From: bu008@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Brandon D. Ray)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.greek,alt.news.macedonia
Subject: Re: Rob West + Steve Anderson
Date: 26 Jan 1993 07:56:01 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
Reply-To: bu008@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Brandon D. Ray)
NNTP-Posting-Host: hela.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, aphrael@cats.ucsc.edu (Robert D West) says:

>
>
>
>The following was sent to me by Leo Irakliotis and his reposted
>here at his request in response to a query from Stephen
>Anderson:
>
>Regarding the Greek initiative to guarantee the borders of FYRM,
>you might of interest the following reference:
>
>- Kevin Hope and Judy Dempsey: Balkan Pledge for Macedonia. Greek
>Seeks To Allay Int'l Concerns About Its Itentions; Financial Times,
>Nov 13, 1992.
>
>Regarding the FYRM new Constitution here're what Greece consinders
>unacceptable:
>
> From the "Introduction" to the Constitution:
>   "The Republic of Macedonia [R of M from now on] is established as the
>    state of the macedonian people [nation], granting complete political
>    equality and permanent residency to the macedonian people, the
>    albanians, turks, vlachs, gypsies and other nationalities that live
>    in the R of M."
>
>[Comment: Note the omission of the Serbs, Bulgarians and Greeks, and the
>inclusion of Turks in the minorities. The exclusion of Serbs is
>especially troubling. Either Skopians do not think they are different
>than Serbs, or they are preparing for war by not recognizing them as
>a minority.]
>
>    Article 3:
>   "The territory of the R of M is indivisible and unaltered. The existing
>    borders of the R of M are inviolable. The borders of the R of M can
>    change only according to the Constitution."
>
>   Article 74:
>   "The assembly decides for the change of the borders of the R of M with
>    a 2/3 majority of the total number of representatives. The decision to
>    change the borders of the R of m is adopted with a referendum if it is
>    voted for by the majority of the voters."
>
>[Comment: These two articles together show the expansionist nature of the
>Skopjian constitution. If current borders are inviolable, then they can
>only be expanded! Also, can you imagine people voting to shrink their
>country? Naturally, the articles provide a "Democratic cover" to pursue
>expansionist policies. Neighbors beware!!]
>
Excuse me, but that is just plain silly.  All these two articles do is 
describe the legal mechanism by which territory may be added, if the
circumstances arise.  It does not in any way establish a policy of seeking
to add new territory, anymore than making out your last will and testament
establishes that you are intending to commit suicide.
>
>    Article 49:
>    "The R of M cares for the status and rights of macedonian people in
>     neighboring countries as well as immigrants from the R of M; helps
>     their cultural progress and [develops] ties with them. The R of M
>     cares for the cultural and economic rights of its citizens abroad."
>
>[Comment: This article sets the groundwork for the expansionism of
>articles 3 and 74. Note that the neighboring countries Greece, Bulgaria
>(and perhaps Serbia?) refuse the existence of a "Macedonian" nationality.]
>
Does Greece maintain no ties and provide no help in the cultural progress
of ethnic Greeks in other countries?  If Greece can do cultural outreach
without it being taken as a threat of aggression, why is the situation with
Macedonia any different?
>
>AND AFTER THE REVISION (FOLLOWING EC's DEMAND):
>
>Article 3
>
>     The territory of the Republic of Macedonia is indivisible and
>inviolable.
>     The existing borders of the Republic of Macedonia are
>inviolable.
>     The borders of the Republic of Macedonia can only be changed
>in accordance with the Constitution, and based on the principle of
>voluntariness and generally accepted international norms.
>     The Republic of Macedonia has no territorial claims against
>neighbouring states.
>
>Article 49
>
>     The Republic cares for the status and rights of those persons
>belonging to the Macedonian people in neighboring countries, as
>well as Macedonian ex-patriates, assists their cultural
>development and promotes links with them.  The Republic shall not
>interfere in the sovereign rights of other states and their
>internal affairs.
>     The Republic cares for the cultural, economic, and social
>rights of the citizens of the Republic abroad.
>
>--------
>
>Greece still objects to the Intro and Article 49 which remained
>unchanged --- thus not complying with EC's resolution.
>
With these revisions, it seems even clearer that Macedonia has no aggressive
intent.  What more could anyone possible want?  Does *Greece* have a provision
in *its* Constitution promising "not to interfere in the sovereign rights of
other states and their internal affairs"?

But this is all *really* silly.  Does anyone actually think Macedonia could
be a threat to Greece?  Do you people realize that if Macedonia *did* attack
Greece that this would trigger the NATO Alliance, and that, in effect, 
Macedonia would be attacking not just Greece, which is merely 10 ten
times their size, but also Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, Norway, the
United States, etc.?  Can you say "suicide"?  I knew you could....

>Best regards,
>Leo Irakliotis
>
>-- 
>"I don't know a soul who's not been battered	|	The American Dream?
>I don't have a friend who feels at ease		|	The California Dream?
>I don't know a dream that's not been shattered	|  In 1993, dreams these aren't.
>Or driven to its knees.				|  Rather, they're nightmares.
>But it's all right, it's all right"		|______________________________
>	---Paul Simon, "American Tune" (1973)	|	aphrael@cats.ucsc.edu
>________________________________________________|  1991-1995; Politics/History
>

-- 
******************************************************************************
The opinions expressed by the author are insightful, intelligent and very
carefully thought out.  It is therefore unlikely that they are shared by the
University of Iowa or Case Western Reserve University.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.greek,alt.news.macedonia