Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ATHENS2103
2007-10-24 10:45:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Athens
Cable title:  

GREECE/MACEDONIA: MACEDONIAN ATHLETES DEPART FROM

Tags:  PREL PGOV MK GR 
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VZCZCXRO7846
OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHTH #2103/01 2971045
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 241045Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY ATHENS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0571
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 1099
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 002103 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/MACEDONIA: MACEDONIAN ATHLETES DEPART FROM
THESSALONIKI GAMES

REF: EMBASSY SKOPJE E-MAIL OF 10/22/07

Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville for 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ATHENS 002103

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK GR
SUBJECT: GREECE/MACEDONIA: MACEDONIAN ATHLETES DEPART FROM
THESSALONIKI GAMES

REF: EMBASSY SKOPJE E-MAIL OF 10/22/07

Classified By: Political Counselor Robin Quinville for 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) This message has been cleared with Embassy Skopje.


2. (SBU) Emboff met October 23 with Greek MFA Macedonia Desk
Officer Nicholas Plexidas to follow-up ref and press reports
that the Macedonian 133-member team of youth athletes had
walked out on October 20 from the week-long "Southeastern
European Countries Games," hosted by Greece in Thessaloniki
because of various humiliations. Plexidas, who had worked
closely with the games organizers throughout, made the
following points:

-- The Name: Because the games were taking place in
Thessaloniki -- the epicenter of Greek nationalist sentiment
related to "Macedonia" -- Greek officials took pains from the
start to manage "the name." Greek officials had coordinated
with the Macedonian Consul General in Thessaloniki on
arrangements. Greece was willing to accept "FYROM," "The
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," or the Olympic
designation -- MKD; written instructions were issued by the
MFA and Ministry of Sports to the games organizers on this
point. Greece was not willing to accept "Macedonia" or
"Republic of Macedonia/Republika Makedonija." This had been
understood and accepted by authorities from Skopje.

-- Customs Problems: When the team arrived at the border,
Greek customs officials discovered a number of t-shirts,
including athletic uniforms, bearing designations
"Macedonia." Plexidas termed this "a provocation," and Greek
officials did not allow this material to enter Greece;
however, they did not seize the clothing/athletic uniforms.
Rather, it was given to Macedonian customs officials at the
border to be held for the team upon its return.

-- Use of the Name During the Games: During Opening
Ceremonies, the announcer referred to "FYROM." When
Macedonian officials protested and asked that "The Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" be used instead, the
announcer was told that this should be the practice for the
remainder of the games, and the team was reintroduced at the

Opening Ceremony. However, two days later (and Plexidas
demurred on whether this had been intentional or as a result
of carelessness) the announcer again referred to the team as
"FYROM" and not/not "The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia." On this basis, Plexidas said, the Macedonia team
left the games.


3. (SBU) Plexidas was unaware of any Macedonian complaints
about being hosted in less attractive hotels than other teams
or any failure to play the Macedonian national anthem.


4. (C) Embassy Athens Comment: We are reporting the Greek
MFA,s explanations as they were shared with us. However,
even taking the MFA explanations at face value, the Greek
behavior raises questions. It would not be common practice
for Greek customs to search the luggage of a team of visiting
athletes. Furthermore, Plexidas was unable to provide a good
explanation why the announcer at the games reverted to
"FYROM" instead of "The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia" later in the games, notwithstanding the fact that
the Macedonians had protested the use of "FYROM" and had
specifically asked that "The Former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia" be used instead. End Comment.


5. (C) Embassy Skopje comment: It is especially unfortunate
that despite Macedonian authorities' willingness to conform
to the 1995 Interim Agreement and be designated "Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," means were found, including
the repeated use of the despised acronym FYROM, to produce a
negative outcome. Whether fully or only partially on
purpose, Greek actions in this episode continue to elicit a
strong negative reaction in Macedonia and put pressure on the
GoM to be more outspoken. We have heard that the GoM is
undertaking a diplomatic and media effort to advance its
cause vis-a-vis Greece. Publication today in the newspaper
Vest of vintage diplomatic notes from the GoG to the
Socialist Republic of Macedonia, aiming to demonstrate that
the usage "Republic of Macedonia" was not a problem then, is
evidently one step in this effort. We continue to urge the
GoM to take a positive, constructive approach to the name
dispute and to overall bilateral relations. End Comment.


6. (SBU) Meanwhile, over the weekend, PM Karamanlis
continued the drumbeat of public expression against
Macedonian NATO accession absent an agreed solution on the
name. In a public meeting of the ruling New Democracy
Central Committee on October 20, Karamanlis said:


ATHENS 00002103 002 OF 002


Begin Quote

Our policy in the regiothis go
constructive participation in the UN process to find a
mutually acceptable solution to the outstanding issue of
their name. By persisting with intransigence and actions
ignoring history, by persisting with propaganda of an
irredentist rationale, alliance relationships cannot be
built. Likewise, solidarity relationships, like those
required for participation in NATO and the EU, cannot be
built. Our position is clear and decisive. Our policy is
that of the future, not the past. Our message is clear. Let
the Skopje government interpret it correctly. The time for
decisions has arrived.

End Quote
COUNTRYMAN