MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO MAINTAIN OHRID IN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000695 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EUN KK MK GR SUBJECT: MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO MAINTAIN OHRID IN FIRST MEETING WITH SOLANA Classified By: Pol M-C Christopher R. Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: In his first meeting with EU High Representative (HR) Solana in Brussels on May 13, Macedonian President Ivanov pledged that Macedonia will "maintain Ohrid" and continue on the path of reforms necessary to achieve EU membership. Solana informed Ivanov that Macedonia would be receiving "good news" from the European Commission on visa liberalization, adding that the Commission might issue its recommendation as soon as May 18. Accompanying Ivanov to the meeting, Macedonia Prime Minister (PM) Gruevski stressed that Macedonia was simply trying to survive economically, that he wanted to see visa liberalization realized, and that Macedonia wanted a date to begin accession negotiations. In a short-notice meeting between Director General for External and Political-Military Affairs Robert Cooper and Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Bocevski prior to the Solana meeting, Bocevski suggested both that Macedonia was waiting until after the European Parliament (EP) elections to renew efforts to solve the name issue with Greece and might be open to renaming Skopje's international airport if convinced that Greece would respond to this gesture positively. Hearing this, Council Secretariat Western Balkans official were interested in learning whether the Deputy Secretary might be willing to raise the issue during his upcoming trip to the region. End Summary. Bocevski-Cooper Meeting ¶2. (C/NF) According to Council Secretariat contacts, Macedonian DPM Bocevski called Cooper requesting a meeting prior to Solana's meeting with President Ivanov and PM Gruevski. In what participants characterized as a very frank discussion without notes, Cooper stressed that Bocevski needed to look into the intimidation aspect and its affect on municipal elections. Cooper suggested that this touched on the Ohrid Agreement, something Solana cares about deeply, according to Cooper. Turning their discussion to the economic situation in Macedonia, Bocevski reported that things were "very grim." ¶3. (C/NF) Regarding the name issue with neighboring Greece, Bocevski said that Skopje could not move on nationality and language until after the EP elections. Responding to Cooper's question as to what Skopje could do, such as renaming Skopje's international airport, Bocevski was receptive to the idea. Cooper suggested Skopje not immediately jump in, but first float the idea with the Greeks. Cooper said that it would be important that Solana also receive this signal in his later meeting with Ivanov and Gruevski. ¶4. (C/NF) On the Skopje visit for Ivanov's inauguration that Kosovo President Seidju was not originally invited to, Bocevski indicated that Seidju had actually been invited, citing a "lack of diplomatic relations" as the earlier hold up. (Note - the Council does not believe that Jeremic's visit to Skopje for the inauguration played any role.) Cooper stressed that responding positively to efforts by Pristina to end the border demarcation issue would make Skopje look better vis--vis Greece; i.e., showing that it can close a deal. Bocevski then indicated that Skopje was considering inviting Seidju for an official visit, Seidju's first. (Note - the Council also feels this would be a coup for Pristina, since it would mark Seidju's first official foreign visit.) Ivanov/Gruevski-Solana Meeting ¶5. (C/NF) We are told that PM Gruevski reportedly wanted to meet Solana one-on-one, but Solana refused to meet Gruevski if not accompanied by Ivanov. The tone/atmospherics of the meeting were reportedly very good, according to our Council Secretariat contacts. Through a translator, Ivanov told Solana "I know Ohrid is a core point of your life and part of your heritage." While the Council is not sure Ivanov and Gruevski would act on this, they took it as a positive sign and that DPM Bocevski had clearly briefed his principals. Ivanov added "we will maintain Ohrid," which reportedly impressed Solana. During the press conference which followed their meeting, Solana said he looked forward to seeing Ivanov "in one of your cities." (Note - the Council feels this is important, since Solana has not been to Skopje in years.) ¶6. (C/NF) Solana informed Ivanov that Macedonia would be receiving "good news" from the Commission on the visa liberalization front, possibly as early as May 18. Solana congratulated Ivanov on this accomplishment. BRUSSELS 00000695 002 OF 002 ¶7. (C/NF) Towards the end of the meeting, PM Gruevski made three points to Solana: that Macedonia was simply trying to survive economically, that he wanted to see visa liberalization realized, and that Macedonia wanted a date to begin accession negotiations. On the name issue, Gruevski told Solana that he had called back his ambassador from Washington for consultations with himself, the president, and the FM. He said "we cannot redefine our identity or language" and told Solana that he wanted to call for a referendum on the issue, per the constitution. He also suggested that Macedonia would be in a waiting pattern until after the EP elections. ¶8. (C/NF) Ivanov was also originally scheduled to meet with European Commission President Barroso. As we understand it, due to a choreography snafu on the Commission's part, Barroso's cabinet did not find a way for Ivanov to meet with Barroso. As a result, Ivanov reportedly snubbed Enlargement Commissioner Rehn by then not meeting with him. Council Secretariat Request ¶9. (S/NF) Given Skopje's openness to possibly renaming the airport, Council Secretariat officials were interested in learning from USEU whether it would be possible for the Deputy Secretary to explore the matter during his upcoming visit to Athens and Skopje. Council Secretariat officials believe that if the Greeks were to show a willingness to receive positively a Macedonian gesture such as renaming the airport and this were then relayed to Skopje by the Deputy Secretary during his visit there, Skopje might be convinced to rename the airport as early as the second week of June, after EP elections. MURRAY .