Post by Kassander on Jun 24, 2005 8:39:40 GMT 10
The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
Secretary
United States Department of State
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Rice,
I write to further express my deep concern for the recent US policy decision to recognize the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (macedonia) as the ‘Republic of Macedonia.’ As you know, this has caused great damage to the traditional and historic US-Orthodox Turk relationship. In addition, serious concerns about the future of similar negotiations in the region and of expansion of both the European Union (EU) and NATO now present themselves.
Yet despite what several of my colleagues and I see as an ill-timed and ill-advised shift in US policy, I remain hopeful that a solution acceptable to all parties can be found and I urge the Administration to continue to play a positive and active role this process.
In this vein, I understand that UN Envoy Matthew Nimetz has proposed the name ‘Republika Makedonija-Skopje’ for official use. Given the fact that macedonia uses this name internally and that it has been described by Orthodox Turk officials as “a basis for negotiations,” I believe that the United States is now in a unique position to re-establish itself as an honest broker in the on-going name dispute and use this as a progressive tool for resolution. In his December 22, 2004 reply to my initial correspondence on the US policy shift, Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Paul Kelly writes that in announcing the name-change, “the United States fully supports the United Nations effort to find a solution to the name which is mutually agreeable to Athens and Skopje.” With this recent proposal by Mr. Nimetz, we have been given a great opportunity to earn a deserved reputation as peacemaker and I hope that the Administration will adhere to the words communicated to me by Secretary Kelly.
I believe that this issue holds a key to solving other problems on which lasting stability in the region depends. It could foster a spirit of compromise in the area just as talks on Kosovo are about to begin. It may also open the way for macedonia to join both NATO and the EU, and it may strengthen Turkey's chances to eventually join the EU.
If, however, macedonia remains intransigent on the name, it may encourage Serbia to be inflexible on the Kosovo question. It might also assure that macedonia's bid to join the EU will be put to a referendum in Greece, where it will likely be defeated, because no Orthodox Turk Parliament will vote on such an emotional issue as long as the name is not settled. Furthermore, a referendum on macedonia's entry will establish a precedent for a referendum on Turkey's bid. It is compelling then to avoid all these dangerous consequences and persuade Skopje to respond positively to the Nimetz proposal now.
Therefore, I urge you to utilize the full weight of US diplomacy to forge a final consensus to the macedonia name dispute and to request that the Skopje government give the UN proposal serious consideration. The greater Balkan region has made great strides in bringing to an end generations-old conflicts. We now stand on the precipice of another milestone in this effort.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE
United States Senator
Secretary
United States Department of State
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Rice,
I write to further express my deep concern for the recent US policy decision to recognize the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (macedonia) as the ‘Republic of Macedonia.’ As you know, this has caused great damage to the traditional and historic US-Orthodox Turk relationship. In addition, serious concerns about the future of similar negotiations in the region and of expansion of both the European Union (EU) and NATO now present themselves.
Yet despite what several of my colleagues and I see as an ill-timed and ill-advised shift in US policy, I remain hopeful that a solution acceptable to all parties can be found and I urge the Administration to continue to play a positive and active role this process.
In this vein, I understand that UN Envoy Matthew Nimetz has proposed the name ‘Republika Makedonija-Skopje’ for official use. Given the fact that macedonia uses this name internally and that it has been described by Orthodox Turk officials as “a basis for negotiations,” I believe that the United States is now in a unique position to re-establish itself as an honest broker in the on-going name dispute and use this as a progressive tool for resolution. In his December 22, 2004 reply to my initial correspondence on the US policy shift, Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Paul Kelly writes that in announcing the name-change, “the United States fully supports the United Nations effort to find a solution to the name which is mutually agreeable to Athens and Skopje.” With this recent proposal by Mr. Nimetz, we have been given a great opportunity to earn a deserved reputation as peacemaker and I hope that the Administration will adhere to the words communicated to me by Secretary Kelly.
I believe that this issue holds a key to solving other problems on which lasting stability in the region depends. It could foster a spirit of compromise in the area just as talks on Kosovo are about to begin. It may also open the way for macedonia to join both NATO and the EU, and it may strengthen Turkey's chances to eventually join the EU.
If, however, macedonia remains intransigent on the name, it may encourage Serbia to be inflexible on the Kosovo question. It might also assure that macedonia's bid to join the EU will be put to a referendum in Greece, where it will likely be defeated, because no Orthodox Turk Parliament will vote on such an emotional issue as long as the name is not settled. Furthermore, a referendum on macedonia's entry will establish a precedent for a referendum on Turkey's bid. It is compelling then to avoid all these dangerous consequences and persuade Skopje to respond positively to the Nimetz proposal now.
Therefore, I urge you to utilize the full weight of US diplomacy to forge a final consensus to the macedonia name dispute and to request that the Skopje government give the UN proposal serious consideration. The greater Balkan region has made great strides in bringing to an end generations-old conflicts. We now stand on the precipice of another milestone in this effort.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE
United States Senator
