Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09SKOPJE5
2009-01-08 12:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA: Muted reaction to the Middle East
how-toVZCZCXRO2198 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSQ #0005 0081241 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 081241Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7943 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 0450 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2360 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000005
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/PPD and NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IS XF MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: Muted reaction to the Middle East
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000005
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/PPD and NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IS XF MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: Muted reaction to the Middle East
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
1. (SBU) Summary: Though Macedonia has a significant Muslim
population, the response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas
has been very quiet thus far. Coverage of the events in the Middle
East has been limited to reprinting wire stories and standard video
feed, and there has been no commentary in either Albanian language
or Macedonian language news. The government has not spoken out
about the conflict. There have been no public rallies or protests.
Our security situation at the Embassy has been stable and we
currently have no reason to believe that will change. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Macedonia's population is primarily divided between ethnic
Macedonians and ethnic Albanians, with the majority of the latter
being Muslim. Though ethnic Albanians comprise as much as 30% of
the population, the country is not seized by the recent events in
the Middle East. Albanian language dailies and TV news shows do
include straight-forward coverage of the conflict between Israel and
Hamas, but the absence of commentary is noticeable, especially in
light of what we have seen in Europe as a whole. Macedonian
language media similarly has continued to cover the conflict with
wire services and reprints of articles appearing in other US and
western European media. To this point, neither local commentaries
nor opinion pieces from other international media have appeared.
3. (SBU) Comment: Though we believe this dearth of critical
commentary is largely owing to the very insular focus in the media
and in the interests of the citizens of Macedonia in general with
the Orthodox Christmas holiday week also contributing, we also
believe that the strong standing of the United States here largely
eliminates any inclination or incentive to criticize U.S. foreign
policy or blame us for problems in the Middle East. Macedonia
recently completed its five year involvement in Iraq, rotated troops
with the NATO mission in Afghanistan, and in general takes pride in
its strong friendship with the United States. We believe our
continued support of Macedonia in a wide range of areas has helped
create a positive view of AMERICA across the political and ethnic
spectrum here. End Comment.
REEKER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/PPD and NEA/PPD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL IS XF MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: Muted reaction to the Middle East
Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly.
1. (SBU) Summary: Though Macedonia has a significant Muslim
population, the response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas
has been very quiet thus far. Coverage of the events in the Middle
East has been limited to reprinting wire stories and standard video
feed, and there has been no commentary in either Albanian language
or Macedonian language news. The government has not spoken out
about the conflict. There have been no public rallies or protests.
Our security situation at the Embassy has been stable and we
currently have no reason to believe that will change. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Macedonia's population is primarily divided between ethnic
Macedonians and ethnic Albanians, with the majority of the latter
being Muslim. Though ethnic Albanians comprise as much as 30% of
the population, the country is not seized by the recent events in
the Middle East. Albanian language dailies and TV news shows do
include straight-forward coverage of the conflict between Israel and
Hamas, but the absence of commentary is noticeable, especially in
light of what we have seen in Europe as a whole. Macedonian
language media similarly has continued to cover the conflict with
wire services and reprints of articles appearing in other US and
western European media. To this point, neither local commentaries
nor opinion pieces from other international media have appeared.
3. (SBU) Comment: Though we believe this dearth of critical
commentary is largely owing to the very insular focus in the media
and in the interests of the citizens of Macedonia in general with
the Orthodox Christmas holiday week also contributing, we also
believe that the strong standing of the United States here largely
eliminates any inclination or incentive to criticize U.S. foreign
policy or blame us for problems in the Middle East. Macedonia
recently completed its five year involvement in Iraq, rotated troops
with the NATO mission in Afghanistan, and in general takes pride in
its strong friendship with the United States. We believe our
continued support of Macedonia in a wide range of areas has helped
create a positive view of AMERICA across the political and ethnic
spectrum here. End Comment.
REEKER