Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer is correct to call for flexibility to enable a resolution to the dispute between Athens and Skopje over the use of the name Macedonia.
Not only is the issue a deeply emotional one for both sides, it appears to have become entangled in extraordinary political stunts.
Without taking sides, to the disinterested observer it appears that Skopje is behaving in a way that is not orientated towards a solution, as evidenced by the letter from Macedonia’s Nikola Gruevski to his Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis raising a range of issues that are unhelpful in creating a mood of compromise. It is abundantly clear that on the name issue alone, a compromise will be elusive enough.
Matthew Nimetz, the special envoy of the United Nations charged with mediating a compromise, has become a veteran of travel and talks on the name issue. He is not the only one, given that others are working behind the scenes to help.
For leaders in capitals in South Eastern Europe, not to mention Brussels and Washington, frustration must be building about an issue about which, it seems, some lack a genuine sincerity to resolve. It is not as if this region of Europe has nothing else on its agenda to consider.
It is to be hoped that the words of the Nato secretary-general, who hinted that the onus to achieve a compromise is greater on Skopje, will be heeded. Emotions need to become calmer and political will stronger, so that all the countries involved can move on to dealing with issues of great importance.
Comments by Done - 08:34 18 Jul 2008 |
 | Macedonian Name.
What is wrong with the Macedonian prime minister standing up for the Macedonians?
Wouldn't a Bulgarian prime minister do the same thing if the Bulgarians were treated equally in Greece? It is very hypocritical to hear this from an editor.
Then again the same human rights violations occur in Bulgaria. What more can one expect! |  |
Comments by Simeon - 09:05 18 Jul 2008 |
| It's time for Greece to compromise. Macedonia is finished compromising. | |
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| Dear Editor. I like the way you've conveniently left out the part about recognition of Greece's ethnic Macedonians.....something consistent with Communist Bulgaria's treatment of its ethnic Macedonians.
Your probably to scared to print this !! Peter Smith
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Comments by George - 10:29 18 Jul 2008 |
| This editor has no idea about the issue.
1. He bags how Skopje has a bad attidute to the name issue, because of a letter.
2. He bags the whole dispute and how the EU is sick of the issue.
Fact: Its Athens that has the problem not Skopje. Greece is the first country in history of this planet to dispute to a name of another Country, Nation and People. The only country in the world currently. Greece is also a EU and NATO member and currently braking the human Rigths law of the EU and NATO. Greece has the problem, not Macedonia. I will all way be Macedonian, it's what i want to be, NOT what Greece wants me to be Slave Macedonian or Nothern Macedonian. It's my right, to be just Macedonian. | |
Comments by Marjan - 10:44 18 Jul 2008 |
| How about we rename Bulgaria "Former Avar Region of Bulagria". I'm sure that Mr. Editor would have a differnt tune to this issue. | |
Comments by JJ - 11:38 18 Jul 2008 |
| Macedonia is a region where most of it is located in Greece and some in Bulgaria. Why should Skopje monopolize the name? They still believe that the Greek part is theirs and refer to the greeks as occupiers to Greek Macedonia....is this FAIR? We will never give up Thessaloníki and it's not Solun but THESSALONIKI. I think it's time for Thessaloniki to take Skopje to international court and sue them for still including this city in skopje's terretorial maps.
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Comments by Robert - 12:58 18 Jul 2008 |
| Most of the territory of Macedonia is indeed in Greece, but Republic of Macedonia is a country which is 100% within the territory of Macedonia. Thats why it has a right of the name. | |
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| TO EDITOR,SOFIA ECHO, MY CONGRATULATION!SIR FOR YOU VERY OBJECTIVE ARTICLE REGARDING SCOPJIE ATHENS, TO MANY OF OS SOUND LIKE ENIGMA!WHAT THOSE PEOPLE THINKING? WHAT THEY TRY TO DO? AT GREECE ARE TWO MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSEND GREEK MACEDONIAN THAT THEY SAY, THEY ARE THE TRUTH MACEDONIAN!THEY SAY SO NOT ME!I AM OUT SIDER ! AND THINKING TALKING OBJECTIVE,THEY COME TO THE POINT TO CRETISIZE THE EUROPIAN UNION ! THE NATO ALLIANCES AND MORE, BUT FORGAT THEM SELF,S WHO THOSE PEOPLE WHICH IS ONE MIXTURE OF ETHNICITYS WHICH GREAT TO ME ,BUT PROVOCATION THREATS INSULTS ANOTHER STATE AT THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY, IS CHILEDRISH FOOLISHSNESS ! WITH THE EU TRY TO INTEGRATE ALL PEOPLE TO LIVE AS ONE FAMMILY! THEIRS THINKING IS TO SAGRICATE ! MY JUDGMENT? I DIN,T BELIEVE SCOPJIE IS MATURE ENOUGH TO BE MEMBER TO ANY DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTION HOPE I AM WRONG!...MY SINCERE REGARDS. JAMES.
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Comments by cv - 13:45 18 Jul 2008 |
| As mention above its the first time in history that this thing happens. Of course!! Its the first time an other country is stealing the history and the name of another country. Everybody in this world knows that Alexander the Great and Macedonia is Greek. | |
Comments by Marjan - 14:47 18 Jul 2008 |
| Dumb Dumb. If Macedonia was Greek, how come Former Ottoman Empire of Greece didn't liberate Macedonia when Greece freed itself from the Ottoman Empire. It was the Macedonians that freed Macedonia from the Ottoman Empire and then the 3 Balkan Powers (Greece, Bulgaria, and Serbia) saw an opportunity to occupy the land. Greeks, Serbs, and Bulgars are as the Turks were. Occupiers of Macedonia. Greeks were never and will never be Macedonian. | |
Comments by JJ - 16:20 18 Jul 2008 |
| And Skojpians were never Macedonian nor will they ever be....YOU CANT HAVE GREEK MACEDONIA so get OVER IT! | |
Comments by alex - 16:27 18 Jul 2008 |
| Oh so we're occupiers of our own land; well if you want Greek Macedonia so bad why don't you come and get it? it would be wiser to stop while your ahead and go claim someone else's province as your own. How about Kosovo? YOu can steal whatever history they have while you're at it :) | |
Comments by KL - 16:30 18 Jul 2008 |
| "Most of the territory of Macedonia is indeed in Greece, but Republic of Macedonia is a country which is 100% within the territory of Macedonia. Thats why it has a right of the name."
Well robert, then why dont they just call themselves the Republic of Europe since there 100% in europe???? I'm sure the EU would love that | |
Comments by zk - 16:43 18 Jul 2008 |
| The rise of
1) nationalism in this "nation",
2) violence during the "democratic elections" leading to a second round of polls,
3) provocative statements to NATO and EU around their "racism", and
4) Bush's failing foreign policy
will lead to the implosion of this "nation" into a Greater Albania-Kosovo, and Greater Bulgaria in the next 4 years....It is unavoidable now that Gruevski is burning all his political bridges in the region and beyond. The Slovenians "tried" to sweep them in under the rug, but now they are exposed for the weak political hand they always had.
Grab some popcorn and a chair...this is going to be an interesting show....probably the first of its kind in the history of mankind. A country is going to get erased off the map, and immediately annexed by two others. | |
Comments by Philip - 17:03 18 Jul 2008 |
| I'm a Greek born in the Province of Macedonia and I have a right to call myself Macedonia. Skopjians are racists and have no right to monopolize my identity and the identity of my fellow country men. We are Macedonian forever and we refuse to let Skopje bully us.
Leave us alone | |
Comments by Robert P. Michaels - 17:17 18 Jul 2008 |
| Spot-on editorial. Someone needs to tell Mr. Gruevski that irridentist propaganda is unacceptable in today's political climate.
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Comments by Macedonian - 20:38 18 Jul 2008 |
| My enlightened Greek friends, please help me answer the following:
Am I racist if I choose to use a name my ancestors were using to identify my nation and my cultural background?
Am I irredentist if I require the private property that was unrightfully confiscated from my ancestors to be returned to me?
Am I backward if I ask Hellenic Republic to honor human rights provisions guarantying the right of every individual to choose and preserve his cultural identity?
Is there something awkward and wrong with the Greek perception of the modern world or there is something else that you want to achieve?
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Comments by Simeon - 22:48 18 Jul 2008 |
| Greeks can call themselves 'Macedonian' if that's what they want to do. That doesn't mean they have the right to block Macedonians from calling themselves Macedonian, though. And Greeks are perfectly entitled to rename their Macedonian region to 'the Greek province of Macedonia' if they like. But that doesn't mean they can rename the Republic of Macedonia. This issue needs to be taken out of the EU and put before the courts. | |
Comments by tony - 00:25 19 Jul 2008 |
| The name dispute issue has absolutely nothing to do with history.
IT IS A LEGAL ISSUE.
You cannot use a name that someone else is also using.Macedonia was all 3 parts of Ancient Macedonia, when the partition took place in 1913.
WHEN THE PARTITION TOOK PLACE THE 3 PARTS CARRIED THE FOLLOWING NAMES.
1- VARDAR Macedonia
2- PIRIN Macedonia
3- AEGEAN Macedonia
Who were the ancient people of Macedonia,what is the Macedonia language or civilization.... that it is NOT the issue.
The issue is that FYROM cannot monopolize the name.
In closing every reasonable person in Greece ,in Fyrom or the rest of the World understands that in front of the name Macedonia it MUST be a qualifier name such as :VARDAR,NORTHERN,SLAVIC,NOVA,NEW ect.
Just Like North America,New England,Nova Scotia,French Somalia ect.
PLEASE stop arguing History as that is NOT THE ISSUE.
In closing I would like to give my Fyrom friends the following advice:
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT OF THE HOLE.... PLEASE STOP DIGGING!!!!
Tony | |
Comments by Marjan - 00:33 19 Jul 2008 |
| Philip and James, you say you are Macedonians. Ok you may call yourself Macedonians. I have no issues with that,however Dora the Greek does along with the rest of he stooges. They say Macedonians don't exist. Explain that to me. Recognize me as a Macedonian from Vardar Region and I recognize you as a Macedonian from the Aegean Region.
Thank you. | |
Comments by Philip - 03:27 19 Jul 2008 |
| How can we call you Macedonian if you believe that my homeland is occupied by the Greeks and that Thessaloniki is yours? We can't call you macedonia b/c we are not like you in anyway...we have nothing in common. If you are french you belong to France, american to the US but we do not belong to Skopje. Perhaps if you let go of your claims to Greek macedonia history and terretorial claims in our lands then yes it would be ok to call yourselves whatever you want. However, take a look at what your fellow countrymen have written above..."Macedonia is not Greek" I am Macedonia and you have no right to say that I am not b/c I am greek. This is ethnic genocide by skopjians against the Greek Macedonians and Thessaloniki needs to take them to international court. Athens and Thessaloniki dont see eye to eye on quite a few things but at least Athens is the only one trying to protect us and our macedonian identity which you're trying to steal from us. Macedonia is Greek as well, Thessaloniki is Greek and you cant do anything or say anything to change that | |
Comments by Simeon - 05:10 19 Jul 2008 |
| I beg your pardon, there is no such ethnic Group as "Greek Macedonian". If today's new Greeks want to call themselves "Greek Macedonians" or "Greek Spartans" or that's a geographic descriptor. Macedonians didn't show up in the region after the Asia Minor debacle like today's Greeks, they've been there 1500 years, not 50 years. | |
Comments by greek macedonia - 09:17 19 Jul 2008 |
| Exactly, that's why you skopjians are racists...we are Greek Macedonians and you cant change that. We will not let you bully us any longer. You want Athens to acknowledge ethnic macedonians yet you wont acknowledge greek macedonians? We must stop Skopjian ethnic genocide now
Vive Greek Macedonians! | |
Comments by Alexi - 02:43 23 Jul 2008 |
| Skopje is not only to blame for ethnic genocide of Greek Macedonians but also for the ethnic genocide of Bulgarian Macedonians. In FYROM, Bulgarian Macedonians are heavily oppressed b/c Skopje wants to monopolise the Macedonian identity. Stop the ethnic genocide of Macedonians by Skopje
Cursed be the tyrant Skopje! | |
