Two US Congressmen against anti-Macedonian S. Resolution 300

05.10.07 US-Congressmen, Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Mark E. Souder (R-IN), voiced their opinions on Macedonia Name Issue and their opposition to House Resolution 356, calling up to review the Senate Resolution 300 which unfortunately makes three highly inaccurate claims with regard to Macedonia in its relations with their neighboring country Greece: The TV report in question produced by a Greek TV station using the hospitality of Macedonian schools, is to say the least, controversial and may be a result of manipulating high school children, which is in direct contravention of international standards. In addition, the fact remains that children in the Republic of Macedonia are not being taught that parts of Greece are part of the Republic of Macedonia. The clip of the report can be found on YouTube at the following address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWIKDhhTvnU The resolution claims that a military academy textbook contains maps showing "Greater Macedonia" (unpartitioned, before 1912/13). Quite simply the book in question is not in use in the academy, as it was removed by the Macedonian Minister of Defense this past March. Furthermore, the maps in question in the book are very old, originally drawn in the 1800s, by non-Macedonians, and are presented in a historical light. The textbooks used in the educational system in the Republic of Macedonia do not contain any maps of this kind. The resolution states that the Republic of Macedonia has violated the Interim Accord by renaming the Skopje Airport to Alexander the Great International Airport. The Enterprise for Airport Services "Macedonia"- Skopje, has recently renamed its two international airports, located in Ohrid and Skopje. The Ohrid Airport was renamed "St. Paul the Apostle" and the Skopje Airport was renamed "Alexander the Great". Both individuals are historic figures, associated with the history of the region and therefore are part of our universal consciousness. •The United States -- and 120 other countries -- have already recognized the Republic of Macedonia by its constitutional name, including United Kingdom, China, Russia, and Poland •Macedonia has been and continues to be a very strong supporter of the United States •Macedonia acquired its independence without armed conflicts; Macedonia endured a many-year embargo imposed by Greece, suffering great economic damage; Macedonia faced enormous risks toward its economy and the delicate ethnic balance in the course of the 1999 NATO intervention when Macedonia accepted more than 360,000 refugees from Kosovo, or the equivalent of 18% of the total population of the country; Macedonia resolved the 2001 crisis in Macedonia by applying political means and implemented the Ohrid Framework Agreement; Macedonia successfully developed a multiethnic democracy in an extremely complex environment; Macedonia takes an active role and contributes to the efforts of the international community for democratization and stabilization outside the borders of the Republic of Macedonia •The specific bill in question -- S. Res. 300 -- is based on inaccurate premises; a list of these can be provided •The Republic of Macedonia has taken Greece's concerns into consideration, even changing its flag and constitution to reinforce the fact that it has no territorial designs on Greece. •The Republic of Macedonia does not hold exclusive rights over the name Macedonia in geographic, cultural, historic or commercial terms and is not demanding change and does not object to the use of the name Macedonia to designate Greece's northern province. However, Greece does not have such exclusive rights either. •Macedonia fully observes its obligations under the 1995 Interim Accord with Greece and remains committed to promote good relations with Greece; Macedonia is determined to "resolve the differences over the name" as stipulated in the UN Security Council Resolution 817 in 1993 •The continuous challenge of our name since the independence of the Republic of Macedonia in 1991 has become a security issue for Macedonia. This denial has sent the wrong message to a nation of 2 million people focused on consolidating their multiethnic democracy in the heart of the Balkans in turbulent times: that the future of their country is not certain. At the same time it encourages and excuses radicals to work towards its disintegration because the country is not fully recognized by the international community and a temporary name could suggest a temporary country. http://umdiaspora.org/images/Pascrell.pdf http://umdiaspora.org/images/Souder1.pdf http://umdiaspora.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=241&Itemid=51

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YouTube | December 5, 2007

Tags:. .souder. .textbooks. .contravention. .interim. .ohrid