U.S. position on Macedonia

[vicsinad]

Republican US Congressman Calls for Macedonia's Division

Supposedly, a Republican US Congressman says Macedonia should be divided between Kosovo and Bulgaria.

http://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/251530361/macedonia-should-be-divided-between-kosovo-bulgaria---us-official

Macedonian officials have expressed their outrage at comments from United States Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who told an Albanian TV station Macedonia should be divided and its creation was a failed project.

Its territories should be divided between neighboring states, Kosovo and Bulgaria included, Macedonian media quote him as telling Albania's Vizion Plus TV.

Bulgarian news wire BGNES quotes him as saying: "In my opinion, Macedonia is not a state. I am sorry, but it is not a state. There is such a division in their country they will never be able to live together in the future."

"This is why Kosovars and Albanians from Macedonia should be part of Kosovo, and the rest of Macedonia should be part of Bulgaria or another country to which they believe are linked."

"The idea is to keep Macedonia alive because someone 30 years ago decided it is a configuration that should come out of the dismantling of Yugoslavia," news website MKD.mk quotes him as saying.

It also notes Rohrabacher said, when asked whether Donald Trump's administration would back the idea, he has "an influence" on foreign policy and the idea "of changing the borders in the Balkans" may be up on the agenda during the next sessions.

The Foreign Ministry in Skopje has immediately demanded explanation from the US Department of State for his comments.

Being a member of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs and chair of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats, he causes turmoil with his comments, state-run MIA news agency reports the diplomatic service in Skopje as saying.

"We believe that the State Department will dispel any dilemma with regard to the positions presented and that it will affirm its policy toward Macedonia and the Balkans," the statement adds.

Dana Rohrabacher, who has served at the US House of Representatives since 1989, is not the first foreign official to make such statements in recent years.

In 2015, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested Macedonia should be partitioned, with the west going to Albania and the east being given to Bulgaria. His comments roughly coincided with a peak in the political crisis that had caught the country at the moment.

[vicsinad]

He also suggested Kosovo and Serbia should exchange territories:

http://www.gazetaexpress.com/en/news/rohrabacher-borders-in-balkan-should-change-a-part-of-macedonia-to-unite-with-kosovo-172069/

US Congressman, Dana Rohrabacher, who recently sent a letter to Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, asking Serbian authorities to consider exchange of territories in the north of Kosovo, makes another proposal – let’s change borders of Macedonia.

During an interview with Tirana based TV Vision Plus, Rohrabacher said that Macedonia is not a state. “I am sorry to say but it is not a state. They are divided at that point that they will be not able to get along together. Therefore, Kosovars and Albanians in Macedonia should become part of Kosovo. The other part of Macedonia should become part of Bulgaria, or whatever country they allege to belong,” said Rohrabacher. “The idea that we should keep Macedonia alive because someone 30 years ago decided this was the best reconfiguration that should come out of Yugoslavia’s disintegration, does not lead to a reasonable justification that this idea has to persist,” he said.

[vicsinad]

I wrote a letter to my congressman to denounce this, so is my cousin. I encourage other Macedonians in the US to do so as well.

[Philosopher]

He also suggested Kosovo and Serbia should exchange territories:
During an interview with Tirana based TV Vision Plus, Rohrabacher said that Macedonia is not a state. “I am sorry to say but it is not a state. They are divided at that point that they will be not able to get along together. Therefore, Kosovars and Albanians in Macedonia should become part of Kosovo. The other part of Macedonia should become part of Bulgaria, or whatever country they allege to belong,” said Rohrabacher. “The idea that we should keep Macedonia alive because someone 30 years ago decided this was the best reconfiguration that should come out of Yugoslavia’s disintegration, does not lead to a reasonable justification that this idea has to persist,” he said.

"Or whatever country they allege to belong" what is that? A clear attack on our identity.

The US Congressman's understanding of Macedonia and Balkan history in general is abysmal. But then we are talking about the United States.

The Iranian leader Ayatolla Ali Khameni put it very well concerning the United States.

“We are thankful to [Trump] for making our life easy as he showed the real face of America,” Khamenei told a meeting of military commanders in Tehran, according to his website.

“During his election campaign and after that, he confirmed what we have been saying for more than 30 years about the political, economic, moral and social corruption in the US ruling system,” he added.

And then to show he is an honest observer:

He also dismissed the idea that Iran should be thankful to ex-President Barack Obama for being lenient towards Tehran, as Trump has suggested.

“Why?! Should we thank him for [creating the terrorist group] ISIS, the ongoing wars in Iraq and Syria, or the blatant support for the 2009 sedition in Iran? He was the president who imposed paralyzing sanctions on the Iranian nation,” Khamenei said, adding that Obama failed to achieve his goals.

What a morally bankrupt and utterly corrupt people and government
.

https://www.rt.com/news/376568-khamenei-trump-real-face/

[Risto the Great]

Seriously, if Macedonians were Arabs, they would be bombing the shit out of USA for the kind of meddling they have done and continue to do in Macedonia.

All American Macedonians have an obligation to educate this pig. The first step is to find out who's payroll he is on.

[Amphipolis]

Seriously, if Macedonians were Arabs, they would be bombing the shit out of USA for the kind of meddling they have done and continue to do in Macedonia.

All American Macedonians have an obligation to educate this pig. The first step is to find out who's payroll he is on.

A pro-Russian expert, with alternative views, that speaks his mind. These may help (including their references and discussions):

http://thesaker.is/amazing-words-from-congressman-dana-rohrabacher/

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rohrabacher-735921-trump-steel.html

[Phoenix]

...The first step is to find out who's payroll he is on.

That's the key to political support from the US...dirty fuckin corrupt American cunts..."pay per view" and "money talks" is a billion dollar industry in Washington...so much for "draining the swamp"...

[Phoenix]

A pro-Russian expert, with alternative views, that speaks his mind. These may help (including their references and discussions):

http://thesaker.is/amazing-words-from-congressman-dana-rohrabacher/

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/r...ump-steel.html

Stick your bullshit back up your arse...so what if he supports Russia?
I'm sure his "alternative views" are handsomely remunerated...just as your 'work' here is...

[Tomche Makedonche]

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/balkans-politicians-dismissing-us-congressman-proposals-02-08-2017

US Congressman Slammed for Proposing New Balkan Borders

Politicians in the Balkans condemned Republican Congressman Dana Rohrabacher for suggesting that Serbia and Kosovo swap territory and for claiming that Macedonia is not a state.

Politicians across the region have condemned Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who is also chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats, with some suggesting that he might undermine regional stability.

Rohrabacher told Albanian TV channel Vizion Plus that Macedonia is not a state and its territory should be shared out between Kosovo and Bulgaria.

A couple of days before, Rohrabacher also sent a letter to Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic proposing that mainly Albanian parts of southern Serbia should be swapped for the Serb-populated part of northern Kosovo [read the full letter].

The Macedonian foreign ministry said that the US State Department would not back Rohrabacher’s claim that Macedonia isn’t a country at all and its territory should be parcelled out to Albania and Bulgaria.

“We believe that the State Department will dispel any dilemma with regard to the positions presented and that it will affirm its policy toward Macedonia and the Balkans,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Bulgarian government has not officially reacted to Rohrbacher’s claim that Macedonia should be divided up.

“Bulgaria has a principled and consistent position for the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of all countries from the Western Balkans,” Bulgaria’s foreign ministry told the BGNES news agency when asked for a comment on the congressman’s statement.

While Bulgaria generally nurtures positive relations with Serbia and Macedonia, differing readings of history often cause rows.

Bulgaria was the first country to recognise Macedonia when it proclaimed its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

But Sofia does not recognise the existence of a Macedonian language, separate from Bulgarian, and many Bulgarian historians still maintain that Macedonians are ethnic Bulgarians.

The so-called Macedonian question is an integral part of the Bulgarian national question, with many believing that Bulgaria should “restore” territories of Macedonia which it controlled in the past.

The Bulgarian nationalist party VMRO did not comment on the US congressman’s statement, but did post it on its Facebook page, receiving hundreds of approving reactions of approval to Rohrabacher’s suggestion.

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic on Monday restated that his country’s constitution says the whole of the former province of Kosovo is Serbian territory.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade refuses to recognise its sovereignty.

Vucic accused Rohrabacher of being linked to what he described as an “Albanian lobby”.

Rohrbacher in the past has spoken approvingly about the Kosovo Liberation Army, saying that “in the Clinton years, armed Kosovars more than NATO troops pushed Serbian forces to give up their genocidal repression”.

Rohrabacher’s proposal for swapping territories was also dismissed by the mayor of Serbia's predominantly ethnic Albanian town of Presevo Sciprim Arifi, who said that it would undermine regional stability and go clearly against European Union policy.

However this might not trouble Rohrbacher as he has called for the demise of the EU, alleging that it exerts “gargantuan, centralized control over people’s lives”.

Rohrabacher is a somewhat controversial politician in the US.

The Politico website suggested in an article in November that he is “Putin’s favourite congressman”, wanting better relations with the Kremlin for the same reasons as US President Donald Trump.

[Dejan]

Really? Split the country between two shit stains of Europe? Lol.

[Gocka]

Did you ever really think Trump of all people would want to "drain the swamp". The guy is a walking swamp.

As for this son of bitch, he has been a congressman since 1989, in California of all places. He has no known affiliations to Albanians. Just an arrogant crack pot. Which apparently there are many in the US government. This guy does have pro Russia leanings like Trump and Flynn, knowing our luck, he will get some high level post in the administration and turn his ramblings into a reality.

That's the key to political support from the US...dirty fuckin corrupt American cunts..."pay per view" and "money talks" is a billion dollar industry in Washington...so much for "draining the swamp"...

[Philosopher]

For decades, Rohrabacher has been a prominent supporter of radical Islamist terrorist organizations allied with the CIA – from elements of the Afghan Mujahadeen in the 1980s to the bizarre Iranian Islamo-Leninist cult called the People’s Mujhadeen (or MEK).

Rohrabacher connection to the Albanian lobby is well documented and dates back at least 20 years.

On July 23, 2001 Rohrabacher was hired by the Albanian Mafia in NYC and was the featured guest speaker at a fundraising dinner in Edgewater, New Jersey for the so called "Albanian-American Civic League", a political front group for the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army, or KLA. That event took place about fifteen miles from the World Trade Center, where – about six weeks later – thousands of people would be murdered in a terrorist act reportedly carried out by allies of the KLA. The KLA was branded a terrorist organization by the US State Department and European nations, but that didn't stop Rohrabacher from raising funds for them!?

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/31218/1/

[vicsinad]

Rohrabacher takes to Twitter to defend his comments. Here he is talking to a few people:

@Dimitrov_Nikola U say Balkans R stable? Mine was suggestion 2 Macedonian people.. If they can’t get along let them follow Czechs & Slovaks

@DavidEdenden Macedonian people must decide how to end their turmoil. I just made suggestion they should follow example of Czechs & Slovaks

@K_Rowlette Czechs & Slovaks couldn’t get along so they split. The Swiss established self governing cantons. Macedonians do what U want

http://meta.mk/en/rohrabacher-turns-to-twitter-calling-for-macedonia-to-follow-the-example-of-the-czech-republic-and-slovakia/

[Gocka]

I tried to verify this, I don't think its true, the part about the KLA that is. If it is true though that's scary stuff.

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/31218/1/

What a douchebag, there is no division between Macedonians, Czechs and Slovaks were two distinct people with already separate states that were in union.

This goes back to the same old shit, that Macedonia is not a state of Macedonians, and that Macedonians are not a distinct ethnic group.

Albanians are a minority in our country, there is nothing to split you piece of shit. Pretty rich form a rep from California, I wonder if he would have the same advice for California if the Latinos in San Diego and LA wanted to part ways with the USA.

Rohrabacher takes to Twitter to defend his comments. Here he is talking to a few people:

@Dimitrov_Nikola U say Balkans R stable? Mine was suggestion 2 Macedonian people.. If they can’t get along let them follow Czechs & Slovaks

@DavidEdenden Macedonian people must decide how to end their turmoil. I just made suggestion they should follow example of Czechs & Slovaks

@K_Rowlette Czechs & Slovaks couldn’t get along so they split. The Swiss established self governing cantons. Macedonians do what U want

http://meta.mk/en/rohrabacher-turns-...-and-slovakia/

[Soldier of Macedon]

This moron has now backtracked on his earlier comments.

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/31319/45/

US Congressman Rohrabacher apologizes for remarks on Macedonia

Saturday, 18 February 2017

The US Congressmen and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats, Dana Rohrabacher, offered an apology for his recent controversial remarks about Macedonia. He released Friday the following statement concerning widely quoted comments made recently about Macedonia:

'At the end of a recent interview, I made a number of informal statements regarding the Republic of Macedonia. Upon reflection, I see that some of those statements did not accurately convey my intent. This release clarifies my position. Macedonia is a legitimate country with the right of self-determination and sanctity of borders. My comment alluded, perhaps inartfully, to my concern with internal governing challenges that Macedonia faces concerning ethnic minorities. I am in no way suggesting that anyone except Macedonians determine the sovereign status or borders of their country. If my words were taken to mean anything else, I apologize. I want to recognize and applaud the positive relationship we have had with Macedonia. They are indeed a friend. This is especially evident in the meaningful support that the Macedonian military has provided over the past 20 years to the United States, to NATO, and to associated multilateral defense organizations, in peacekeeping and related refugee operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, and Kosovo. I have had the opportunity to meet many Americans (and Macedonians) who have provided me with very useful input on the region’s history and current dynamics. I look forward to working together with them in the future and, most importantly, to continuing to do my part to help shape U.S. foreign policy so that it encourages a peaceful, prosperous and free Balkans,' Rohrabacher says.

On 7 February 2017, in an interview with the Albanian press, Rohrabacher (Republican-California), stated: 'Macedonia is not a country. I’m sorry, it’s not a country. Kosovars and Albanians in Macedonia should become part of Kosovo. The other part of Macedonia should become part of Bulgaria, or whatever country they allege to belong. The idea that we should keep Macedonia alive because someone 30 years ago decided this was the best reconfiguration that should come out of Yugoslavia’s disintegration, does not lead to a reasonable justification that this idea has to persist.'

The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) immediately issued a statement condemning the Congressman and called for his resignation from the Europe Subcommittee. On Thursday (February 16), the UMD President and Advisory Council member, Metodija A. Koloski and Chris Antoniou respectively, met with Congressman Rohrabacher for close to an hour regarding the matter and reiterated UMD's position of no change of borders to Macedonia. UMD provided the Congressman with copies of several books and an educational packet of information of the human rights of the Macedonian minority in Greece. During the meeting, the Congressman apologized for his insensitive comments. "UMD appreciates the time Congressman Rohrabacher took to meet with UMD leadership and for correcting his statement to support Macedonia’s legitimate rights, and we hope he will remain committed to a stable unitary Macedonia' UMD's press release reads.