Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SKOPJE538
2008-08-25 15:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA: CRVENKOVSKI POSITIVE ON NAME NEGOTIATIONS, PLANS
how-toVZCZCXRO8069 PP RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSQ #0538/01 2381519 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251519Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7634 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 0399 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 2337 RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SKOPJE 000538
SIPDIS
BELGRADE PLEASE PASS PODGORICA
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK GG RS
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: CRVENKOVSKI POSITIVE ON NAME NEGOTIATIONS, PLANS
RETURN TO PARTY POLITICS
Ref: Skopje 513
CLASSIFIED BY: Ambassador Milovanovic for reasons1.5 (b) and (d).
Summary
-----------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SKOPJE 000538
SIPDIS
BELGRADE PLEASE PASS PODGORICA
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK GG RS
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: CRVENKOVSKI POSITIVE ON NAME NEGOTIATIONS, PLANS
RETURN TO PARTY POLITICS
Ref: Skopje 513
CLASSIFIED BY: Ambassador Milovanovic for reasons1.5 (b) and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) UN Name Negotiator Nimetz's latest proposals are workable but
the clock is ticking, President Crvenkovski told the Ambassador
August 22. Macedonia can compromise on the name and its scope of
use, but not on the adjective ("Macedonian") to describe the
country's language and people. However, the President worried that
PM Gruevski is not ready to deal. Crvenkovski said he planned to
return to his old party, SDSM, though he does not know in which
capacity; he was critical of SDSM's current path. Ambassador pressed
for a firmer Macedonian response to Russian aggression in Georgia.
End summary.
Nimetz Proposals Workable...
--------------
2. (C) In a warmly cordial August 22 farewell call with the
Ambassador, President Crvenkovski characterized the latest proposals
by UN Name Negotiator Nimetz as positive and "a good basis for moving
forward." He reported that on August 21 Nimetz had presented both
him and PM Gruevski a working draft and they had discussed some
specific options for the name itself. Crvenkovski outlined three
main elements to any solution: the name, its scope of use, and the
adjective to be used in describing the country's language and people.
For Macedonia, only the adjective is non-negotiable: the adjective
must be "Macedonian." He suggested that Nimetz must ascertain from
Greece on which of the other two elements (name and scope) it is the
least flexible, then work toward compromise on the other. He added
that the GoM does not insist that the adjective be part of the
agreement itself; it could be part of the subsequent UNSCR or an
addendum to it (NFI). Crvenkovski is hopeful that following his
August 22 consultations in Greece, Nimetz will expeditiously provide
a more concrete proposal. Given events in early 2009 -- a new U.S.
administration, local elections in Macedonia, and possible elections
in Greece -- now is the time to make a deal.
...But Does Gruevski Want a Deal?
--------------
3. (C) Crvenkovski was surprised that Gruevski's office told the
press that Nimetz did not discuss specific names with the leadership
here, adding that he found the PM's letter-writing campaigns on the
Macedonian minority in Greece and the church issue to be
counterproductive. Indeed, he said, "I think I am objective when I
say that Gruevski doesn't want a compromise."
Back to the Party
--------------
4. (C) Crvenkovski reiterated that he will not run for re-election in
2009. He has decided to return to the opposition party SDSM, though
he is not sure in what capacity. (We have heard from other sources
that SDSM will convene a party congress later in September and elect
either a new leader with a full four-year mandate or a caretaker
until Crvenkovski's presidential term ends next spring.)
5. (C) Crvenkovski expressed disappointment with his old party's
recent actions. The parliamentary boycott was a major mistake, and
even after he stepped in (by refusing to sign laws passed under
urgent procedures and pardoning party vice-chair Zoran Zaev; see
reftel) SDSM "remains on vacation." He was frustrated that the party
leadership has not even held a press conference or issued a statement
to address specific legislation it would like to see amended.
Looking back at June parliamentary elections, Crvenkovski claimed
that SDSM had lost its identity by seeking to appear even more
nationalistic than Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE ("impossible") and by
flip-flopping on key issues such as the name problem and support for
the Ohrid Framework Agreement.
Georgia
--------------
6. (SBU) Ambassador expressed disappointment with the Macedonian
MFA's August 13 statement on Georgia, and pressed for the GoM to make
a stronger comment which emphasizes Georgia's sovereignty and
SKOPJE 00000538 002 OF 002
territorial integrity and calls for the immediate withdrawal of
Russian troops.
MILOVANOVIC
SIPDIS
BELGRADE PLEASE PASS PODGORICA
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/24/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV MK GG RS
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: CRVENKOVSKI POSITIVE ON NAME NEGOTIATIONS, PLANS
RETURN TO PARTY POLITICS
Ref: Skopje 513
CLASSIFIED BY: Ambassador Milovanovic for reasons1.5 (b) and (d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) UN Name Negotiator Nimetz's latest proposals are workable but
the clock is ticking, President Crvenkovski told the Ambassador
August 22. Macedonia can compromise on the name and its scope of
use, but not on the adjective ("Macedonian") to describe the
country's language and people. However, the President worried that
PM Gruevski is not ready to deal. Crvenkovski said he planned to
return to his old party, SDSM, though he does not know in which
capacity; he was critical of SDSM's current path. Ambassador pressed
for a firmer Macedonian response to Russian aggression in Georgia.
End summary.
Nimetz Proposals Workable...
--------------
2. (C) In a warmly cordial August 22 farewell call with the
Ambassador, President Crvenkovski characterized the latest proposals
by UN Name Negotiator Nimetz as positive and "a good basis for moving
forward." He reported that on August 21 Nimetz had presented both
him and PM Gruevski a working draft and they had discussed some
specific options for the name itself. Crvenkovski outlined three
main elements to any solution: the name, its scope of use, and the
adjective to be used in describing the country's language and people.
For Macedonia, only the adjective is non-negotiable: the adjective
must be "Macedonian." He suggested that Nimetz must ascertain from
Greece on which of the other two elements (name and scope) it is the
least flexible, then work toward compromise on the other. He added
that the GoM does not insist that the adjective be part of the
agreement itself; it could be part of the subsequent UNSCR or an
addendum to it (NFI). Crvenkovski is hopeful that following his
August 22 consultations in Greece, Nimetz will expeditiously provide
a more concrete proposal. Given events in early 2009 -- a new U.S.
administration, local elections in Macedonia, and possible elections
in Greece -- now is the time to make a deal.
...But Does Gruevski Want a Deal?
--------------
3. (C) Crvenkovski was surprised that Gruevski's office told the
press that Nimetz did not discuss specific names with the leadership
here, adding that he found the PM's letter-writing campaigns on the
Macedonian minority in Greece and the church issue to be
counterproductive. Indeed, he said, "I think I am objective when I
say that Gruevski doesn't want a compromise."
Back to the Party
--------------
4. (C) Crvenkovski reiterated that he will not run for re-election in
2009. He has decided to return to the opposition party SDSM, though
he is not sure in what capacity. (We have heard from other sources
that SDSM will convene a party congress later in September and elect
either a new leader with a full four-year mandate or a caretaker
until Crvenkovski's presidential term ends next spring.)
5. (C) Crvenkovski expressed disappointment with his old party's
recent actions. The parliamentary boycott was a major mistake, and
even after he stepped in (by refusing to sign laws passed under
urgent procedures and pardoning party vice-chair Zoran Zaev; see
reftel) SDSM "remains on vacation." He was frustrated that the party
leadership has not even held a press conference or issued a statement
to address specific legislation it would like to see amended.
Looking back at June parliamentary elections, Crvenkovski claimed
that SDSM had lost its identity by seeking to appear even more
nationalistic than Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE ("impossible") and by
flip-flopping on key issues such as the name problem and support for
the Ohrid Framework Agreement.
Georgia
--------------
6. (SBU) Ambassador expressed disappointment with the Macedonian
MFA's August 13 statement on Georgia, and pressed for the GoM to make
a stronger comment which emphasizes Georgia's sovereignty and
SKOPJE 00000538 002 OF 002
territorial integrity and calls for the immediate withdrawal of
Russian troops.
MILOVANOVIC