MAK-NEWS 15/09/95 (M.I.L.S.)

From: "M.I.L.S." <mils@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 15 September 1995

[01] STATEMENTS ON THE OCCASION OF SIGNING THE AGREEMENT

BILL CLINTON: He greeted the agreement between Republic of Greece and Republic of Macedonia stressing that it is of great interest for both countries and will significantly enforce the international stability helping the efforts of the Americans to reach wider peace in the Balkans. "Both Prime Minister Papandreu and President Gligorov deserve congratulations for the courage shown and the determination for reaching an agreement, which was rightful for both sides", he added.

BOUTROS GHALI: "The agreement provides both sides to continue the negotiations under my mandate trusted by the Security Council with the resolutions 845 and 817. On my behalf I guarantee that I'll do my best to help in these negotiations and I believe that they will successfully conclude in the near future".

KAROLOS PAPOULIAS: "This is a very important agreement and a step forward after long and hard negotiations and the Greek government greets it. I believe that the Greek foreign policy is freed from a difficult subject and with the today's agreement, many questions which were a burden to the Greek foreign policy are resolved. There is only the name issue left. I predict extremely difficult negotiations for the name issue, which are to begin right after the termination of the thirty day term set forth in the agreement. The embargo will be lifted the very day when Macedonia will change the flag and give a statement for the Constitution. There will be no change of the Greek attitude for the name issue".

EVANGELOS VENIZELOS: "The Greek government is absolutely satisfied. Positions which it formulated from the outset, positions which it firmly stuck to, were accepted". Under the agreement, Venizelos said," the other side undertakes the obligation to change its flag which bears the Star of Vergina and never again use national symbols linked to Greece's cultural and historical heritage". He added that Skopje also undertook the obligation to change its Constitution in order "to appease all Greek opposition to the Constitution's preamble and articles 2 and 49". "it is also recognizes such interpretation ( of the Constitution), binding under international law, which will avert all possible misunderstandings, both now and in the future. The undertaking of an international commitment concerning the content and interpretation, and consequently the legal value of certain constitutional provisions, is a much stronger commitment than the amendment of those provisions which theoretically could in the future be replaced by a subsequent amendment, by the restatement of previous formulations etc." Venizelos said. Stressing that Greece would not back down from its position on the name, Venizelos clarified that the interim agreement would not be annulled if the two sides failed to reach agreement on the name. "Commitments have been taken" Venizelos said, adding that Liaison offices would be opened in both Athens and Skopje.

MILTIADES EVERT: He predicted an "endless discussion" would begin on the question of the name "which will in the end lead nowhere because Skopje government, through the UN, to realize the need for not using the name of 'Macedonia' ". Evert said that he was not aware of the details of the accord, but added that "it is so unacceptable that the term 'Greece' is not even mentioned, but 'the two sides' is used instead in order to equate our country with a state that claims the name of 'Macedonia' ''.

STEVO CRVENKOVSKI: "There will be no negotiations for the name issue, although there are not excluded certain meetings with the mediator Syrus Vance...The agreement has unlimited validity until it is changed with the new agreement. But, however in the first seven years this agreement can not be terminated. There is a mechanism to be set in motion before the International Court in a case if this agreement is broken.

SYRUS VANCE: "At this period of thirty days the experts will meet and they will talk over some measures which will make easier the application of the agreement ".

MATTHEW NIMITZ: "I'm always an optimist but regarding the name issue, it will not be easy. We should do all that we can. The beginning of the negotiations for the name issue is expected to start in the second half of October, but the negotiations will not be easy. The Greek prime Minister got everything he asked for. That is not only the embargo but the very agreement which gives possibilities for full economic and cultural relations and cooperation in the region. FYROM will now be included in the NATO program. It is good for Greece to have a neighbor like the one which is friendly oriented."

MIGUEL ANGEL MARTINEZ: The agreement will accomplish the stabilization in the Balkans, and is very important element for resolving of the conflict in former Yugoslavia. He called the Parliamentarian Assembly of the Council of Europe to accept the application for full membership submitted by Macedonia and Ukraine in the Council at the next session, to be held in September 25- 29.

KLAUS KINKEL: Signing of the Macedonian -Greek agreement is an example for solving mutual problems. The problems were difficult to solve but they found a way for finding peace and security in the region and may be used as an example to the other countries. Republic of Macedonia deserves our help in the resolvement of its difficult economic situation and it will not be left out.

FRANCE: "This agreement is opening the way for giving economic help to Macedonia by EU, through the program PHARE, through opening of the negotiations for making an arrangements for cooperation between the EU and Macedonia.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION: The representative of the Foreign Ministry positively evaluated the agreements. It is cited that the establishment of the Greek-Macedonian relations is not only an example of the possibilities for political solving of the problems, but it also appears as a factor for total stabilization of the situation in the Balkans.

ZELJU ZELEV: "Macedonian-Greek agreement creates a positive climate for solving other problems existing in the Balkans."

GEORGI PIRINSKI: "The agreement is a courageous step of both governments and will accomplish for fortification of the independence and sovereignty of Macedonia". He also voiced readiness to find a solution for the mentioned formulation with the Macedonian language, for already prepared but not signed arrangements of various fields.

KIRO GLIGOROV: "I particularly greet the realistic attitude that neighboring Greece have shown in the signing of the agreement. Macedonian-Greek relations have a perspective, in interest of both countries, peace and good neighboring relations of all Balkans nations. It is especially important now , in the implementation of the agreement to show good will, readiness and a fair relationship for realizing of the agreement ,which is in the interest of both sides. I'm deeply convinced that this act can become a turning point for the future of the Balkans.

In this sense also are sent written messages from President Gligorov to Greek President Stephanopoulios and Prime Minister Papandreu.

STOJAN ANDOV: "This turnover, certain extreme groups will take it difficult and for sure there will be some reactions in both countries. This should not worry us. That is a natural result of such actions, but we should bear in mind that both governments, the mediator Syrus Vance, and the US Government have shown both persistence and wisdom to come to this agreement which will have far more meaning."

BRANKO CRVENKOVSKI: "Stabilization of the relations with Greece is a major event and a great chance for the relations between us and our southern neighbor. I hope that the agreement, in the forthcoming period, not only will promote bilateral relations, but on the contrary will enforce the total international position of Republic of Macedonia. It will also provide sooner stabilization of the relations with our northern neighbor, because only reason that Serbia cited for not regulating the relations with Macedonia was the resolvement of the dispute with Greece.

[02] OFFICES OF "RAINBOW" BURNED

Unknown persons this morning, after yesterday's unsuccessful attempt to tear down the plate of the office of the party of Macedonian national minority in Greece "Rainbow", have burned the offices of the party.

As a precedents to this event were two burglaries in the offices of "Rainbow" in Lerin, when the party documentation was stolen. Yesterday the Public Prosecutor of Lerin brought charges against "Rainbow" on the basis of causing "discord" between the people.

After the yesterday's public announcement, "Rainbow" supported the signing of the agreement between Greece and Macedonia.

On the burning of the offices of "Rainbow" The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of Macedonia in a today's announcement qualifies this as a cruelest way of violating the human rights.

"We believe that it will not be allowed that we become prisoners of the retrograde dark Balkans instincts. We are convinced that the national way of thinking and acting does not lead to any resolvment, but only to burning of nationalistic passions and using of violence as a cruelest way of violating human rights" is said in the announcement of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of Republic of Macedonia.

On the same occasion today also spoke the Helsinki Committee for Protection of Rights of the Minorities in Greece, which is also denouncing the violations and burning of the office of "Rainbow"

"This party includes Greek citizens which belong to the Macedonian national minority, which is internationally recognized everywhere but unfortunately not in Greece. This event shows that Greece does not respect the international principles for free expression and the rights of the minorities. On the other hand, this shows that the Macedonian national minority is significantly numerous, and not "group of Skopje's agents" as some Greek journalists and politicians named it". It is said in the announcement of the Helsinki Committee for Right of the Minorities of Republic of Greece.

[03] A LETTER OF CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

Canadian Macedonian Human rights Committee sent a letter to the Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov, which says as follows:

Dear Mr. President

We implore you to review those processes currently agreed to. We consider it self-evident that no individual or group can circumvent the democratic principles upon which the Macedonian nation is founded. It is our reasoned position that the latest acts undertaken by your government are improper. Your decisions have been made in isolation of the people and a result, the legality and political ramifications of these deals must also be evaluated.

You should not need to be reminded that our Macedonian identity, in all of its forms and manifestations, is not a possession for elected legislatures to barter. You are attempting - should you be permitted to succeed - to establish a precedent whereby the Macedonian identity, in the form of its elements, becomes negotiable matter. Mr. President, with all due respect, we believe that such activities are not within the realm of your office. These decisions are the estate of the people, directly and inviolably and not the property of their agents to determine in isolation. We are witnessing the establishment of a fundamental conflict between citizens and the state as to who is the rightful heir of the Macedonian identity.

We strongly urge you to completely disengage the issue of identity from the negotiating process. The commitments you have allegedly signed in New York vis-`a- vis the Macedonian state symbol, and the Macedonian Constitution, are inappropriate. The issue of identity impacts directly upon the lives of those Macedonians living in the neighboring states. With this questionable agreement you have caused a strong negative reaction among the Macedonian people and have set in motion a number of mechanisms. Your willingness to negotiate elements of the Macedonian identity is causing divisions amongst the Macedonian people. This current agreement ask that the Macedonian people be given the last word on any agreement that are crafted.

MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT:

[04] MEET THE AUSTRALIAN - MACEDONIAN INTELLECTUALS: JIM THOMEV ( Part II)

(Previously featured in "Today-Denes" Melbourne, Australia)

Question: It is said that the intelligentsia of the RM. is under the control of the Government, and is therefore too silent or too directed in its public behavior. To what extent can the intelligentsia of Diaspora influence this situation, or at least this impression? In point of fact, does the intelligentsia in the Diaspora make enough effort towards self-realization on the new lands?

Answer: I have already suggested a partial answer to the first part of this question in my answer to the last question. I seriously believe that the last thing that the Macedonian intellectuals in the RM. want is to be told how to run their affairs by citizens of another country.

With regards to the intelligentsia in the Diaspora, I think that for many professionals and business people of Macedonian origin, the issue of their Macedonian ethnicity, and that of ethnicity in general, is completely irrelevant. This will become more so as time marches on and people realize they are human beings first before they are anything else. In any case, the Macedonian communities in Australia are not led by an organized 'intelligentsia'-this term strictly has no application in Australia, for instance.

Question: What should be done to guarantee continuity of the generations in the Diaspora? Many ethnic communities have known the problem of establishing churches, social and cultural centers and not having anyone to take them over in the new generations. Such for example has been the fate of the Bulgarian Macedonians centered on the MPO and Yugoslav Macedonians and so forth. In the present situations in Australia, USA, Canada and Western Europe, have the Macedonians a better chance of self-affirmation and preservation of their perennial traditions?

Answer: I think it is a serious mistake to legislate for future generations and to tell them what they should or should not be doing. I think that is part of the patriarchal mentality from which we should be moving away.

The values of the new generations will have to be determined by their needs, and no doubt, as in any generation, these will be diverse and often contradictory.

Whilst certain issues and themes preoccupied some members of my own generation of Macedonians, it does not mean that my own children will be interested in the same themes. Indeed, I would be astonished if their interests as citizens of the global village in the Computer age, born in Australia, having their schooling in the world (English), were not entirely different from mine and that of people like myself who have had to bear the brunt of the disadvantages that migration carried with it.

I think that new generations will negotiate their own themes and interests. If the Macedonian Orthodox Church is important to them, for example, then by all means they will maintain it as a tradition. What this means in the Computer Age is anybody's guess.

What will and should not happen is debate with chauvinists from our neighbors about whether there is a Macedonian ethnic identity. What more evidence do they need? We often make the mistake that nationalists foaming at the mouth who deny the Macedonian identity can be convinced with rational debate. The Macedonians are obviously a sizeable ethnic group in the world, and only the perverse or politically motivated can deny this fact and fail to recognize it.

In Australia, the real immediate issues concern the welfare of our elderly who do not speak English and therefore need services in Macedonian. For this and many other reasons, we should teach our language to the new generations. We have to minimize the suffering of people who have already been traumatized enough.

Cultural diversity, which has now come to be the term which has replaced "multiculturalism", implies more than just 'ethnic' differences. People may want to be proud of their differences, but ultimately we shall have to share a world in which we must have peace and tolerance to survive. I can only hope that future generations of Macedonians use the wisdom gained from the historical experience of their ancestors, characterized as it has been by suffering and oppression, to promote the values of respect, recognition and tolerance for all people in the world.

(end)

mils news 15 September '95