Visit our archive of Documents on The Cyprus Problem Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923) Read the Convention Relating to the Regime of the Straits (24 July 1923)
HR-Net - Hellenic Resources Network Compact version
Today's Suggestion
Read The "Macedonian Question" (by Maria Nystazopoulou-Pelekidou)
HomeAbout HR-NetNewsWeb SitesDocumentsOnline HelpUsage InformationContact us
Thursday, 28 March 2024
 
News
  Latest News (All)
     From Greece
     From Cyprus
     From Europe
     From Balkans
     From Turkey
     From USA
  Announcements
  World Press
  News Archives
Web Sites
  Hosted
  Mirrored
  Interesting Nodes
Documents
  Special Topics
  Treaties, Conventions
  Constitutions
  U.S. Agencies
  Cyprus Problem
  Other
Services
  Personal NewsPaper
  Greek Fonts
  Tools
  F.A.Q.
 

Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-07-18

Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

  • [01] PM reply to Gruevski: There is no 'Macedonian minority'

  • [01] PM reply to Gruevski: There is no 'Macedonian minority'

    Prime minister Costas Karamanlis' letter of reply to his FYROM counterpart Nicola Gruevski was delivered on Friday morning to Gruevski's office by the head of Greece's Liaison Office in Skopje, the FYROM capital.

    In the letter, Karamanlis notes that Greece and FYROM, in accordance with the relevant decisions of the UN Security Council, have for the past 15 years been committed to UN-brokered negotiations for resolution of the FYROM name issue, and that the UN special envoy Matthew Nimetz has in the past few weeks presented some ideas that could move the negotiations forward.

    Karamanlis added his regret, however, that at precisely this critical moment in the negotiating effort, Gruevski had chosen to send the letter in question.

    The Greek premier stressed that Greece has, throughout this entire process, demonstrated good will to find a mutually acceptable solution in the name issue, under the UN auspices, which would take into consideration the legitimate interests and sensitivities of both countries, underlining Greece's firm commitment to the promotion of friendly and good relations with all its neighboring countries, especially those of the Western Balkans, and the creation of the necessary conditions that will allow them to join the Euro-Atlantic and European families in the near future.

    He warned, however, that Gruevski's letter, far from promoting the negotiations and the good neighbourly relations with Greece, raises a number of non-existent and unsubstantiated issues that militate against the strenuous efforts made by Greece, and also aims at interfering in the domestic affairs of a neighbouring state and deviates from the objectives of the ongoing negotiations.

    "There is no 'Macedonian' minority in Greece. There never has been. In this respect, any allegations regarding the existence of such a minority are totally unfounded, politically motivated and disrespectful of the historic realities of the Region. As for any properties issue, any individual could make use of any legal recourse before the Courts, including the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg," Karamanlis firmly stressed.

    Noting that "times have changed", Karamanlis expressed his conviction that the future of the Balkan countries lies within the European and Euro-Atlantic institutions "and not in nationalist formulas of a bygone era", which he stressed "must be left behind once and for all".

    Greece, he continued, remained firmly committed to working towards that goal.

    Noting that history judges leaders by how they rise to the challenge and assume their responsibilities. Karamanlis concluded that "much will depend on your positive attitude and constructive spirit».

    Karamanlis' letter, full text

    Following is the full text of Karamanlis' letter, in reply to a letter addressed to him by Gruevski dated July 10.

    «Mr. Prime Minister,

    As you are aware for the last fifteen years Greece and your country, pursuant to the relevant decisions of the UN Security Council, have committed themselves to negotiations in the framework of the United Nations regarding the name issue which ?needs to be resolved in the interest of the maintenance of peaceful and good neighbourly relations in the region? as stipulated by the Security Council in Resolution 817.

    In the past few weeks the Special Envoy of the United Nations Mr. Matthew Nimetz presented some ideas that could move the negotiations forward. I regret that it is precisely at this critical moment in the negotiating effort that you have chosen to send your letter dated July 10th, 2008.

    I take this opportunity to underline Greeceās firm commitment to the promotion of friendly and good relations with all its neighbouring countries, especially with the countries of the Western Balkans, and the creation of the necessary conditions that will allow them to join, in the near future, the Euro-Atlantic and European families.

    Greece, since 1993 has demonstrated good will, under the auspices of the U.N., to find a mutually acceptable solution on the name issue, which would take into consideration the legitimate interests and sensitivities of both our countries. This is within the mandate of the relevant U.N. Security Council Resolutions, but also the wish of all countries participating in the Euro-Atlantic and European institutions as was also unequivocally stated in the Bucharest NATO Summit and in the EU European Council in Brussels respectively.

    Mr. Prime Minister, your letter far from promoting the negotiations and the good neighbourly relations with my country raises a number of non-existent and unsubstantiated issues that militate against the strenuous efforts made by Greece .It also aims at interfering in the domestic affairs of a neighbouring state and deviates from the objectives of the ongoing negotiations.

    There is no ?Macedonian? minority in Greece. There never has been. In this respect, any allegations regarding the existence of such a minority are totally unfounded, politically motivated and disrespectful of the historic realities of the Region. As for any properties issue, any individual could make use of any legal recourse before the Courts, including the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

    Mr. Prime Minister,

    Times have changed. I am convinced that the future of the Balkan countries lies within the European and Euroatlantic institutions and not in nationalist formulas of a bygone era which must be left behind once and for all. Greece remains firmly committed to working towards that goal.

    History judges leaders by how they rise to the challenge and assume their responsibilities. Much will depend on your positive attitude and constructive spirit».

    Caption: Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis (ANA-MPA/O. Panagiotou)


    Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article
    Back to Top
    Copyright © 1995-2023 HR-Net (Hellenic Resources Network). An HRI Project.
    All Rights Reserved.

    HTML by the HR-Net Group / Hellenic Resources Institute, Inc.
    ana2html v2.01 run on Friday, 18 July 2008 - 10:30:33 UTC