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INFO
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KARAMANLIS: DISPUTE CAN BE
RESOLVED
WITH COMPLEX NAME FOR GENERAL USE
The solution to the Athens-Skopje dispute should be a complex name for
bilateral relations, internationally, but also for domestic use, said Greek
Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis before MPs in a debate upon the submitted
initiative for Cabinet confidence vote.
"Statements that an agreement has been reached are not sufficient, because a
solution is required that would not allow dragging out of the agreement.
Such a solution should bear the seal of the UN and the Security Council",
said Karamanlis.
He once again threatened that without a mutually acceptable solution to the
name issue, Skopje's road to NATO would be closed.
"Greece has made enormous concessions thus far, precious time has been lost,
but Athens is not blame for this", stated the Greek PM.
Karamanlis will face the confidence vote on Friday, after the initiative of
largest opposition party PASOK following Government's measures regarding
pension reforms.
Greek media report that a new meeting between Athens and Skopje government
officials could be held in the days preceding the NATO Summit in Bucharest.
Greece could submit its own proposal for the problem's solution, in order to
shrug off the responsibility on the possible veto to the NATO accession of
its northern neighbor.
RUPEL: BALKANS IN
THE CENTER OF
EU FMS INFORMAL MEETING
Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel said Thursday in Ljubljana that
the Western Balkans would be one of the main topics of discussion at the EU
foreign ministers' informal meeting at Brdo pri Kranju on Friday, also
attended by foreign ministers of Western Balkan countries.
The first day will focus on the Middle East peace process, preparations of
EU-Russia summit, Tibet and inter-cultural dialogue, whereas the second day
will be dedicated to the Balkans, based on the European Commission Report
and the Thessaloniki Agenda.
"Slovenia wants to find an answer to the main issue, i.e. to help Serbia in
its easier approximation to the EU and resolving of the Kosovo issue, and we
are interested in the role of European mission EULEX", said Rupel.
He stressed that the conference would also tackle the issues of accelerating
Macedonia's EU accession progress, the approximation of Montenegro and
Bosnia&Herzegovina, whereas Croatia is on the right path after freezing the
ecological fishing zone.
Moreover, Rupel added that Albania's EU path depended on the meeting of
conditions within the Stabilization and Association Agreement.
"SKOMRAHI" FESTIVAL
BEGINS
ON WORLD THEATRE DAY
"Skomrahi" festival, whereat more than 200 participants have applied, starts
Thursday with performance "Metamorphosis", directed by Aleksandar Popovski
at Skopje Dramski Theatre.
This international festival is dedicated to students from drama arts schools
and academies, who at this 17th festival edition, will present their best
works. Guests from Germany, Austria, Bosnia, Albania, Serbia, Romania,
Slovenia, Bulgaria and Kosovo will present their performances, film
projections and workshops.
On occasion of World Theatre Day - March 27, all theatre messages, which are
traditionally read before the performances, are going to be delivered via
promotional materials. "Skomrahi" ends on April 2. |
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NEWS
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MACEDONIA'S POSITION ON NIMETZ'S
PROPOSAL TO BE DEFINED AFTER RETURN OF AMBASSADOR DIMITROV
FROM US
President Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Foreign
Minister Antonio Milososki reviewed Wednesday the latest proposal of UN
mediator Matthew Nimetz for settling the dispute with Greece over
Macedonia's constitutional name.
Government Spokesman Ivica Bocevski stated that Macedonia's position would
be defined upon the return of ambassador Nikola Dimitrov from New York.
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski submitted late Wednesday the name proposal of
mediator Matthew Nimetz to leaders of political parties in the Macedonian
Parliament
"Yesterday's meeting marked the beginning of the assessment and analysis
process to the proposed solution of mediator Matthew Nimetz. Taking into
account the significance of the proposal, especially the significance of
each detail within, we will wait for ambassador Nikola Dimitrov's return
from New York, so that top officials are thoroughly briefed on the talks, as
well as all details of the proposal", said Bocevski.
Nimetz has offered a draft-name with a geographic determinant at Tuesday's
round of Macedonia-Greece name talks in the UN Headquarters in New York.
Without revealing the new proposal, Nimetz stated after the meeting that it
was a name with a geographic dimension that could set a basis for fair
solution.
Today Greek media say that "Republic of Macedonia (Skopje)" is probably the
name that the mediator proposed at name talks with countries' negotiators
Nikola Dimitrov and Ademantios Vassilakis at the UN Headquarters in New
York.
Macedonian media correspondents from New York, quoting diplomatic sources,
say that according to the new Nimetz's proposal, the would-be acceptable
name, in English language transcription, is to be used for an international
communication, while the constitutional for internal one. Countries that
have already recognized the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional
name would be recommended to use the new name. Both Macedonia and Greece
could use the adjective 'Macedonian'. |
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