Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07USUNNEWYORK1158
2007-12-12 23:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:
FM MILOSOSKI STRESSES MACEDONIAN POSITION ON NAME
how-toVZCZCXRO0368 PP RUEHBZ RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG DE RUCNDT #1158 3462354 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 122354Z DEC 07 FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3315 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGG/UN SECURITY COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY 0980
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001158
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC MK
SUBJECT: FM MILOSOSKI STRESSES MACEDONIAN POSITION ON NAME
ISSUE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001158
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC MK
SUBJECT: FM MILOSOSKI STRESSES MACEDONIAN POSITION ON NAME
ISSUE
1. (SBU) On December 11, Macedonian FM Antonio Milososki
stressed to Ambassador Khalilzad that he hoped Macedonia
would be accepted into NATO at the April summit in Bucharest.
He said Macedonia had doubled its troop level in Iraq and is
making other important contributions to global security. On
the name issue, Milososki said that for Greece it is a
political issue, whereas for Macedonia, a country of only two
million, it is a national issue. He argued that the issue
"could potentially weaken the nation," adding that "as we
face the Kosovo problem, now is not the time to weaken us."
Milososki said Macedonia will be glad to engage in new talks
brokered by Special Envoy Nimetz, but will resist any
"blackmail or deadlines." He asked that the US use its
influence with Athens to ensure that the bilateral name issue
will not be a pre-condition for NATO entry. He also asked
Ambassador Khalilzad to raise the matter of an intervention
to Athens with the Deputy Secretary. Milososki noted,
however, that the Foreign Ministry had asked Macedonia's
parliament to accept entry into NATO under the name FYROM.
2. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad responded that we are
sympathetic to the problems Macedonia faces, but that it is
also important to keep a mature and long-term view, which
might mean accepting NATO entry for now under the name FYROM,
as Milososki had suggested. Khalilzad said we were pleased
to see such a flexible approach. He promised to raise
Milososki's concerns with the Department.
Khalilzad
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC MK
SUBJECT: FM MILOSOSKI STRESSES MACEDONIAN POSITION ON NAME
ISSUE
1. (SBU) On December 11, Macedonian FM Antonio Milososki
stressed to Ambassador Khalilzad that he hoped Macedonia
would be accepted into NATO at the April summit in Bucharest.
He said Macedonia had doubled its troop level in Iraq and is
making other important contributions to global security. On
the name issue, Milososki said that for Greece it is a
political issue, whereas for Macedonia, a country of only two
million, it is a national issue. He argued that the issue
"could potentially weaken the nation," adding that "as we
face the Kosovo problem, now is not the time to weaken us."
Milososki said Macedonia will be glad to engage in new talks
brokered by Special Envoy Nimetz, but will resist any
"blackmail or deadlines." He asked that the US use its
influence with Athens to ensure that the bilateral name issue
will not be a pre-condition for NATO entry. He also asked
Ambassador Khalilzad to raise the matter of an intervention
to Athens with the Deputy Secretary. Milososki noted,
however, that the Foreign Ministry had asked Macedonia's
parliament to accept entry into NATO under the name FYROM.
2. (SBU) Ambassador Khalilzad responded that we are
sympathetic to the problems Macedonia faces, but that it is
also important to keep a mature and long-term view, which
might mean accepting NATO entry for now under the name FYROM,
as Milososki had suggested. Khalilzad said we were pleased
to see such a flexible approach. He promised to raise
Milososki's concerns with the Department.
Khalilzad