New USAID Project - Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture

USAID launched Thursday its new Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture project which will promote adaptive agricultural practices and raise awareness of the forthcoming challenges of climate change and the need for joint, community level responses.

Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture will be implemented by the Rural Development Network (RDN), the USAID said in a press release.

"Real progress to safeguard our natural resources for future generations will ultimately depend upon positive action at the community level by farmers, rural dwellers, and other local groups that have a stake in preserving their source of livelihood," said Joseph Lessard, USAID Macedonia Economic Growth Office Director.

He added, "I commend RDN's grassroots development approach that takes into account the needs and priorities of people at the local level."

The project will focus on the Mediterranean zone, including the Vardar region with parts of Strumica and Gevgelija, as this is the Macedonian region most affected by climate change.

Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture will target family farms that market most of their output as well as semi-subsistence farmers. The project will test and monitor techniques to find out what works best under certain conditions so that lessons learned can be replicated in more communities throughout the targeted regions, thereby helping to minimize some of the expected adverse global warming impacts on crops

US envoy: Time right for Macedonia name solution

Greece's presence in international fora remains unaffected by the economic crisis and the tough economic conjecture due to the international prestige enjoyed by Prime Minister George Papandreou, US ambassador to Greece Daniel Speckhard underlined on Friday.

Speaking to reporters at the US consulate in Thessaloniki, he praised Greece's economic presence in the Balkans, pointing out that as a member of the EU the country represents the greater European market.

As regards the prospects for US investments in Greece, Amb. Speckhard underlined the need for less red-tape and the implementation of structural reforms to make the business environment more flexible and friendly.

On the Macedonian "name issue", he stated that "this is a good time" for a solution and reiterated that the United States will support any settlement mutually reached by Athens and Skopje.

Speckhard's tenure as US ambassador in Greece ends in the coming period.

US Department of State Magazine - Ancient Macedonia builds modern democracy

Macedonia's Pearl of the Balkans. US recognized Macedonia under its constitutional and ONLY name as Republic of Macedonia

The April issue of the State Magazine, by US Department of State

Barack Obama did not invite Macedonia to Prague

U.S. President Barack Obama did not invite Macedonia together with 11 more European countries that significantly contribute to NATO missions to attend the official dinner within the U.S.–Russian summit in Prague, Macedonian Vreme daily writes.


The newspaper comments that Macedonia is fourth in terms of the number of troops in Afghanistan per capita, but that is not enough for it to receive an invitation from the U.S. administration, which is the host of the event. Only NATO members from Central and Eastern Europe were invited, the newspaper says.


The heads of state or government of the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia were invited to Prague.

EU, US representatives to Macedonia condemn Thaci's rhetoric

EU envoy to Macedonia Erwan Fouere and US Ambassador to Skopje Philip Reeker on Wednesday (February 10th) strongly rejected as unacceptable a recent remark by the leader of the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA). Menduh Thaci said that if the government continues to discriminate against Albanians, there will be war in Macedonia. The opposition DPA has been boycotting parliament since last summer, protesting the government's policy towards Albanians. Both Reeker and Fouere urged Thaci to drop the rhetoric and return to parliament.

Name issue should be resolved by June

Washington expects the negotiations between Macedonia and Greece to be accelerated so name issue to be resolved by June, Macedonian Vreme newspaper writes, quoting American deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg. Steinberg noted during the meeting with Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and foreign minister Antonio Milososki that Macedonia should do its utmost in the next months name dispute to the finally resolved.

Mathew Nimetz visit to Athens, Skopje becomes problem

Authorities in Macedonia have informed UN Mediator Mathew Nimetz they are ready to schedule a meeting for February 25, Macedonian Kanal 5 television informed.
Meanwhile Greek foreign ministry has informed Nimetz they are still searching for a free data in Prime Minister George Papandreou’s agenda. Greek considers there is no reason to block the process because Greek deputy foreign minister Dimitris Drucas has invited Nimetz to visit the region. After all Nimetz cabinet has confirmed for the media the UN Mediator has received invitations both from Greece and Macedonia.

Washington calls for solution to name dispute between Macedonia and Greece soon

You should make as many efforts as possible to conclude the name dispute with Greece in the next few months, recommended U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg in a conversation with Macedonian president and foreign minister, Macedonian A1 television station reports.
In his conversation with Gjorge Ivanov and Antonio Milososki Steinberg expressed Washington’s expectation for negotiations to speed up so that the issue is solved by June. According to unofficial information Hillary Clinton’s deputy said it would be better if the name dispute was solved first and then the range of the name use should be discussed.
Ivanov and Milososki assured the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State that this is Macedonia’s wish too.
The three discussed the issue within the 46th security conference, which is taking place in Munich.

Congressmen push US on Macedonia

Fifteen members of the US Congress have appealed to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to help break the deadlock in the dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over the latter’s name so that the tiny Balkan state can join NATO, it was revealed yesterday.

In a joint letter the 15 senators, led by Democrat Bill Pascrell of New Jersey and Republican Mark Souder of Indiana, urged Clinton to recognize FYROM as “a staunch ally and trusted partner” and to review the state’s “contribution to stability in the southern Balkans and its contribution to America’s foreign policy objectives in Afghanistan, Kosovo and the Middle East.”

The Congressmen also appear to press Clinton to take a stand on the name dispute. “We look forward to working with you... to reach a speedy and equitable resolution on issues such as the name dispute,” the letter said.

Greek diplomats said yesterday that they believed the FYROM lobby in the US had prompted the initiative in a bid to revive interest in stalled talks on the name issue.

Secret deal between US and Greece?

According to Sam Vaknin in a text published by the Los Angeles Chronicle the US State Department has already made an agreement with the Greek Foreign Ministry for an ‘acceptable name’ in regards to Macedonia, citing DC sources.

Mr. Vaknin says, the deal was struck in a series of secret meeting between the US and Greek side in Washington DC in mid June.

The solution may be “Northern Macedonia”, the name Greek Lobbyist and UN Mediator Matthew Nimetz has proposed in the past two years.
Sam Vaknin states the Macedonian Government isn’t aware of the existence of this “Greco-American” plan which was coined so Macedonia becomes a member of NATO and would suit American interests in the region, explaining that Serbia is a Russian agent, while Greece is an Anti-American entity and a member of the NATO Alliance, hence Macedonia would cut off the connection between the two countries.

Though Mr. Sam Vaknin, an Israeli (obsessed with Macedonia and former employee of the Macedonian Government), is famous for his anti Macedonian writings in obscure news sites ever since his contract in Skopje was ‘cut short‘, his explanation may have some merit.

I say may have some merit as this morning the US Ambassador in Skopje, Milovanovic issued a fairly unfortunate statement: “Macedonia has no future if it’s not a NATO member”.
One must admit, NATO has exceeded the “Jesus Levels”. If you are not in NATO, you can pretty much commit suicide. With all do respect, Zambia and Zimbabwe and 130 other countries are not in NATO, and guess what, there they are, existing.

I am not angry with the US Ambassador, slip ups do occur, and getting angry with her would be like getting angry with my grand mother. Which is something I refuse to do.

The only thing Macedonia would gain from NATO membership is being targeted by Russia and needlessly spend millions of dollars in “membership fees“ for an organization that has nothing to do with defense, and a lot to do with offense. Should I add that NATO’s status as a military (occupational) organization has spurred the creation of more military organizations to defend themselves. NATO a stabilizing force? Think again.

Back to the name. Sam Vaknin theory, will quickly prove to be true or false at the UN meeting on September 23rd, when US Secretary of State Condi Rice will present the “take it or leave it” solution to both sides, or maybe to just one side if the other is already informed.

I personally believe Sam Vaknin to be one angry man, again, because he was let go from his ‘advisory’ post, and just can’t agree with the ’deal’ he claims was made. I don’t deny there may be a deal made, it wouldn’t surprise me, though not to the severity of Vaknin’s claims.

Northern Macedonia for all use will just not work because that is far from a compromise, and I don’t see the Macedonian Government accepting something they have refused several times, or changing the constitutional name, which is what essentially Greece had been trying to do all along.
I for one wont allow change on my passport, and yes, I'll fight you for it, there can only be Macedonia.

Are Greece jealous because we have only one name, and they have three?

Greek-American Plan to Resolve Macedonia's Name Issue?

According to reliable sources, on September 23, in the presence of the foreign ministers of both countries, Condolenzza Rice, Secretary of State of the United States of America, will present a plan to resolve a festering dispute between Greece, its (anti-American) nominal NATO ally, and Macedonia, a member of the Coalition of the Willing in Iraq and Afghanistan and a NATO aspirant. On September 24, the Plan will be submitted to the United Nations Security Council, probably to be passed as a Resolution. The Greek newspapers Ta Nea and Elefteros Typos published similar news on August 25 and August 21, respectively.


The Plan has been hatched in a series of secret meetings between Greek and American officials, culminating in a June 2008 conference held in Washington, involving Rice and Dora Bakoyannis, Greek's feisty Foreign Minister. The Macedonian government was kept out of the loop and may still be unaware of the existence of the Plan, let alone its contents.


It seems that the Greeks succeeded to convince the Americans that Macedonia is the intransigent party, piling one obstacle after another, in an attempt to avoid a politically unpopular settlement. Lately, the tiny polity's young Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, sought to enlarge the scope of the protracted negotiations to include other bilateral issues, such as the restoration of property to Macedonians expelled from Greece decades ago and the recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church by its Greek counterpart.


The Plan includes five elements:


1. The Republic of Macedonia will change its constitutional name (probably to Northern Macedonia, although that has not been decided yet). If true, this provision will constitute a major setback for Macedonia. No Macedonian government - let alone the current one - is likely to accept it.


2. Macedonia will be granted a transition period (of up to 10 years, according to some sources) - the time it would need to amend its constitution and to alter its registered name with various international and multilateral institutions.


3. Macedonia will be issued an invitation to join NATO (but not a date to start negotiations with the EU regarding its eventual accession).


4. Both countries will be allowed to use the adjective "Macedonian" (both commercially and non-commercially).


5. The parties will renounce any and all claims to each other's territory.


The "name issue" involves a protracted dispute over the last 17 years between the two Balkan polities over Macedonia's right to use its constitutional name, "The Republic of Macedonia". The Greeks claim that Macedonia is a region in Greece and that, therefore, the country Macedonia has no right to monopolize the name and its derivatives ("Macedonian").


The Greeks feel that Macedonians have designs on the part of Greece that borders the tiny, landlocked country and that the use of Macedonia's constitutional name internationally will only serve to enhance irredentist and secessionist tendencies, thus adversely affecting the entire region's stability.


Macedonia retorts that it has publicly renounced any claims to any territory of any of its neighbors. Greece is Macedonia's second largest foreign investor. The disparities in size, military power and geopolitical and economic prowess between the two countries make Greek "fears" appear to be ridiculous. Macedonians have a right to decide how they are to be called, say exasperated Macedonian officials.


The Greek demands are without precedent either in history or in international law. Many countries bear variants of the same name (Yemen, Korea, Germany until 1990, Russia and Byelorussia, Mongolia). Others share their name with a region in another country (Brittany in France and Great Britain across the channel, for instance).


In the alliance's Bucharest Summit, in April 2008, Macedonia was not invited to join NATO. Macedonia was rejected because it would not succumb to Greek intransigence: Greece insisted that Macedonia should change its constitutional name to cater to Greek domestic political sensitivities.


Thus, Serbia (and its ally, Russia) were left with access to a corridor, through non-NATO Macedonia to anti-American Greece and to the sea.


High-placed diplomatic sources in Washington told the Chronicle that the USA will now pressure Macedonia into changing its constitutional name in a way that will be acceptable to Greece and the powerful Greek lobbies in the USA. Should "friendly" persuasion fail, the USA will bare its fangs and may even threaten mild sanctions (the suspension of several military agreements).


Macedonia doesn't stand a chance of resisting such an onslaught. It will be forced into a humiliating retreat. An invitation to join NATO will promptly follow, in time for its ratification by all the member countries of the moribund Alliance.


Following the country's ill-advised early elections in June, 2008, the right-wing VMRO-DPMNE was coerced by the international community (read: the EU and the USA) into joining forces with DUI, the political incarnation of erstwhile Albanian insurgents in the northwest of Macedonia, hitherto an anathema as far as Gruevski, the incumbent Prime Minister, was concerned.


Hopping to bed with DUI will likely restrain the government's freedom of action. Every concession to Greece will be portrayed by jingoistic nationalists in Macedonia as capitulation and the consequence of blackmail by the Albanian parties. To the great consternation of the Macedonians, Albania, Macedonia's neighbor, has been invited to join NATO. The restive Albanians of Macedonia would like to accede to the Alliance as soon as practicable and at all costs. Understandably, they are less attached to the country's constitutional name than the non-Albanian (Macedonian) majority.

Milovanovic: Macedonia has no good future without NATO

There is no positive prospect for Macedonia unless it enters NATO soon, U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia Gillian Milovanovic said in an interview with Alsat-M TV station.

"In short, I don't think there is any positive prospect for Macedonia without membership in NATO, and I mean quick membership in NATO. It's a part of the continuity of the progress of your country, it's a part of the progress and integration with Europe that you all want, therefore I think that this should be your priority objective," Milovanovic said.

Ambassador Milovanovic further said that she was convinced that the name dispute with Greece could be solved before expiration of the term of the incumbent U.S. President George Bush, however, serious focusing on resolving of the problem is a necessary prerequisite for this.

"The real question is whether the Macedonian and Greek leaderships are ready to focus seriously on the problem and to seek for a compromise solution," Milovanovic said in her farewell interview before leaving the country.

US 'Prepares Deal' on Macedonia Name Row

The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is reported to be preparing to present a plan for resolving the ‘name row’ between Greece and Macedonia on September 23.

This is according to unnamed diplomats as cited in local media but there has been no official confirmation.

According to the source, Rice would come forward with the plan in the presence of the Macedonian and Greek foreign ministers. The plan would be presented before the United Nations Security Council a day after, on September 24.

Meanwhile Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis confirmed to media that Greece is ready to veto Macedonia’s bid to start European Union accession talks which Skopje is hoping to receive a date for this autumn.

Asked whether Athens would accept the name “Northern Macedonia” Bakoyannis said that Athens would like to see a name with a geographical prefix for its northern neighbour and that this name contains one.

Media previously said some variations of this name might be in the pipeline.

On Monday, media in Greece suggested that the UN mediator in the row, the US diplomat Matthew Nimetz allegedly warned Macedonia’s Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski that he would freeze talks for six months if Gruevski continues with his provocative statements.

Gruevski last week blamed Athens of deliberately stalling of the talks.

Both countries on Tuesday reaffirmed their intent to stay proactive in the search for a solution and blamed the other side for the delays.

Greek -Macedonian relations hit a fresh low in April when Athens blocked Skopje’s invitation to join NATO arguing that Skopje’s name could lead it to make territorial claims on Greece’s own northern province which is also called Macedonia.

Macedonia's name has been recognised by around 120 countries worldwide.

UN secretary general tells Macedonia to focus on name issue

In a letter sent to Macedonian prime minister Nikola Gruevski on August 19 2008, United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon reiterated the world body's stance that the name issue that has been poisoning the relations bewteen Greece and Macedonia had to be solved first before turning to any other issues.

“I am aware there are other issues you think should be subject to discussion between Skopje and Athens. I hope that, by solving the name issue, the road to better relations will be traced, which will contribute towards handling these other issues, as well as finding possible solution of them,” Ban wrote, as quoted by website Balkan Insight.

Ban's letter comes as a reply to the letters that Macedonia's prime minister sent earlier this summer to the European Union, Nato and the UN, requesting that the issue of the Greek recognition of the Macedonian minority in Greece be discussed along with the name issue. Later, he also brought up other issues to be discussed on the sidelines of the name dispute, such as Greece recognising the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

However, Macedonian president Branko Crvenkovski slammed this move as counter-productive and following the last round of UN-mediated talks in New York City held last week, after meeting separately with both sides, UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz said that it was his responsibility to help resolve only the name row and that no other issues were to be discussed.

In spite of these developments, over the weekend of August 15-17, the speaker of Macedonian parliament Trajko Veljanovski again brought up the Macedonian minority issue in letters he sent to a number of states and organisations in Europe and around the world.

The name dispute between the two Balkan neighbours has been going on for 17 years now. It focuses on Greek demands that Macedonia change its name since its coincides with that of the northern Greek province. According to Athens, this implies Skopje's territorial claims towards Greece.

The climax of the name issue came in April 2008, when Greece vetoed Macedonia getting invited to join Nato at a summit of the military alliance in Bucharest. Since then, ties between the two have been exacerbated and now Athens is threatening to block the launch of the official accession talks of Skopje with the EU.

Nimetz is expected to visit Skopje and Thessaloniki on August 21 and 22, respectively, in a new effort to try and reconcile the two parties.

Repetition of a flawed policy

The failure of a policy is not measured by one mistake, but by the constant repetition of that mistake, and this is something that the US State Department has failed to understand when dealing with the complex affairs of Southeast Europe.

Around our Balkan neighborhood, Condoleezza Rice’s constant repetition of the rigid stance held by the United States prior to the summit in Bucharest will not help the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’s bid for entry into NATO. “The hope is that the name issue can be resolved very quickly now,” Rice commented during an official visit to France last week. She added that the dispute between Athens and Skopje over FYROM’s constitutional name “should not get in the way of the admission of Macedonia to NATO.” This fresh pressure from Washington comes as the UN mediator for the Macedonia name dispute, Matthew Nimetz, calls a new round of talks.

All Rice’s stance achieves is to encourage intransigence in young leaders, and now, with the events in South Ossetia, we have all seen where this can lead.

US diplomat prods FYROM

US Ambassador in Skopje Gillian Milovanovic yesterday called on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to “carefully study” proposals being put forward by a United Nations mediator in the Macedonia name dispute and “embrace a golden opportunity” for a settlement.

Milovanovic said Skopje should strive to reach an agreement with Athens before a European Union summit in December. She said the proposals of UN mediator Matthew Nimetz “safeguard the interests of (FYROM) and could form the basis for further negotiations with Greece.”

Milovanovic’s comments came a day after FYROM Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon broaching the issue of a supposed Macedonian minority in Greece. Gruevski’s letter, which followed two letters from Skopje to the European Commission on the same subject, was rebuffed by Greece’s alternate government spokesman. Evangelos Antonaros said it was “an unsuccessful attempt to distract the attention of the international community” from the name talks.

Milovanovic: Agreement with Greece by December

U.S, Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic said Macedonia should take the proposals put forward by mediator Matthew Nimetz into consideration and embrace the chance to reach an agreement with Greece on the name issue ahead of NATO summit in December.

In an interview for Skopje-based Alfa TV, Ambassador Milovanovic said Macedonia should keep its interests in mind and moves towards a negotiated settlement of the name issue in the coming months.

Ambassador Milovanovic said there are proposals that Macedonia needs to address alongside Nimetz. These proposals will protect Macedonian interests and there will be some details subject to further talks with Greece, she said.

"It's a golden chance for Macedonia," Ambassador Milovanovic told Alfa TV.

US State Department: It's a matter between Macedonia and Greece

U.S. State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said late Thursday the issue of the refugees and Macedonian minority in Greece is a matter between Macedonia and Greece, reports Voice of America-Program in Macedonian language. Thus, McCormack provided a response to the initiative of Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski on resolution of the requests by refugees-ethnic Macedonians from the Greek Civil War in 1940s, and recognition of the Macedonian minority in Greece, contained in the letter sent to Greek counterpart Costas Karamanlis.

"This is a matter between Macedonia and Greece. I understand the correspondence was between those two parties, so I'd refer you to either party for comment about it", said McCormack at the daily briefing.

According to him, this is a completely different topic from the name issue.

"From our point of view, we would like to see Macedonia and Greece work out the name issue, which is a completely different topic. I know a lot of people are devoting a lot of time and energy to that topic. We certainly would like to see those negotiations come to a successful completion soon", added McCormack.

McCormack denied that USA would intervene regarding the issue of refugees and recognition of the Macedonian minority, reiterating this is a matter between the two countries, not involving the United States.

Menendez sides with Greece over Macedonia's name

Robert Menendez has never been known to shy away from a political brawl, even one that is thousands of miles from New Jersey, has its roots in antiquity and touches the raw nerves of two sovereign nations.

From his perch on Capitol Hill, the New Jersey senator has injected himself into a bitter dispute over the name of a small Balkan nation -- a country that since independence in 1991 has called itself the Republic of Macedonia, and which neighboring Greece insists should be known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia or FYROM.

Menendez, siding with Greece and upset that the Bush administration in 2004 recognized the republic by its chosen name, is holding up the president's nominee for U.S. ambassador to Macedonia, Philip Reeker.

Although he won't confirm or deny it, interest groups on both sides and sources on Capitol Hill say Menendez, a Democrat, and Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) anonymously placed a hold on Reeker's confirmation to pressure the administration and the Macedonians about the naming issue.

What's in the name? Plenty.

For Greece, using the name of the Republic of Macedonia implies the landlocked country of 2 million people has territorial claims to the northern Greek region also known as Macedonia, and represents a serious threat that goes well beyond symbolism. For its neighbor, it's a matter of national pride, sovereignty and self-identity.

The contentious dispute has led Greece to veto Macedonia's entry into NATO and has been the subject of lengthy but unsuccessful diplomatic negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations that included talks in New York last week.

GREEK SUPPORTER
Menendez, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has supported Greece's interests including on matters involving Cyprus and Turkey going back to his time as a congressman, and was an active member of the House's Hellenic Caucus.

He said he has had numerous meetings with members of New Jersey's "significant Greek-American community" and feels strongly that resolving the name issue is important to the stability of the region and American interests.

In an interview last week he said the use of the Republic of Macedonia name has created tension in an important region of the world, and is understandably upsetting Greece, a key U.S. ally.

"Beyond the name, there are significant issues of culture, ethnicity and a breakaway element for other parts of the Balkans who want to be recognized as Macedonia when Macedonia is within Greece," he said.

During Reeker's confirmation hearing last month, Menendez said he has seen "school textbooks and maps that circulate in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia showing parts of Greece belonging to the so-called 'Greater Macedonia.'"

Another affront to the Greeks, he and others have pointed out, involves the recent naming of a Macedonian airport in the capital city of Skopje after Alexander the Great -- someone the Greeks consider to be their warrior king.

"This is risky business," Menendez said. "And the Bush administration has created part of the problem by recognizing the name of the Republic of Macedonia and by not working vigorously to solve the name issue."

Reeker, formerly a counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, testified at his confirmation hearing that he has "seen reports of both sides in the Greece-Macedonia dispute accusing each other of taking actions or making statements that have inflamed the issue of the name.

"It's a difficult problem. It's an emotional problem," he said. "But it is one that can be solved. So we're encouraging both sides to show greater flexibility, creativity, cooperation and do what is needed to find a solution."

Metodija Koloski, president of the United Macedonian Diaspora, an international advocacy organization, maintained that Greece's stance has been unreasonable. He accused Menendez of refusing to meet with Macedonian-Americans from New Jersey, taking a narrow one-sided view, and arbitrarily blocking Reeker's confirmation. Koloski speculated that Menendez was seeking to win Greek-American votes and campaign contributions.

"He should be representing the views of all his constituents, not just the Greek-American community," Koloski said.

NUMBERS DON'T LIE
The U.S. Census estimates nearly 70,000 New Jersey residents have at least some Greek ancestry, and about 5,500 have Macedonian ancestry.

Koloski noted that 124 countries recognize Macedonia by its constitutional name.

"Greece wants Macedonia to change its identity. It wants it to change its passports and change its constitution. It's too much to be asked -- one country dictating to another country what its name should be," Koloski said.

The Very Rev. Father Slobodan Petkovski of the Saints Kiril and Metodij Macedonian Church in Cedar Grove said Menendez' attitude is an affront to Macedonia's people and national identity.

"I don't know why he is doing it. He is welcome to work with the Greeks, but why not the Macedonians?" he said.

The same view was expressed by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8th Dist.), who called Menendez' approach "absolutely appalling."

The Greek-American community sees the matter quite differently.

Nick Larigakis, executive director of the American Hellenic Institute, said Menendez has been "acting in the best interests of the United States to help create stability in a region where Greece is an important player."

"The issue is not just the name. It is what the name implies and how that will be interpreted, which Greece sees as an attempt to claim it territory," Larigakis said.

Yiorgos Chouliaras, a spokesman for the Greek Embassy in Washington, said he could not comment on internal U.S. politics, but added that Menendez' views have been consistent in holding that "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia must stop its hostile propaganda and work for a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue."

He said Greece would accept a "compound name" that included Macedonia. Last week, Macedonia was reported to have rejected four name proposals from the UN negotiator, including the names Northern or Upper Macedonia.

Koloski, the president of the United Macedonian Diaspora, said Macedonia has considered adopting a compound name for use in international organizations like the UN or European Union. But he said it has rejected the Greek idea of changing its constitution and passports or altering its name for dealings with nations that already recognize the Republic of Macedonia.

Macedonia’s Ajvar Proves a Hit in the US

Ajvar proved to be one of the most sought after products at Macedonia’s stand of the Chicago Food and Style Fair, national media reported recently.

The red pepper, tomato and aubergine paste ajvar attracted the attention of American distributors, according to the Macedonian daily newspaper Dnevnik. Because of that, the US Agency for International Development, USAID, will reportedly help Macedonian producers negotiate cooperation with American partners for import and distribution.

As BalkanTravellers.com reported, Macedonia took steps to patents its version of the dip in February, in an effort to make the product a world-recognised name, standardise the preparation ingredients and processes and guarantee quality and competitiveness on domestic and international markets.

Ajvar, one of the points of contention in the battles of the Balkan culinary wars, is popular across the countries of the region, with slight variations the ingredients it used and the way it is prepared, served and called.