Front Matter

America’s Role in Macedonia’s Troubled Journey to International Recognition (1991 – 2013)

Second Edition

By Risto Nikovski

Translated from Macedonian to English and Edited by Risto Stefov America’s Role in Macedonia’s Troubled Journey to International Recognition (1991 – 2013)

Second Edition

Motive for writing a second edition

After the First Edition was released, there was an occurrence that deserves our attention.

On October 24, 2013 the Greek Foreign Ministry issued an official statement entitled “The Problem with the Name” using the offensive, demeaning and meaningless acronym (FYROM) from the UN reference. The document was interestingly loaded with lies, fabricated accusations and allegations regarding our account. Among other things, it reaffirmed the assertion that Tito “created” the Macedonian nation. There was also mention of The Hague verdict, de-emphasizing Greece’s conviction but greatly emphasizing a number of “violations” of the Interim Accord on our part...

There is a key part in this document, however, the intention of which is to justify Greece’s attitude towards Macedonia. Here is a quote:

“A State Department telegram, from December 1944, sent to various U.S. institutions, signed by the then Secretary of State Stettinius, among other things said: ‘The chatter about the Macedonian “nation”, the Macedonian “fatherland” and the Macedonian “national consciousness”, the U.S. government considers unjustified demagoguery which does not represent an ethnic or political reality, and in this current revival it sees a possible cloak for aggressive intentions against Greece’!”

1.1. As usual, this Greek document, which was certainly distributed around the world, was completely ignored in Macedonia with the exception of being mentioned on Channel 5 television. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Macedonia did nothing. Our diplomats are more likely to be concerned about global warming than about Greeks claiming that we are a fabrication...

1.2. Looking at this another way, if we did not ask the Americans for clarification if they still hold the same position, as 70 years ago, the same State Department should have reacted. By not reacting, it means that the U.S. today is following the same policy towards Macedonia and the Macedonian people that was followed in 1944. If the U.S. does feel the same way about Macedonia and the Macedonian people as it did in 1944, then that would explain why Greece has been so abusive. This definitely explains why Greece has never been punished, not even one time for the genocide, human rights abuses, land confiscation, exiling of Macedonians and a whole slew of other abuses it perpetrated against the Macedonian people over the years.

1.3. American silence on the subject, of course, has its own merit, which we must not underestimate. However, one should not forget that activities are intertwined in international diplomacy: Why should Washington “rush” to our rescue if we choose to constantly keep quiet? In other words, we should have sought an explanation from the U.S. the moment we became aware of the information in the telegram referenced by Greece. Now we don’t know if the telegram was indeed real or a Greek fabrication to manipulate us?

Again… it is still not too late to follow up on this issue. But will it be done?

2. It is undoubtedly satisfactory to know that this book is undergoing a second edition in Macedonia. The most important aspect about any book is to reach the reader. One time someone in America anonymously wrote a book and had it self-published but it would not sell. Searching for a solution, the author placed an advertisement in the “New York Times” stating that he was looking for a wife who fit the description of Anna, a character in his book! A second edition soon followed. This case was quoted in several books on marketing.

There were no such tricks done to promote this book. A strong impression prevails, however, that expressed assessments are being received with much interest. Let us hope that politicians too, especially in the international community, primarily in the U.S., will make an effort to read it. It is not only for Macedonia’s interest but also for its neighbours and as well for Washington and Brussels. No one should be left blind to the fact that: current policies aimed at Macedonia have proven to be totally inadequate. They have solved nothing and have caused a lot of damage. This is because these policies were unrealistic, unnecessary and uncivilized... Mistakes are always inevitable but must not be repeated.

3. The puzzle offered in this book is certainly not perfect or complete. However, it does accurately represent the genesis of the invented problem with Macedonia’s name. Its essence, what is stated in the book, is undeniable. Has Washington managed and controlled 85 to 95 percent of the illegal process driven to annihilate the Macedonian nation and its country? - it is not important. Washington is in a position to help Macedonia in so many ways but has chosen not to. Worse than that is the fact that Washington is behind all the contention, blocking, blackmail and obscene and utterly unacceptable proposals and solutions. This is done with maximum coordination at the highest international level, using all available means, most of which are illegal, unauthorized and outside international law.

4. And, as a living wonder, despite all the ordeals and tribulations, over 20 years later all attempts at fraud, abuse, intrigue, public bullying... have not achieved any results; except for ruining the Macedonian state and pushing the Macedonian people into further destitution.

The military aggression against Macedonia in 2001 also failed. It was a limited and strictly controlled war that proved unsuccessful despite everything that was done to control it.

Time and time again the Macedonian people have proven to be indestructible.

5. The sad part about all this is that we, as witnesses of these events, have failed to sway Washington away from its failures. The U.S. has stubbornly continued to follow the same path with the same futile and medieval policies towards Macedonia. And Brussels has unconditionally and unwaveringly followed Washington.

How long will these so-called “democracies” use force against a small and poor nation? Unfortunately no one can tell us because these “democracies” say one thing and do another. They don’t seem to understand that they cannot bring about democratic and lasting solutions by using undemocratic means!

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6. The European Council in December (2013) definitely showed that Brussels has no intention of removing its blockades, stopping its blackmail and ultimatums, which are summarized in its anti-Macedonian politics… “First change your name and then membership!” And so it should be evident to everyone that the door to our country’s Euro-Atlantic integration stays closed and will remain permanently so until we accept losing our identity as a Macedonian people.

6.1. On the other hand, it is a fact that Nimetz’s mediation efforts have failed or have yielded no results. The past 20 years have shown that the mediation process is incapable of solving this case. We need to say this openly and take every necessary step to get out of this impasse.

6.2. We must add to this that we are faced with an “Athens” which has shown absolute indifference to all proposed solutions, even to their own erga omnes. The reason is not because Greece is experiencing a deep crisis and we need to wait for it to pass. This has been Greece’s general attitude and policy towards Macedonia and the Macedonian people for more than a century. Greece will not agree to any solution unless it calls for Macedonia and the Macedonian people to be wiped off the face of the earth! So, under such circumstances, no sane Greek politician would be willing to risk their neck and seek anything different! Greece has nothing to gain or lose by compromising on its current position, except of course The Hague verdict, which may cause it difficulties in the future. The best we can do for now is to keep going back to the Court each time Greece violates the Interim Accord obstructing Macedonia from joining international organizations such as NATO and the EU. Washington and Brussels too will feel the burden of ignoring the Court’s judgment, since they are both supporting Greece’s violations of international law.

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7. This has been going on far too long! We have spent over two decades attempting to find a solution and have been coming up empty. In these two decades Macedonia has suffered immeasurable damage in every aspect of its economic, political and ethnic life. Today (at the start of 2014) it has become very clear that the blade has hit bone. It is high time that we become aware that we have been taken this far and left in the middle of a tunnel. And that we need to find the exit on our own.

After we were blocked from joining NATO in Bucharest in 2008 our position in the “dispute” has been weakening. Until 2008 we have received recognition from many countries which have strengthened our international standing. It is now high time we seek new solutions and take decisive action if we are to succeed.

8. We have a number of options but none are painless. Whatever route we take, our first confrontation will be with Washington. As manager of the issue, Washington will strongly resist any attempt to modify, let alone change, its intentions and plans that are embedded in its current procedures. We must be clear about that. Washington reacted the same way to our application to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and will react to anything different that we do. And thus we can only succeed if we are prepared to face Washington’s wrath. If we don’t build up enough courage, as soon as possible, to defend our country’s fundamental interests then we will end up in the abyss.

We must be on the move and may our Macedonia remain eternal!