Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SKOPJE103
2008-02-08 15:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA: A STEP FORWARD ON THE NAME ISSUE
how-toVZCZCXRO3427 OO RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSQ #0103 0391523 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 081523Z FEB 08 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7015 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 0195 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2191 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SKOPJE 000103
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK GR
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: A STEP FORWARD ON THE NAME ISSUE
REF: A. SKOPJE 99
B. SKOPJE 98
C. SKOPJE 95
Classified By: P/E CHIEF SHUBLER, REASONS 1.4(B) & (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SKOPJE 000103
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK GR
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: A STEP FORWARD ON THE NAME ISSUE
REF: A. SKOPJE 99
B. SKOPJE 98
C. SKOPJE 95
Classified By: P/E CHIEF SHUBLER, REASONS 1.4(B) & (D).
1. (C) President Crvenkovski's Chief of Staff, Natasha
Savova, gave us a brief readout by phone on the February 8
closed-door meeting between the President and Prime Minister
to discuss the approach to the name issue and Macedonia's
NATO candidacy. Savova said she and the President were
"shocked and surprised" at Gruevski's constructiveness and
flexibility in the meeting, during which they discussed
various options for a name for use in international
organizations (reftels). She added that she was confident
the GOM would be able to take a more flexible approach in the
upcoming Macedonia-Greece meeting with UN Negotiator Nimetz
in Athens on February 19, but that the GOM would require a
reciprocal willingness from Greece.
2. (C) Comment: Savova's positive readout of the meeting
confirms our impression in ref A that PM Gruevski has begun
to shift from his hardline insistence on the "dual name"
position, to one in which the government could accept a
solution consistent with Nimetz's framework and along the
lines of the parameters favored by Washington. We do not
want to oversell the degree to which the GOM is ready for
compromise at this stage, but we believe the signs are
promising. We will keep nudging Skopje toward continued
flexibility and readiness for compromise. Athens will have
to be prepared to reciprocate fully in the coming weeks if we
are to get both sides to YES on a NATO invitation for
Macedonia, and a name solution both parties can at least live
with.
MILOVANOVIC
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK GR
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: A STEP FORWARD ON THE NAME ISSUE
REF: A. SKOPJE 99
B. SKOPJE 98
C. SKOPJE 95
Classified By: P/E CHIEF SHUBLER, REASONS 1.4(B) & (D).
1. (C) President Crvenkovski's Chief of Staff, Natasha
Savova, gave us a brief readout by phone on the February 8
closed-door meeting between the President and Prime Minister
to discuss the approach to the name issue and Macedonia's
NATO candidacy. Savova said she and the President were
"shocked and surprised" at Gruevski's constructiveness and
flexibility in the meeting, during which they discussed
various options for a name for use in international
organizations (reftels). She added that she was confident
the GOM would be able to take a more flexible approach in the
upcoming Macedonia-Greece meeting with UN Negotiator Nimetz
in Athens on February 19, but that the GOM would require a
reciprocal willingness from Greece.
2. (C) Comment: Savova's positive readout of the meeting
confirms our impression in ref A that PM Gruevski has begun
to shift from his hardline insistence on the "dual name"
position, to one in which the government could accept a
solution consistent with Nimetz's framework and along the
lines of the parameters favored by Washington. We do not
want to oversell the degree to which the GOM is ready for
compromise at this stage, but we believe the signs are
promising. We will keep nudging Skopje toward continued
flexibility and readiness for compromise. Athens will have
to be prepared to reciprocate fully in the coming weeks if we
are to get both sides to YES on a NATO invitation for
Macedonia, and a name solution both parties can at least live
with.
MILOVANOVIC