GREECE REJECTS ROM PROPOSALS AS DISTRACTION FROM REAL ISSUE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 ATHENS 000419 SIPDIS AMEMBASSY ANKARA PASS TO AMCONSUL ADANA AMEMBASSY ASTANA PASS TO USOFFICE ALMATY AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL LEIPZIG AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/03/31 TAGS: PGOV PREL GR MK SUBJECT: GREECE REJECTS ROM PROPOSALS AS DISTRACTION FROM REAL ISSUE OF NAME NEGOTIATIONS CLASSIFIED BY: Robin Quinville, Political Counselor, State, Political; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) In a letter dated March 24, 2009, to Republic of Macedonia (ROM) Foreign Minister Milososki, Greek FM Dora Bakoyannis rejected Milososki's March 13 initiatives for signing a declaration of friendship, establishing a joint committee on education and history issues, and a framework proposal for advancing bilateral relations. In her four-page letter, which the MFA said would not be released publicly but was provided to Embassy and reprinted in full in para 4 below, Bakoyannis said what was needed now was not such statements of intent or new initiatives "of questionable usefulness," but rather "a sincere and genuine commitment to the common goal of resolving" the problems between the two countries. ¶2. (C) Bakoyannis noted that Greece had already taken an important step toward compromise by signaling its willingness to accept a composite name ergo omnes, "which could also include the term 'Macedonia' with a qualifier that would make clear distinction between your country and its people and Greek Macedonia and its population." Unfortunately, she said, the response by the ROM had been "soundly negative." Greece nevertheless, continued to boost bilateral economic and commercial relations, though Greek companies were increasingly subjected to discriminatory practices, red tape, etc. On this basis, Bakoyannis argued that the ROM was violating the fundamental principles of the Interim Accord. Bakoyannis also noted the ROM's supposed territorial aspirations on Greece -- another violation of the Interim Accord -- and she argued that a commission as proposed by Milososki to resolve outstanding historical issues would be counterproductive because history was a science and should not be subject to political expediency. ¶3. (C) Finally, Bakoyannis re-affirmed Greece's commitment to negotiations under the UN aegis and urged that these diplomatic efforts be sped up with the aim of reaching a mutually agreeable solution as soon as possible. ¶4. (C) BEGIN TEXT OF MARCH 24, 2009, LETTER FROM FM BAKOYANNIS TO ROM FM MILOSOSKI: Athens, March 24, 2009 Ref: 1024 His Excellency Mr. Antonio Milososki Minister for Foreign Affairs Of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Skopje Your Excellency, Referring to your letter dated 13 March 2009, I appreciate your expressed willingness, and your proposals thereof, to further develop the relations between our two countries in the spirit of good neighbourliness and partnership. ATHENS 00000419 002 OF 004 Let me remind you in this respect that Greece has demonstrated in practice her willingness and preparedness to settle the issues that divide our two countries, as well as to build good neighbourly relations and establish close cooperation in all fields with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. However, I feel obliged to stress that, at this point, we are more in need of deeds than words which risk to remain an empty letter. In my opinion what is urgently needed are not declaratory statements of intent or new initiatives of questionable usefulness and effectiveness, but rather a sincere and genuine commitment to the common goal of resolving in a mutually acceptable manner and in good faith the problems that strain the relations between our two countries. As you are well aware our two countries concluded an Interim Accord. Its main purpose was to establish a framework of good neighbourly relations through close bilateral cooperation in a variety of fields and facilitate the finding of a mutually acceptable solution on the key question of the name of your country, as stipulated in the UNSC Resolutions 817 and 845 (1993). On the name issue, which is at the heart of the problems the relations of our countries face, Greece has taken an important step forward by accepting a single compound name erga omnes, which could also include the term "Macedonia" with a qualifier that would make clear the distinction between your country and its people and Greek Macedonia and its population. This is a significant departure from our initial position, in the hope that it could constitute a basis for reaching a mutually acceptable solution on this key issue. Unfortunately, the response on your part was soundly negative: "The name of my country is the Republic of Macedonia and will the Republic of Macedonia" declared the President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia before the UN General Assembly, in September 2007, this same august international body which in its Resolution A/RES 47/25, dated 27 April 1993, confirmed the above mentioned Security Council Resolution 817 (1993). This statement clearly reflects the totally inflexible stance that your country has taken in the ongoing negotiations under the aegis of the UN, contrary to the good faith that both parties should demonstrate in the quest for a commonly agreed settlement. Notwithstanding the above behavior, Greece has spared no effort in boosting the bilateral economic and commercial relations, as well as in contributing to the development of the whole region, including the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, thereby substantively supporting its European perspective. The outcome of these efforts is indicative: Greece has a robust economic presence in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, ranking among its most important investors and trade partners. The Greek private sector has invested, during the last decade, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia more than 1 billion Euros and has created approximately 20,000 jobs. However, Greek businesses operating in your country face numerous difficulties and obstacles, including discriminatory and "red tape" practices, acts of harassment and intimidation, even boycott against their products, especially in times of tension in the ATHENS 00000419 003 OF 004 bilateral relations between our two countries. These problems stem, to a large extent, from a climate of hostility and animosity against Greece and the Greek people that has been cultivated in your country and which is fuelled by inflammatory political rhetoric and propaganda, damaging thus good neighbourliness and cooperation. Similarly, efforts to foster economic development through international and regional cooperation, including in the EU context, were stymied by misguided acts of political expediency. A recent example is the construction of Pan-European Corridor X. Greece had decided to finance the part of the Corridor running through the territory of your country to the amount of 50,000,000 Euros, but this grant had to be frozen as a result of the decision by your Government to name this part of the Corridor after "Alexander the Great", an act which was perceived by both Greece and the European Union as provocative and detrimental to good neighbourly relations. I am certain that you share the view that the Interim Accord lays the foundations for establishing a climate of good neighbourly relations and understanding between our two countries, pending the definitive settlement of the name issue. Among the fundamental principles of the UN Charter conducive to the establishment of enduring friendly relations among States are the respect for the territorial integrity and existing international borders, the non interference in the internal affairs of the other, as well as the respect for States and their people. Unfortunately, these fundamental principles, which constitute also the cornerstones of the Interim Accord, have been and continue to be violated by the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Territorial aspirations, as depicted and evidenced, inter alia, on maps, persistent interference in Greece's domestic affairs under the pretext of alleged "minority issues", and insults against the Greek state and its people, such as the defacing of the Christian cross on the Greek flag with a swastika and the comparison of the Greek state with the Nazi regime, clearly contravene the provisions of the Interim Accord and seriously undermine good neighbourly and friendly relations between our two countries. Regarding your proposal to establish a Joint Committee on Education and History "taking into account the expressed sensitivity of Greece towards historical issues", I would like to emphasize that history is a science that establishes historical truth through scientific methods. It cannot and should not be subject to political expediency or any other political considerations. In this sense, history is not negotiable. The history of the ancient world has already been written and documented, over the centuries, through laborious scientific research by acclaimed international historians and archaeologists. It cannot be rewritten by a bilateral committee. In the light of the above, allow me to stress, dear Colleague, that the catalyst for the improvement of the relations between our two countries is the long overdue definitive settlement of the name issue, in all its aspects. This would pave the way for the fulfillment of the European and the Euro-Atlantic perspective of your country, in accordance with the collective and unanimous decisions taken by the member-states of NATO and the EU, in the Bucharest Summit (3 April 2008) and the Brussels European Council ATHENS 00000419 004 OF 004 (20 June 2008),respectively. In this context, the negotiating efforts under the UN aegis should be sped up with the aim to reach a mutually agreeable solution the soonest. To achieve this goal, both parties must equally show the same constructive and compromising spirit. As for the improvement of the climate in the bilateral relations and the strengthening of the bilateral cooperation, pending the settlement of the key issue, what is needed is the respect of the fundamental principles on which good neighbourliness is based, as provided for in the Interim Accord. Notwithstanding the above, Greece is always open to the promotion of bilateral cooperation at all levels, including through concrete common projects and the signing of specific bilateral agreements. Following the conclusion of the Interim Accord, bilateral Protocols on Border Cooperation, Cooperation in Police matters (including against human trafficking, organized crime and narcotics),Visa Regime and Fees and Transport and Communication have already been signed and are being implemented. Let me reiterate, dear Colleague, that Greece stands ready to work constructively with your Government in the UN negotiations in order to reach a mutually acceptable solution and move forward to a better future for both our peoples. Sincerely, //Sgd.// Dora Bakoyannis END TEXT OF BAKOYANNIS LETTER SPECKHARD