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On Thu, 30 Apr 2009 23:21:58 -0700 (PDT), pavel <...@yahoo.com
Two countries at odds over a name
By Paul Kirby
EU reporter, BBC News
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7278023.stm
Protesters have taken to the streets in both countries
Ever since Macedonia gained independence in 1991, its name has been
the subject of a bitter dispute with southern neighbour, Greece.
Now, the name of the former Yugoslav republic could jeopardise its bid
to join the EU and Nato.
In a progress report, the EU said on Wednesday that Macedonia could
still make enough progress this year to begin accession negotiations.
The only problem could be its name.
In the words of EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn: "If we can't
settle this issue, I'm afraid it will have negative ramifications [for
EU accession]."
Greek region
Macedonia is already the name of a northern Greek region and Greeks
are angry that the former Yugoslav republic has linked its heritage to
Philip of Macedon and Alexander the Great.
They argue that taking its name inherently suggests territorial
ambitions beyond their neighbour's existing borders.
Until now the dispute has been papered over with a manufactured deal
allowing the Macedonians to sit in the United Nations under the name
Fyrom, former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, whose capital is
Skopje.
The Republic of Macedonia exists constitutionally and has been
recognised by much of the international community, although many
countries including the UK use the name Fyrom in international
organisations.
Greek veto
But when it comes to joining the European Union and Nato, Greece, as a
member of both, has the power of veto. A unanimous vote is necessary
before new members are allowed in.
As long as the neighbouring country persists in a position of
intransigence, the answer is 'no solution means no invitation'
Costas Karamanlis
Greek Prime Minister
Macedonia is already a candidate for EU membership and the European
Commission has announced that, despite two years of slow movement, the
necessary progress towards a start-date for accession talks could be
made by the end of 2008.
Nato foreign ministers considered Macedonia along with Albania and
Croatia at a meeting in Brussels on Thursday, with a view to inviting
them to join the alliance at a summit in Bucharest in April.
The three countries are already members of Nato's Membership Action
Plan, paving the way for possible membership.
Greece has no problem with Albania and Croatia, but it is digging in
its heels over its northern neighbour.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki told the BBC News
website his country's soldiers had already played their part in
Afghanistan.
"If other Nato countries, including Greece, do not mind when our
soldiers employed in Afghanistan wear on their uniforms the name of
our country, Macedonia, and our flag why would Greece mind if we
joined the alliance after we have fulfilled all the relevant
criteria?"
I would like to see how prepared Greece would have been if we were
speaking about the constitutional name of the Republic of Greece
Antonio Milososki
Macedonian Foreign Minister
That argument is rejected by Nikos Karahalios, campaign manager of
Greece's ruling New Democracy party, who says simply that Greek public
opinion will not accept another Macedonia.
"It might sound very sentimental but it is embedded in the hearts and
minds of Greeks," he says.
"I think [Greek Prime Minister Costas] Karamanlis has no other option
than to wield the veto. The stance of the public will not let us back
down."
Five names
UN envoy Matthew Nimetz has been busy negotiating in search of a name
acceptable to both sides.
But five names he proposed were turned down in February. Reports
suggest Athens was happy with "Republic of Upper Macedonia" but Skopje
was not.
The other four names he suggested were: Independent Republic of
Macedonia, New Republic of Macedonia, Democratic Republic of Macedonia
and Constitutional Republic of Macedonia.
Greece has been a Nato member for 55 years
Mr Nimetz has been holding further talks in the two capitals, but
passions on both sides of the border are high.
Thousands of people protested in Skopje at the end of February because
of a possible name change and there have been similar demonstrations
in Thessaloniki, the capital of Macedonia in northern Greece.
As far as Nato is concerned, Mr Karamanlis has made it clear that the
problem lies with Macedonia.
After talks with Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on
Monday, he said: "As long as the neighbouring country persists in a
position of intransigence, the answer is 'no solution means no
invitation'."
Mr Milososki says Macedonia has already bent over backwards, first by
changing its flag in 1995 and then by amending its constitution to
specify no territorial aspiration against any neighbour, particularly
Greece.
On Thursday, his government produced a two-page advertisement in the
UK's Times newspaper, objecting to Greece's position and listing 30
reasons for Nato membership.
'Cornerstone'
Mr Karahalios says Greeks are unconvinced by their neighbour's
assurances: "We have seen proof that they are cultivating the feelings
of irredentists. Official maps come every now and then out of their
foreign ministry which include Greek soil."
The Macedonian government also has to consider public opinion on an
issue which its foreign minister describes as "the cornerstone of our
nation".
"I would like to see how prepared Greece would have been if we were
speaking about the constitutional name of the Republic of Greece,"
says Mr Milososki who insists his government is prepared for a
bilateral compromise.
In 1995, Athens agreed not to let its northern neighbour's name
prevent it from joining international organisations.
Now that the former Yugoslav republic is knocking on the door of two
more, it may be left to the organisations themselves to find a way
out.
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