MACEDONIA: NATO SECGEN ENCOURAGES NAME RESOLUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SKOPJE 000276

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SCE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV NATO MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: NATO SECGEN ENCOURAGES NAME RESOLUTION

REF: SKOPJE 262

Classified By: P/E CHIEF SHUBLER, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

SUMMARY


1. (SBU) During his April 21 visit to Skopje, NATO SecGen de
Hoop Scheffer pressed his interlocutors to resolve the name
issue with Greece before July 9 in order to allow Macedonia
to join Albania and Croatia in signing their NATO accession
protocols on that date. He urged them to continue the name
talks under UN Special Negotiator Nimetz, and offered his
"good offices" to help facilitate discussions with Athens.
GOM interlocutors said they remain committed to the name
negotiations, despite early elections scheduled for June 1,
and to resolving the name issue quickly, but "not at any
cost." End summary.

NATO SECGEN ON THE BUCHAREST SUMMIT


2. (SBU) In the wake of the Greek veto of Macedonia's NATO
bid at the Bucharest Summit in early April, NATO SeGen de
Hoop Scheffer met in Skopje April 21 with President
Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Gruevski, Minister of Foreign
Affairs Milososki, Minister of Defense Elenovski, and name
negotiator Dimitrov. MFA State Counselor Zoran Dabik told us
during a debrief April 22 that the SecGen initiated the
short-notice visit, during which he told interlocutors that
he understood their frustration over the Bucharest Summit
outcome. Scheffer explained that NATO's solidarity principle
had prevailed at Bucharest, however, with a number of Allies
supporting the Greek position. Resolving the name issue in
the shortest time possible was therefore essential to
Macedonia's membership prospects.

RESOLVE THE NAME, BOARD THE ACCESSION TRAIN


3. (C) The SecGen urged his interlocutors to negotiate in
earnest, and to try to resolve the name issue before July 9
so that Macedonia could join Albania and Croatia on that date
in signing the NATO accession protocols. If Macedonia missed
the NATO train, de Hoop Scheffer suggested, it would also
miss its chance for EU membership. That could only result in
a dark future scenario for Macedonia. The SecGen noted that
he was "just a messenger for 26 Allies," and acknowledged
that the name dispute is an asymmetrical one in which Greece
has the advantage.

GIVE NIMETZ A CHANCE


4. (C) Alluding to early parliamentary elections scheduled
for June 1 in Macedonia (reftel),Scheffer called on
political parties not to abuse the name issue for partisan
gain, which he suggested would have a negative impact on the
name negotiations. He also pleaded with his interlocutors to
"give (UN Special Negotiator on the name) Nimetz a chance,"
and not to squander the momentum that had built up in the
pre-Summit name talks. According to Dabik, Scheffer offered
his "good offices" to help facilitate discussions and said he
was ready to visit Skopje again if that would be helpful in
getting to a solution of the name issue before July 9.

GOM PURSUING CONTINUED NAME TALKS


5. (SBU) President Crvenkovski told the SecGen that Macedonia
would pursue a solution to the name issue in continued talks,
but that resolving the issue would also depend on Greek
flexibility. Noting that the government, following the
recent dissolution of parliament, now had "less legitimacy,"
he said that Macedonian leaders were nevertheless determined
to resume name discussions. Support from the four main
political parties in Macedonia would, he said, give any
decisions on a compromise proposal needed legitimacy.


6. (SBU) Crvenkovski reminded the SecGen that Macedonia had
accepted the Nimetz name proposal just before the Bucharest
Summit. Greece had chosen, however, to veto both Macedonia's
NATO membership and also its right to choose a new name for
international use. He told Scheffer that he believed the
Greeks were buying time until new presidential elections in
the U.S., after which they would revise their negotiating
strategy. Macedonia remained willing to negotiate flexibly

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to reach a solution, but not at any price.


7. (SBU) PM Gruevski told Scheffer the Nimetz talks would
proceed with Macedonian participation. Gruevski said he
expected a new parliament to be in place by June 28, and a
new government to be formed by late July. At the same time,
he was optimistic, according to Dabik, that the name issue
could be resolved by July 9. Macedonia would negotiate, but
would not take any step that would "endanger our national
identity," Gruevski continued. The PM added that he would
insist on a referendum to confirm any compromise solution
reached.


8. (C) FM Milososki was "tougher" in his remarks, according
to Dabik. He emphasized to the SecGen that Macedonia was
living through a turbulent historical period, with both
Kosovo and Serbia on its borders. He argued that the Greek
veto at Bucharest had concealed an attempt to deny
Macedonians' identity, and to prevent the country's
integration into NATO and the EU. He told Scheffer he hoped
the NATO allies would send a strong signal to Greece to be
more flexible in the name talks.

COMMENT


9. (C) The SecGen's visit was helpful in maintaining pressure
on the Macedonian leadership to continue the name
negotiations, despite upcoming early elections, and in
reassuring the government and public that the SecGen firmly
supports a resolution of the issue that will allow Macedonia
to receive an invitation and join the accession protocol
signing on July 9. It also revealed, however, GOM leeriness
of Greek motives and concerns as to whether Athens is truly
committed to a resolution of the issue, or is merely biding
time to position itself to "up the ante" after the November
elections in the U.S. End comment.
MILOVANOVIC