FYROM authorities obstruct Hellenic peace Contingent

[Amarantos]

Statement of Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr. Koumoutsakos regarding today’s incident involving the Hellenic Contingent in Kosovo at the FYROM border

Athens , 3 June 2008


Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr. George Koumoutsakos made the following statement regarding today’s incident involving the Hellenic Contingent in Kosovo at the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) border:


“In violation of an agreed procedure that has been followed for eight years now, the FYROM authorities today barred a unit of the Hellenic Contingent in Kosovo from crossing the FYROM border on their way to Kosovo, where they are contributing to the fulfilment of the Alliance’s mission. A mission that is vital to regional security and stability.


They used pretexts and groundless excuses. On the instructions of the Foreign Minister, the Head of the Greek Diplomatic Mission in Skopje is taking all the appropriate actions vis-à-vis the Foreign Ministry of our neighbouring country, and Greece’s Permanent Representation to NATO will bring to the Alliance’s attention this counterproductive stance adopted by the FYROM authorities.”

http://www.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/Article...0608_M2013.htm

[Amarantos]

Kosovo-bound Greek convoy blocked from entering FYROM

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) yesterday blocked a Greek military convoy, headed to Kosovo to take part in NATO duties, from entering the country. The convoy, consisting of 50 vehicles and 140 men, was forced to return to its barracks in Kilkis, northern Greece. FYROM officials refused them entry on the grounds that they were not carrying passports and then refused to recognize NATO paperwork and identification cards. Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos said FYROM used unjustified excuses in behavior considered to be counterproductive.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w.../06/2008_97376

[Amarantos]

“I believe that the subject will be clarified and that all in Skopje perceive, the leadership too despite the lack of government at the moment, how serious is impeding a peace contingent, with a necessary presence in Kosovo”

Greek Foreign Minister

[Makedonomaxos2008]

Their days are numbered and they are beginning to realize this...

If they keep up actions like this, i think Nimetz's next proposals will be very surprising!

[surferx]

Okay guys, it seems that the greek news agencies like to twist things around a bit, as all these articles describe something very unclear and different than what our government says. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but for your information, this is what the problem was, according to our news agencies:

"The Ministry of Interior Affairs has informed the local media the Greek Convoy did not have a proper documentation to enter Macedonia. Two convoys were forbidden to enter. The first one had 76 soldiers in a bus for which the Greeks had zero documentation, and the second was 25 vehicles for which the Greek side had a hand written scribble in Greek showing 14 vehicles, even though they had 11 extra. Macedonian Authorities asked for Official NATO documentation in English or French, which the Greeks didn't have. The Greek officers verbally attacked the Macedonian Custom officials once they were told they did not have the proper documentation to enter.

Macedonia's MoFA spokesperson issued a statement: "We have already notified NATO about this, we aren't going to wait for the Greeks to notify Brussels. NATO knows they didn't have the proper, actually didn't have any documentation to enter". said Andonovski. "

edit-update:

"The SOFA Agreement regulating movement of such convoys prescribes for a NATO traveling order and appropriate documentation. Yesterday, Macedonian competent authorities found that the Greek soldiers had national traveling orders written in Greek, while the list of personnel and equipment did not match the factual situation," FM's spokesman Vasile Andonovski said.

"Competent officials of NATO acknowledged that the Greek convoy failed to comply with the procedure for entrance in our country. Hence, for us, this case; which cannot be actually described as case; is over," Andonovski said.


Believe it or not, NATO and all its allies have to follow procedures and obey certain rules, you can't just show up at another country's borders, shout "I'm from NATO" and get in

Peace

[TALOS]

Originally Posted by Makedonomaxos2008

Their days are numbered and they are beginning to realize this...

If they keep up actions like this, i think Nimetz's next proposals will be very surprising!

they havent realized anything. I hope they continue to behave as they do towards us

[Tsontos]

Originally Posted by surferx

Okay guys, it seems that the greek news agencies like to twist things around a bit, as all these articles describe something very unclear and different than what our government says. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but for your information, this is what the problem was, according to our news agencies:

"The Ministry of Interior Affairs has informed the local media the Greek Convoy did not have a proper documentation to enter Macedonia. Two convoys were forbidden to enter. The first one had 76 soldiers in a bus for which the Greeks had zero documentation, and the second was 25 vehicles for which the Greek side had a hand written scribble in Greek showing 14 vehicles, even though they had 11 extra. Macedonian Authorities asked for Official NATO documentation in English or French, which the Greeks didn't have. The Greek officers verbally attacked the Macedonian Custom officials once they were told they did not have the proper documentation to enter.

Macedonia's MoFA spokesperson issued a statement: "We have already notified NATO about this, we aren't going to wait for the Greeks to notify Brussels. NATO knows they didn't have the proper, actually didn't have any documentation to enter". said Andonovski. "

edit-update:

"The SOFA Agreement regulating movement of such convoys prescribes for a NATO traveling order and appropriate documentation. Yesterday, Macedonian competent authorities found that the Greek soldiers had national traveling orders written in Greek, while the list of personnel and equipment did not match the factual situation," FM's spokesman Vasile Andonovski said.

"Competent officials of NATO acknowledged that the Greek convoy failed to comply with the procedure for entrance in our country. Hence, for us, this case; which cannot be actually described as case; is over," Andonovski said.


Believe it or not, NATO and all its allies have to follow procedures and obey certain rules, you can't just show up at another country's borders, shout "I'm from NATO" and get in

Peace

I wouldnt trust the Greek press 100% but I certainly wouldnt trust the FYROM press or foreign ministry either. To be honest the Greek press has a much better record. I'd like to see an actual statement from these "competent NATO officials".

[Amarantos]

According to Athens radio station City 99,5 , today after the NATO intervention toward the skopjan government, the kossovo bound hellenic convoy - consisting of 50 vehicles and 140 men blocked by the skopjan authorities at the fyrom borders nine days ago- continued their way to kossovo via fyrom.