Title: A resolution supporting the agreement between Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece and Prime Minister Zaev of Macedonia to resolve longstanding bilateral disputes.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Welcomes the agreement between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name dispute by changing the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia.
Condemns Russian efforts to undermine the agreement.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 602 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 602

 Supporting the agreement between Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece and 
  Prime Minister Zaev of Macedonia to resolve longstanding bilateral 
                               disputes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 1, 2018

Mr. Murphy (for himself, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Coons, Mr. Markey, 
  Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Risch) submitted the following 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the agreement between Prime Minister Tsipras of Greece and 
  Prime Minister Zaev of Macedonia to resolve longstanding bilateral 
                               disputes.

Whereas, on June 17, 2018, Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras and Prime 
        Minister of Macedonia Zoran Zaev signed an agreement to officially 
        change the constitutional name of the ``Republic of Macedonia'' to the 
        ``Republic of North Macedonia'' and end a 27-year-long dispute;
Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the United States Department of State congratulated 
        Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev and welcomed their historic agreement 
        to resolve the name dispute;
Whereas, on June 12, 2018, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign 
        Policy, Federica Mogherini, and the European Union's Commissioner for 
        Enlargement, Johannes Hahn, issued a joint statement wholeheartedly 
        congratulating Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev, their teams, and the 
        people of the two countries, and further reaffirming that the European 
        Union perspective of the Western Balkans remains the most stabilizing 
        force for the region;
Whereas, on June 12, 2018, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated, 
        ``This historic agreement is testament to many years of patient 
        diplomacy, and to the willingness of these two leaders to solve a 
        dispute which has affected the region for too long.'';
Whereas the agreement paves the way for Macedonia to begin accession talks to 
        join NATO and the European Union;
Whereas, on July 5, 2018, Macedonia's parliament ratified the agreement to 
        rename the country as the ``Republic of North Macedonia,'' and under the 
        terms of the agreement the Government of Macedonia may hold a public 
        referendum and shall pass a constitutional amendment to rename the 
        country, and the parliament of Greece must vote on ratification of the 
        agreement;
Whereas Russia consistently seeks to undermine agreements that enhance European 
        cohesion, broaden the NATO alliance, or strengthen transatlantic 
        partnerships;
Whereas the Governments of both Greece and Macedonia have accused Russia of 
        meddling in their domestic affairs to undermine the name agreement, 
        including by organizing public protests and deepening ties with 
        nationalist organizations;
Whereas, on July 11, 2018, the Government of Greece announced the expulsion of 
        two Russian diplomats and barred the entry of two additional Russian 
        diplomats due to their involvement in funding public protests to 
        undermine the name deal;
Whereas Greece is a longstanding NATO member and valued United States ally, 
        contributing 2.6 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defense 
        and hosting United States Naval Support Activity at Souda Bay;
Whereas Macedonia joined NATO's Partnership for Peace in 1995, joined NATO's 
        Membership Action Plan in 1999, and is one of the largest per-capita 
        troop contributors to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan;
Whereas, on July 11, 2018, NATO allies formally invited Macedonia to begin 
        accession talks to join the alliance under the name ``Republic of North 
        Macedonia''; and
Whereas, on July 19, 2018, Macedonia's parliament unanimously adopted a 
        declaration supporting the country's bid to join NATO: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) welcomes the agreement between Greece and the Republic 
        of Macedonia to resolve the name dispute and to strengthen 
        bilateral relations for the benefit of both countries;
            (2) congratulates Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran 
        Zaev, Foreign Ministers Nikos Kotzias and Nikola Dimitrov, 
        their teams, and the people of both countries for this historic 
        achievement;
            (3) affirms that stability in southeastern Europe is an 
        important United States national security interest;
            (4) condemns efforts by the Government of the Russian 
        Federation to undermine the agreement and supports United 
        States assistance to authorities in Athens and Skopje to 
        counter malign Russian influence;
            (5) urges Macedonia to continue implementing important 
        reforms as it seeks to join NATO and the European Union, 
        including those related to protecting freedom of expression, 
        strengthening the rule of law, and fighting corruption; and
            (6) encourages the United States Department of Commerce, 
        Department of State, and other relevant agencies to support 
        United States companies interested in investing in southeastern 
        Europe.
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