GREECE REJECTS ROM PROPOSALS AS DISTRACTION FROM REAL ISSUE

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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
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