROM and Greece”.