MAK-NEWS 03/05/95 (M.I.L.S.)
CONTENTS
[01] REAL DANGER OF GLOBAL WAR
[02] CRVENKOVSKI'S ACTIVITIES IN BUDAPEST
[03] STEPHANOPOULOS WARNS GLIGOROV
[04] WORLD CONFERENCE ON CRIME
[05] WORLD CONFERENCE ON HEALTH TAKES PLACE IN GENEVA
[06] SIMOSKA AND GABER MEET EVANS
[07] AMBASSADOR MIRCEV PRESENTS CREDENTIALS
[08] MACEDONIAN-TURKISH SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION
[09] GENERAL STRIKE TO CONTINUE UNDER SECRET SCENARIO
[10] SEMINAR ON MACEDONIAN TOURISM
[11] KOSOVO OUGHT TO HAVE AUTONOMY, BROEK SAID
[12] SITUATION IN MACEDONIA INCREASINGLY TENSE
[13] AEGEAN MACEDONIANS' ASSOCIATION HOLD MEETING
[14] MACEDONIAN CHURCH DELEGATION VISITS AUSTRALIA
[15] MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: CONTRADICTORY POLICIES THAT COURT DISASTER (The Washington Times, 4 April 1995)
M I L S N E W S
Skopje, 3 May 1995
[01] REAL DANGER OF GLOBAL WAR
In an interview with Reuters, US ambassador to NATO Hunter
said the bombing of Zagreb is a very dangerous moment and
that the risk of a global war has become real. He added that
the UN troops will remain in the former Yugoslavia, but NATO
is prepared to begin a withdrawal operation should France or
any other country warn that the fighting is threatening the
safety of the peacekeeping troops.
[02] CRVENKOVSKI'S ACTIVITIES IN BUDAPEST
Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski met in
Budapest with Yohei Kono, vice-president of the Government
of Japan. Kono presented his Government's proposal for aid
to Macedonia, that being settling the debt to international
financial institutions and dealing with problems in the
economy. He said Japan will provide irrevocable credit for
hospitals in Macedonia and will help Macedonia get included
in the UNIDO program.
Crvenkovski also met with Laslo Kovac, Minister and current
OSCE Head. They discussed possibilities of admitting
Macedonia to OSCE as a full member. Kovac also told
Crvenkovski that Hungary will open an embassy in Skopje.
[03] STEPHANOPOULOS WARNS GLIGOROV
The new Greek President Constantin Stephanopoulos said
Gligorov's attempts to "usurp the name Macedonia and the
Vergina Star" are "ridiculous". "This," he stated, "is a
proof of his expansionist plans for turning Skopje into a
center of future expansion of the entire Macedonia." He also
attacked Greece's allies in Europe and the world for not
being well informed on the situation in the Balkans.
Meantime, spectators in Athens say Prime Minister Andreas
Papandreou's view on the Macedonia issue is "more flexible
than before". The same sources say direct talks between
Skopje and Athens could be renewed in New York as soon as
sometime this month.
[04] WORLD CONFERENCE ON CRIME
In Kairo on April 29, the UN opened a conference against the
organized crime, international terrorism and corruption. The
conference, to last until May 8, is attended by 150
delegates of 140 states. The Macedonian delegation to the
conference is led by Minister of the Interior Ljubomir
Frckovski, who yesterday addressed those present. He pointed
to Macedonia's central geographic and strategic position,
unstable situation and conflicts in the region, as well as
the fact that the problems in the economy resulting from the
Greek embargo are affecting the stability of the country.
Speaking about potential dangers of organized crime in
Macedonia, Frckovski underlined the danger of money
laundering by companies established by former Eastern
intelligence agencies and trading with arms with the Middle
East, as well as the danger of drug trafficking as part of
the organized crime. A preventive measure against all this,
he said, would be to include Macedonia into the Council of
Europe.
[05] WORLD CONFERENCE ON HEALTH TAKES PLACE IN GENEVA
The 48th Conference of the World Health Organization started
in Geneva yesterday. A Macedonian delegation to the summit
is led by Health Minister Ilija Filipce. The participants
will focus on increasing solidarity and achieving a level of
equality of health in the world.
[06] SIMOSKA AND GABER MEET EVANS
The Macedonian diplomatic delegation to Australia, led by
Minister of Education Emilija Simoska and Foreign Ministry
under-secretary Victor Gaber, met yesterday with Australian
Foreign Minister Garret Evans in Canberra. They discussed
ways of improving bilateral relations. The Macedonian
contingent pointed out that current economic and political
cooperation is far below the desired level. Meeting with
State Secretary of Education and Employment Walker, the
Macedonian delegates expressed interest in the development
of Macedonian-language schools in Australia and overcoming
problems with degrees obtained at universities in
Macedonia. This meeting was the last activity of the
Macedonian delegation in Australia.
[07] AMBASSADOR MIRCEV PRESENTS CREDENTIALS
In Rome, last Friday, the newly appointed Macedonian
ambassador to Vatican Dimitar Mircev presented his
credentials to Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State of the Holy
See.
[08] MACEDONIAN-TURKISH SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION
In accordance with the Agreement on Scientific and Technical
Cooperation, authorized representatives of the Ministry of
Science and the Scientific Research Council of Macedonia
signed an execution agreement for the period of 1995 to
1997. The agreement was signed in Ankara.
[09] GENERAL STRIKE TO CONTINUE UNDER SECRET SCENARIO
The Coordinating Committee of the Independent Trade Union
Association described last week's strike at the Macedonia
square in Skopje as successful. Due to the Government
proposal, Union officials said, the strike is suspended, but
will continue with a new, undisclosed plan. The Union
refuted the news stated by Government's spokesman Ismail of
the strike having been organized by VMRO-DPMNE. The official
trade union, they said, is a farce organization, unable to
organize a general strike.
[10] SEMINAR ON MACEDONIAN TOURISM
In association with the German Ministry of Tourism, the
Macedonian Ministry of Economy will hold a seminar on
tourism in Macedonia in Ohrid on May 4 through 6. The goal
of the seminar will be to activate the Macedonian tourist
opportunities for Germany and other European countries.
[11] KOSOVO OUGHT TO HAVE AUTONOMY, BROEK SAID
The national television of Albania reported on a two-day
visit to Tirana paid by Hans Van den Broek, EU Commissioner
for Relations With Central and Eastern European Countries.
Answering reporters' questions at the Congress Hall in
Tirana, Broek said Macedonia should respect the rights of
Albanians there and said Kosovo ought to be given back its
autonomy.
[12] SITUATION IN MACEDONIA INCREASINGLY TENSE
"The situation in Macedonia is increasingly tense,
especially after the fabricated court hearing against the
initiators of the university in Tetovo," said Naser Ziberi,
PDP secretary and parliament deputy during his meeting with
John Coolis, under-secretary of the British embassy to
Skopje.
[13] AEGEAN MACEDONIANS' ASSOCIATION HOLD MEETING
The Association of Aegean Macedonians held a meeting in
Bitola two days ago to adopt a new statute and re-elect
Aleksandar Popovski a president. The meeting was attended by
delegates of the Association's branches.
[14] MACEDONIAN CHURCH DELEGATION VISITS AUSTRALIA
A delegation of the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox
Church, consisting of metropolits Petar, Stefan and Ratomir
Grozdanovski, is currently on a visit to Australia. Over the
next 40 days, the delegation will tour all Macedonian
churches on the continent and will dedicate newly built
churches there.
[15] MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: CONTRADICTORY POLICIES THAT
COURT DISASTER
(The Washington Times, 4 April 1995)
The first great European conflict began in the Balkans.
Unless we are careful, so may the last. Three years after
the beginning of war in Bosnia, international attention
remains riveted on the fate of that tragic nation. But
Macedonia is perhaps an even more dangerous flash-point in
the Balkans. Unless the international community takes strong
action, we could see the outbreak of a general Balkan war
that could draw in the European powers and even the United
States. And there will be no such strong action without firm
US leadership.
The strategic importance of Macedonia transcends its size,
about that of Vermont, and its population, just a fraction
more than 2 million. It looms large because of the Balkans'
unforgiving geography and Macedonia's own volatile ethnic
mix.
Tensions between the country's Macedonian majority and
Albanian minority - estimated at between 20 percent and 40
percent - already runs high. Should this tension escalate
into civil war, it might prompt intervention from Albania to
the west. Conflict could spread across Macedonia's northern
border with Serbia - where there is a large and restive
Albanian population in Kosovo.
Greece, already consumed by an angry dispute with Macedonia,
might be tempted to become involved. Turkey, Bulgaria and
others could follow. Under such a scenario, the West
Europeans, the United States and even Russia could be forced
to pick sides - with disastrous consequences for the peace
of Europe.
The Clinton administration is clearly aware of the risks in
Macedonia but appears unwilling to take the decisive action
necessary to address them.
There are already 550 US troops in Macedonia as part of a UN
observer force - ostensibly to maintain stability. The
administration is apparently contemplating dispatching
another 1,500 soldiers, perhaps as part of a division-sized
NATO contingent. Even as it considers increasing our
military presence on the ground, however, the administration
has refused to take a firm stand against an irresponsible
Greek embargo directed at land-locked Macedonia.
The embargo was imposed 14 months ago because Athens, for
historical reasons, objects to Macedonia's flag and even its
name. In a further bow to Athens and the Greek-American
community in the United States, the administration has not
sent an accredited US ambassador to the Macedonian capital,
Skopje.
The administration's approach on Macedonia is not just
confused - it is contradictory. The US is in a grotesque
position of defending the territorial integrity of a nation
we refuse to have full diplomatic relaitons with. The
arguments the administration offers in defense of its
policy, not surprisingly, do not hold water.
For example, one administration official has admitted: "We
have repeatedly said that the embargo is wrong. But we have
a 150-years history of friendship with Greece, and we are
not going to destroy it over this." This statement rings
hollow coming from an administration whose actions have
caused far more important bilateral relationship with
Britain to reach its lowest point in modern history. In
addition, the statement's premise is false. The US-Greek
relationship is far too important for both countries to be
"destroyed" by Washington sending an accredited ambassador
to Skopje. The suggestion that Athens would sever relations
with the United States over this is, frankly, either
breathtakingly obtuse or disingenious.
Some of Greece's partners in the European Union are far less
squeamish than the United States has been in condemning
Athens' irresponsible embargo against Macedonia. Last year,
the European Commission filed a petition against Greece in
the European Court of Justice, calling the blockade illegal
and unwarranted. The court's final decision is expected this
summer.
Meanwhile, the embargo continues. Since it was imposed,
Macedonia has lost about 50 percent of its yearly export
earnings. Today, Macedonia's gross domestic product is
roughly half what it was in 1990, and unemployment is
running about 35 percent. Athens' embargo is making a bad
economic situation worse and is recklessly contributing to
the rising tension between ethnic Macedonians and Albanians
that already threatens to tear the country apart. The
moderate government of Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov is
increasingly embattled.
Moving decisively on Macedonia will require the
administration to stand up to a Greek-American community
that strongly supports Athens' stance against Macedonia. It
is never easy, much less pleasant, to confront a powerful
domestic constituency in order to serve a greater national
interest. The Bush administration deferred full recognition
of Macedonia in part because of political pressure during
the 1992 presidential campaign. This was a mistake, and one
that I, as secretary of state at the time, still regret.
Today, with US soldiers at risk and the potential for a
broader Balkan conflict far higher, there is no excuse for
our failure to act. First, the administration should move
beyond pro forma disapproval of the blockade to an
unambiguous condemnation. The administration should also
announce the appointment of a US ambassador and dispatch him
or her in Skopje immediately. This would clearly signal to
Athens and other capitals in the region our seriousness
about supporting Macedonia's independence and territorial
integrity.
Second, the administration needs to work with its Western
European allies to broadly redefine the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization's mission to encompass preserving peace
and stability in Europe. This redefinition should permit
NATO military action anywhere and under any circumstances
when that peace and stability is threatened should a
majority or a supermajority of alliance members concur. Five
years after the end of the Cold War, NATO remains an
organization in search of a mission. It need only look as
far as preventing a broader Balkan war.
Third, the administration should take the lead within NATO
in forging an effective policy to contain the Balkan
conflict. This should begin with an explicit NATO warning to
all of Macedonia's neighbors - Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria
and, yes, even NATO-member Greece - that any adventurism in
Macedonia would be considered a threat to European peace and
stability and would be met with full force of the alliance.
Had NATO been in a position to have taken a similar stance
toward Bosnia at the beginning of the conflict there, it
would have been better prepared to deal with, and perhaps
even avert, the disaster that unfolded.
By acting now, NATO can avoid yet another tragic "might-
have-been". But warnings, as the administration's self-
defeating policy of empty threats in Bosnia has made clear,
are not enough. Resolve must match rhetoric. The warning
needs to be backed up by a credible use of force. This means
well-armed troops on the ground supported by air power. A
division-sized NATO force, including a substantial US
component, should be sufficient.
If we do not move quickly, there could be a repeat of the
Bosnian humanitarian nightmare as Macedonia plunges into
chaos. But there is far more than humanitarianism at issue
for US policy-makers.
The United States have fought three European wars in this
century - two hot and one cold - and three are quite enough.
We should have learned by now that we cannot ignore a
fundamental challenge to Continental stability. If general
instability occurs in Europe - and a deterioration of the
situation in Macedonia risks precisely that - the United
States will become involved whether we like it or not. It is
better to accept the cost of deference now than pay the
price of broader conflict later.
(end) mils-news 3 May '95
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