Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SKOPJE1139
2006-12-01 16:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA WELCOMES NATO SUMMIT STATEMENT,
how-toVZCZCXRO4161 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSQ #1139 3351618 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 011618Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5488 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
UNCLAS SKOPJE 001139
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA WELCOMES NATO SUMMIT STATEMENT,
ACKNOWLEDGES NEED FOR FURTHER REFORMS
UNCLAS SKOPJE 001139
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA WELCOMES NATO SUMMIT STATEMENT,
ACKNOWLEDGES NEED FOR FURTHER REFORMS
1. (SBU) In a telcon November 30, MFA State Secretary Igor
Ilievski told P/E Chief the GOM was delighted with the NATO
Summit statement at Riga announcing, inter alia, the
Alliance's intent to "extend further invitations to those
countries who meet NATO's performance based standards..."
The government also was very pleased with President Bush's
public statement of support for NATO enlargement in 2008. In
a letter to President Bush dated November 30 (septel),Prime
Minister Gruevski thanked the President and the people of the
United States for backing Macedonia's NATO membership
aspirations, and reiterated Macedonia's appreciation for the
2004 decision to recognize Macedonia's constitutional name.
2. (U) On December 1, PM Gruevski issued a public statement
thanking NATO member states and President Bush for
encouraging Macedonia and its citizens to accelerate the
implementation of NATO MAP-required reforms. Although he
stated that the Riga documents "show that Macedonia, Croatia
and Albania will become NATO members" in 2008, Gruevski also
noted the need to complete remaining tasks, and underscored
that NATO membership should be "deserved," and not a "gift."
He characterized the Riga Summit statement as a "stimulus"
for enhancing Macedonia's position as a NATO membership
contender, which would help raise living standards and
improve government performance.
3. (SBU) Speaking to the DCM at a November 29 "Riga Summit"
luncheon for NATO embassy representatives, Defense Minister
Elenovski expressed his great appreciation for U.S. support
for Macedonia's NATO aspirations and, perhaps caught up in
the positive mood after reading the Riga Declaration,
indicated that a 2008 invitation seemed very likely. DCM
acknowledged the progress made to date by the GOM, and by the
Defense Ministry in particular, but cautioned the Minister
that much work remained to be done on the reform agenda, and
that time was short. Elenovski agreed and said he would work
to prevent the GOM from prematurely congratulating itself.
4. (U) Local press reaction was generally positive and
balanced, highlighting the strong likelihood of NATO
enlargement in 2008 and noting the need for continued
progress on reforms to improve Macedonia's chances of
receiving a membership invitation. An editorial in one
respected Macedonian daily suggested that Macedonia should
not be "euphoric" about the Riga statement, but should
instead concentrate on "finishing its homework" for NATO
membership. Former PM Buckovski, writing in another daily,
asserted that "following the Riga declaration...it (remains)
for us to demonstrate that we understand our priorities and
how to accomplish them.."
5. (SBU) Comment: The Riga Declaration and President Bush's
statement have had a salutary effect, boosting public and
government confidence vis-a-vis NATO membership. While some
officials occasionally lapse into over-confidence regarding a
2008 invitation, most understand the government has many
remaining tasks, and little time in which to complete them,
before it can count on a membership invitation. We will
continue to work with the government to keep them focused on
needed reforms, including combating corruption and
trafficking in persons, using the post-Riga positive momentum
here to press the GOM to accelerate the entire reform
implementation process.
WOHLERS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA WELCOMES NATO SUMMIT STATEMENT,
ACKNOWLEDGES NEED FOR FURTHER REFORMS
1. (SBU) In a telcon November 30, MFA State Secretary Igor
Ilievski told P/E Chief the GOM was delighted with the NATO
Summit statement at Riga announcing, inter alia, the
Alliance's intent to "extend further invitations to those
countries who meet NATO's performance based standards..."
The government also was very pleased with President Bush's
public statement of support for NATO enlargement in 2008. In
a letter to President Bush dated November 30 (septel),Prime
Minister Gruevski thanked the President and the people of the
United States for backing Macedonia's NATO membership
aspirations, and reiterated Macedonia's appreciation for the
2004 decision to recognize Macedonia's constitutional name.
2. (U) On December 1, PM Gruevski issued a public statement
thanking NATO member states and President Bush for
encouraging Macedonia and its citizens to accelerate the
implementation of NATO MAP-required reforms. Although he
stated that the Riga documents "show that Macedonia, Croatia
and Albania will become NATO members" in 2008, Gruevski also
noted the need to complete remaining tasks, and underscored
that NATO membership should be "deserved," and not a "gift."
He characterized the Riga Summit statement as a "stimulus"
for enhancing Macedonia's position as a NATO membership
contender, which would help raise living standards and
improve government performance.
3. (SBU) Speaking to the DCM at a November 29 "Riga Summit"
luncheon for NATO embassy representatives, Defense Minister
Elenovski expressed his great appreciation for U.S. support
for Macedonia's NATO aspirations and, perhaps caught up in
the positive mood after reading the Riga Declaration,
indicated that a 2008 invitation seemed very likely. DCM
acknowledged the progress made to date by the GOM, and by the
Defense Ministry in particular, but cautioned the Minister
that much work remained to be done on the reform agenda, and
that time was short. Elenovski agreed and said he would work
to prevent the GOM from prematurely congratulating itself.
4. (U) Local press reaction was generally positive and
balanced, highlighting the strong likelihood of NATO
enlargement in 2008 and noting the need for continued
progress on reforms to improve Macedonia's chances of
receiving a membership invitation. An editorial in one
respected Macedonian daily suggested that Macedonia should
not be "euphoric" about the Riga statement, but should
instead concentrate on "finishing its homework" for NATO
membership. Former PM Buckovski, writing in another daily,
asserted that "following the Riga declaration...it (remains)
for us to demonstrate that we understand our priorities and
how to accomplish them.."
5. (SBU) Comment: The Riga Declaration and President Bush's
statement have had a salutary effect, boosting public and
government confidence vis-a-vis NATO membership. While some
officials occasionally lapse into over-confidence regarding a
2008 invitation, most understand the government has many
remaining tasks, and little time in which to complete them,
before it can count on a membership invitation. We will
continue to work with the government to keep them focused on
needed reforms, including combating corruption and
trafficking in persons, using the post-Riga positive momentum
here to press the GOM to accelerate the entire reform
implementation process.
WOHLERS