MAK-NEWS 03/05/95 (M.I.L.S.)

From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" <dep@bu.edu>

CONTENTS

  • [01] REAL DANGER OF GLOBAL WAR

  • [02] CRVENKOVSKI'S ACTIVITIES IN BUDAPEST

  • [03] STEPHANOPOULOS WARNS GLIGOROV

  • [04] WORLD CONFERENCE ON CRIME

  • [05] WORLD CONFERENCE ON HEALTH TAKES PLACE IN GENEVA

  • [06] SIMOSKA AND GABER MEET EVANS

  • [07] AMBASSADOR MIRCEV PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

  • [08] MACEDONIAN-TURKISH SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION

  • [09] GENERAL STRIKE TO CONTINUE UNDER SECRET SCENARIO

  • [10] SEMINAR ON MACEDONIAN TOURISM

  • [11] KOSOVO OUGHT TO HAVE AUTONOMY, BROEK SAID

  • [12] SITUATION IN MACEDONIA INCREASINGLY TENSE

  • [13] AEGEAN MACEDONIANS' ASSOCIATION HOLD MEETING

  • [14] MACEDONIAN CHURCH DELEGATION VISITS AUSTRALIA

  • [15] MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: CONTRADICTORY POLICIES THAT COURT DISASTER (The Washington Times, 4 April 1995)

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    M I L S N E W S

    Skopje, 3 May 1995

    [01] REAL DANGER OF GLOBAL WAR

    In an interview with Reuters, US ambassador to NATO Hunter said the bombing of Zagreb is a very dangerous moment and that the risk of a global war has become real. He added that the UN troops will remain in the former Yugoslavia, but NATO is prepared to begin a withdrawal operation should France or any other country warn that the fighting is threatening the safety of the peacekeeping troops.

    [02] CRVENKOVSKI'S ACTIVITIES IN BUDAPEST

    Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski met in Budapest with Yohei Kono, vice-president of the Government of Japan. Kono presented his Government's proposal for aid to Macedonia, that being settling the debt to international financial institutions and dealing with problems in the economy. He said Japan will provide irrevocable credit for hospitals in Macedonia and will help Macedonia get included in the UNIDO program. Crvenkovski also met with Laslo Kovac, Minister and current OSCE Head. They discussed possibilities of admitting Macedonia to OSCE as a full member. Kovac also told Crvenkovski that Hungary will open an embassy in Skopje.

    [03] STEPHANOPOULOS WARNS GLIGOROV

    The new Greek President Constantin Stephanopoulos said Gligorov's attempts to "usurp the name Macedonia and the Vergina Star" are "ridiculous". "This," he stated, "is a proof of his expansionist plans for turning Skopje into a center of future expansion of the entire Macedonia." He also attacked Greece's allies in Europe and the world for not being well informed on the situation in the Balkans. Meantime, spectators in Athens say Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou's view on the Macedonia issue is "more flexible than before". The same sources say direct talks between Skopje and Athens could be renewed in New York as soon as sometime this month.

    [04] WORLD CONFERENCE ON CRIME

    In Kairo on April 29, the UN opened a conference against the organized crime, international terrorism and corruption. The conference, to last until May 8, is attended by 150 delegates of 140 states. The Macedonian delegation to the conference is led by Minister of the Interior Ljubomir Frckovski, who yesterday addressed those present. He pointed to Macedonia's central geographic and strategic position, unstable situation and conflicts in the region, as well as the fact that the problems in the economy resulting from the Greek embargo are affecting the stability of the country. Speaking about potential dangers of organized crime in Macedonia, Frckovski underlined the danger of money laundering by companies established by former Eastern intelligence agencies and trading with arms with the Middle East, as well as the danger of drug trafficking as part of the organized crime. A preventive measure against all this, he said, would be to include Macedonia into the Council of Europe.

    [05] WORLD CONFERENCE ON HEALTH TAKES PLACE IN GENEVA

    The 48th Conference of the World Health Organization started in Geneva yesterday. A Macedonian delegation to the summit is led by Health Minister Ilija Filipce. The participants will focus on increasing solidarity and achieving a level of equality of health in the world.

    [06] SIMOSKA AND GABER MEET EVANS

    The Macedonian diplomatic delegation to Australia, led by Minister of Education Emilija Simoska and Foreign Ministry under-secretary Victor Gaber, met yesterday with Australian Foreign Minister Garret Evans in Canberra. They discussed ways of improving bilateral relations. The Macedonian contingent pointed out that current economic and political cooperation is far below the desired level. Meeting with State Secretary of Education and Employment Walker, the Macedonian delegates expressed interest in the development of Macedonian-language schools in Australia and overcoming problems with degrees obtained at universities in Macedonia. This meeting was the last activity of the Macedonian delegation in Australia.

    [07] AMBASSADOR MIRCEV PRESENTS CREDENTIALS

    In Rome, last Friday, the newly appointed Macedonian ambassador to Vatican Dimitar Mircev presented his credentials to Angelo Sodano, Secretary of State of the Holy See.

    [08] MACEDONIAN-TURKISH SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION

    In accordance with the Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation, authorized representatives of the Ministry of Science and the Scientific Research Council of Macedonia signed an execution agreement for the period of 1995 to 1997. The agreement was signed in Ankara.

    [09] GENERAL STRIKE TO CONTINUE UNDER SECRET SCENARIO

    The Coordinating Committee of the Independent Trade Union Association described last week's strike at the Macedonia square in Skopje as successful. Due to the Government proposal, Union officials said, the strike is suspended, but will continue with a new, undisclosed plan. The Union refuted the news stated by Government's spokesman Ismail of the strike having been organized by VMRO-DPMNE. The official trade union, they said, is a farce organization, unable to organize a general strike.

    [10] SEMINAR ON MACEDONIAN TOURISM

    In association with the German Ministry of Tourism, the Macedonian Ministry of Economy will hold a seminar on tourism in Macedonia in Ohrid on May 4 through 6. The goal of the seminar will be to activate the Macedonian tourist opportunities for Germany and other European countries.

    [11] KOSOVO OUGHT TO HAVE AUTONOMY, BROEK SAID

    The national television of Albania reported on a two-day visit to Tirana paid by Hans Van den Broek, EU Commissioner for Relations With Central and Eastern European Countries. Answering reporters' questions at the Congress Hall in Tirana, Broek said Macedonia should respect the rights of Albanians there and said Kosovo ought to be given back its autonomy.

    [12] SITUATION IN MACEDONIA INCREASINGLY TENSE

    "The situation in Macedonia is increasingly tense, especially after the fabricated court hearing against the initiators of the university in Tetovo," said Naser Ziberi, PDP secretary and parliament deputy during his meeting with John Coolis, under-secretary of the British embassy to Skopje.

    [13] AEGEAN MACEDONIANS' ASSOCIATION HOLD MEETING

    The Association of Aegean Macedonians held a meeting in Bitola two days ago to adopt a new statute and re-elect Aleksandar Popovski a president. The meeting was attended by delegates of the Association's branches.

    [14] MACEDONIAN CHURCH DELEGATION VISITS AUSTRALIA

    A delegation of the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, consisting of metropolits Petar, Stefan and Ratomir Grozdanovski, is currently on a visit to Australia. Over the next 40 days, the delegation will tour all Macedonian churches on the continent and will dedicate newly built churches there.

    [15] MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: CONTRADICTORY POLICIES THAT

    COURT DISASTER

    (The Washington Times, 4 April 1995)

    The first great European conflict began in the Balkans. Unless we are careful, so may the last. Three years after the beginning of war in Bosnia, international attention remains riveted on the fate of that tragic nation. But Macedonia is perhaps an even more dangerous flash-point in the Balkans. Unless the international community takes strong action, we could see the outbreak of a general Balkan war that could draw in the European powers and even the United States. And there will be no such strong action without firm US leadership. The strategic importance of Macedonia transcends its size, about that of Vermont, and its population, just a fraction more than 2 million. It looms large because of the Balkans' unforgiving geography and Macedonia's own volatile ethnic mix. Tensions between the country's Macedonian majority and Albanian minority - estimated at between 20 percent and 40 percent - already runs high. Should this tension escalate into civil war, it might prompt intervention from Albania to the west. Conflict could spread across Macedonia's northern border with Serbia - where there is a large and restive Albanian population in Kosovo. Greece, already consumed by an angry dispute with Macedonia, might be tempted to become involved. Turkey, Bulgaria and others could follow. Under such a scenario, the West Europeans, the United States and even Russia could be forced to pick sides - with disastrous consequences for the peace of Europe. The Clinton administration is clearly aware of the risks in Macedonia but appears unwilling to take the decisive action necessary to address them. There are already 550 US troops in Macedonia as part of a UN observer force - ostensibly to maintain stability. The administration is apparently contemplating dispatching another 1,500 soldiers, perhaps as part of a division-sized NATO contingent. Even as it considers increasing our military presence on the ground, however, the administration has refused to take a firm stand against an irresponsible Greek embargo directed at land-locked Macedonia. The embargo was imposed 14 months ago because Athens, for historical reasons, objects to Macedonia's flag and even its name. In a further bow to Athens and the Greek-American community in the United States, the administration has not sent an accredited US ambassador to the Macedonian capital, Skopje. The administration's approach on Macedonia is not just confused - it is contradictory. The US is in a grotesque position of defending the territorial integrity of a nation we refuse to have full diplomatic relaitons with. The arguments the administration offers in defense of its policy, not surprisingly, do not hold water. For example, one administration official has admitted: "We have repeatedly said that the embargo is wrong. But we have a 150-years history of friendship with Greece, and we are not going to destroy it over this." This statement rings hollow coming from an administration whose actions have caused far more important bilateral relationship with Britain to reach its lowest point in modern history. In addition, the statement's premise is false. The US-Greek relationship is far too important for both countries to be "destroyed" by Washington sending an accredited ambassador to Skopje. The suggestion that Athens would sever relations with the United States over this is, frankly, either breathtakingly obtuse or disingenious. Some of Greece's partners in the European Union are far less squeamish than the United States has been in condemning Athens' irresponsible embargo against Macedonia. Last year, the European Commission filed a petition against Greece in the European Court of Justice, calling the blockade illegal and unwarranted. The court's final decision is expected this summer. Meanwhile, the embargo continues. Since it was imposed, Macedonia has lost about 50 percent of its yearly export earnings. Today, Macedonia's gross domestic product is roughly half what it was in 1990, and unemployment is running about 35 percent. Athens' embargo is making a bad economic situation worse and is recklessly contributing to the rising tension between ethnic Macedonians and Albanians that already threatens to tear the country apart. The moderate government of Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov is increasingly embattled. Moving decisively on Macedonia will require the administration to stand up to a Greek-American community that strongly supports Athens' stance against Macedonia. It is never easy, much less pleasant, to confront a powerful domestic constituency in order to serve a greater national interest. The Bush administration deferred full recognition of Macedonia in part because of political pressure during the 1992 presidential campaign. This was a mistake, and one that I, as secretary of state at the time, still regret. Today, with US soldiers at risk and the potential for a broader Balkan conflict far higher, there is no excuse for our failure to act. First, the administration should move beyond pro forma disapproval of the blockade to an unambiguous condemnation. The administration should also announce the appointment of a US ambassador and dispatch him or her in Skopje immediately. This would clearly signal to Athens and other capitals in the region our seriousness about supporting Macedonia's independence and territorial integrity. Second, the administration needs to work with its Western European allies to broadly redefine the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's mission to encompass preserving peace and stability in Europe. This redefinition should permit NATO military action anywhere and under any circumstances when that peace and stability is threatened should a majority or a supermajority of alliance members concur. Five years after the end of the Cold War, NATO remains an organization in search of a mission. It need only look as far as preventing a broader Balkan war. Third, the administration should take the lead within NATO in forging an effective policy to contain the Balkan conflict. This should begin with an explicit NATO warning to all of Macedonia's neighbors - Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria and, yes, even NATO-member Greece - that any adventurism in Macedonia would be considered a threat to European peace and stability and would be met with full force of the alliance. Had NATO been in a position to have taken a similar stance toward Bosnia at the beginning of the conflict there, it would have been better prepared to deal with, and perhaps even avert, the disaster that unfolded. By acting now, NATO can avoid yet another tragic "might- have-been". But warnings, as the administration's self- defeating policy of empty threats in Bosnia has made clear, are not enough. Resolve must match rhetoric. The warning needs to be backed up by a credible use of force. This means well-armed troops on the ground supported by air power. A division-sized NATO force, including a substantial US component, should be sufficient. If we do not move quickly, there could be a repeat of the Bosnian humanitarian nightmare as Macedonia plunges into chaos. But there is far more than humanitarianism at issue for US policy-makers. The United States have fought three European wars in this century - two hot and one cold - and three are quite enough. We should have learned by now that we cannot ignore a fundamental challenge to Continental stability. If general instability occurs in Europe - and a deterioration of the situation in Macedonia risks precisely that - the United States will become involved whether we like it or not. It is better to accept the cost of deference now than pay the price of broader conflict later. (end) mils-news 3 May '95
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