Lawrence of Macedonia

[TajnataKniga]

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Lawrence Eagleburger

Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger is known as Lawrence of Macedonia due to the contribution and help he offer the City of Skopje after the catastrophic earthquake in 1963. At the time, he served in the US Embassy in SFRY, as Second Secretary of Economic Affairs. As a young diplomat at the time, Eagleburger managed and coordinated the substantial American aid for the victims of the earthquake, and deserved great credit for the prompt building of the American military ambulance in Skopje. As a result of his unselfish engagement in the events and the great attachment he felt for Macedonia, he was dubbed “Lawrence of Macedonia”. Even in this period, Eagleburger demonstrated visible partiality towards Macedonia and towards Skopje.

Precisely because of the great gesture involving the assistance to the City of Skopje, Lawrence Eagleburger during his mandate as US Ambassador to Belgrade (1977-1980), acquired great popularity. Since then he has often visited Macedonia and Skopje. In one of the numerous recent interviews, he stated: “I have not been to Macedonia and Skopje for at least ten years, but I remember 26 July 1963 very well. I remember very well the bravery the citizens of Skopje displayed after the catastrophe and I remember how hard the worked to rebuild the city. With deep affection I remember Skopje and Macedonia”.

Lawrence Eagleburger was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1930. He graduated and earned Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin. In 1957, Mr. Eagleburger became engaged in US Foreign Policy, serving in various posts in US embassies and consulate around the world.

Eagleburger is a prominent American career diplomat. During his rich career, he has always had high positions in the State Department. From 1969-1971 he served in the Nixon administration as an assistant to National Security Advisor. In the period from 1973 to 1977 he was deputy to the Secretary of State, Mr. Henry Kissinger, and from 1977 to 1980 he served as US Ambassador to SFRY, appointed by President Jimmy Carter. In 1982 President Ronald Reagan appointed him as Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, and in 1989 President George H.W. Bush appointed him Deputy Secretary of State. In 1992 Eagleburger was appointed Secretary of State, second-ranking position in the United States of America.

Lawrence Eagleburger is an influential American politician who during his political and diplomatic career has achieved great results in reconciling the relations towards the end of the Cold War, the changes in what was then USSR, as well as the conflicts in the Balkans. Because of his attachment to Macedonia, he has always been interested in its political development and has lobbied for strengthening the position of the Republic of Macedonia on the international stage.

Lawrence Eagleburger is still active in US politics and actively follows and analyses political events in the USA and in the world. He cherishes great friendship, sympathies and respect towards the Republic of Macedonia and the City of Skopje and regularly follows the situations in this country. In his comments and interviews given lately, Lawrence of Macedonia constantly underlines the support that the USA give to our country, his personal interest for the future of this state and the stability of the region.

[TajnataKniga]

Skopje, August 8, 2009 (MIA) – Greeks must grow up and ought to admit that Macedonia has the right to call itself what it wants, former US Secretary of State Lawrence Eagelburger said.

In the interview with the Macedonian Television Eagelburger pointed out that Greece has no right to interfere i.e. to block and to impose conditions to Macedonia to call the way it is called and as it wants to be called.

- It would be as Mexico to tell us the United States of America that we can not be the United States because they are United States of Mexico. It is insane! It is sheer stupidity! I will emphasise: Macedonia has the right to call itself what it wants and according to this you should tell Greece and the Greeks to mind their own business!, Eagelburger said.

- If Greeks and Bulgarians continue to “push” Macedonia it will be inconveniently but do not upset much about this. You are strong enough to stand all this pressure so at the end Bulgarians and Greeks will have to give in and accept that Macedonia the way it is, Eagelburger added.

He said that the announcements from Bulgaria for blocking Macedonia’s European future are completely wrong and such moves do not guarantee peace on the Balkans.

- I think that the issue with which Bulgaria interferes in internal affairs in Macedonia is wrong. If they interfere in internal affairs of Macedonia, then they should stop immediately. It is not the best way to keep the peace among neighbours and is not the way in which good-neighbourly relations are defined. Bulgaria has no right to block Macedonia’s admission in the EU and NATO but then question is raised whether NATO and EU member states are ready to listen?, former US Secretary of State Lawrence Eagelburger said in the interview with the Macedonian Television.