Dhmhtrhs Paneras
Boston, MA
"Two or three months after the full freezing of our contacts," minister Frckovski emphasizes, "Greek emissaries came to Skopje to offer the holding of such a meeting with tactical aims, covered up with questions for which the police is competent." According to Frckovski, the Greek offer started with a list of technical questions, such as the questions regarding visas or the problem with the companies of the two countries following the Greek blockade against Macedonia, implemented on February 16, last year. "Such an offer was rejected," stated Frckovski, adding that "we don't want this type of contact, as we don't have anything to say at this level and in this special period. Before every European meeting over the question of Macedonia, the Greeks offer us such meetings and use that with the purpose of ending the discussions over this issue in failure," stated minister Frckovski, adding that there was pressure by the Greek industrialists to the benefit of the lifting of the embargo against Macedonia. They are afraid that they will be left outside the game when the international sanctions against Serbia are lifted," stated Frckovski.
Following the meeting, according to MAKPRESS, Jovanovich emphasized Belgrade's interest in bridging the crisis between Athens and Skopje as soon as possible, and in such a way that will be acceptable to both sides. Among the rest, Jovanovich said that "Yugoslavia would like those problems to be overcome and for good relations and cooperation between Athens, Belgrade and Skopje to be established."
The Greek minister Papoulias stated that "the main topic of discussion was the Macedonian question," adding that there was no progress in the efforts to end the existing stalemate.
In response to the question whether his country would recognize the Republic of Macedonia, Jovanovich stated "Belgrade has never been the one making obstacles to the normalization of the relations and the mutual recognition of the former Yugoslav regions. As for the Republic of Macedonia," Jovanovich said "we always wanted, I repeat, firstly for the problems between Greece and that state to stop existing."
The numerous speculations that can be heard these days mainly say that PDP will vacate the four seats in Branko Crvenkovski's cabinet. The speculations are not without foundation as they come from people close to the party, as well as the partners according to political platform of the most numerous party of the Albanian minority in Macedonia. However, at the same time while, as he says himself, he "is being congratulated on his resignation," Aliti is almost strongly denying such speculations.
"In regards to that question, the presidency of the party still has no stand. The possibility of our party withdrawing from the Government has not even been considered and the rumors that we will do so are pure speculations," stated Aliti. All presumptions over such a move are malicious and tendencious. In any case, a stand over this question is expected to be built soon, which, as Aliti stresses, will be known very soon.
The position of the Albanians in Macedonia was discussed by Bryan Sott, representative of the IREKS foundation in Macedonia and Teuta Arifi from the Albanian Women's Association in Macedonia. At the expert gathering, they portrayed the Macedonian political atmosphere and position of the Albanians. Arifi particularly elaborated on the positive experiences of the Albanian and Macedonian intellectuals. The discussion over the tradition and position of the Albanians in Macedonia triggered heated reactions which were accompanied by the passion and euphoria of certain representatives of the Albanian lobby in the U.S., which otherwise, helped the holding of this gathering.
The Census in Macedonia was negated with a great deal of nervousness, in particular the presence of the Albanians in terms of percentage, and there were also claims that the regime in Macedonia was rigid toward the Albanians.