On February 14, 2008, the Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis will meet with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington, D.C.  A topic of discussion will be the “name dispute” between Macedonia and Greece.  UMD encourages all Macedonians to send a message to Secretary Rice asking her to reiterate to Ms. Bakoyannis that the U.S. recognizes Macedonia’s constitutional name, supports Macedonia’s NATO membership bid, and does not believe that the “name dispute” is relevant to Macedonia’s NATO membership.

You may also point out to Secretary Rice that

(1) Greece should be more constructive during the name negotiations as Macedonia has made significant concessions by changing its flag and constitution and by accepting a provisional reference term that is used to refer to Macedonia at the UN and in other international bodies while Greece has made no concessions;

(2)  Greece cannot veto Macedonia’s NATO admission because the 1995 Interim Accord between Greece and Macedonia forbids Greece from vetoing Macedonia’s NATO membership as long as Macedonia is admitted under the provisional reference term, and,

(3)  That the Macedonian people overwhelmingly support Macedonia’s NATO bid and that Macedonia is already participating in NATO operations in Afghanistan, in U.S. led efforts in Iraq and in other international missions to Lebanon and Bosnia.

Please help Macedonia by countering the Greek foreign minister’s misinformation campaign designed to derail Macedonia’s NATO membership invitation at the NATO summit in April.

Please click HERE to send a message to Secretary Rice - under Topic scroll down to ‘Secretary of State.’  A sample message is set forth below. 

Dear Madame Secretary,

I understand that you will meet with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis on February 14, 2008 to discuss U.S.-Greek relations and Greece’s objection to the Republic of Macedonia’s name.  As a concerned Macedonian-American, I encourage you to reiterate to Ms. Bakoyannis that the United States recognizes Macedonia by its constitutional name and supports its NATO admission in 2008. 

Macedonia is a strong ally of the United States in the Balkans, is helping the United States bring democracy and peace to Iraq and Afghanistan and is assisting in other international missions in Bosnia and Lebanon.  The Macedonian people have the highest regard for the United States and overwhelmingly support Macedonia’s NATO bid.  NATO membership is of utmost importance to Macedonia and the Macedonian people, as it will bring political, economic and regional stability and security. 

One cannot deny another country the right to its name and identity.  Greece’s intransigent stance in the “name dispute,” stands in stark contrast to the Republic of Macedonia’s constructive efforts to resolve this bilateral matter.  Macedonia has already changed its flag and symbols, disclaimed any “territorial ambition” against Greek territory, and have offered a compromise name for Greece’s use in its relations with Macedonia.  The only responses to Macedonia’s conciliatory efforts by Greece are incredulous claims of Macedonian “intransigence.”

Thank you for taking the time to review my concerns and once again, I hope that you will clearly inform the Greek Foreign Minister that the United States recognizes Macedonia’s constitutional name and that Macedonia’s NATO admission cannot be contingent upon a solution to the “name dispute.”

Sincerely,

Alternatively, you can choose to send a letter by postal mail to address below.

The Honorable Condoleezza Rice
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520

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