UK stands behind Athens on FYROM

Britain’s Foreign Secretary David Milliband yesterday appeared to support Greek concerns on the Macedonia name dispute, as a European Commission report called on Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to make fresh efforts to reach a compromise.

“We understand Greece’s sensitivities on the name issue and it is very important that a solution is found that respects Greek concerns,” Milliband said following talks with his Greek counterpart Dora Bakoyannis in London. Referring to the possibility of Athens vetoing FYROM’s bid to join NATO if the name dispute remains unresolved, Milliband said Greece would be justified in exercising its rights as a member of the alliance.

Bakoyannis expressed satisfaction on Milliband’s stance and his assertion that Britain supported a July 2006 agreement between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots, which Ankara has failed to honor.

In Athens, Foreign Ministry spokesman Giorgos Koumoutsakos said the EC’s report on candidate Turkey “made satisfactory references to all issues of particular interest to Greece,” including the rights of Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios and Turkish air-space violations in the Aegean.

The EC also issued a critical report on FYROM, saying it had failed to push reforms and curb corruption. It also called for a more constructive approach to resolving the name dispute.

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Croatia Stands Chance Of Making EU Membership By Decade's End; Turkey, Macedonia Further Behind

While Croatia, Turkey and Macedonia are all candidates for membership in the European Union, only Croatia has a realistic chance of becoming a member nation before the end of the decade, an EU report says.

However, Croatia has work to do to meet membership conditions even then. It must still do more to reform its judiciary system and to eliminate corruption. It also must find a way to allow the safe return of Serbs who fled the country after its 1991-95 civil war, the Press Association reported Monday.

Since 2004, the EU has grown from 15 to 27 member states. Along with the three current candidate states another four countries - Albania, Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia - hope to become candidates within the next two years.

In addition to those four, all the other Western Balkan states - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia including Kosovo - are potential candidate countries under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244. That is provided they fulfill the accession criteria, according to a statement on the EU website.

And it's meeting the accession criteria that is holding up Turkey's membership. While Macedonia became a candidate nation so recently that negotiations on its accession requirements haven't begun, the EU statement says.

Among tasks Turkey has yet to accomplish is doing more to protect freedom of speech, putting civilians in charge of its military, making sure that non-Muslim citizen's rights are protected, protecting women and children and strengthening trade union rights, according to Press Association reports.

Another big problem holding Turkey back from achieving EU membership is its refusal to trade freely with EU member Cyprus, Agency France Press reports.

However, Turkey did begin implementing some political reforms this year.

To become a member country of the European Union candidate nations must achieved certain goals. According to the EU website, those criteria are:

• stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities;
• the existence of a functioning market economy as well as the capacity to cope with competitive pressure and market forces within the Union;
• the ability to take on the obligations of membership including adherence to the aims of political, economic & monetary union.

Each country is evaluated when they apply for membership. Then the EU sets specific conditions for meeting those criteria, which is the process called accession negotiation.

Macedonia will not change name to end dispute with Greece, president says

Macedonia's president insisted Monday that his country would not change its official name under a U.N.-led effort to end a long-running dispute with Greece.

Branko Crvenkovski said the small Balkan country was determined to keep calling itself the Republic of Macedonia in its relations with the international community. Greece has threatened to veto Macedonia's bids to join NATO and the EU unless the name is changed.

"There is a national consensus on Macedonia's name," a statement from Crvenkovski's press office said. "(Macedonia's) leadership enjoys full support from the people, and all political parties ... to preserve (its name)."

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said Macedonia would ignore the veto threat by NATO and EU member Greece.

"Macedonia is prepared even to sacrifice its membership of NATO if the (alternative) is to change its constitutional name," he said.

Most countries recognize Macedonia by that name, which Athens says could imply claims on the Greek northern province of Macedonia.

NATO is expected to discuss the Macedonian application next April.

Late Monday, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said Macedonia's entry into the EU and NATO would be blocked if no compromise is reached over the name.

"Geographically, Macedonia is a broad region, more than half of which belongs to Greece. Today, more than 2.5 million Greeks consider themselves proud Macedonians," Bakoyannis said on a visit to London. "(Macedonia's) route to the EU and NATO is a one-way road: a mutually accepted solution."

She added: "This is not an emotional or psychological issue, but a question of good neighborliness."

But the hardline leader of Greece's Orthodox church in northern Greece stepped up his opposition to Macedonia, adding claims that parts of the former Yugoslav Republic should belong to Greece.

"Macedonia is Greek ... and parts of it that are missing should be returned," Metropolitan Bishop of Thessaloniki said.

Fersped assets freezing orders lifted

Macedonian Court of Appeals has overturned a Skopje District Court's interim asset freezing orders against Fersped AD Skopje.

Appeals Court, according to statement released by Fersped early on Monday, reversed the lower-court decision to freeze the assets of Fersped company, saying it was ungrounded.

District Court Skopje 2 made the interim asset freezing orders in relation to certain property of Fersped to help the probe into legality of privatization of Fersped.

Athens silent over Nimetz’ proposal

Skopje. Athens is still silent over the suggestion made by the Mathew Nimetz, UN special envoy on the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece, the Macedonian A1 TV informs.
According to the TV channel Greece has also untraditionally remained silent over Skopje’s denial, at the suggestion of Mathew Nimetz, for Macedonia to use for international purposes a name different than its constitutional one.
“The state’s leadership and the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia not only has the right, but they also have the strength to fight for their national right to use the constitutional name of their country”, Macedonia’s Foreign Minister Antonio Milisoski stated.
Macedonian state’s leadership is starting tomorrow the preparation of a strategy to fights that “striking proposal”, A1 comments.

New round of Skopje-Athens: Nimetz presents no new proposal for Macedonia's name

Matthew Nimetz, UN mediator in Skopje-Athens dispute over Macedonia's name, presented Thursday in New York no new proposal for the name, but only suggestions about how the talks should be run, BBC - Macedonian language program reported. - The mediator offered some suggestions, but not a proposal for a concrete name. He presented his opinion on how the talks should be organized to lead to a solution, as well as some elements on the solution itself. Some of those elements are compatible with our (Macedonia's) position, some not. He expressed readiness to visit the region, the capitals of both countries, and to meet the leadership of the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece, Macedonian negotiator Nikola Dimitrov said after today's new round of negotiations.

Nimetz told BBC that he urged both parties to consider all possibilities so that a solution to the dispute could be found within a reasonable time frame.

- I believe a solution to an issue that divides two neighbouring countries is very much in the interests of both parties and would also greatly contribute to regional peace and security. In an effort to assist the parties in this process I respectfully made some suggestions in the form of a draft framework for their consideration as a basis for an honorable and fair resolution. I have urged Ambassadors Dimitrov and Vassilakis to bring these suggestions to their Governments for study. These negotiations under the Secretary-General's auspices will continue in an effort to reach a resolution. I have indicated a willingness to go to Athens and Skopje in the near future to consult with the two Governments more intensively. Both Ambassador Dimitrov and Ambassador Vassilakis will discuss such a mission with their Governments, Nimetz said.

Earlier, Macedonia's top officials said the country's position on the matter would be reiterated at the new round of negotiations, namely the double formula - one name which will be agreed for bilateral communication with Greece and the constitutional name for the rest of the world.

Preservation of the right of the constitutional name and its international usage is fundamental pillar of identity and dignity of the nation, Macedonian top officials assessed at the meeting prior to the meeting of the officials of the two countries Nikola Dimitrov and Adamantios Vassilakis at the UN HQ.

For the last few days Greek authorities said in several occasions that there was a possibility for Athens to accept a complex name that would include the word 'Macedonia'.

For 17 years Greece has been denying Macedonia's right of its constitutional name, saying that it could imply territorial aspirations to the Greek province that bears the same name.

Due to Greek objections, Macedonia entered the UN in 1993 under the provisional name, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM, pending a resolution. Afterwards, Macedonia and Greece were asked to launch talks for ironing the differences over the name, which was done initially under the aegis of Syrus Vence, and afterwards - Matthew Nimetz. The negotiations in New York are still underway. For the last few years, some formal, informal proposals have been presented, which were not acceptable for the one or other party.

So far, Macedonia has established diplomatic ties with more than 160 countries. A total of 120 countries have already recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name, including three permanent UN Security Council members - the United States, Russia and China.

Ali Krasnici is still not questioned by police about gunfight in Tetovo village

Ali Krasnici was the one wounded in the gunfight in the village of Tetovo, Odrin, last week, and is now in the Clinic for Stomach Surgery in Skopje for treatment, the Director of the clinic confirmed today, the Macedonian newspaper Dnevnik writes today. In the gunfight Dzavid Morina who had escaped from the Kosovo prison Doubrava was killed. It is still not clear why Krasnici was transferred from Tetovo to Skopje. His brother, Agim Krasnici, member of the Albanian Democratic Party, denied immediately after the incident that his brother was wounded in the gunfight. According to unofficial data Krasnici hasn’t been questioned yet by the police about the incident.

Heating companies to present stands on price hike

Heating companies Toplifikacija Skopje-Sever and Toplifikacija Bitola on Tuesday will present their stands on the decision by Regulatory Commission to raise the price of steam-heating.

On Monday, the Regulatory Commission authorized an 18.61% hike of heating price in Skopje Sever and 32.8% in Bitola.

According to regulatory authority, price hikes will help the heating companies in Skopje Sever and in Bitola to cover the work-related expenses.

Greece donates hospital equipment to FYROM

SKOPJE (ANA-MPA/N. Frangopoulos) - Greece has donated hospital equipment to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) composed of four machines and an equal number of fully equipped ambulances to help meet health needs in the cities of Skopje, Tetovo and Bitola.

The amount of the donation reaches 300,000 euros and is part of the National Plan for Economic Reconstruction of the Balkans (NPERB).

FYROM Health Minister Imer Selmani thanked the Greek government for the donation during a relevant ceremony held in Skopje on Monday.

"This act by the government of Greece proves that health knows no borders and that the modernisation of the health systems of the countries in the region secures quality health services for the population," Selmani said.

The head of Greece's Liaison Office in FYROM, Alexandra Papadopoulou, said that the donation constitutes another contribution by Greece towards handling the needs of FYROM, particularly in such a sensitive sector as is citizens' health.

Macedonia to send more troops to Iraq

he Macedonian government has decided to send additional 36 soldiers to Iraq, bringing the country's troops on the ground to 80, news reaching here from Skopje reported on Friday.

"The decision reaffirms that Macedonia is a growing exporter of stability. As an NATO aspirant, we are pleased to show our solidarity with our Alliance partners," said Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki.

The decision will come into force after it is approved by parliament, where the government enjoys a firm majority. Macedonia also participates in the NATO-led International Security Force mission in Afghanistan, and the EU's peacekeeping force in Bosnia.

Macedonia is hoping to receive invitation to join NATO, along with Albania and Croatia next spring when the alliance holds its summit in Bucharest, capital of Romania.

However, its southern neighbor Greece has repeatedly threatened to veto Macedonia's NATO membership if a solution can't be found to the name dispute between the two countries by then.

Milososki reaffirmed his country's stand that there should not be linkage between Macedonia's NATO membership and its name dispute with Greece, hoping that Greece should put more attention to regional stability.

Greece has been opposed to the name of the Republic of Macedonia since the country broke away from Yugoslavia in 1991.

Greece says the name of Macedonia implies a claim the tiny western Balkan country on the northern Greek province of Macedonia and could destabilize the region.

Instead, it asks Macedonia to use the name of "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" or FYROM in short, under which the country joined the U.N. in 1993.

A fresh round of U.N. mediated Greek-Macedonian talks over the name dispute were held in New York on Thursday, and U.N. mediator Matthew Nimitz has offered fresh ideas but no ultimate answer for solving the name issue between the two countries.

Macedonia supports independence for Kosovo, opposes partition

As the negotiations on Kosovo's status continue, the topic is being discussed across the region. Although the vast majority of the countries in Southeast Europe do not have much input on the future of the province, the final outcome will have regional repercussions.

Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski has always advocated a final status defined by the UN Security Council -- a stance many regional governments share. However, if a UN-determined status proves impossible to achieve, Macedonia will likely recognise an independent Kosovo.

One proposal that Macedonia strongly opposes is division of the province. Splitting Kosovo could have a direct impact on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Macedonia. The government fears it could fuel separatism among Albanians in the country, which endured a serious ethnic conflict in 2001.

Many countries in the region, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, have similar concerns. If a precedent for dividing territories and countries is set, it might prove difficult for the international community to stop in the future.

"Kosovo must not be divided, taking into consideration that such a decision is only possible along ethnic lines, and that would mean encouraging many radical structures that exist in the whole region. We can not underestimate the risks that could arise from the eventual decision," Crvenkovski said.

Since the end of the 2001 conflict, Macedonia has struggled to build a functional, multiethnic state and demonstrate that its two main ethnic groups can co-exist.

The majority of Macedonians feel that Kosovo's independence will bring peace and stability to the region -- finally settling the borders in Southeast Europe. It also offers the prospect of improved economic ties and opportunity.

Macedonia currently exports most of its manufactured goods to Kosovo -- about 100m euros worth annually. But the province's unresolved status is a barrier for Macedonian companies who want to trade or invest there. It also poses a hurdle for international corporations.

Gruevski: Macedonia won't accept any name different from the constitutional one

Republic of Macedonia won't accept a name for international use which is different from the constitutional one.

Government's spokesman Ivica Bocevski confirmed to Makfax that Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski said this late Friday, while commenting the latest draft-framework of understanding of the UN mediator Matthew Nimetz, he handed over yesterday to the Macedonian and Greek negotiators.

Macedonian PM added that the document contained a number of items, including some more or less problematic, but that it also included some good points.

"There is an item that is definitely unacceptable for us, which says that the Republic of Macedonia is to accept for international use a name different of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia," Gruevski said.

More than 10,000 rally in Ottawa over FYROM/ Macedonia controversy

A rally staged last weekend in Ottawa by members of Canada's Greek community to protest the Conservative government's use of the name Macedonia in relations with the former Yugoslav republic called FYROM attracted more than 10,000 supporters, despite cool and rainy weather. "It turned out exceptionally well, notwithstanding the weather," Dimitrius Manolakos, president of the Canadian Hellenic Congress, said this week in an interview with TLN. According to Manolakos, the demonstration made front page news in the Sunday issue of Kathimerini, a highly-regarded daily newspaper in Greece.

Meeting this week at UN
The naming dispute between Greece and FYROM, as the former Yugoslovian republic is generally referred to internationally, has escalated to its highest point of tension, involving attempts at a resolution through the United Nations. Greek state officials and representatives from FYROM are scheduled to meet to come to an agreement starting this week at UN headquarters in New York. The Canadian decision to accept the name Macedonia in bilateral relations was announced in August by the government of the Balkan republic.

Dispute goes back 15 years
Although Canada's Foreign Affairs Department made no formal announcement, the change has been posted on its web site. FYROM sits in the southern Balkans, north of Greece, west of Bulgaria, east of Albania and south of Serbia, and has a population of just over two million. It separated peacefully from the splintering Yugoslavia in 1991, but then was hit by a Greek trade embargo over its choice of name. The embargo was lifted in 1995, but in 2001 an emergency broke out among FYROM's Albanian minority. That ended in an internationally-brokered peace establishing new rights for minorities.

Tories conspicuously absent
Among the speakers at last Sunday's rally were Costas Menedakis, president of Toronto's largest metropolitan Greek community association, John Theodossopoulos, president of the Hellenic Community of Montreal, Maria Mourani, the Bloc Québécois MP for Ahuntsic, and Paul Dewar, the NDP from Ottawa-Centre. Spokesmen for the Conservatives government were notably absent. "We would have welcomed a member of the Conservative party," said Manolakos, adding that invitations extended to the Conservatives were declined. Toronto-area Liberal MPs John Cannis and Jim Karygiannis addressed the crowd, as did former Montreal MP Eleni Bakopanos.

Few clergy present
Manolakos said a particular side-issue that has come up in conjunction with the rally has stirred controversy. Metropolitan Sotirios, the archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Church, "was not present nor did he support the rally," he said. "At the last minute, he sort of changed his mind. He allowed some priests to come, but, unfortunately, we had no strong presence of the clergy." Asked what he surmised was behind the development, Manolakos said, "It has to be a personal thing to him." Manolakos said the Metropolitan was present at a rally staged 15 years ago when the FYROM issue also was in the news. "There'll be a reaction to this from the people …

Petitions insufficient, says Manolakos
"He should have been by his people if he is the leader of his people," he added. "When I asked him if he was going to come he told me he didn't think it was necessary for us to do a rally. He thought just signing petitions and delivering them to the prime minister would suffice. But I don't think signing petitions and taking them to the prime minister's office hardly draws attention to anything, right? I mean the fact that we were there drew the attention of the non-Greek media worldwide. Our rally has encouraged the Greek people of Australia to plan a rally for Nov. 17 on the same issue. So I think we made our mark." Manolakos said that just as Canada's Greeks were the first to respond to the wild fires that raged through Greece this past summer, they were also first to react to the FYROM issue.

Greek customs officers smuggle cigarettes through Macedonia

Three customs officers of Greece have been charged with involvement in major cigarette smuggling operation.

According to Greek official, the three customs officers have inflicted approximately 100 million loss to state budget.

The smuggling was unearthed by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) investigators, who had uncovered a non-licensed cigarette manufacturing plant in Austria few months ago.

The investigators found that 54 trucks packed with cigarettes, cigarette paper and filters had crossed Greek border and entered Kosovo via Kukus (Kilkis) border crossing.

The investigators keep a watchful eye on the Border crossing of Kilkis amid allegations of smuggling Chinese goods to Macedonia.

EU won't propose starting Macedonia entry talks

The European Commission will not recommend opening EU membership talks with Macedonia in its annual progress report next week because of political problems in the former Yugoslav republic, an EU source said on Tuesday.

The decision means Skopje is unlikely to begin the talks before 2009 at the earliest, dashing government hopes of starting next year, diplomats said.

"They lost a lot of time this year when (the main ethnic Albanian party) was out of parliament. They still need to work better on political dialogue to have a climate conducive for reforms," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The EU officially made Macedonia a candidate for membership in 2005, four years after an accord between the majority Macedonian and minority Albanian communities, brokered by the EU and NATO, pulled the country back from the brink of civil war.

But Brussels insisted on progress on the rule of law, the rights of the Albanian minority and fighting organised crime and corruption before entry talks could start.

EU officials lament the absence of dialogue with the Albanian community, the politicisation of the civil service and the blockage of key judicial reforms.

Diplomats said Slovenia, another former Yugoslav republic which takes over the EU's rotating presidency in January, was keen to advance Macedonia's bid but had concluded it would be counter-productive to ask the Commission for an interim report in mid-2008.

"If such a report were negative, it would be a very bad signal. We obviously need the candidate countries to do their homework. We can't do it for them," one diplomat said.

Instead, Slovenia will try to bring the Western Balkans countries closer to the EU by other means such as a proposed European Research Area, the diplomat said.



WIDESPREAD CORRUPTION

Macedonia's leading newspaper, Dnevnik, quoted the draft European Commission report as saying that parliament had been disrupted by a quarrel between the government and the opposition party representing the country's large ethnic Albanian minority.

"Several laws are still blocked, especially judicial reform," Dnevnik quoted the report as saying.

"Corruption is widespread and a serious problem," it quoted the report as saying, underlining the difficult relationship between Macedonia's president and prime minister.

The report also criticised mass sackings of civil servants after a change of government in 2006, saying "there has to be a separation between the political and administrative level."

Dnevnik said the report urged Macedonia and Greece to renew efforts to resolve their dispute over the country's name.

Athens has opposed the use of the name "Macedonia" ever since Skopje seceded from Yugoslavia in 1991, forcing the international community to recognise the country under the title "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".

Macedonia is also the name of Greece's northern province and Athens considers its use a sign of territorial ambition. The neighbours have been involved in UN-led talks for a compromise since 1993, with little progress.

Macedonia to receive over €300 mln from EU funds by 2010

Skopje. A significant increase of the EU's financial assistance to Macedonia, which will exceed a total amount of 300 million euros in the next four years, is envisaged by the two agreements Macedonia and EU signed today in Skopje, Macedonian Makfax informed.
Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska and the European Ambassador to Macedonia Erwan Fouere signed a framework agreement stipulating the rules of cooperation in IPA implementation, as well as a financial agreement on the national program for the instrument for pre-accession assistance.
"Macedonia is the first country in the region to sign the agreements enabling use of the IPA funds," said Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Integration Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska. She announced that the project of police reforms will be the first to be registered for the instrument for pre-accession assistance.
The European Ambassador Fouere specified that this agreement will provide for substantial increase of the EU's financial assistance to Macedonia, which will include €58.5 million for 2007, €70.2 million for 2008, €81.8 million for 2009 and €92.3 million for 2010.

Former Macedonian PM appears in court over arms deal

Macedonia's former prime minister appeared in a Skopje district court Monday to face charges of acting against the national interest in connection with an arms procurement deal.

Vlado Buckovski, now an opposition Social Democrat lawmaker, told judges he was innocent of any wrongdoing in the 2001 deal, which prosecutors say cost the country €3 million (US$4.3 million).

Buckovski, who was prime minister between 2004-2006, was defense minister at the time.

Also on trial are Macedonia's former army chief of staff, Gen. Metodi Stamboliski, two senior defense ministry officials and the manager of a state-owned metal company that supplied the military equipment.

According to the indictment, the suspects abused their positions and harmed the country's interests by ordering four times the quantity of tank parts required by the armed forces in November 2001.

Buckovski was charged last month. Macedonian lawmakers had lifted his parliamentary immunity from prosecution in August.

Speaking in court Monday, Buckovski argued that the tank parts were needed due to instability in the country after an armed uprising by ethnic Albanian rebels in which 80 people died.

"There are a number of inaccuracies in the indictment," he said. "It is absurd to claim that security in Macedonia had not deteriorated in 2001."

Australia won't change name policy

Australian has no plans to formally recognize Macedonia by its constitutional name, Australian Prime Minister Alexander Downer said on Monday.

In an interview for The Age newspaper, Downer said he was aware of reports saying the Australian government might be considering changing its policy of using the name of the country.

"These reports are incorrect... The Australian government has no such plans," Downer said in a statement.

He added that Australia's use of the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) remained consistent with UN guidelines and was a temporary measure pending a resolution of the issue between governments in Athens and Skopje.

"We call on the governments in Athens and Skopje to work together to resolve their differences on this issue, in cooperation with United Nations negotiators," he said.

Several thousands of Macedonians rallied Sunday in front of parliament in Canberra, urging the Australian authorities to recognize Macedonia by its constitutional name.

Australia recognized Macedonia by provisional reference FYROM in 1994.

Miloshoski says Greece should recognize Macedonia's name

Macedonia will become an ally for Greece through recognition of the country's constitutional name, Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Miloshoski said on Monday.

"Greece recognizes our country as FYROM, and we are partners. Once Greece recognizes our country by the name Republic of Macedonia, we will be allies. Everything is in Greece's hands," Miloshovski said in an interview for Greek daily Elefteros Typos.

During the upcoming talks in New York, slated for Thursday, Macedonia won't quit the double formula to resolve the name differences, Miloshoski added.

As regards Greece's threats to veto Macedonia's integration into Euro-Atlantic community, Macedonian foreign minister made it clear that with the 1995 interim treaty, Athens undertook not to hamper the accession of its neighboring country in the international organizations.

Miloshoski told Elefteros Typos daily that Macedonia has no territorial claims to any of its neighboring countries, adding that re-naming of Skopje's airport into Alexander the Great does not constitute a provocation toward Greece.