Sympathy must lie with Macedonia in its constant battle with Greece, a country which bullies and even questions the right to self determination of the Macedonians. Trying to play Zeus, Greece has made it clear that its status as a current member of both NATO and the European Union means that it feels justified in allowing the fledgling Macedonia, independent for less than 17 years, absolutely no leeway. Sympathy for Macedonia can only stretch to the boundaries of taste and it seems that this week some Macedonians overstepped the line. Billboards around Skopje carried a poster featuring a customised version of the Greek flag in which the cross in the upper-left corner was replaced with a swastika.
Greece has disgraced itself in its behaviour towards Macedonia, a small Balkan state which is trying its hardest to overcome difficulties such as internal disputes between Macedonians and the Albanian minority that lead the country to the brink of civil war in 2001. As a responsible member of the international community it should be Greece’s duty to offer aid and guidance to the fledgling democracy rather than looking to obstruct progress purely because of the way that Macedonia chooses to identify itself. On this occasion though Greek complaints can be understood. The poster in question was in no way sanctioned by the Macedonian government but was nevertheless visible on the streets of the country’s capital city.
With the NATO summit in Bucharest deciding whether Macedonia will receive an invite to join the organisation, a stunt like this poster does nothing but shoot Macedonia in the foot. Let us be clear, Greece’s attitude to Macedonia is pathetic but it is not akin to the Nazis. By using the swastika symbol it was inevitable that people would be upset, and moreover, countries supportive of Macedonia’s NATO and EU accession will be just that little bit less inclined to speak up for them. The swastika is such a powerful symbol with such terrible connotations that using it in jest is always risky business.
Both the Greeks and the Macedonians are standing firm on the naming dispute. This would be fine for Macedonia were it not the case that Greece can disrupt Macedonia’s entry into international institutions. Macedonia has every right to define itself as Macedonia, this after all is the designated name for the political entity and it is Greece’s bad luck if they choose not to like it. Just as the country is called Macedonia, the language is called Macedonian and it is spoken by Macedonians. Indeed, these may be relatively recent “inventions” that can be dated back to the second half of the 19th Century, before this most would have identified as being Bulgarian, but nevertheless several generations have grown up knowing nothing but being Macedonian, and for the Greeks to try and deny this is scandalous.
The region of Macedonia as opposed to the Republic of Macedonia is a large region in the south of the Balkan peninsular. It stretches across Greece, Macedonia and Bulgaria and even enters into Albania, Kosovo and Serbia. Macedonia is the only country which finds all of its territory located within the region of Macedonia, giving it by most people’s standards the perfectly legitimate right to call itself Macedonia. Prior to the creation of the second Yugoslavia in 1945, the territory of Macedonia went by the name of Southern Serbia, itself a political construction aimed at Serbianising the region so as to compete with the clearly Bulgarian Pirin Macedonia and Green Agean Macedonia and it would be better to describe it by its geographical name Vardar Macedonia. The people of this region were evidently not Serbs, and based on their culture also felt different to Bulgarians. Being Slav, in no way were they Greek. Understanding this different identity, socialist Yugoslavia gave Macedonia its own federal status, partly as a way of ensuring loyalty to Yugoslavia. These reasons and justifications are of little relevance when dealing with Macedonians today who identify simply as being Macedonian.
Macedonia does itself no favours though by antagonising the Greeks. This poster is one of several examples, another being the decision to rename Skopje’s airport as Alexander the Great Airport. Alexander the Great lived several centuries before Slavs arrived in the region and can not really be considered part of the heritage of modern Macedonians. Having said this, there are plenty of examples of places in Britain looking back to their Roman and Viking heritage and nobody in either Italy or Norway has seen fit to complain to the British government yet.
Greece’s Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis stated that her country will continue to block Macedonia’s NATO dream until the dispute is resolved. She said “No mutually acceptable solution means no NATO invitation” although it is unclear as to how this is possible since Greece has said that it refuses to budge from its position that the word Macedonia can not feature in the title, which Macedonia wishes to continue with its name. Maybe Bakoyannis should have said instead that no solution acceptable to Greece means no NATO invitation.
Javier Solano, in charge of the EU’s foreign policy, has suggested New Macedonia as a name. Whilst it seems cruel for the Macedonians to have to capitulate to Greece’s dirty tactics maybe this is a fair compromise. It is unclear whether the name would be in English or in Macedonian as Nova Makedonija, but it would still be likely to be rejected by Greece. Athens has suggested ludicrous names like Republic of Skopje (were this rule to be applied Greece would be renamed as the Republic of Athens while it would be possible to look for the Kingdom of London and the Dictatorship of Pyongyang on maps) and Vardar Republic, the name of a river running through Skopje and a Yugoslav Banovina from 1929 to 1941 (meaning that equally Greece could be renamed Cephissus Republic, the United Kingdom would be Thames Kingdom and Luxembourg would be transformed into the Alzette Grand Duchy).
Will Macedonia give in and allow its very identity to be stolen so that it can join organisations which it has reached on merit? Many countries have objections with others and this is understandable if historic circumstances are taken into account. Where it becomes unnacceptable is when one country questions the very right of another to exist.
Friday, April 04, 2008
Poor Macedonia
Turning to Stupid International News, we come to an interesting confrontation taking place between the country of Macedonia, and everyone in NATO. It turns out, Macedonia would like to join the club, which would be fine… if Greece didn’t decide that they own the name Macedonia. That’s right, there is a province in Greece called “Macedonia” and Greek officials say they’ll block Macedonia’s entry into NATO unless they CHANGE THE NAME OF THEIR COUNTRY.
Macedonia
I thought this was a joke at first, but there are plenty of articles about it. Here’s what Wonkette had to say:
Macedonia wants to join NATO, but it can’t unless it changes its name. You see, existing NATO member Greece also has a province called “Macedonia,” and it doesn’t want anyone to get confused. Last month a U.N. special negotiator put forward a list of five names that Macedonia might want to consider, but the country turned up its nose in horrified disgust. What were these terrible alternate names?
“Constitutional Republic of Macedonia, Democratic Republic of Macedonia, Independent Republic of Macedonia, New Republic of Macedonia, and Republic of Upper Macedonia.”
No wonder they didn’t bite. Macedonia needs a new and exciting name, like “Barack Obama.” And now time is running out on the beleaguered Balkan country because the NATO summit us under way, as we speak!
Can you believe that? So, what do you think will happen? Will Macedonia change their name to one of the ones offered? Will they go in a completely different direction? Or will they just give Greece the finger and keep rockin’ their name? Will be interesting (and stupid) to say the least!
Macedonia
I thought this was a joke at first, but there are plenty of articles about it. Here’s what Wonkette had to say:
Macedonia wants to join NATO, but it can’t unless it changes its name. You see, existing NATO member Greece also has a province called “Macedonia,” and it doesn’t want anyone to get confused. Last month a U.N. special negotiator put forward a list of five names that Macedonia might want to consider, but the country turned up its nose in horrified disgust. What were these terrible alternate names?
“Constitutional Republic of Macedonia, Democratic Republic of Macedonia, Independent Republic of Macedonia, New Republic of Macedonia, and Republic of Upper Macedonia.”
No wonder they didn’t bite. Macedonia needs a new and exciting name, like “Barack Obama.” And now time is running out on the beleaguered Balkan country because the NATO summit us under way, as we speak!
Can you believe that? So, what do you think will happen? Will Macedonia change their name to one of the ones offered? Will they go in a completely different direction? Or will they just give Greece the finger and keep rockin’ their name? Will be interesting (and stupid) to say the least!
Macedonia Responds to Greece
Re “Greece’s Flexibility on Macedonia” (letter from the Greek ambassador to Washington, New York Times on the Web, April 3):
The Republic of Macedonia is a small and proud country. After Greece’s veto of Macedonia’s invitation to join NATO, it is obvious that Greece’s intentions are aimed not at supporting permanent regional stability, but at damaging our neighbor relations, attacking our national identity and increasing political instability in the region.
It is unfortunate that the NATO summit meeting in Bucharest is overshadowed by such an irresponsible act by Greece. The Greek position seriously damages NATO’s plans for permanent peace and stability in the Balkans and erodes the foundations of NATO consensus principles.
The Republic of Macedonia has actively participated in and accepted the final proposal of Matthew Nimetz, the United Nations mediator for the name dispute. This proposal was instantly rebutted from the Greek side, an act that has thrown away years of Mr. Nimetz’s diplomatic work.
Macedonia will prevail, will continue to support NATO missions, and we look forward to the next opportunity to join the club, but now it is much more likely that Macedonians will never agree to change their country’s name just to please our neighbors.
Vladimir LazarevikDeputy Minister of Health
Skopje, Macedonia, April 3, 2008
Greece’s Flexibility on Macedonia
Regarding your March 30 editorial “The Republic Formerly Known As,” let me emphasize that Greece supports NATO’s enlargement to those candidates who respect the principles of trust, solidarity and good neighborly relations.
While you say “tiny Macedonia poses no threat whatsoever to Greece,” the authorities in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or Fyrom, portray Greek Macedonia as “occupied” territory, refusing to remove such claims from textbooks, speeches, articles, documents and maps of “Greater Macedonia,” which includes parts of northern Greece.
Such irredentism and hostile propaganda are more befitting to 19th-century policies than 21st-century NATO membership.
One hundred fifteen members of the United States House of Representatives co-sponsored H.R. 356, asking Fyrom to “stop hostile activities and propaganda against Greece.” Senators Robert Menendez, Barack Obama and Olympia Snowe introduced a similar resolution in the Senate.
The government in Skopje insists on being the exclusive claimant to the name of an entire area, the largest part of which lies outside its borders, and insists on portraying Greek Macedonia as occupied territory. The term “Macedonia” has always been used to delineate a wider geographical region, approximately 51 percent of which is part of Greece, 38 percent of Fyrom and 9 percent of Bulgaria.
We have come to the table with a clear objective: a long-overdue, mutually acceptable composite name that includes the designation of Macedonia, but attaches an adjective to it to distinguish it from the broader geographical area of Macedonia. Greece has engaged in this process constructively and with an open mind.
In an unprecedented policy shift, our government has unilaterally gone two-thirds of the way, accepting a number of proposals from the United Nations mediator, Matthew Nimetz, as a basis for discussion. We have proved to be considerably flexible in our quest for a win-win solution. All we ask is that Fyrom travel the rest of the distance.
Alexandros P. Mallias
Ambassador of Greece
Washington, March 30, 2008
US to Boost Assistance to Macedonia
A top US diplomat who attended Thursday’s Macedonia-US meeting in Bucharest has confirmed that the United States is ready to give additional assistance to Macedonia following the country's failure to secure an invitation to join NATO.
At NATO's Bucharest summit on Thursday, Macedonia's entry into the Alliance was blocked by Greece because of its continuing dispute with Macedonia over the country's name.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told BBC Macedonia on Friday that the US cannot guarantee the security of Macedonia but added that ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation are being considered.
Local media speculated that this may imply strengthening military cooperation.
Athens has insisted that Skopje change the name “Republic of Macedonia” if it wants to avoid a Greek veto on NATO membership. Greece argues that this name could be taken to imply a territorial claim over Greece's northern province also called Macedonia.
Analysts have argued that if Macedonia stays out of NATO its stability could be jeopardised, since the country’s 25-percent Albanian community could begin lobbying for secession due to the country's unfulfilled NATO aspirations.
On Thursday evening, Menduh Taci, the leader of the ruling Albanian party in Macedonia, the Democratic Party of Albanians, told local media that the Albanians would wait “as long as they can” for the Macedonian majority to try to solve the “name” dispute. He did not give any deadlines.
Macedonian media reported earlier on Thursday that the signing of a special bilateral agreement in which the US would guarantee the stability of Macedonia was agreed at a meeting between US President George W. Bush and Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.
The meeting took place after it had become clear that despite the approval of the other 25 NATO members Macedonia would remain outside the Alliance because of Greek opposition.
An intense UN and US effort to find a mutually acceptable solution to the 17-year long dispute has so far been in vain.
At NATO's Bucharest summit on Thursday, Macedonia's entry into the Alliance was blocked by Greece because of its continuing dispute with Macedonia over the country's name.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told BBC Macedonia on Friday that the US cannot guarantee the security of Macedonia but added that ways of strengthening bilateral cooperation are being considered.
Local media speculated that this may imply strengthening military cooperation.
Athens has insisted that Skopje change the name “Republic of Macedonia” if it wants to avoid a Greek veto on NATO membership. Greece argues that this name could be taken to imply a territorial claim over Greece's northern province also called Macedonia.
Analysts have argued that if Macedonia stays out of NATO its stability could be jeopardised, since the country’s 25-percent Albanian community could begin lobbying for secession due to the country's unfulfilled NATO aspirations.
On Thursday evening, Menduh Taci, the leader of the ruling Albanian party in Macedonia, the Democratic Party of Albanians, told local media that the Albanians would wait “as long as they can” for the Macedonian majority to try to solve the “name” dispute. He did not give any deadlines.
Macedonian media reported earlier on Thursday that the signing of a special bilateral agreement in which the US would guarantee the stability of Macedonia was agreed at a meeting between US President George W. Bush and Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.
The meeting took place after it had become clear that despite the approval of the other 25 NATO members Macedonia would remain outside the Alliance because of Greek opposition.
An intense UN and US effort to find a mutually acceptable solution to the 17-year long dispute has so far been in vain.
Macedonia will not accept Greek blackmail
Macedonian top officials made clear Thursday that Greek 'no' to Macedonia's NATO entry won't change the country's determination to drive forward the EU integration process.
"Certain things in our country's strategy will be redefined, but our strategic goals will remain unchanged. However, we have a new reality after the summit in Bucharest," Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said shortly before his departure from Bucharest.
He added that Greece's frustration was the only reason that Macedonia was not invited to join NATO.
"Republic of Macedonia will endure, our people will make it through, we will continue to walk on the path we have chosen," Crvenkovski said in Bucharest.
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said Greece is mistaken if it thinks that the veto would force Macedonia to accept Greek blackmail.
"Every one who thinks that with this move Macedonia will be pushed to the wall to accept something makes a huge mistake," Gruevski said before his departure from Bucharest.
He added that Greece resorted to veto - a move rarely used, and breached the Interim Accord on the name.
PM Gruevski said Macedonia and its people should be proud of the support of NATO members and their recognition of the country's qualification to be part of the Alliance.
"Certain things in our country's strategy will be redefined, but our strategic goals will remain unchanged. However, we have a new reality after the summit in Bucharest," Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said shortly before his departure from Bucharest.
He added that Greece's frustration was the only reason that Macedonia was not invited to join NATO.
"Republic of Macedonia will endure, our people will make it through, we will continue to walk on the path we have chosen," Crvenkovski said in Bucharest.
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said Greece is mistaken if it thinks that the veto would force Macedonia to accept Greek blackmail.
"Every one who thinks that with this move Macedonia will be pushed to the wall to accept something makes a huge mistake," Gruevski said before his departure from Bucharest.
He added that Greece resorted to veto - a move rarely used, and breached the Interim Accord on the name.
PM Gruevski said Macedonia and its people should be proud of the support of NATO members and their recognition of the country's qualification to be part of the Alliance.
FM Milososki: No invitation for Macedonia, defeat of NATO principles
The decision not to extend an invitation for NATO membership to Macedonia represents a defeat of the Alliance principles and very difficult moment for a small country as ours, where NATO enjoyed a support of 90 percent, said Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki at Thursday's press conference in Bucharest.
- It is not a problem for NATO principles when Macedonian soldiers are risking their lives on the ground in their uniforms bearing the name Macedonia, but it becomes a problem here on the table in Bucharest, Milososki said.
- It is hard for us to understand and explain how one peaceful country, such as Macedonia, with aspirations to join the family of free democracies, was under pressure to give up its fundamental rights - own name and national identity, he said.
NATO failure to extend membership invitation to Macedonia, based not on what the country has done but due to what we are - and we are Macedonians and our country is the Republic of Macedonia, which will be our name for good - is regrettable for the principles of democracy, Milosoki said.
Today, Macedonia is also disappointed of the long-term vision for the region's stability, as due to the Greek veto, the region after the Bucharest Summit will be less secure than before, Milososki said.
- Most of the countries of the region are on the road to the EU, NATO, but those who have not forgotten yesterday's Balkan should remember the existing risks. For the sake of Greek irrelevant arguments the region's stability has been put in stake. The full responsibility for the possible destabilization of the region falls on Greece from now on, stressed Milososki.
However, Macedonia will keep playing the role of a stability factor in the region in these crucial moments for Serbia and Kosovo, keep working in the best possible manner and cooperating with all of its partners and neighbours for the country's brighter future, the FM said.
Milososki said that the Greek veto also meant breaking of the Macedonia-Greece Interim Agreement of 1995 and announced that the Government would decided on the document's future.
Macedonia views the last (name) proposal of UN mediator Matthew Nimetz as the final one, which means that there is no justification for the Greek veto, Milososki said.
Getting no invitation for NATO membership, Macedonian delegation has decided to leave the Summit in Bucharest. After a meeting with US President George Bush, President Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, along with journalists, will return home. Crvenkovski and Gruevski have cancelled all of their activities within the Summit.
- We are leaving the Summit as in this moment we feel no need to be here. We believe that now we should be with our citizens, who strongly supported NATO, Milosoki said.
He extended gratitude to the US for its support, in particular to US President George Bush.
- We appreciate the gesture and it is our long-term capital in the strategic relations we have been nourishing with Washington, Milososki said.
- It is not a problem for NATO principles when Macedonian soldiers are risking their lives on the ground in their uniforms bearing the name Macedonia, but it becomes a problem here on the table in Bucharest, Milososki said.
- It is hard for us to understand and explain how one peaceful country, such as Macedonia, with aspirations to join the family of free democracies, was under pressure to give up its fundamental rights - own name and national identity, he said.
NATO failure to extend membership invitation to Macedonia, based not on what the country has done but due to what we are - and we are Macedonians and our country is the Republic of Macedonia, which will be our name for good - is regrettable for the principles of democracy, Milosoki said.
Today, Macedonia is also disappointed of the long-term vision for the region's stability, as due to the Greek veto, the region after the Bucharest Summit will be less secure than before, Milososki said.
- Most of the countries of the region are on the road to the EU, NATO, but those who have not forgotten yesterday's Balkan should remember the existing risks. For the sake of Greek irrelevant arguments the region's stability has been put in stake. The full responsibility for the possible destabilization of the region falls on Greece from now on, stressed Milososki.
However, Macedonia will keep playing the role of a stability factor in the region in these crucial moments for Serbia and Kosovo, keep working in the best possible manner and cooperating with all of its partners and neighbours for the country's brighter future, the FM said.
Milososki said that the Greek veto also meant breaking of the Macedonia-Greece Interim Agreement of 1995 and announced that the Government would decided on the document's future.
Macedonia views the last (name) proposal of UN mediator Matthew Nimetz as the final one, which means that there is no justification for the Greek veto, Milososki said.
Getting no invitation for NATO membership, Macedonian delegation has decided to leave the Summit in Bucharest. After a meeting with US President George Bush, President Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, along with journalists, will return home. Crvenkovski and Gruevski have cancelled all of their activities within the Summit.
- We are leaving the Summit as in this moment we feel no need to be here. We believe that now we should be with our citizens, who strongly supported NATO, Milosoki said.
He extended gratitude to the US for its support, in particular to US President George Bush.
- We appreciate the gesture and it is our long-term capital in the strategic relations we have been nourishing with Washington, Milososki said.
Thaci: Macedonians To Solve Greece Row
The dispute with Greece is a matter for Macedonians, and Albanians in the country will let them deal with it, a key ethnic Albanian leader in Skopje says.
Macedonia failed to secure an invitation to join NATO at the alliance’s summit in Bucharest on Thursday following a Greek veto.
Athens was protesting against Skopje’s refusal to change its country’s name.
Greece opposes to Skopje’s constitutional name “Republic of Macedonia” saying it might lead Skopje to make territorial claims on its own northern province, which is also called Maceonia.
Commenting on the recent initiative of his coalition partner, the centre-right VMRO- DPMNE, to call a referendum on the country changing its name, Thaci said that would be the “worst scenario” since it would cause ethnic divisions between the Macedonian majority that would vote against the move, and ethnic Albanians that would largely vote in favour.
Albanians comprise about 25% of the country’s population.
The recent opinion poll conducted by Brima Galup prior to the Bucharest Summit showed that the vast majority of Macedonians put the country’s name ahead of their NATO ambitions while ethnic Albanians think exactly opposite.
The long running row between the two countries began in the early 1990s. Despite increased United Nations and United States diplomatic initiatives to solve the dispute before the NATO summit, it became the sole obstacle to Macedonia’s bid to join the alliance.
“We will tolerate the efforts for finding compromise with Greece for as long as we can,” the head of the Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, Menduh Thaci, told local A1 TV.
Macedonia failed to secure an invitation to join NATO at the alliance’s summit in Bucharest on Thursday following a Greek veto.
Athens was protesting against Skopje’s refusal to change its country’s name.
Greece opposes to Skopje’s constitutional name “Republic of Macedonia” saying it might lead Skopje to make territorial claims on its own northern province, which is also called Maceonia.
Commenting on the recent initiative of his coalition partner, the centre-right VMRO- DPMNE, to call a referendum on the country changing its name, Thaci said that would be the “worst scenario” since it would cause ethnic divisions between the Macedonian majority that would vote against the move, and ethnic Albanians that would largely vote in favour.
Albanians comprise about 25% of the country’s population.
The recent opinion poll conducted by Brima Galup prior to the Bucharest Summit showed that the vast majority of Macedonians put the country’s name ahead of their NATO ambitions while ethnic Albanians think exactly opposite.
The long running row between the two countries began in the early 1990s. Despite increased United Nations and United States diplomatic initiatives to solve the dispute before the NATO summit, it became the sole obstacle to Macedonia’s bid to join the alliance.
Nato Macedonia veto stokes tension
When they chose Bucharest as the venue for their 2008 summit, Nato leaders meant to send an encouraging signal to all Balkan countries.
Nato's veto has inflamed nationalist feelings in Macedonia
But the decision not to invite Macedonia along with Croatia and Albania risks sending mixed signals and raising fears of instability in a region which was already reeling from Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia.
Macedonia's bid was blocked by Greece because of a 17-year row over the country's name. Athens says it implies a territorial claim on its northern province - also called Macedonia - and wants the former Yugoslav republic to change its name to New or Upper Macedonia.
But the veto has only inflamed nationalist feelings.
In a gesture rarely seen at a Nato summit, a group of Macedonian journalists angrily walked out of a news conference after Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer made the announcement.
'Regretful'
Shortly afterwards, the entire Macedonian delegation left the summit, arguing that the country's leaders had to be with their people at a difficult moment.
Striking a defiant note, foreign minister Antonio Milososki said: "It is very regretful for the principles of democracy that Macedonia's bid for Nato membership was punished, not because of what we have done but because of who we are.
"We are Macedonians and our country is the Republic of Macedonia. And it will remain so forever."
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha thanked Nato leaders for the invitation to join, which he called "a miracle".
But he warned that the failure to issue a similar invitation to Macedonia - where a quarter of the country's two million people are ethnic Albanians - could encourage "radical groups".
In 2001, Nato and the EU managed to prevent a civil war in Macedonia between security forces and ethnic Albanians separatists by brokering a peace deal which granted more minority rights.
But there will be fewer incentives for the government to create a multi-ethnic society without the carrot of Nato and European Union membership. Athens could use its veto again later this year to scupper Skopje's bid to start EU membership talks.
Serbia watching
Pessimists fear that Macedonia could break up under the strain, reviving dreams of a Greater Albania including Kosovo. Optimists argue Albania's invitation to join Nato will help to prevent the worst-case scenario.
Albania leaders say Nato's invitation is a 'miracle'
Summit decisions were also watched closely in Serbia.
"I feel sorry because Nato membership is important for Macedonia's political stability," said former Serbian foreign minister Goran Svilanovic, "but I'm also thinking about Serbia's interest. Every progress of Serbia's neighbours towards EU and Nato membership is good because it should encourage Serbia's people and politicians to achieve the same goals."
But Kosovo's secession has pushed Serbia further away from the rest of Europe, with pro-Western forces lagging behind nationalist parties ahead of next month's parliamentary election.
There was little reaction to Nato's offer of an "intensified dialogue", which was granted to Bosnia and Montenegro as a key step towards eventual membership. All former communist countries that are now part of the EU boosted their democratic credentials by first joining Nato.
Slovenia is already part of Nato and the EU. Almost two decades after the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia, Croatia also looks close to reaching that goal. It hopes to join Nato next year and the EU by 2010.
On Friday, US President George W Bush travels to Zagreb to congratulate Croatians on their success.
Only two months ago, they did not seem at all keen on Nato. But with Serbian nationalism once again on the rise, Croatians have made their choice. Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said support for Nato membership now stood at 70%.
Nato's veto has inflamed nationalist feelings in Macedonia
But the decision not to invite Macedonia along with Croatia and Albania risks sending mixed signals and raising fears of instability in a region which was already reeling from Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia.
Macedonia's bid was blocked by Greece because of a 17-year row over the country's name. Athens says it implies a territorial claim on its northern province - also called Macedonia - and wants the former Yugoslav republic to change its name to New or Upper Macedonia.
But the veto has only inflamed nationalist feelings.
In a gesture rarely seen at a Nato summit, a group of Macedonian journalists angrily walked out of a news conference after Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer made the announcement.
'Regretful'
Shortly afterwards, the entire Macedonian delegation left the summit, arguing that the country's leaders had to be with their people at a difficult moment.
We are Macedonians and our country is the Republic of Macedonia - and it will remain so forever
Antonio Milososki
Antonio Milososki
Striking a defiant note, foreign minister Antonio Milososki said: "It is very regretful for the principles of democracy that Macedonia's bid for Nato membership was punished, not because of what we have done but because of who we are.
"We are Macedonians and our country is the Republic of Macedonia. And it will remain so forever."
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha thanked Nato leaders for the invitation to join, which he called "a miracle".
But he warned that the failure to issue a similar invitation to Macedonia - where a quarter of the country's two million people are ethnic Albanians - could encourage "radical groups".
In 2001, Nato and the EU managed to prevent a civil war in Macedonia between security forces and ethnic Albanians separatists by brokering a peace deal which granted more minority rights.
But there will be fewer incentives for the government to create a multi-ethnic society without the carrot of Nato and European Union membership. Athens could use its veto again later this year to scupper Skopje's bid to start EU membership talks.
Serbia watching
Pessimists fear that Macedonia could break up under the strain, reviving dreams of a Greater Albania including Kosovo. Optimists argue Albania's invitation to join Nato will help to prevent the worst-case scenario.
Albania leaders say Nato's invitation is a 'miracle'
Summit decisions were also watched closely in Serbia.
"I feel sorry because Nato membership is important for Macedonia's political stability," said former Serbian foreign minister Goran Svilanovic, "but I'm also thinking about Serbia's interest. Every progress of Serbia's neighbours towards EU and Nato membership is good because it should encourage Serbia's people and politicians to achieve the same goals."
But Kosovo's secession has pushed Serbia further away from the rest of Europe, with pro-Western forces lagging behind nationalist parties ahead of next month's parliamentary election.
There was little reaction to Nato's offer of an "intensified dialogue", which was granted to Bosnia and Montenegro as a key step towards eventual membership. All former communist countries that are now part of the EU boosted their democratic credentials by first joining Nato.
Slovenia is already part of Nato and the EU. Almost two decades after the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia, Croatia also looks close to reaching that goal. It hopes to join Nato next year and the EU by 2010.
On Friday, US President George W Bush travels to Zagreb to congratulate Croatians on their success.
Only two months ago, they did not seem at all keen on Nato. But with Serbian nationalism once again on the rise, Croatians have made their choice. Prime Minister Ivo Sanader said support for Nato membership now stood at 70%.
NATO Puts Off Entry for Ukraine, Georgia, Macedonia
In southeastern Europe, tensions dating back to the era of Alexander the Great wrecked a consensus to admit three countries in order to write a final chapter to the wars that ripped apart Yugoslavia in the 1990s.
Name Dispute
Greece objected that Macedonia's name implied a territorial claim on the northern Greek province of the same name. Last- ditch United Nations-brokered talks failed to resolve the dispute.
``Irredentist logic belongs to the Balkans of yesterday and not to tomorrow,'' Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said. While Greece obtained its ``diplomatic objectives'' today, it wants to see its neighbor in NATO and favors a quick resumption of the UN talks, she said.
Macedonia, the only republic to break free of Yugoslavia without firing a shot, said it negotiated in good faith and accused Greece of putting regional stability at stake and tarnishing the credibility of NATO.
``Unfortunately the Greek irrelevant arguments from ancient times have won,'' Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said. He didn't say whether the negotiations with Greece would continue.
UN Compromise
The name dispute has vexed Macedonia since independence, outlasting a tentative settlement from 1993, when the new Balkan state was admitted to the UN as ``the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.''
More than 100 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Russia and China, recognize Greece's neighbor as the Republic of Macedonia. Greece leads a minority, along with France, Germany and some others, that recognizes it only under the UN name.
Milososki said Macedonia gave a ``positive'' response to the latest UN proposal -- ``Republic of Macedonia (Skopje).'' Skopje is the country's capital. Greece objected to that name, Milososki said.
Name Dispute
Greece objected that Macedonia's name implied a territorial claim on the northern Greek province of the same name. Last- ditch United Nations-brokered talks failed to resolve the dispute.
``Irredentist logic belongs to the Balkans of yesterday and not to tomorrow,'' Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said. While Greece obtained its ``diplomatic objectives'' today, it wants to see its neighbor in NATO and favors a quick resumption of the UN talks, she said.
Macedonia, the only republic to break free of Yugoslavia without firing a shot, said it negotiated in good faith and accused Greece of putting regional stability at stake and tarnishing the credibility of NATO.
``Unfortunately the Greek irrelevant arguments from ancient times have won,'' Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said. He didn't say whether the negotiations with Greece would continue.
UN Compromise
The name dispute has vexed Macedonia since independence, outlasting a tentative settlement from 1993, when the new Balkan state was admitted to the UN as ``the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.''
More than 100 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Russia and China, recognize Greece's neighbor as the Republic of Macedonia. Greece leads a minority, along with France, Germany and some others, that recognizes it only under the UN name.
Milososki said Macedonia gave a ``positive'' response to the latest UN proposal -- ``Republic of Macedonia (Skopje).'' Skopje is the country's capital. Greece objected to that name, Milososki said.
Rice: Macedonia Not to be Blamed
Macedonia and its people are not responsible for the country's failure to receive an invitation to join NATO, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told media in Bucharest late on Thursday.
“Macedonia is in fact invited to join the Alliance as soon as the 'name' issue is resolved,” Rice said.
Skopje's bid failed because of Greek opposition, despite the fact that all the other member countries agreed that Macedonia had met all of NATO’s requirements.
Greece exercised its veto because it objects to the name Republic of Macedonia, which Athens believes may imply a claim to the northern Greek province of the same name.
Rice told reporters that the US and other countries pressed for Macedonia’s invitation at the summit but that their freedom of action was constrained by the fact that NATO functions on the nbasis of consensus.
Croatia and Albania, however, got the green light to join the Alliance.
On Thursday NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced that Macedonia's bid to join the Alliance had been unsuccessful. Immediately afterwards, the country’s leaders, together with many Macedonian journalists, left the summit early in a sign of protest.
“We have been punished because of who we are and not because of what we have done,” Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told reporters on Thursday.
Rice said she hoped that Macedonia would join the Alliance “as soon as possible” and she stressed that all the NATO members meeting at the Bucharest summit had agreed that the country has met the membership criteria.
“Macedonia is in fact invited to join the Alliance as soon as the 'name' issue is resolved,” Rice said.
Skopje's bid failed because of Greek opposition, despite the fact that all the other member countries agreed that Macedonia had met all of NATO’s requirements.
Greece exercised its veto because it objects to the name Republic of Macedonia, which Athens believes may imply a claim to the northern Greek province of the same name.
Rice told reporters that the US and other countries pressed for Macedonia’s invitation at the summit but that their freedom of action was constrained by the fact that NATO functions on the nbasis of consensus.
Croatia and Albania, however, got the green light to join the Alliance.
On Thursday NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer announced that Macedonia's bid to join the Alliance had been unsuccessful. Immediately afterwards, the country’s leaders, together with many Macedonian journalists, left the summit early in a sign of protest.
“We have been punished because of who we are and not because of what we have done,” Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told reporters on Thursday.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
ANALYSIS-Fears of Balkan instability after Macedonia rebuff
NATO's decision on Thursday not to ask Macedonia to join the alliance raised fears that the former Yugoslav republic could be destabilised and nationalist and anti-Western feeling could be bolstered in the Balkans.
NATO leaders at a summit in Bucharest invited Albania and Croatia to join the 26-nation Western defence alliance, but did not do the same for Macedonia because of the threat of a veto by Greece in a row over the country's name.
Macedonia, which broke from Yugoslavia in 1991, has the same name as Greece's most northerly province. Athens says Skopje must use a compound name such as "New" or "Upper" Macedonia.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said last week that if NATO membership was blocked, Macedonia would probably pull out of U.N.-sponsored talks with Athens.
That could undermine Macedonia's European Union membership bid because Greece can also veto that.
"Acceptance into NATO has been a hugely important symbolic move for all ex-communist countries. This leaves Macedonia without a foothold in what they perceive to be the 'civilised world'," said a strategic analyst with a leading Western think tank who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Balkans region is already facing increased tension following Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia on Feb. 17.
Macedonia went to the brink of civil war in 2001 between the Slav Macedonian majority and an Albanian minority before an accord brokered by the EU and NATO pulled it back. "This (NATO decision) will have negative consequences. The Macedonian government will face pressure from inside and outside," Albanian political analyst Mentor Nazarko said of Nato's decision.
Nazarko said NATO's decision would make Macedonia "vulnerable" to regional powers such as Greece and Serbia who he said wanted Macedonia weakened.
SETBACK FOR PRO-WESTERN GROUPS
Macedonia's Albanians, a quarter of its 2 million people, back a compromise with Greece for the sake of NATO and the EU.
They say progress to the West will make them equal partners in a multiethnic society, and help the economy. Most feel uneasy about talk of a glorious ancient history that excludes them.
Aziz Pollozhani, a senior official in Macedonia's largest Albanian party, DUI, said the government had in effect failed at the NATO summit Bucharest .
"It wasn't able to build an appropriate climate, on the contrary made moves seen by Greece as provocative," he said.
Slobodan Casule, a former Macedonian foreign minister, said the delay could create "ethnic tensions and an internal crisis".
He noted that there had been setbacks for pro-Western groups in other parts of the Balkans.
"This will turn into a clear defeat of pro-NATO and pro-EU forces in Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and elsewhere in the Balkans," Casule said. "It will block reforms and postpone indefinitely the negotiations on Macedonia's EU membership."
Former Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski called for calm, not provocative actions.
"Macedonia should not complicate the situation even more with jerky reactions, like withdrawing from the U.N. talks," he told Reuters.
"We should soberly analyse what our next steps should be. We should send a clear signal we're still ready for negotiations so we can finally receive an invitation."
Political analysts said NATO's decision could play into the hands of Macedonian nationalists, enabling them to say compromises with the Albanian minority had served no purpose.
The analysts said the decision could also strengthen nationalists in Serbia, which holds a parliamentary election next month, and anti-Western parties in Serbia who like to play up their friendly ties with Greece.
"They will start banging the drum to exploit this ahead of the May election, saying Greece can help Serbia over (breakaway Albanian-majority) Kosovo," the analyst said.
NATO leaders at a summit in Bucharest invited Albania and Croatia to join the 26-nation Western defence alliance, but did not do the same for Macedonia because of the threat of a veto by Greece in a row over the country's name.
Macedonia, which broke from Yugoslavia in 1991, has the same name as Greece's most northerly province. Athens says Skopje must use a compound name such as "New" or "Upper" Macedonia.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said last week that if NATO membership was blocked, Macedonia would probably pull out of U.N.-sponsored talks with Athens.
That could undermine Macedonia's European Union membership bid because Greece can also veto that.
"Acceptance into NATO has been a hugely important symbolic move for all ex-communist countries. This leaves Macedonia without a foothold in what they perceive to be the 'civilised world'," said a strategic analyst with a leading Western think tank who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Balkans region is already facing increased tension following Kosovo's declaration of independence from Serbia on Feb. 17.
Macedonia went to the brink of civil war in 2001 between the Slav Macedonian majority and an Albanian minority before an accord brokered by the EU and NATO pulled it back. "This (NATO decision) will have negative consequences. The Macedonian government will face pressure from inside and outside," Albanian political analyst Mentor Nazarko said of Nato's decision.
Nazarko said NATO's decision would make Macedonia "vulnerable" to regional powers such as Greece and Serbia who he said wanted Macedonia weakened.
SETBACK FOR PRO-WESTERN GROUPS
Macedonia's Albanians, a quarter of its 2 million people, back a compromise with Greece for the sake of NATO and the EU.
They say progress to the West will make them equal partners in a multiethnic society, and help the economy. Most feel uneasy about talk of a glorious ancient history that excludes them.
Aziz Pollozhani, a senior official in Macedonia's largest Albanian party, DUI, said the government had in effect failed at the NATO summit Bucharest .
"It wasn't able to build an appropriate climate, on the contrary made moves seen by Greece as provocative," he said.
Slobodan Casule, a former Macedonian foreign minister, said the delay could create "ethnic tensions and an internal crisis".
He noted that there had been setbacks for pro-Western groups in other parts of the Balkans.
"This will turn into a clear defeat of pro-NATO and pro-EU forces in Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and elsewhere in the Balkans," Casule said. "It will block reforms and postpone indefinitely the negotiations on Macedonia's EU membership."
Former Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski called for calm, not provocative actions.
"Macedonia should not complicate the situation even more with jerky reactions, like withdrawing from the U.N. talks," he told Reuters.
"We should soberly analyse what our next steps should be. We should send a clear signal we're still ready for negotiations so we can finally receive an invitation."
Political analysts said NATO's decision could play into the hands of Macedonian nationalists, enabling them to say compromises with the Albanian minority had served no purpose.
The analysts said the decision could also strengthen nationalists in Serbia, which holds a parliamentary election next month, and anti-Western parties in Serbia who like to play up their friendly ties with Greece.
"They will start banging the drum to exploit this ahead of the May election, saying Greece can help Serbia over (breakaway Albanian-majority) Kosovo," the analyst said.
ANROM: the Almost NATO-member Republic of Macedonia
As expected, NATO has decided not to extend an invitation to the Republic of Macedonia -- excuse me, I mean "the Former Yugoslav Constitutional Republic of Upper Northwestern Macedonia, Skopje." That's right, Greece stuck to its nationalistic guns on the name issue today, carrying out its threat to block NATO membership if Macedonia didn't agree (and it didn't) to call itself the "Republic of Upper Macedonia," the "Republic of Macedonia, Skopje," or some comparably wordy derivative.
Macedonians didn't take the rejection well. After Greece blocked accession talks, Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski and his delegation walked out of the meeting. Antonio Milososki, Foreign Minister, told reporters:
We are [in Bucharest] today to announce that we are leaving the summit. We feel it necessary to be with our people today.”
Not a bad idea. Their people needed all the comforting they could get. Back at home, Macedonian stocks suffered a record blow, with the Macedonian Bourse Index losing 10.4 percent of its total value after it became clear that the country would not get an invite.
Acceptance into NATO carries great weight for these small, former communist countries. Neighboring President Bamir Topi of Albania, whose country did receive a coveted NATO invitation, proclaimed, "This is the most important decision in the history of Albanian people… With this decision we are definitely separated from Yalta," referring to the 1945 conference of the "Big Three" at which Stalin claimed Albania for the communist bloc.
But NATO membership is more than symbolic for Macedonia, which narrowly missed a Kosovo-style ethnic war in 2001 thanks to an EU/NATO-brokered peace agreement. The country may now decide to pull out of U.N.-led name negotiations entirely, in which case Greece will repeat its power play on the EU front. If Macedonia is knocked off its current EU accession path because of a Macedonian identity issue, the state's large, pro-EU Albanian minority will not be happy. And all we need in the Balkans is one more unhappy ethnic minority.
Shame On Greece: Messing With Macedonia
NY Times Editorial Board
The Macedonians walked out of the NATO summit on Thursday and we can’t say we blame them.
Croatia and Albania were granted membership in the western alliance at a leaders’ meeting in Bucharest, but Macedonia was barred for an absurd reason: Greece doesn’t like its name.
That decision shames Greece and it dishonors NATO, which has far more serious problems and challenges to worry about.
The name “Macedonia,” is shared by the former Yugoslav republic and by northern Greece. From the moment the former-Yugoslav Macedonia declared independence in 1991, the Greeks — reflecting byzantine Balkan politics — vehemently objected to the new state’s use of a name and symbols they regard as theirs.
As a result, the United Nations provisionally designated the country as “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” — or, rather uneuphonically: FYROM.
Athens has since normalized relations and many countries, including the United States, have abandoned the clumsy FYROM in favor of Republic of Macedonia, which is what Macedonia calls itself.
A United Nations mediator tried to work out a compromise but in the end, Greece — a NATO member since 1952 — exercised its veto. The alliance operates on consensus.
Tiny Macedonia doesn’t threaten Greece under any name. In fact, bringing it into the NATO fold would enhance regional stability. Now, there are concerns Macedonia’s failure to gain alliance membership could fan nationalism and anti-Western sentiment as well as jeopardize its ability to join the European Union.
President Bush and European leaders should have worked harder at finding a solution to this corrosive problem before Greece exercised its veto.
Now they must ratchet up the pressure on Greece to achieve that compromise so that NATO’s insult to Macedonia is reversed as quickly as possible.
Huge victory for MACEDONIA
Only Steven Spielberg could have masterminded this type of scenario for Macedonia. A huge moral and political victory for Macedonia. All props to the Macedonian leadership for their diplomatic skills and tactics.
I am not Macedonian so I can not rank Macedonia's 'happy moments'. However, without a doubt in my mind, Macedonia's not entering in NATO should be the happiest moment for all Macedonians worldwide. There are numerous reasons for my reasoning.
Macedonia has been, and always will be cradle of culture and civilization. Macedonia's peaceful image would have been seriously tarnished by entering the NATO Alliance. There is a reason why Macedonia is called "Balkan's Switzerland".
We, Americans, have a phrase when someone does something foolish, nit witted. We say "he shot himself in the foot". What Greece did today, it didn't just shot itself in the foot, rather, it shot itself in the face! Greece's absurd nationalistic [read machismo] campaign and disinformation, forcing Macedonia to change its name has produced an extremely negative image of Greece abroad. Greece spent millions, for something that did not work and it will never work. It enraged the Macedonian population to such an extent, that now, they will never mention the 'n' in negotiations. Greece attempted to shut down, wipe out the Macedonian spirit, instead, it awakened it, more stronger than ever.
Congratulations to Mr. Gruevski, Milososki and Dimitrov who thwarted all Greek tricks and attempts via blackmail and threats to force a terrible name upon you. Everyone was aware Greece had intended to place its veto no matter what 'talks' were going on. "Change your name or veto" doesn't work. It may have worked in a dark back alley.
The Macedonian diplomats, I must admit, were much, much wiser than I thought. I suspected they would make a mistake because of their youth. I was very wrong, and I am glad.
With this veto, Greece has done a huge favor for Macedonia to finally stop all of this nonsense called 'negotiations'.
Greece saved Macedonia millions of Euros that they would have had to shell out each year for "NATO membership fees".
Instead, Macedonia will sign a military agreement with the US (much better than agreement with NATO) and will not shell out a cent.
Washington will take Macedonia under its wings as a guarantor and a protector. This type of agreement includes free weaponry. This is money that now Macedonia will get to keep and invest in its ever growing economy.
I suggest to you Macedonia, to enjoy this great victory, this is a great day for you.
Long live Alexandar's descendants.
William Reihman
I am not Macedonian so I can not rank Macedonia's 'happy moments'. However, without a doubt in my mind, Macedonia's not entering in NATO should be the happiest moment for all Macedonians worldwide. There are numerous reasons for my reasoning.
Macedonia has been, and always will be cradle of culture and civilization. Macedonia's peaceful image would have been seriously tarnished by entering the NATO Alliance. There is a reason why Macedonia is called "Balkan's Switzerland".
We, Americans, have a phrase when someone does something foolish, nit witted. We say "he shot himself in the foot". What Greece did today, it didn't just shot itself in the foot, rather, it shot itself in the face! Greece's absurd nationalistic [read machismo] campaign and disinformation, forcing Macedonia to change its name has produced an extremely negative image of Greece abroad. Greece spent millions, for something that did not work and it will never work. It enraged the Macedonian population to such an extent, that now, they will never mention the 'n' in negotiations. Greece attempted to shut down, wipe out the Macedonian spirit, instead, it awakened it, more stronger than ever.
Congratulations to Mr. Gruevski, Milososki and Dimitrov who thwarted all Greek tricks and attempts via blackmail and threats to force a terrible name upon you. Everyone was aware Greece had intended to place its veto no matter what 'talks' were going on. "Change your name or veto" doesn't work. It may have worked in a dark back alley.
The Macedonian diplomats, I must admit, were much, much wiser than I thought. I suspected they would make a mistake because of their youth. I was very wrong, and I am glad.
With this veto, Greece has done a huge favor for Macedonia to finally stop all of this nonsense called 'negotiations'.
Greece saved Macedonia millions of Euros that they would have had to shell out each year for "NATO membership fees".
Instead, Macedonia will sign a military agreement with the US (much better than agreement with NATO) and will not shell out a cent.
Washington will take Macedonia under its wings as a guarantor and a protector. This type of agreement includes free weaponry. This is money that now Macedonia will get to keep and invest in its ever growing economy.
I suggest to you Macedonia, to enjoy this great victory, this is a great day for you.
Long live Alexandar's descendants.
William Reihman
Bush Urges Greece to Solve Name Row with Macedonia
US president George Bush called on Greece on Wednesday to refrain from vetoing Macedonia's bid to join NATO and urged Athens to find quick resolution of the name dispute with Skopje.
If Greece does otherwise, it would threaten to pile further pressure in the Balkan region, Bush said in a speech in Bucharest during the NATO summit that started on Wednesday.
"Tomorrow in recognition of their progress, NATO will make a historic decision on the admission of three Balkan nations Croatia, Albania and Macedonia," the president added.
Ahead of the NATO summit, Skopje declared the country wants to join the Alliance under the name Macedonia rather than as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), under which it was admitted to the UN in 1993.
At the same time Greece vows to veto Macedonia's effort to join NATO, saying the name is a vehicle that aims at annexing the northern Greek province of Macedonia.
If Greece does otherwise, it would threaten to pile further pressure in the Balkan region, Bush said in a speech in Bucharest during the NATO summit that started on Wednesday.
"Tomorrow in recognition of their progress, NATO will make a historic decision on the admission of three Balkan nations Croatia, Albania and Macedonia," the president added.
Ahead of the NATO summit, Skopje declared the country wants to join the Alliance under the name Macedonia rather than as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), under which it was admitted to the UN in 1993.
At the same time Greece vows to veto Macedonia's effort to join NATO, saying the name is a vehicle that aims at annexing the northern Greek province of Macedonia.
NATO postpones invitation to Macedonia to join
BUCHAREST (Reuters) - NATO leaders were unable to agree on Wednesday to invite Macedonia to join the alliance after NATO member Greece said it had still not resolved a dispute over the former Yugoslav republic's name, a NATO diplomat said.
"The invitation will be postponed," said a European NATO diplomat who was briefed on the outcome of a summit dinner of the 26 leaders.
Greece to veto Macedonia Nato bid
Greece says it is almost certain to veto Macedonia's bid to join Nato, following Macedonian portrayals of the Greek prime minister as a Nazi.
The two countries are also in dispute over the name "Macedonia" for Greece's northern neighbour.
Time is running out for a solution before the Nato summit in Bucharest, which opens on Wednesday evening.
US President George W Bush had hoped to invite Macedonia to join Nato, along with Albania and Croatia.
Athens is deeply offended by posters that have appeared in Skopje, which have the swastika superimposed on the Greek flag, as well as a magazine cover which depicts Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis as an SS officer.
And the Greeks feel insulted by recent images of their neighbour's prime minister laying a wreath by a flag showing a map of Greater Macedonia, which includes parts of Northern Greece.
Territorial claims
Greece's foreign minister, Dora Bakoyannis, says the dispute is not just over a name.
She says the government in Skopje regards the Greek province of Macedonia as occupied territory and has refused to remove such claims from textbooks speeches, maps and national documents.
Athens and Skopje have failed to reach an agreement on a new name for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Greece's stance remains - no deal, no invitation.
Greece is under huge pressure to back down.
The Americans say a dispute over who are the descendants of Macedonia's legendary king Alexander the Great cannot be allowed to derail Nato's expansion.
Other Nato allies are worried that closing the door on Skopje could lead to the break up of the country along ethnic lines between Slav Macedonians and the Albanian minority.
But compromising on what most Greeks regard as an unsatisfactory name would be political suicide for the Conservative government of Mr Karamanlis, and so the use of Greece's veto looks inevitable.
The two countries are also in dispute over the name "Macedonia" for Greece's northern neighbour.
Time is running out for a solution before the Nato summit in Bucharest, which opens on Wednesday evening.
US President George W Bush had hoped to invite Macedonia to join Nato, along with Albania and Croatia.
Athens is deeply offended by posters that have appeared in Skopje, which have the swastika superimposed on the Greek flag, as well as a magazine cover which depicts Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis as an SS officer.
And the Greeks feel insulted by recent images of their neighbour's prime minister laying a wreath by a flag showing a map of Greater Macedonia, which includes parts of Northern Greece.
Territorial claims
Greece's foreign minister, Dora Bakoyannis, says the dispute is not just over a name.
She says the government in Skopje regards the Greek province of Macedonia as occupied territory and has refused to remove such claims from textbooks speeches, maps and national documents.
Athens and Skopje have failed to reach an agreement on a new name for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Greece's stance remains - no deal, no invitation.
Greece is under huge pressure to back down.
The Americans say a dispute over who are the descendants of Macedonia's legendary king Alexander the Great cannot be allowed to derail Nato's expansion.
Other Nato allies are worried that closing the door on Skopje could lead to the break up of the country along ethnic lines between Slav Macedonians and the Albanian minority.
But compromising on what most Greeks regard as an unsatisfactory name would be political suicide for the Conservative government of Mr Karamanlis, and so the use of Greece's veto looks inevitable.
Macedonia's hopes for Nato invitation fading fast
Leaders of 26 members states of Nato, who descended on Bucharest for the alliance's three-day summit on April 2, have agreed to extend invitations to join the organisation to Albania and Croatia, but were yet to reach agreement on Macedonia's application.
Talks on the issue would continue on April 3, Nato spokesperson James Appathurai told reporters at a media briefing.
Greece has threatened to veto Macedonia's bid over the name dispute with Skopje. Greece refuses to accept its neighbour’s constitutional name, saying Macedonia is the name of Northern Greece and that having Skopje use it is indicative of its implicit territorial claims over the northern Greek province. The alliance uses the consensus principle, meaning that no decision can be made unless all member states are in agreement.
"The invitation will be postponed," one European Nato diplomat told Reuters.
Doing so would fuel radical feelings in the country and destabilise the region, Albania's prime minister Sali Berisha said. "The stability of this neighbor is very crucial for Albania, for Kosovo, for Greece, to Bulgaria, to all its neighbors. My fear is that radicals from all ethnicities there could be strengthened," he told Reuters.
A possible solution would be to extend a conditional invitation, pending the resolution of talks between Skopje and Athens, a British source familiar with the talks told Romanian-language news agency Newsin.
Georgia and Ukraine, two more countries hoping to secure membership action plans, the first step towards Nato membership, were unlikely to be successful, Reuters said.
Germany remains opposed to offer such roadmaps to the two former Soviet republics, considering them unprepared, despite strong lobbying from the US. Russia is also strongly against what it sees as an encroachment of its traditional sphere of influence.
Talks on the issue would continue on April 3, Nato spokesperson James Appathurai told reporters at a media briefing.
Greece has threatened to veto Macedonia's bid over the name dispute with Skopje. Greece refuses to accept its neighbour’s constitutional name, saying Macedonia is the name of Northern Greece and that having Skopje use it is indicative of its implicit territorial claims over the northern Greek province. The alliance uses the consensus principle, meaning that no decision can be made unless all member states are in agreement.
"The invitation will be postponed," one European Nato diplomat told Reuters.
Doing so would fuel radical feelings in the country and destabilise the region, Albania's prime minister Sali Berisha said. "The stability of this neighbor is very crucial for Albania, for Kosovo, for Greece, to Bulgaria, to all its neighbors. My fear is that radicals from all ethnicities there could be strengthened," he told Reuters.
A possible solution would be to extend a conditional invitation, pending the resolution of talks between Skopje and Athens, a British source familiar with the talks told Romanian-language news agency Newsin.
Georgia and Ukraine, two more countries hoping to secure membership action plans, the first step towards Nato membership, were unlikely to be successful, Reuters said.
Germany remains opposed to offer such roadmaps to the two former Soviet republics, considering them unprepared, despite strong lobbying from the US. Russia is also strongly against what it sees as an encroachment of its traditional sphere of influence.
Macedonia's NATO bid on ice as Croatia, Albania get nod
Bucharest - NATO leaders are set to invite Albania and Croatia into the alliance on Thursday, but they placed the aspirations of Macedonia on ice owing to its unresolved name dispute with Greece, NATO officials said Wednesday. "There is consensus for two of the three countries to be offered invitations to begin accession talks starting tomorrow," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.
For Macedonia, Appathurai said that the Greek delegation had "made it very clear that until the name issue is resolved," offering NATO membership would "not be possible."
NATO has made expansion into the Western Balkans one of its top priorities. The alliance conducted its first major military campaign in the region nearly 10 years ago, still has a sizeable peacekeeping operation in Kosovo and consequently views NATO membership as a means of stabilizing that part of South-East Europe.
Albania, Croatia and Macedonia have all been offered NATO membership action plans (MAP), and at their last summit in Riga in 2006, the alliance's leaders told the trio that they were all likely to be invited into the organization at Bucharest, so long as they met NATO standards.
While Croatia and Albania were given the thumbs up by NATO leaders, Macedonia saw its chances effectively vetoed by Greece.
"No solution (of the Macedonia name issue) means no invitation," Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni told reporters as she set off for Bucharest.
Greece argues that Skopje's use of the name Macedonia could pose an inherent claim on the northern Greek province, where Alexander the Great was born.
The country, independent since 1991, was admitted to the United Nations in 1993 under the provisional name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
For Macedonia, Appathurai said that the Greek delegation had "made it very clear that until the name issue is resolved," offering NATO membership would "not be possible."
NATO has made expansion into the Western Balkans one of its top priorities. The alliance conducted its first major military campaign in the region nearly 10 years ago, still has a sizeable peacekeeping operation in Kosovo and consequently views NATO membership as a means of stabilizing that part of South-East Europe.
Albania, Croatia and Macedonia have all been offered NATO membership action plans (MAP), and at their last summit in Riga in 2006, the alliance's leaders told the trio that they were all likely to be invited into the organization at Bucharest, so long as they met NATO standards.
While Croatia and Albania were given the thumbs up by NATO leaders, Macedonia saw its chances effectively vetoed by Greece.
"No solution (of the Macedonia name issue) means no invitation," Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyianni told reporters as she set off for Bucharest.
Greece argues that Skopje's use of the name Macedonia could pose an inherent claim on the northern Greek province, where Alexander the Great was born.
The country, independent since 1991, was admitted to the United Nations in 1993 under the provisional name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
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