Gruevski: "I seek the support of the Chancellor"

Macedonia is fighting in the name dispute with Greece over its identity.Which holds the EU accession of the country - President Gruevski asks Germany for help now.

The official title is President of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia.Nikola Gruevski is 42 years old and ruled for five years, the Balkan country.

PHOTO: PICTURE ALLIANCE / BREUEL-BILD/BREUEL-BILDNikola Gruevski and Angela Merkel. Germany is a major trade partners of Macedonia

BBC News: Mr. President, welcome to Berlin. What brings you here?

Nikola Gruevski: I seek the support of the Chancellor of our most important national concern.

BBC News: What's that?

Gruevski: Our accession to NATO and the EU is being held up for far too long by the name dispute. He is vital to our economy, as well as for sedation in the Western Balkans.

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BBC News: How so? Name, we say in German, is smoke and mirrors.

Gruevski: . But here it is about our identity Greece denies us the right to call ourselves the way we think is right and necessary: ​​Macedonia. We have the International Court of Justice on our side, who came in a long and thorough process already more than 10 years to the conclusion that we can be present in all international institutions under the name we have chosen after the disintegration of old Yugoslavia , in line with our history.

BBC News: You have the Skopje airport after Alexander International called the Great.

Gruevski: The Greeks call the airport of Thessaloniki "Macedonia".

BBC News: British and French live so long that the island called Great Britain, derived from the ancient name of Brittany, and it goes well. Can we learn something?

Gruevski: It takes two to tango.

BBC News: In Greece, the government has changed. Has this changed under the government of technocrats Professor Papademos something? He comes from the European Central Bank and is considered a realist.

Gruevski: Unfortunately, answering the question in the negative. The new Greek Prime Minister has clearly noted that the rules of the name issue is not one of his mandate. He probably has enough other problems. Since nothing moves. But we hope and stay tuned.

BBC News: Is there a plan B? Something like silent mediation diplomacy?

Gruevski: The Americans have in their Balkan policy, tried it, unfortunately without success. There were also contacted via the United Nations. But a breakthrough is in sight.

BBC News: And Germany?

Gruevski: The question is not first on the agenda.

BBC News: How are the economic relations with the EU?

Gruevski: As before, it is to enter our overriding national interest in the European Union and until then to do whatever promotes this fateful step.

BBC News: But is not there a mismatch: On the one hand and a prestigious name issue that is blocking everything, on the other hand, the economic life of the interest of your republic?

Gruevski: We can, when it comes to the question of our definition of our national self-consciousness goes, will not compromise.

BBC News: How long will it take for?

Gruevski: Five years? Probably longer.

BBC News: And what does Germany?

Gruevski: Germany is our main trading partners. We export with increasing success, wine, agricultural products, metals, textiles, also, because we are low-wage economy.

BBC News: And the economic relations with Greece?

Gruevski: Coming in third place. We note, however, increasingly, that Greek entrepreneurs are showing interest in investing on our side of the border.Firstly, this happens due to lower wages, but mainly because we do not have the bureaucratic hurdles, as opposed to our neighbor to the south has always been the business start-up and industrial growth.

"The Macedonian Tendency is Moving

This is the last post on this site (http://david-edenden.blogspot.com/ ).

The Macedonian Tendency has moved to this new URL (http://the-macedonian-tendency.blogspot.com/"). The post below is the the first post on the new URL.

A Guide to Contributors to "The Macedonian Tendency"

by David Edenden

I am turning "The Macedonian Tendency" into a group blog. The first thing you will notice is the new URL "http://the-macedonian-tendency.blogspot.com/". This new URL should make it easier for journalists and politicians to find the blog, although there will be a period of adjustment as the search engines indexes it. The old site, http://david-edenden.blogspot.com/ will continue for the time being, until all the articles have been migrated to this site. If, like myself, it is necessary for you to use a pseudonym, please fell free to do so.

If you receive an invitation to join, you must apply a Gmail account which is free and easy to use. Feel free to introduce yourself and write on any topic relating to Macedonia, its history and culture without my prior approval. I do not expect that everyone will agree with my eccentric views, so debate within the blog is not a bad thing. In your Blogger profile, write what your interests are relating to writing for the blog. In this way, we will develop a division of labor so that we are not all writing about the same thing.

Identify yourself and format your writing in italics, while keeping the other material in regular fonts. Hopefully you will write at least one article per week ... not a great commitment. If you have written something in the past, please feel free to publish it here.

The purpose of this blog is to inform foreign journalists and politicians about "the Macedonian question" today. My main focus is to help in the process of recognition of Macedonia's constitutional name, the fight for the rights of Macedonians in Greece and Bulgaria and to a lesser extent in Albania.

We really need book an movie reviews along with the other arts. Sports reviews are also welcome.

I am not really interested in using this blog to display the divisions that are reflected in Macedonian politics. I generally support all Macedonian governments, although I disagree with many of their individual positions. Macedonians need a big tent. One of my favorite expressions is " some people look for converts, while others look for heretics." Lets all look for converts and not needlessly look for battles within our community.

Lets use Jews and Israel as a model. Jewish support for Israel is unwavering, however many Jews fell free to offer suggestions for Israeli policy. I have in the past published warnings against Nato membership, the EU and other issues without damning the Macedonian politicians who promote them.

Since it is a blog and not a online news magazine like "Reality Macedonia", articles should be short with links to the original source. I usually like to comment, no matter how small on all posts, but there have been exceptions. (1)

This long post about Robert Kaplan is a good example of the use of links. This post about Barack Obama needs to have links added. I decided it was worth posting first and then adding links later. After publishing your post, editing the title is not advisable since the search engines will lose the post. Editing of the actual posts is OK for spelling and formating issues.

For the sake of readability, I usually do not copy the entire original article, but do copy relevant material that could be lost behind a "subscription wall" (1) (2) (3). there are exceptions.

Make sure to include the link, the name of the author, relevant people and the core issue that are discussed.

"The Macedonian Tendency" is one of the few blogs where a comments on a specific news item are published from a Macedonian perspective. Lets try to improve it.

What are Macedonians Doing?

Are the Macedonians too busy fighting among themslevs to visit the US or meet with Nancy Pelosi?

Bakoyannis to meet Ban Ki-moon over Macedonia's name
Makfax vesnik:

Athens /20/03/ 12:26

Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on Tuesday will meet with the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to discuss themes concerning Greece and the region including the name dispute with Macedonia.

The discussions are in the framework of the UN's efforts for a solution to name dispute, Greek media said.

The UN Secretary General was briefed by special mediator Matthew Nimetz last Friday.

Bakoyannis will also discuss the Cyprus issue, the situation in Kosovo and in the Middle East.

Greek foreign minister will be holding talks with officials of the Bush Administration and Congressmen. She will also meet with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and with the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. /end/"

Greek Blogger on Name Issue

This Greek blogger is quite logical and moderate. What he is trying to do is find a compromise between Macedonia and Greece in a political environment where the EU lets Greece discriminate against ethnic Macedonians. Any compromise on the name issue has to include human rights for Macedonians in Greece. Can't only blame Greece, we also have to blame the EU. There's the rub!


A road path for a solution for the “Macedonian” name issue
Strategic Analysis & OSINT Management -www.rieas.gr-

Posted March 19th, 2007 by Ioannis Michaletos
Categories: South Eastern Europe, Greece

This year will most probably bring interesting developments, regarding the strife between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, as far as the finalized and universally name of the latter is concerned.

Last year European Union member states decided to proceed with the beginning of accession negotiations with FYROM -In due term-, and it is assumed that the final integration will not become a reality before 2012, the earliest. The above important decision was addressed by the EU, with the dictum that an acceptable compromise must be found between Athens and Skopje until the negotiations reach the final stage. The current FYROM government won the elections last year and has as a strategic vision to integrate the country into the Euro-Atlantic security framework, namely EU & NATO."

Austailia and the "Name Issue"

Very comprehensive analysis of Australia's policy on the name issue

Influencing Australian Foreign Policy on Macedonia:
United Macedonia Diaspora


"Why hasn’t the Australian Government or opposition
recognised the Republic of Macedonia under its
Constitutional name? Why should it and what can the
Australian Macedonian community do about it?

The Australian Macedonian community has many unmet
social and political needs such as the name issue as a
result of historical, political, management, and
strategic realities and inaction. The capacity of
ethnic communities to influence Australian foreign
policy is dependent on their level of commitment, the
degree of unity and the strength of their
organisations to plan, organize resources, implement
campaigns, provide leadership, raise and build
sustainable funding and learn from past experience and
best practice. Size of the community is not the
critical issue as can be seen from the Jewish
community’s example and its strong influence on
Australia’s foreign policy in the Middle East."

Hitlerite Propaganda and "The Name Issue"

Just before Hitler invaded Yugoslavia in WW2, newspapers in Germany were reporting that "Yugoslav warmongers" were planning to attack Germany. The Greek newspaper Kathimerini is not telling the truth. Greece, not Macedonia, wants sole possession of the Macedonian name. That is what this whole dispute is all about.

Macedonians like to share.

Keep your blue starburst flag, let up have the red starburst flag.
Keep your "province of Macedonia", let us keep the "Republic of Macedonia".
Keep your "University of Macedonia", let us keep " Alexander the Great Airport"


The Macedonian Ambassador to Washington should consider asking the US "Congressional Research Office" to investigative this claim. While they are at it, they can look at both Macedonian and Greek textbooks, and Macedonian and Greek minority rights policies.

Kathimerini: Skopje Government wants to present Macedonia as sole successor of Ancient Macedonia
Macedonian_News_Service : Message: Daily Bulletin:

Athens, March 13 (MIA) - After renaming the Skopje airport from Petrovec to Alexander the Great, the north-neighbouring Government has also 'mobilised' the archaeological artifacts in its possession, trying to present Macedonia at an international plan as primary, if not sole successor to the historical and cultural heritage of Ancient Macedonia, Athens-based Kathimerini writes.

- In the lobby of Macedonian Government's building, eight big statues from the Greek-Roman period are displayed, which are, according to unofficial statements by Skopje archaeologists, authentic and transferred from museums, Kathimerini reports.

The article's author writes that 'these activities are in line with the ideology by the ruling party, which is tightly connected with the nationalism of the past, since it has derived from the secession of the renowned VMRO-DPMNE'.

The author underlines that Macedonian Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Milososki has recently dubbed the name dispute as two-party issue and states that no other organization than the UN may undertake the responsibility to review two-party issues."

"Astalavista" FYROM by the Fall?

This an English language translation of a Bulgarian translation of a Macedonian translation of a Greek article on the "name issue". I hope its correct and nothing has been lost in translation.

"Dnevnik: FYROM is Republic of Macedonia for UN
FOCUS Information Agency:
14 March 2007 | 10:19 | FOCUS News Agency


Athens/Skopje. A Greek newspaper claims that “owing to the Greek veto in NATO, Skopje will be recognized in the UN,” Macedonian newspaper Dnevnik writes today.

“Dora (Bakoiani) silently approves the outcome with the name of the Former Yogoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) in the UN and NATO,” the Greek newspaper point out.
It is considered that the Greek Foreign Ministry was under pressure to take “realistic decisions” and continue recognizing the acronym FYROM in NATO. This procedure will end this autumn at the UN Common Council where the issue with the name will be discussed, with Skopje insisting on recognizing the country by the name most member states accept it – Republic of Macedonia. "

Unity Regarding Name Issue

It looks like my concerns regarding the Macedonia issue was unfounded. My apologies to all concerned.

Macedonia confirms unity on name dispute with Greece
Makfax vesnik:

Skopje /16.03/ 14:49

Macedonian top officials reaffirmed their unity on the name dispute with Greece.

This was announced after today's coordinative meeting among President Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Foreign Minister Antonio Miloshoski.

'...The sole position and strategy of the Republic of Macedonia on overcoming the name difference was reaffirmed, as one of the highest state's priorities and prerequisite for preserving the constitutional name of the country', says the joint press statement released after the meeting that was attended also by the Macedonian Special Envoy over this issue, Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov.

The announcement further says that the meeting was aimed at 'mutual briefing on the current developments and coordination on this issue of highest state interest'.

Crvenkovski-Gruevski meeting comes in a time of strained relations between Athens and Skopje, but also in time of tension in the dialogue between the Prime Minister and the President.

Yesterday, the Government sent to Greece a note of protest relating offending behavior of some of their soldiers towards Macedonia.

Previously, Greece raised objections over renaming of the Skopje Airport into Alexander the Great."

Mathew Nimitz is still alive

Matthew Nimetz, negotiator-for-life-in-the-Macedonian-name-dispute, is briefing the UN's Ki-moon. I hope he has a good presentation on what he has been doing for the last 15 years. I hope he has a good pension. I hope he has been working on his memoirs on his mission to humiliate the Macedonian people. It should be fun reading. Here's last year's article.

"Nimitz briefed Ki-moon on Skopje, Athens positions regarding name dispute issue
Macedonian_News_Service : Message: Daily Bulletin:

New York, March 17 (MIA) - UN mediator on the name dispute issue, Matthew Niemitz met late Friday with Organisation's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in UN Headquarters in New York in order to present the Macedonian and Greek position on the matter.

UN official told journalist that 'there's no new direction of events' considering the issue.
The meeting took place before forthcoming talks between Greece's FM Dora Bakoyannis and Ki-moon, which are scheduled on March 20."

2005 Interview Burns vs Konstandaras

This is an interview from 2005 so it does not shed any light on US thinking today. One thing I can say is that Under Secretary Burns must be a hockey player, because he shows a great deal of skill as a stick handler. I did not know that the US was so outspoken on Macedonian matters at the OSCE. I wish someone would tell me these things. Hey!, Burns, don't be a stranger!

UNDER SECRETARY BURNS
Interview With Nikos Konstandaras of Kathimerini (Greece):
October 22, 2005

QUESTION: On the Macedonia issue, which is fresh...

UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: Yes, I know…what I said…I saw the newspaper articles extracted a lot of commentary.

QUESTION: There was a kind of change in the nuance of what you said, but the meaning was clear, that the United States would object to Greece objecting to a country called Macedonia joining NATO. I am sure you are aware that this is a very passionate issue in Greece and Greece has these diplomatic tools that it can use. How could anyone suggest that it not use diplomatic tools at its disposal?

UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: I think that, unfortunately some of the Greek newspapers misquoted what I said and changed the meaning of what I said. I never said that it would be “shameful.” I never said anything of the sort. I was talking to a Macedonian reporter, and she simply asked me what would happen if Greece and Macedonia were unable to work out their problems and Macedonia’s entry was blocked. And I think it’s clear that the Greek government does not want to block Macedonia’s entry into NATO or the European Union. The argument is not over the entry in NATO or the European Union; the argument is over the name of the country.

And when I said it would be a “shame,” I meant it would be a shame if these problems were not resolved at some point in the future. We believe they can be resolved. Both sides are responsible for resolving them. The United States is neutral in this regard. We have told both the Macedonians and the Greeks that we think the problem should be worked out through the UN special negotiator, Ambassador Nimetz, and we don’t have any influence over his proposals. We have not sought any influence over his proposals. He writes his own proposals. They are not manufactured in Washington, D.C. and by our government. We take no position as to which is the right outcome. We think Greece and Macedonia can determine that.

QUESTION: Well, you did take a position. And the fact that President Bush was very quick after his reelection to recognize our neighbor as the Republic of Macedonia made very clear where the United States stands on the issue. I wonder if you have found that to be an obstacle in your dealings with Athens and Skopje?

UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: No, I don’t think so. That was a national decision that the United States took and we have to stand by that decision, obviously. What I was referring to was the UN negotiation, that Ambassador Nimetz has been running for a number of years. In that particular process, where Greece and Macedonia are involved together in these discussions with Ambassador Nimetz, it is there that we have said we don’t believe it is appropriate for the United States to prescribe what we think is the right outcome. We think that both sides should work with Ambassador Nimetz and try to have a compromise solution. I think we’ve been neutral in that respect. I think we should be neutral. And I’m sorry that some of the Greek newspapers did not translate my words in the correct way.

QUESTION: There was also some tension over the last couple of weeks over statements made at the OSCE by your country’s ambassador, regarding Greece’s treatment of what the envoy termed minorities in Greece. Athens protested to Ambassador Ries here. Is it now U.S. policy to recognize an “Albanian minority” in Greece, as well as the others mentioned?

UNDER SECRETARY BURNS: There’s really no major change in U.S. policy. We’ve had a longstanding practice of recognizing that there are minorities in Greece. This is nothing new. I remember the previous Greek government did not appreciate this fact. We simply have to stick to our own opinion. But it’s not a crisis in our relationship. It should not be a crisis. There are more important issues that we should be discussing.

More Pressure on Name Issue

I am very leery of closed door meetings to arrive at a consensus and then have the "compromise" foisted on the unsuspecting public. A forum on TV with the leaders of the Macedonian Orthodox Church and leading professors and journalists should be held inform the public of the crucial negotiations that are taking place with the US/EU to get a unified consensus on what is to be done.

"President and premier to hold consultation over name dispute with Greece
Makfax vesnik:

Skopje /16/03/ 08:22

President Branko Crvenkovski and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski are due to hold consultation today aimed at defining the future steps of Macedonia regarding the name dispute with Greece.

According to the announcements, Foreign Minister Antonio Miloshoski and the Macedonian negotiator Nikola Dimitrov will also attend the meeting.

Yesterday, the Government sent to Greece a note of protest relating offending behavior of some of their soldiers towards Macedonia.

Previously, Greece raised objections over renaming of the Skopje Airport into Alexander the Great.

Greece's media reported that the local parties are very likely to use the name dispute for propaganda purposes during the 2008 election campaign."

The Road to Partition

When the EU treats the elected Macedonian government as not quite legitimate and then throws itself into the bargaining process, we move closer to civil war and partition. Everyone will be playing to the international community and no one will bother to strike a bargain at home. Their mere presence in Skopje is a destabilizing. (And lets not even talk about the "name issue, minority right in Greece ...etc)

Gruevski-Ahmeti meeting
Makfax vesnik:

Skopje /07/03/ 17:03/19:08

The long-anticipated meeting between the Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski and the leader of the opposition DUI, Ali Ahmeti, is under way, A1 TV station reported.

The talks, held under mediation of international representatives, are attended also by the Defense Minister Lazar Elenovski and PM's Advisor Vlado Popovski. Ahmeti is accompanied by DUI's Vice-President Teuta Arifi and Agron Buxhaku.

According to several sources, the meeting that kicked off Wednesday afternoon is focused on DUI's demands on reshuffling in the ethnic committee, NLA fighters' pensions and voting on approval of Cabinet's composition according to Badinter Principle.

The same sources said that Gruevski has already accepted DUI's demands relating the Committee and adoption of legislation according to Badinter, but has rejected the request for Cabinet endorsement and NLA's pensions.

Gruevski, on his part, demanded from Ahmeti to support the legislation referring to NATO and EU, and return of DUI's deputies in the Parliament.

Upon DUI's request, the meeting is attended also by representatives of the US Embassy in Macedonia and of the EU"

Zoran Jolevski, Macedonia's New Man in Washington

I don't know much about this guy, but he has hit all the right notes on Macedonia's relationship with Washington. If he can help to form a "Macedonian Issues Caucus" in the US Congress, it would be a great feat. Good luck Zoran!

"Interview of Macedonian Ambassador to US with Macedonian Radio"
Macedonian_News_Service : Message: Daily Bulletin:

Skopje, March 4 (MIA) - Lobbying for Macedonia's accession to NATO will be the top priority of the country's newly appointed Ambassador to the United States, Zoran Jolevski.

- Macedonia should present all of its trump cards, in particular the fact that it is a partner in the fight against terrorism. The US administration regards the country as a partner. Our achievements have been highly estimated, and the Government's economic reforms are also impressive, Jolevski says in an interview with the Macedonian Radio.

As an ambassador to the country that recognizes Macedonia's constitutional name, Jolevski is also planning to form a group of friendship at the US Congress, where the Greek lobby has been also rather active.

- The US foreign policy is consistent, which also refers to the name issue. At all of my meeting I will present the arguments why Macedonia is entitled to preserve its constitutional name that belongs to the country according to all international conventions, Jolevski says.

The Ambassador's priorities also include further development of the relations with Macedonians living in the US and Canada, as well as boosting the cooperation between Macedonian and"

Two Pseudo Rights Groups Talking Nonsense With Each Other

Calling the ICG and RFE fronts for the CIA would be giving them too much credit. Having them trading nonsense with each other is very funny. This interview with Gareth Evans, a nasty little piece of work,. is simply designed for misinformation to pressure the Serbs to capitulate on Kosovo. Its not going to work. Russia and China will stand firm against Kosovo independence for their own self-interest.

Macedonians will remember this former Australian Foreign Minister as adopting the Greek position on the Macedonian name issue. His "compromise" was to call everyone from the Republic of Macedonia ... wait for it ..."Slav Macedonians" ... including the Albanians!, Turks!, Jews! ... you get the picture. Good fun from a total goof!

"ICG: Russia likely to abstain from UNSC vote on Kosovo
Makfax vesnik:

Prague /23/02/ 15:05

Russia, regardless of the current opposition to the UN plan on Kosovo, will abstain from voting at the UN Security Council, which will lead to Council's adoption of Martti Ahtisaari's blueprint, ICG's president said.

In an interview with Radio Free Europe, Gareth Evans - the president of the International Crisis Group (ICG) said the Council's approval would not mean a formal proclamation and recognition of Kosovo's independence by the UN Security Council. However, it will put Kosovo on the road to statehood and each country can recognize Kosovo individually.

Although there is no mention of the word 'independence' in Ahtisaari's plan, Kosovo will be given clear perspective for self-rule.

'The plan is very carefully drafted, as there is no mention of 'independence', which is thorn in the eye, particularly to Russia, ICG's president said.

He added that Kosovo, however, could not enjoy a full independence given the need for long-term international presence. /end/"

Memo to Greece: Should Have Sent Troops to Iraq!

I don't really like to like to this Bulgarian News Agency, but sometimes they have good snippets of information. I am sure that Greece is working hard on the family tree of Barack Obama. The Greek lobby has deep roots in the Democratic Party, so the next US presidential election should see lots of pressure on the Democrats. If Obama choses to pander to the Greek lobby, it may offer the Republicans an opportunity to attack and subvert his campaign ... denial of basic human rights ...you know!

FOCUS Information Agency:

"Athens. Greece will have to look to the U.S. for support over the Macedonia name dispute, Macedonia daily Utrinski vesnik writes citing Greek Ethnos.

Greece, which has committed to back Macedonia’s NATO and EU membership but under the FYROM name, is now in the latest stage a crucial decision. If vetoed Macedonia could turn to the U.N. Security Council where three of the permanent members -- the USA, Russia and China, have recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name. This would be the most humiliating ending for Athens as only Greece and the EU would continue to use the FYROM name. Athens might call a referendum on the matter, Ethnos writes."

New Name for Macedonian Airport

I have never read a report from a Macedonian journalist in which a member of the US/EU diplomatic parade through Skopje is asked a question about ethnic rights for Macedonians in Greece. This is just another case in point. Mirceski is probably a nice guy, but the story misses the whole point of the Macedonian-Greek conflict .. that is human rights for Macedonians in Greece! If they exist, I wish someone could take the stories and quotes from these diplomats and put them on the web!


"Macedonian Airport Lifts Name Dispute to New Heights
BIRN:

18 01 2007 Decision to rename terminal after Alexander the Great marks new phase in tug of war with Athens.

By Vladimir Mirceski in Skopje (Balkan Insight, 18 Jan 07)

The UN mediator for resolving the dispute between Greece and Macedonia flew into trouble last weekend - literally - after touching down at an airport whose new name has brought the conflict to new heights.

Matthew Nimetz landed at Skopje airport just as the Macedonians were about to formally rename it after Alexander the Great, the 4th century BC warrior whom Greeks see as the epitome of classical Greek heroism.

Although the airport still bore the old name Airport Petrovec when he landed, as Nimetz drove towards the Macedonian parliament he could hardly miss the sight of new road signs to the airport proclaiming the name of the mighty conqueror whose empire stretched practically all the way to the Punjab.

Nimetz brought an angry message from Greek foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis, complaining that the move violated the Interim Agreement regulating relations between the two countries.

After a two-hour meeting in Skopje, Nimitz maintained the move was “not a major event here”, adding, however, that the issue was “between two neighboring countries and has to be dealt with great sensitivity”.

BBC Ignores Macedonia's Probems With Greece

We can see below the problem that Macedonia faces in getting its message out to the policy makers in the US/EU. This BBC profile mentions Greece's objections to Macedonia but does not mention Macedonia's objections to the treatment of ethnic Macedonian in Greece. It's a plot I tell ya!

Can't the Macedonian ambassador to the UK drive over to the BBC office and ask them to insert this sentence in the profile?

" ... implied territorial ambitions toward the northern Greek region of Macedonia. which has an ethnic Macedonian minority which is seeking minority rights!

Country profile: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia:
BBC NEWS |

"The country's name remains a contentious issue. It is still referred to formally as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

International recognition of the country's split from Yugoslavia in 1991 was held up over Greek fears that its name implied territorial ambitions toward the northern Greek region of Macedonia. Greece lifted a two-year trade blockade only after the two countries signed an accord in 1995."

Country profile: Greece

Greece has been in dispute since the early 1990s with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Greece contends that the use of the name Macedonia by the neighbouring country implies a territorial claim over Greece's own region of the same name. The UN is involved in continuing mediation efforts

Macedonia Should Have a Journalist at the State Department

If Greece really had a veto, as to whether Macedonia joins Nato or not, then negotiations with Nato would not begin until Macedonia agreed to Greece's terms. The statement below regarding Macedonia's Nato membership is just a way of playing for time until the US/EU can pressure Greece to accommodate Macedonia. So don't get your shorts in a knot, and lets fall off that bridge when we come to it.

US State Department Daily Press Briefing -- February 5:

"QUESTION: Yes. Mr. McCormack, on FYROM. Last Thursday, in answer to a question of mine regarding the land dispute between Greece and FYROM, inter alia, you stated, 'Greece and Macedonia need to come to sort of accommodation or understanding as to what Greece will refer to Macedonia as.' What do you mean with this since that reflects exactly the position of FYROM?

MR. MCCORMACK: Well, you asked a question about membership in NATO. That's how this whole question came about. Macedonia is part of the Membership Action Plan, MAP, so there is some interaction ongoing between NATO as an organization, its individual member-states and Macedonia. We ourselves have made a decision with respect to the name of Macedonia.

Now, eventually, as we have said, that NATO has an open door and we clearly have -- are engaged in discussions with other non-member states right now about the potential for membership down the road, one of those issues between Macedonia and Greece would have to be the name issue. And in -- if you were ever to -- if you were ever to get to membership for Macedonia in NATO, you would have to get all member NATO states agreeing that Macedonia should enter. So it was a reference to the fact that if you ever do get to that point, it's an issue that would need to be resolved between Macedonia and Greece since NATO is"

Greek View of Airport Dust-Up

Not a bad summary of the story from the Greek side.


FYROM denies hidden agenda:
ekathimerini.com

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) did not rename its main airport after Alexander the Great in order to provoke Athens but believes that the move could help resolve the dispute over the official name of Greece’s neighboring country, FYROM’s foreign minister told Sunday’s Kathimerini.

“There is no hidden agenda or intention to provoke the Greek government behind the decision to rename Petrovec Airport,” said Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki.

Last month’s renaming of the Skopje airport after Greece’s 4th century BC military hero led to criticism from Athens, which saw it as a blow to relations between the two countries.

“Bilateral relations with Greece are so stable, especially in the areas of trade, tourism and business investments, that the issue of the [airport’s] name cannot put these in any great danger,” the minister said.

Milososki added that the renaming “could provide a challenge... to reassess our attitude about what can be disputed and what cannot.”

FYROM’s foreign minister suggested looking at Alexander the Great through a “European prism” and seeing him as a figure who unites rather than divides countries.

Condi Rice named "Person of the Year" by The Macedonian Tendency

You have to read this article by Gene Rossides, President, American Hellenic, Institute and former Assistant, Secretary of the Treasury. I like to watch Greeks as they piss in their own soup. He blames a number of high ranking Republicans for past, present and anticipated future setbacks for Greece and Cyprus. These people have Greece by the "yaceh" and he proceeds to spit in their face. Thank you Gene!

Based on Gene's report, we are pleased to announce that Ms. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Designate is The Macedonian Tendency's "PERSON OF THE YEAR"!

Ms. Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State Designate, has been in the center of all the foreign policy decisions of President Bush. During the first Bush administration she was the foreign policy person closest to the President. She will have a far greater influence on foreign policy than Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.

Ms. Rice, as National Security Advisor, was involved in the betrayal of Greece in the administrationʼs unilateral decision to recognize the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as the Republic of Macedonia. The U.S. policy had been that we would use the name FYROM until Greece and FYROM by negotiations determined a solution to the name issue. The U.S. broke its pledge. It appears that a staff member of the NSC proposed the change in policy which Ms. Rice approved as did the State and Defense Departments.