Foreign press on the Macedonian issue

[Truth Bearer]

US Pushes Macedonia For Compromise

19 March 2008 Skopje _ The United States' ambassador to Macedonia urged the country leaders on Wednesday to put their party interests behind and focus on avoiding a Greek veto of their bid to join NATO.

“Now is not the time for political games,” Gillian Milovanovic said in her written statement, calling on leaders to concentrate on reaching a “mutually acceptable” compromise over Macedonia’s name.

Over the past week the country has been engulfed in political turmoil after the Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, a key party in the ruling centre-right coalition announced it is leaving the Government. Read more at http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8683/

The DPA decided to leave after its list of six demands was allegedly refused by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

Political instability is the last thing the country needs ahead of the key NATO summit, the U.S. embassy has previously said.

Macedonia hopes to receive an invitation to join the alliance at NATO's Bucharest Summit on April 2.

“I will do everything to reach an agreement (with Gruevski) in order for Macedonia to function perfectly until the NATO summit,” DPA leader, Menduh Taci told media Wednesday after meeting Milovanovic.

Meanwhile the U.S. State Department announced late Thursday that it will appoint Phillip Ricker as the new ambassador to the country to succeed Milovanovic, who has been in Skopje since 2005.

Ricker is well known in Macedonia as he was the embassy’s spokesperson from 1997 to 1999. He will move from Washington's embassy in Iraq.

Copyright BalkanInsight.com 2008

[Truth Bearer]

Alexander the Great Fans Take on NATO in Macedonia Name Dispute

By James G. Neuger and Harry Papachristou

March 19 (Bloomberg) -- More than 2,000 years after he died, Alexander the Great's troops are rallying to his defense. The opponent this time is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Natives of Macedonia, the northern Greek province that produced the ancient world's dominant military commander, are determined to prevent a neighboring country from joining today's dominant military alliance under its chosen name, the Republic of Macedonia.

``Alexander and Macedonia are part of our heritage,'' said Nikos Ousoultzoglou, 56, who runs a cotton-processing business in the Greek village of Kypseli, near the tomb of Alexander's father, Philip of Macedon. ``They're just making use of the name to claim part of history that isn't theirs.''

The dispute over an ancient name is heavy with modern-day implications: It may snarl NATO plans to expand into the Balkans. Two other countries in the region, Croatia and Albania, are all but sure to win NATO membership at a summit starting April 2. There is consensus among NATO members that the country that calls itself the Republic of Macedonia should join, too.

Having the three countries in NATO help stabilize a corner of the world torn by conflict since World War I and prevent Russia from building influence there, backers said. The U.S. is leading the effort to strengthen ``the strategic stability of the region,'' Victoria Nuland, U.S. ambassador to NATO, said in an interview in Brussels.

Exclusive Claim

Greece backs NATO membership for its neighbor as long as it's under a different name. The Greeks are threatening to exercise their power to veto the membership bid. They argue that the ``Republic of Macedonia'' suggests an exclusive claim to the name of a land that once encompassed both the present-day Greek province and the adjacent country. The United Nations is trying to broker a last-minute nomenclature compromise.

The country was called the People's Republic of Macedonia when it was one of the six republics in Yugoslavia under Josip Broz Tito, that communist country's post-World War II strongman. It was the only one that broke away from Yugoslavia without firing a shot, in 1991, as the Cold War was ending.

Today, the Republic of Macedonia considers itself a multicultural success: A quarter of its 2 million people are ethnic Albanian, most the rest are Macedonians.

Tentative Settlement

The name dispute has vexed Macedonia since independence, outlasting a tentative settlement from 1993, when the new Balkan state was admitted to the UN as ``the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.''

The fledgling country got things off to a bad start in 1992 by adorning its flag with the 16-pointed Vergina star, the emblem of ancient Macedonian kings. Greece refused to establish diplomatic relations with its neighbor and enforced a trade embargo against it until the flag underwent a makeover in 1995.

More than 100 countries -- including the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Russia and China -- recognize Greece's neighbor as the Republic of Macedonia. Greece leads a minority -- along with France, Germany and some others -- that recognizes it only under the UN name.

The dispute has sparked a vocal protest movement in northern Greece that is backed by a majority in the Greek national parliament. Anthimos, bishop of Thessaloniki, capital of Greece's Macedonia province, trumpeted a never-surrender credo to a rally of 5,000 in that city on March 5.

`Potential Invader'

Beware of ``any potential invader, any usurper of the name and the historic symbols of our Macedonia,'' the bishop, 74, told the demonstrators, some garbed as ancient Macedonian warriors brandishing spears and shields. ``The historic, magnificent, glorious name Macedonia -- we're not giving it away, to anyone.''

The two entities' airports both claim Alexander the Great: Macedonia the country plastered his name on its main airport, at Skopje, in 2006. In Greece, Thessaloniki's ``Macedonia Airport'' sports a modern bust of Alexander in the entrance hall. There are no flights between the two cities, though given the distance between them -- 225 kilometers (140 miles) -- that has more to do with business than geopolitics.

When foreign ministers of NATO and other European countries met in the Republic of Macedonia in 2007, they averted a diplomatic incident by flying into the country's second airport, named after St. Paul the Apostle, near the lakeside town of Ohrid.

`Bilateral' Fued

With NATO's summit in Bucharest, Romania, less than two weeks away, Macedonia the country is standing firm on what it calls a ``bilateral'' feud. The name won't change, the government says, except maybe in contacts with Athens.

Seeking a compromise, UN mediator Matthew Nimetz has suggested five alternatives: Democratic Republic of Macedonia, Constitutional Republic of Macedonia, Independent Republic of Macedonia, Republic of Upper Macedonia and New Republic of Macedonia.

NATO's unanimity principle gives Greece the upper hand. Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer reminded Macedonia's leaders on March 6 that Greece, as a NATO insider, has the power to say no.

The Macedonian government doesn't see it that way. The negotiations are about ``helping our Greek friends to realize the reality,'' Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said in a March 11 interview. ``And the reality's name is Republic of Macedonia.''

To contact the reporters on this story: James G. Neuger in Brussels at jneuger@bloomberg.net; Harry Papachristou in Athens at hpapachristo@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: March 18, 2008 18:01 EDT

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...A&refer=europe

[Truth Bearer]

Macedonia Seeks to Resolve the Current Political Crisis

Source:Macedonian Information Agency

Skopje, March 19 (MIA) - The latest proposals by mediator Matthew Nimetz are outdated and have been rejected several times by Macedonia. I hope we will all work together in this process in order to have a good ending. Strong negotiations are approaching, stated DPA leader Menduh Taci after Wednesday's meeting with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in the Government.

When asked what was DPA's current position in the Government, Taci said his party has left the Government only politically.

- Now we're focusing on the incident caused by the statement of Vice PM Imer Aliu. I think that advantage should be given to dialogue and talks, while decisions should be brought afterwards, said Taci.

According to him, it was still early to say which of the open issues have been settled between DPA and the Government.

- No blackmails and threats are in question, it is only a political process. I've already said that we're not urging things to be completed in two or three day; it's impossible. There are things that can be agreed in three days, but others require political process that may last at least a year, noted Taci.

He failed to confirm whether he was to visit Kosovo on March 20, upon an invitation by country's president Fatmir Sejdiu.

- Perhaps Sejdiu expect tomorrow's talks to focus on the recognition of Kosovo by Macedonia. However, what Sejdiu an Taci are requiring to happen tomorrow in Pristina is cheap, impermissible political point-scoring. Kosovo's recognition should happen in Skopje, not in Pristina, DPA's leader stressed.

Taci said he knew the date when Macedonia would recognize Kosovo, unlike Hasim Thaci.

- Hasim Thaci thinks he's the prime minister of Macedonia. The Kosovo authorities have given impermissibly false statements that stirred problems here, Taci stated.

According to him, Kosovo's deputy PM has also given a false statement considering the border demarcation towards Macedonia.

- This situation will be resolved in couple of days, because on March 20 or 21 - according to my findings - the demarcation commissions will meet in order to settle the issue, he said.

Following the meeting with Gruevski, Taci is due to meet with U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia Gillian Milovanovic.

The meeting between PM Gruevski and DUI leader Ali Ahmeti is underway in the Government, where the PM will convey the Government's position regarding the new proposals by UN mediator in the name dispute with Greece, Matthew Nimetz.

After meeting Ahmeti, Gruevski will hold consultations with SDSM president Radmila Sekerinska, whereas later in the day he is scheduled to meet with President Branko Crvenkovski. ba/fd/14:24

March 19, 2008


http://www.mia.com.mk/portal/page?_p...88611&prikaz=3

Copyright © 2005 Journal of Turkish Weekly http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=53634

[Truth Bearer]

NATO Uncertainty Hurts Macedonia Economy

19 March 2008 Skopje _ If Macedonia fails to get an invitation to join NATO at the alliance's forthcoming summit because of a Greek veto, the country's already weak economy will suffer greatly, local economists argue.

Investors in the country will be more reluctant, the stock market index would continue to fall and the solvency of the market would decrease, local economists claim.

“We are entering a time with many uncertainties and all of the factors and expectations that were optimistic could stagnate,” economy expert and university professor, Abdulmenaf Bexheti told local A1 TV on Wednesday.

Skopje is under increased diplomatic pressure to change its constitutional name “Republic of Macedonia” and accept a quick compromise with neighbouring Greece before April’s NATO summit where Athens is threatening to veto its bid to join the alliance.

Athens opposes Skopje’s use of its constitutional name arguing that it might imply Skopje's territorial claims over Greece's own northern province also called Macedonia. Read more at http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8691/

Blagoja Spirkovski, an economy expert from Skopje University argues that Macedonia, as a small country with a fragile economy has no alternative to its NATO and European Union perspective.

“Either it will be a dark zone, or it will enter global integration and adjust its economy accordingly,” Spirkovski told media.

Macedonia’s foreign trade deficit reached around $180 million in January, nearly 45% more than the same month last year, the State Statistical Office announced in early March.

The country is already tackling increasing annual inflation that reached more than 9% in January.

Despite the increase in foreign investment in the first two months of 2008, the country remains behind its neighbours and continues to experience severe unemployment which stands at a staggering 35%.

Copyright BalkanInsight.com 2008

[Truth Bearer]

'Black Tuesday' For Macedonia Stock Market

19 March 2008 Skopje _ In what some media called “Black Tuesday,” the country’s stock market index MBI plunged by 5. 49%.

This is a new record fall since the index was established and comes just one week after a previous record on plunging stocks was set. Read more at http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8629/

The stock index of the 10 most solvent companies in Macedonia began to tumble on 5 March, when the MBI stood 17% higher than on Tuesday.

Experts say the plunge is due to the political instability in the country after one of the key parties in the ruling coalition announced it is leaving. Read more at http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8683/

They add that the uncertainty over the country's bid to join NATO just two weeks ahead of the alliance's summit in Bucharest where Macedonia is hoping to receive an invitation is also a problem given threats by Greece to veto the move.

“By resolving the “name” dispute and with Macedonia’s NATO accession, the situation will be settled,” Vasko Mitev from Ilirika Broker told local Kanal 5 TV.

Athens has vowed to veto Skopje's NATO membership bid if the country refuses to change its constitutional name “Republic of Macedonia” which Greece argues, might imply Skopje's territorial claims over its own northern province also called Macedonia. Read more at http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8691/

Copyright BalkanInsight.com 2008

[Astoria]

Greece, Macedonia To Meet Friday Over Macedonia Row - AFP



ATHENS (AFP)--The foreign ministers of Greece and Macedonia are to meet Friday in Brussels to try to overcome a dispute over Macedonia's official name that threatens to sour an upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit.

The meeting between Greece's Dora Bakoyannis and Macedonia's Antonio Milososki will take place in the presence of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs, Daniel Fried, the Greek foreign ministry said Thursday.

Macedonia hopes it will be invited to join NATO when leaders of the transatlantic alliance gather in Romania's capital Bucharest for a summit Apr. 2-4.

But Greece is blocking Macedonia's ambitions because the former Yugoslav republic shares a name with a northern Greek province. Athens contends such recognition would imply Skopje has a claim on that territory.

U.N. mediator Matthem Nimetz, who is working to break the deadlock, has expressed optimism the quarrel can be resolved, as Greek and Macedonian negotiators prepare to meet in New York next week.

Last month Nimetz suggested Macedonia have two names - one for domestic purposes and for bilateral relations with some countries, and another for international use that would also appear on its passports.


(END) Dow Jones Newswires
03-20-081132ET
Copyright (c) 2008 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

[zefs]

Greece gives a determined 'No' to Macedonia's NATO membership unless it changes name
The Associated PressPublished: March 20, 2008


TIRANA, Albania: Greece maintained its threat to veto Macedonia's efforts to join NATO Thursday, less than two weeks before a crucial NATO summit in Romania.

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said Athens will not allow its northern neighbor to join the alliance unless a dispute over Macedonia's name is resolved. Macedonia hopes to be asked to join NATO at the April 2-4 summit in Bucharest.

Athens argues that its neighbor's name implies territorial claims on the northern Greek province of the same name.

Greece refers to its neighbor as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM, the name used by the U.N. and other international organizations. But more than 120 countries, including the U.S., Russia and Canada, have recognized it as Macedonia.

Bakoyannis, who spoke during an official visit to Albania, said Greece would support NATO membership bids by Croatia and Albania at the summit.

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"We are supporting Albania. We are supporting Croatia. We will not accept FYROM" unless the name issue is resolved, she said.

U.N. envoy Matthew Nimetz has invited Greek and Macedonian negotiators to New York for further talks next week.

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[Truth Bearer]

Bush Optimistic on Macedonia Name

20 March 2008 Skopje _ US President George W. Bush is optimistic that the “name” dispute between Macedonia and Greece could be resolved ahead of the April NATO summit in Bucharest.


At the summit Skopje hopes to secure an invitation to join the Alliance.

“He (President Bush) thinks that is an issue that is solvable and something that they should get done before we head out there (to Bucharest) at the end of the month,” White House spokesperson Dana Perino told reporters on Wednesday in Washington.

By resolving the long running issue with neighboring Greece, Macedonia hopes to avoid a Greek veto on Macedonian membership when the NATO summit commences in just two weeks.

Perino did not specify whether Bush is planning to take any last minute initiative on the eve of the summit.

Media in Skopje and Athens have speculated that Bush might bring the leaders of the two countries together for a personal last ditch attempt to resolve the issue.

They say this could even happen at the summit, but only if considerable progress is made in the ongoing talks by then.

Athens objects to Skopje’s use of its constitutional name “Republic of Macedonia” despite the fact that this name has been recognized by more than 120 countries. Greece argues that it could provoke territorial claims over its own northern province that is also called Macedonia.

As part of the intensified talks, a meeting between the two countries' foreign ministers hosted by the US government is to be held on Friday in Brussels. Read more at http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8774/

Additionally, diplomats from both countries have been invited to a new round of UN sponsored talks next Monday in New York.

Copyright BalkanInsight.com 2008

www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/8779/