April 2005April 2005
.The Political Secretariat of SYNASPISMOS discussed on 13.4.2005 the latest developments concerning the dialogue between Greece and FYROM about the latter’s name. The following conclusions and positions were reached:
SYNASPISMOS has over many years steadily and actively supported the proposal for a mutually agreed solution with a composite name. This position was proven right by recent developments. If this is not achieved then the international recognition of the neighbouring country under the name “Macedonia” will become general and permanent. A mutually acceptable solution of a composite name, with a geographical definition, must be used for the recognition of FYROM by the United Nations, the European Union and the other international organizations and the member-countries, especially by the permanent members of the Security Council of the UN and the EU member- countries. It is on this basis that SYNASPISMOS supports the continuation of the UN process and its speediest possible positive outcome. The Greek government should put in motion immediate initiatives to ensure the necessary international support
The solution that will be given to the name issue must be accompanied by a set of measures on lesser issues which will contribute to the development of good neighbourly relations, mutual trust and co-operation between the two countries. Negative measures should be avoided as well as unclear or dual-meaning statements - like the one used in the Nimetz paper about the international use of the term “Macedonia” - which could become a source of future friction and tension.
SYNASPISMOS believes that the USA, continuing their aggressive and adventurist policies in the Balkans, bear considerable responsibility for the intransigence of the other side, especially after the deciding to unilaterally recognize FYROM with its constitutional name directly after the reelection of G.W. Bush, while the UN process was continuing.
The Greek government must not use the pursuit of a solution to the problem with FYROM as an alibi to strengthen the country’s foreign policy orientation towards serving american priorities in the Balkans and in the wider region. On the contrary, the efforts to disentangle Greek foreign policy from the particular problem must be accompanied by a comprehensive Balkan policy of peace and mutual security, away from foreign interventions, re-drawing of frontiers, nationalisms and irredentist ideas. It is in this direction that our country could and should utilize the Presidency of the Southeastern European Cooperation that it will assume as from May 1 2005.
In a period when new dangers emerge by the possibility of a unilateral independenceof Kossovo, promoted by the USA, the Greek government should not be an accomplice to such a development, which would cause chain reactions of destabilization in the Western Balkans. On the contrary, it ought to work for the implementation of the 1244/99 UN Security Council resolution, especially since at this period it is one of its non-permanent members.
Synaspismos expresses its opposition to all efforts that aim to reproduce a climate of nationalism and petty political exploitation of the developments of the FYROM issue. It is our view that for the problem to be confronted it is necessary for the government to inform fully and in time the Parliament and all the political parties of the contents and developments of the negotiations process. We criticize the government because its briefing provided to the political parties was selective and certain negative points of the Nimetz were kept secret. During the PASOK government SYNASPISMOS had no information at all, while during the ND government information is partial and disorienting.
SYNASPISMOS proposes the immediate convocation of the National Council of Foreign Policy to discuss developments in the relations between Greece and FYROM, but also developments in the Balkans and the Greek -Turkish relations.