'Makfax' and other FYROM press on the Macedonian issue

[Astoria]

FYROMacedonian leadership analyzes name proposal

Skopje /26/03/ 18:01

FYROMacedonian state leadership carried out a preliminary analysis of the UN mediator's latest proposal for resolving of the name differences.

President Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki reviewed the proposal, which according to Matthew Nimetz, contains a geographical reference to the name.

"Having in mind the importance of the proposal, and especially the significance of every detail of the same, we will wait for the Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov to return from New York and give a thorough briefing to the political factors in the FYROMacedonia on the course of the talks and the specifics of the proposal," government's spokesman Ivica Bocevski said.

He added that the consultations will go on in the following days.

Although Nimetz himself did not specify anything, the media said that he most likely proposed the name "Republic of Macedonia (Skopje)".

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said today that the new proposal is long way off Greece's goals.

Previously, Washington reiterated the stance that the negotiated settlement of the name difference should be reached before the NATO Summit in Bucharest.

http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=106488&NrIssue=618&NrSection=10

[yannis-3]

να τι έχει διαρρεύσει από τα σκοπιανά ΜΜΕ για την νέα πρόταση

1) το συνταγματικό όνομα των Σκοπίων παραμένει, αλλά θα χρησιμοποιείτε μόνο στην κυριλλική του μορφή, δηλαδή “Republika Makedonija” και δεν θα μεταφράζετε σε “republic of Macedonia”

2) το διεθνές όνομα θα είναι Republic of Macedonia (Skopje)


3) στις διμερές σχέσεις δεν θα γίνει σύσταση από το συμβούλιο ασφαλείας του ΟΗΕ σε όσες χώρες τους έχουν αναγνωρίσει ως Republic of Macedonia να τους αναγνωρίσουν με το νέο όνομα.

4) δεν τους επιτρέπετε σε επίσημα έγγραφα να χρησιμοποιούν σκέτο τον όρο «ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ» ως όνομα του κράτους τους.

[yannis-3]

The foreign ministers of EU members and candidate-countries including FYROM gather in Slovenia for a two-day informal meeting starting Friday, March 28.

The US was surprised to hear that Dora Bakoyannis has canceled the meeting with her FYROM's counterpart Milososki.

The talks between the two ministers were to be the last encounter on name differences in the run-up to NATO summit in Bucharest next week. Greece put forward serious objections to the latest proposal by UN mediator Matthew Nimetz for a compromise solution to name dispute.

The highlights of today's meeting of EU foreign ministers will include the Middle East peace process, and the relations between the European Union and the Russian Federation.

EU enlargement with the western Balkan countries will be up for debate on Saturday.

Among those expected to attend will be EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn, High Representative for Common Foreign Policy and Security Javier Solana and the Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

At the moment, by canceling the meeting, Greece is seeing as the unconstructive side. Greece's media and politicians fear the the US will propose a a last minute solution at the Bucharest Summit.


http:// macedoniaonline .eu/content/view/466/1/

[rainbow]

Bakoyannis: Solution on name acceptable for both sides

Reaching a solution on the name that would be acceptable for both sides will enable good-neighborly relations, says the message sent to the Macedonian people by the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis.

"I want to send once more from the parliamentary pulpit a clear message to the people in Skopje that Greece is a very good neighbor that wishes for stability and development of their country, because it is of interest of both the people in Greece and in Skopje," Greek media quoted Bakoyannis as saying.

She added that Greece is seeking for a mutually acceptable solution that would enable good-neighborly relations and "represent a basis for allied and partnership ties."

"I call upon the political leadership in Skopje to respond to this invitation today. What we are doing here today is not coercion, but a sincere effort to find a solution as soon as possible, to the benefit of stability of the entire region," Bakoyannis said.

Pointing out that this issue is extremely sensitive and touches the hearts of the Greeks, she gave her best to persuade the lawmakers that the negotiations are going in the right direction and that the government would do its best to put an end to the entire affair.

Bakoyannis expressed her strong conviction that once presented in the parliament, the results of the negotiations would be unanimously endorsed by the deputies. /end/

http://www.makfax.com.mk/look/novina/article.tpl?IdLanguage=1&IdPublication=2&NrArticle=106759&NrIssue=620&NrSection=10

[Tsontos]

From makfax:

Greece insist to veto FYR Macedonia's membership in NATO

Athens /31/03/ 19:12

Greek Foreign Minister insisted on Monday for Athens to block the admittance of FYR Macedonia in NATO at the forthcoming Summit of the Alliance, unless the long-standing name dispute between the two countries is resolved.

"We have been constantly stated our position clearly. Lack of solution means no invitation for joining NATO," said Minister Dora Bakoyannis.

"Our goal is clear - to normalize the relations (with FYR Macedonia) on the basis of a mutually agreed solution," Bakoyannis said.

FYR Macedonia, Croatia and Albania are hoping to ensure the invitation for membership in NATO at the Alliance Summit in Bucharest.

In addition, the Greek Government Spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said today that Greece won't give up the threat to use the veto right against inclusion of FYR Macedonia under the acronym FYROM, an interim name under which the country is admitted to the United Nations.

"We have done everything in our power to convince our neighbors that they have to make steps towards reaching a solution," Roussopoulos said.

"Of course, we are not ready to make bigger concessions than the ones we already made... Righteousness of our position evolves from the history," Roussopoulos added.

[Truth Bearer]

VETO

[Truth Bearer]

Greek newspapers focus on name dispute in light of NATO Summit

Athens, April 1 (MIA) - Greece-Macedonia name dispute in light of the NATO Summit, which begins in Bucharest on Wednesday, is the main topic of Tuesday's Greek newspapers.

"Greece is determined to prevent Macedonia from joining NATO, PM Costas Karamanlis leaves for Bucharest with veto up his sleeve", reads daily "Vima", adding there is fierce diplomatic bargaining on the name.

According to the newspaper, telephones have overheated, whereas PM Karamanlis and FM Bakoyiannis have informed their NATO colleagues "there is no chance to reach an agreement with Skopje" regarding the name issue up to the NATO summit in Bucharest.

"Americans threaten to topple Karamanlis from power, because they ask him to step aside for Macedonia, and cease cooperation with Russia in the energy sector and regarding armed systems", reads "Avriani".

"Ethnos" states that a true national resistance front against the U.S. pressure on Macedonia has been created in Greece, initiated by opposition leader Georgios Papandreou, who met with the U.S. ambassador to Athens to express his disagreement with Washington's policy.

"USA exercise pressure for Macedonia's NATO entry through the window and under acronym FYROM, in order to circumvent the Greek veto", reads "Ta Nea".

"Vradini" comments that "a big battle" will be staged in Bucharest, and "Eleftheri Ora" stresses that Athens leaves for the NATO summit "ready for everything".

According to "Eleftheros", U.S. President George Bush openly exercises pressure on Athens. "Either the U.S. President does not understand, or...he does not know something", comments the newspaper.

UN Secretary-General spokesman said that name dispute mediator Matthew Nimetz is not scheduled to visit the region, reports electronic edition of daily "Naftemporiki".

Moreover, Greek newspapers convey Bakoyiannis' statement for "International Herald Tribune", in which she reiterates that Greece cannot agree on Macedonia's membership invitation until the name dispute is resolved.

Bakoyiannis stresses Greece's feeling of responsibility towards neighboring states, being the oldest NATO and EU member in the region.

"Until the problem is resolved, we cannot agree on the membership of the neighboring country in NATO and EU. No government will ever agree. No Greek parliament will ever approve such a thing", underlined Bakoyiannis.

http://www.idividi.com.mk/English/432044/index.html

[rainbow]

NATO Bucharest 2008: Scheffer expects Macedonia, Albania and Croatia to obtain membership invitations

Bucharest, April 1 (MIA) - NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer hopes that Athens and Skopje will find a solution to the name dispute, and that Macedonia, Albania and Croatia will obtain invitations for Alliance membership at the upcoming Summit in Bucharest.

In an interview with newspaper "Romania Libera", Scheffer was asked how many countries would acquire membership invitations, at which he replied "three".

"I expect this from the summit, under the condition that a solution is found for the name issue, which is not in the competence of NATO", stated Scheffer.

http://www.idividi.com.mk/English/432108/index.html

[rainbow]

Casey: NATO membership decisions cannot be delayed due to name issue

Washington, April 1 (MIA) - USA believe that NATO membership decisions cannot be delayed due to Macedonia's name issue, said U.S. Department of State Spokesman Tom Casey.

"Decisions that are taken on NATO membership ought to be based on whether the countries meet the qualifications and criteria that NATO has established for them", stated Casey.

"We certainly understand that the name issue is one that is out there and is of particular concern to our friends and allies in Greece. But there certainly is no plan to delay the NATO summit or delay decisions on membership because of this issue", he added.

He expressed hope that intensive consultations between Greece and Macedonia would resume in the coming days in finding a solution, so that there would not be any extraneous reasons that might affect Macedonia's candidacy for membership.

"The important thing for us is that this be an agreement that's reached by the two parties under the auspices of Mr. Nimetz and the United Nations", stressed Casey.

Greek TV station "Mega" cites sources saying that USA would propose Macedonia to join NATO under interim reference "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". Greece does not agree with such proposal, states the TV station.

Other Greek media comment that talks have reached a dead-end before the NATO summit. They report that Athens has asked for a delay of Macedonia's invitation because of new round of talks, but USA oppose to such requirement.

http://www.idividi.com.mk/English/432018/index.html

[Tsontos]

From makfax:

Bakoyannis - The veto is not Greece's goal

Athens /02/04/ 16:00

Using the right of veto is not Greece's goal, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said in Athens today.

Each action triggers a counter-action, Bakoyannis explained the Greece's threat to veto Macedonia's inclusion in NATO.

"The veto is not a goal, but a tool of the Greek diplomacy which is used very carefully, when there is a need to protect the Greek positions and achieve our long-term goals," Bakoyannis said.

She stressed that Greece is seeking for a name with a geographic connotation, to be used by Macedonia both internally and internationally.

Also from makfax:

Koumoutsakos: Greece is sorry, but cannot allow Macedonia's membership in NATO

Bucharest /02/04/ 19:31

Greece is sorry, but at the moment it cannot allow for Macedonia to receive an invitation for membership in NATO, the Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos said in Bucharest late Wednesday.

According to him, there was only a slim chance to reach a mutually acceptable solution on the name dispute in the next 24 hours.

"When two countries - one a member of the Alliance, and the other one aspirant for membership - have a problem like this, the member-country cannot allow for the aspirant to achieve its goal," said Koumoutsakos.

He added that the Alliance is not just a group of countries joined in a military and political alliance, but that they also shared common values.

The Greek foreign ministry spokesman said that Macedonia violated good-neighborly relations with Greece and that it did not deserve to become a member of the Alliance yet.