Foreign press on the Macedonian issue

[Astoria]

Ta Nea, Greece: Skopje set mines



15 August 2008 | 13:31 | FOCUS News Agency



Athens. “Skopje set mines”, reads the headline of an article published by the Greek Ta Nea daily in connection with dispute about the name of FYROMacedonia. The article points that a new round of negotiations has started from nowhere because the UN envoy on the name issue Matthew Nimitz has accepted the fact that FYROMacedonia adds new points to the agenda. Right after his meeting with the FYROMacedonian negotiator Nimitz said that the name dispute could be solved and ways and ideas for progress on the issue have been discussed. There are several open points between Macedonia and Greece but the name is the subject, Nimitz stated.

Diplomats in Greece interpret his words as an indicative intention of Skopje for new issues to be added to the agenda all the time and according to them they have nothing to do with the name dispute, Ta Nea stated.
The Letters sent by MFYROacedonia’s Nikola Gruevski in the last weeks with request FYROMacedonian minority to be recognized had aimed creating an agenda by torpedoing of attempts at finding an acceptable solution for the problem with the name.

Diplomats express their pessimism not only about the talks that started but also the intention of Matthew Nimitz to visit Skopje and Athens next week. Nobody expects progress in the negotiations till September when development in the frames of the European Union is expected.

[Astoria]

Vecer: "North Macedonia" in five versions



15 August 2008 | 12:39 | FOCUS News Agency



Skopje. Diplomatic sources pointed that the UN envoy on the name dsipute between Greece and FYROMacedonia Matthew Nimitz has proposed the name "North Macedonia" in five versions at the last round of the negotiations, the FYROMacedonian daily Vecer reported.

After talks Nimitz stated that the name is a subject of negotiations. The newspaper however stresses that it was not only ideas about the name discusses, but also issues referring to the FYROMacedonian minority in Greece and the FYROMacedonian Orthodox Church.

In reference to including of issue about the FYROMacedonian Orthodox Church, FYROMacedonia's President Branko Crvenkovski pointed that this pace could be contra productive and could cause damage.

[Astoria]

Greek hackers spread provocations against FYROMacedonia: Utrinski Vesnik



15 August 2008 | 12:42 | FOCUS News Agency



Skopje. The website of the FYROMacedonian Internet radio Street FM was hacked by Greeks on Wednesday, the FYROMacedonian Utrinski Vesnik reported.

Instead of the standard Internet page, there appeared an inscription reading: "Learn the name of your country. Do not deceive yourselves; your name is Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."

The manager of Street FM Radio Dalibor Mojsovski stressed that the Internet Radio has never been a subject to provocations.

[Astoria]

UN: FYROMacedonia ‘Name’ Solution Comes First


Ban Ki-Moon19 August 2008 Skopje _ Athens and Skopje should first solve the “name” row and that will open the way for resolving other open issues, the UN Secretary General says in a letter to FYROMacedonia’s Prime Minister.

The chief of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon wrote this as a reply to FYROMacedonian Premier Nikola Gruevski’s letter in which Skopje states it wants to embark in dialogue with Athens on solving what it sees is the violation of the rights of the unrecognised FYROMacedonian minority in Greece.

“I am aware there are other issues you think should be subject to discussion between Skopje and Athens. I hope that, by solving the “name” issue, the road to better relations will be traced, which will contribute towards handling these other issues, as well as finding possible solution of them,” Ban writes in the letter.

During July and August, Skopje has sent a number of letters to many international institutions and countries informing them that FYROMacedonia would like to include other unresolved issues into the ongoing UN-sponsored “name” talks with Greece.

Ban points out that his envoy to the dispute, Matthew Nimetz “will continue with his efforts in assisting to find a solution in the dispute on the name issue.”

So far Nimetz also said that his mandate does not exceed the name-finding effort.

The United States on which support Skopje also relies, previously advised that both sides should focus primarily on the name issue.

In April, Athens blocked Skopje’s NATO invitation to join NATO, arguing that FYROMacedonia should change its name first. Greece says that the name of their northern neighbour implies its territorial claims over Greece’s own northern province which is also called Macedonia.

Meanwhile FYROMacedonia’s President Branko Crvenkovski and Gruevski announced they have aligned their positions prior to the forthcoming visit by Nimetz to Skopje this week.

[Truth Bearer]

'Name Row' Envoy to Visit Greece, Macedonia

20 August 2008 Skopje _ The UN mediator in the ‘name row’ will visit Greece on Friday, a day after meeting Fyromian leaders in Skopje, the press service of the world body says.

This ends uncertainty over whether mediator Matthew Nimetz will visit Greece after his stay in the Macedonian capital. Local media have reported in recent days that Athens noted to the envoy it has nothing new to say to him.

According to reports, Nimetz is travelling to Skopje to hear Fyromia’s stand on his latest ideas for solving the dispute expressed at the meeting in New York last week. These ideas have not been revealed to the public.

Afterwards, he will be headed for Thessaloniki, Greece to consult the Greek side.

Meanwhile, local A1 TV cites unnamed United States diplomats as saying that if a solution to the 17-year-long dispute is not reach within the next two months the issue could linger on for a long time.

They argue that both Athens and Skopje lack the capacity to solve the row on their own without US pressure and that after the US Presidential elections, the new administration in Washington could lose interest in the row.

Some media in both countries suggest Athens could try to stall the talks for after the US elections as the current Washington policy does not favour Greece.

In April Athens blocked Skopje’s invitation to join NATO arguing that Skopje’s name could lead it to make territorial claims on Greece’s own northern province which is also called Macedonia.

Greece is also threatening to block FYROM's accession to the European Union.

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/12510/
Copyright BalkanInsight.com 2008

[Truth Bearer]

UN secretary general tells Macedonia to focus on name issue
13:38 Wed 20 Aug 2008 - Spasena Baramova

In a letter sent to Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski on August 19 2008, United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon reiterated the world body's stance that the name issue that has been poisoning the relations bewteen Greece and Macedonia had to be solved first before turning to any other issues.

“I am aware there are other issues you think should be subject to discussion between Skopje and Athens. I hope that, by solving the name issue, the road to better relations will be traced, which will contribute towards handling these other issues, as well as finding possible solution of them,” Ban wrote, as quoted by website Balkan Insight.

Ban's letter comes as a reply to the letters that Macedonia's prime minister sent earlier this summer to the European Union, Nato and the UN, requesting that the issue of the Greek recognition of the Macedonian minority in Greece be discussed along with the name issue. Later, he also brought up other issues to be discussed on the sidelines of the name dispute, such as Greece recognising the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

However, Macedonian president Branko Crvenkovski slammed this move as counter-productive and following the last round of UN-mediated talks in New York City held last week, after meeting separately with both sides, UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz said that it was his responsibility to help resolve only the name row and that no other issues were to be discussed.

In spite of these developments, over the weekend of August 15-17, the speaker of Macedonian parliament Trajko Veljanovski again brought up the Macedonian minority issue in letters he sent to a number of states and organisations in Europe and around the world.

The name dispute between the two Balkan neighbours has been going on for 17 years now. It focuses on Greek demands that Macedonia change its name since its coincides with that of the northern Greek province. According to Athens, this implies Skopje's territorial claims towards Greece.

The climax of the name issue came in April 2008, when Greece vetoed Macedonia getting invited to join Nato at a summit of the military alliance in Bucharest. Since then, ties between the two have been exacerbated and now Athens is threatening to block the launch of the official accession talks of Skopje with the EU.

Nimetz is expected to visit Skopje and Thessaloniki on August 21 and 22, respectively, in a new effort to try and reconcile the two parties.


http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/un-...31276/catid_68

[Truth Bearer]

Macedonia: Name Issue Again so Important?

Source:Macedonia

The tensions between Macedonia and Greece tensed after Greece vetoed the NATO’s invitation in April. Greece insisted first this country (Macedonia) should change its name. Greece said the name of Macedonia implies a territorial claim to the Greek northern province of the same name.

Disputes around the name issue remained since dissolution of the Former Yugoslavia in 1991. For Athens, Macedonia name is the historical heritage for them and the recognition of Macedonia name means rejection of the historical and cultural heritage of Greece people. Besides this argument of Greece, it can be said that stance of Greece in the name issue sources from its northern territory which is called Macedonia. For Greece, one day Macedonia republic claimed on this patch of land. That is the reason why, for Greece, Macedonia should change its name. Also Athens should preclude NATO invitation which provides recognition of the name of Macedonia by all UN-members.

However, it is certainly important that in the Interim Accord of 1995 which is signed between Greece and Macedonia, Greece promise that Athens would not attempt to hinder the efforts of the new republic to obtain membership of international organizations and institution.

But, Macedonia just said that they are ready for a reasonable compromise but also they do not want to accept Greece solution. For them, the name of Macedonia Republic indicates ‘their language, identity, dignity and the right for self determination’ as emphasized Macedonian Foreign Minister Dnevnik Milososki.

He also responded whether Macedonia give up EU and NATO integration for sake of preserving national interest as the both issues have same priority.

United States is working on rapid solution for ‘name’ issue between Greece and Macedonia in order remove problem Macedonia’s accession into NATO.

The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that "the hope is that the name issue can be resolved very quickly now," Rice said on Wednesday in Washington. She also emphasized that the name issue for the US should not get in as a problem for admission of Macedonia.

UN mediator between Greece and Macedonia, Matthew Nimets said, “the only issue which is remaining unresolved is ‘name’ issue”. Thus, he added “his main focus is on the name issue” after a meeting with the Macedonian negotiator, Nikola Dimitrov, in New York. Shortly after, Nimets held a separate meeting with the Greek negotiator, Adamantion Vassilakis in 13 August this year.

In addition Matthew Nimetz is set to visit Skopje this week, upon an invitation of the Macedonian Government. So far, the date of mediator's visit is not known yet, and not specified by his cabinet in New York. It is also not known whether Nimetz will visit Athens after Skopje.

Nimetz is set to talk again with Macedonian authorities whether a quick progress on the name issue is possible before September.


All in all, the stance of the US is stronger this time towards 17 years-old conflict between two states. Because, the US insistently emphasized, unimportance and resolvable side of this issue ‘especially’ after Georgian case.

In regarding of this perspective Today’s International Herald Tribune stated that “Macedonia must be given an invitation to join NATO immediately, which will send a decisive message to Moscow, while NATO will show that it is intent on enlarging and will stress the right to protect the territorial integrity of small countries,”

“In that way, Moscow will understand the West’s decisiveness when it comes to ‘frozen conflicts’, whether in Georgia, Macedonia or Kosovo, where Russia supports Serbia which is against the newly-proclaimed state’s independence,” the IHT states.

In this way, Rice’s speech also important explaining the US's strong support for NATO's Membership Action Plan for the region, Rice said that “it would allow states to overcome longstanding difficulties and differences under the umbrella of a collective security organization and thus avoid potential conflict like the one in Georgia”.

Hence this speeches of the USA may message for Russia to show especially after Georgian War NATO will continue expanded, the conflicts in the regions should always resolve under control of NATO.

Ozum Iseri (JTW)
20 August 2008



www.turkishweekly.net

Copyright © 2005 Journal of Turkish Weekly http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=58741

[Truth Bearer]

"Name row" envoy to visit Greece, Macedonia

20 August 2008 | 16:42 | Source: BIRN

SKOPJE -- The UN mediator in the ‘name row’ will visit Greece on Friday, a day after meeting Macedonian leaders in Skopje.

The UN's press service made the announcement.

This ends uncertainty over whether mediator Mathew Nimetz will visit Greece after his stay in the Macedonian capital. Local media have reported in recent days that Athens noted to the envoy it has nothing new to say to him.

According to reports, Nimetz is traveling to Skopje to hear Macedonia’s stand on his latest ideas for solving the dispute expressed at the meeting in New York last week. These ideas have not been revealed to the public.

Afterwards, he will be headed for Thessaloniki, Greece to consult the Greek side.

Meanwhile, local A1 TV cites unnamed United States diplomats as saying that if a solution to the 17-year-long dispute is not reach within the next two months the issue could linger on for a long time.

They argue that both Athens and Skopje lack the capacity to solve the row on their own without U.S. pressure and that after the U.S. Presidential elections, the new administration in Washington could lose interest in the row.

Some media in both countries suggest Athens could try to stall the talks for after the U.S. elections as the current Washington policy does not favor Greece.

In April Athens blocked Skopje’s invitation to join NATO arguing that Skopje’s name could lead it to make territorial claims on Greece’s own northern province which is also called Macedonia.

Greece is also threatening to block Macedonia’s accession to the European Union.

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-a...0&nav_id=52853

[Truth Bearer]

Czech Republic Supports Macedonia Accession To EU, NATO

Source:Macedonian Information Agency-MIA

The Czech Republic supports Macedonia's aspirations to join the European Union and NATO, being ready to share its experiences with the integration processes, Prime Ministers of both countries Jiri Paroubek and Vlado Buckovski said late Tuesday after their meeting in Prague, MIA's special correspondent reported.

"Czech support of our aspirations to become NATO member and get date for EU entry talks are rather significant for the citizens of Macedonia, especially now when the crisis within EU is evident and the enlargement process is under question mark. The Czech Republic is ready to share its experience and its successful story with Western Balkan region," Buckovski said.

The Czech Republic has been standing for the EU enlargement process, thus supporting Macedonia's accession to the EU, Paroubek said, pointing out that Prague is offering its experience with the Euro-integration process to Macedonia. It also refers to NATO enlargement, he added.

"The Czech Republic is ready to advise Macedonia on the road to EU," Paroubek said, giving credit to the country for multiethnicity and substantial contribution to the regional stability.

Both Premiers expressed satisfaction with the excellent political relations, saying that there is a large potential for boosting of the economic cooperation.

The trade exchange between both countries was at US$ 29,3 million in 2005, of which only six million belongs to Macedonia's export. Macedonian-Czech Business Forum, scheduled for tomorrow in Prague, will address possibilities for more intensive business relations.

The Premiers also discussed on liberalizing the visa regime, for which concrete measures have already been taken, namely - the Czech Republic has been issuing free of charge visas to Macedonian citizens since November of 2005, while Macedonia abolished visa demands for Czechs this February. Further facilitation in that respect is under consideration.

Tomorrow, Buckovski is scheduled to meet President Vaclav Klaus, Senate Chairman Premysl Sobotka and Speaker of the Parliament Lower House Lubomir Zaoralek.



http://www.mia.com.mk/ang/Vest.asp?v...ki%20Praga.htm

Copyright © 2005 Journal of Turkish Weekly http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=29471

[Truth Bearer]

Macedonia's leadership coordinates its position ahead of Nimetz's visit
20. August 2008. | 10:39

MIA

The meeting, held ahead of Nimetz's visit to Macedonia, scheduled for this Thursday, was also attended by Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki and the country's negotiator Nikola Dimitrov.


State leadership coordinated its position Tuesday on ideas presented by the UN mediator in Macedonia-Greece talks on the name dispute, Matthew Nimetz, at the last negotiating round of August 13 in New York, the President's Cabinet said after a consultation meeting of Branko Crvenkovski and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.

The meeting, held ahead of Nimetz's visit to Macedonia, scheduled for this Thursday, was also attended by Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki and the country's negotiator Nikola Dimitrov.

The UN Press Service said earlier that this week Nimetz would visit Skopje and Athens.