Macedonia & Greece: Name Issue

[Solun]

So from what Amphipolis is saying there is no chance of the agreement being ratified by the Athens Government

[Niko777]

So from what Amphipolis is saying there is no chance of the agreement being ratified by the Athens Government

They will pass it by a simple majority

Syriza: 145 seats
To Potami: 6 seats
=151 / 300
+Any surprise votes from other parties

[Carlin]

ВМРО-ДПМНЕ може и да ја преспие кампањата (DPMNE may sleep through the referendum campaign)

URL:

https://nezavisen.mk/mk/vesti/2018/08/83353/

На десетина дена пред официјалниот старт на референдумската кампања, раководството на ВМРО-ДПМНЕ нема став ниту дали ќе учествува во неа ниту каков повик ќе упати до своите поддржувачи во врска со гласањето на 30 септември.

Пратеничката група на ВМРО-ДМПНЕ испратила известување до претседателот на Собранието Талат Џафери во кое посочува дека одлуките на Владата за пренамена на средства за финансирање кампањи е своеволна и не е од интерес на граѓаните.

- Без разлика на тоа каков би бил ставот кој се рекламира, цениме дека тие средства треба да бидат наменети за реализација на проекти од кои има реален интерес.Финансирање на своеволна кампања од власта со буџетски средства на граѓаните е погрешна одлука. Тие средства никој не им одобрил на пратениците од власта или нивните функционери да ги трошат за себерекламирање, се вели во известувањето на пратеничката група на ВМРО-ДПМНЕ.

Во соопштение, пак, што го испрати претходно до медиумите, ВМРО-ДПМНЕ најави дека ќе ги донира средствата што им следуваат за кампања за референдумот.

Поради ваквите тактизирања и пролонгирања на одлуките, партиски извори сметаат дека не е исклучено врвот на ВМРО-ДПМНЕ да не излезе со конкретен став сè до последните денови пред одржувањето на референдумот.

[Niko777]

ВМРО-ДПМНЕ може и да ја преспие кампањата (DPMNE may sleep through the referendum campaign)

The fact that they still cannot make a decision means that DPMNE must be deeply divided over the issue, who knows, maybe half of their members will vote yes in the referendum.

[Risto the Great]

The fact that they still cannot make a decision means that DPMNE must be deeply divided over the issue, who knows, maybe half of their members will vote yes in the referendum.

The truth is more likely that they haven't received a sweet enough deal to vote yes at this stage. And they will get a sweet deal soon enough.

[Bill77]

Some impressive Signatories in this letter.

Also...... "History teaching is going to be decided by governmental bodies rather than by scholars." This is most troubling.....Orwellian?

Letter to the Editor: Academics Take Issue With Prespa Agreement

To The Editor

As scholars and authors we wish to take issue with the distortion of the Prespa ‘agreement’ in some quarters, and portrayal of opponents as nationalist and extremists.

The agreement does not serve the needs of Macedonia or Greece. It shows no respect for international law, human rights and democratic principles.

An agreement trying to define political, historical and cultural boundaries between “classical Macedonia” and (would be) North Macedonia is a bizarre undertaking in the 21st century. The construction of identities is not for governments. Macedonia is subjected to arbitrary international engineering against the will of the people. With little public support a highly polarized atmosphere deepens internal divisions. The asymmetric ‘deal’ will not lessen regional tensions as only the weaker (Macedonian) side was forced to compromise, to force (North) Macedonia into NATO – itself in an identity crisis.

The deal denies constitutional sovereignty of Macedonia, with final say given to the MPs of a foreign country (Greece). The new name is intended for not only international relations but also internal legal order. The attribute Macedonian is to be erased from all official documents and public use under threat of Orwellian sanctions. History teaching is going to be decided by governmental bodies rather than by scholars.

International mismanagement continues. While supporting confidence building, conflict resolution, and reconciliation, we argue that the Prespa Agreement is not an accord that promises sustainable peace. NATO membership is unlikely to bring social and economic progress or security to the small Macedonian state; ironically, Greece offers the best proof of what international dictates do on the European periphery.

https://www.balkaninsider.com/letter-to-the-editor-academics-take-issue-with-prespa-agreement/

[Risto the Great]

Thank you Bill.

Biljana Vankovska, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
James Pettifer, Oxford University
Venko Andonovski, writer, Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
Milan Kundera, writer, Paris
Richard Falk, Princeton University
Žarko Puhovski, University of Zagreb
Lidija R. Basta Fleiner, University of Fribourg
Darko Mitrevski, film director, Los Angeles
Georges Banu, President of the Prize of Europe for the Theatre, Paris
Jan Oberg, director of Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, Lund
Gorazd Rosoklija, Columbia University
Josette Baer Hill, University of Zurich
Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
Jean Pavleski, Sorbonne University, founder of Éditions Economica, Paris
Nada Boskovska, University of Zurich
Jovan Donev, former ambassador to the United Kingdom
Stefano Bianchini, University of Bologna
Vladimir Unkovski-Korica, University of Glasgow
Pepe Escobar, Geopolitical Analyst at Asia Times
Radmila Nakarada, University of Belgrade
Igor Janev, University of Belgrade
Zhidas Daskalovski, Kliment Ohridski University, Bitola
Nikola Popov, McMaster University, Ontario
Erol Tufan, poet, Turkey
Bernd Fischer, Indiana University, Fort Wayne
Mitko Madzunkov, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Mite Stefoski, Director of Struga Poetry Evenings
Johan Galtung, founder of Transcend University
Vitomir Mitevski, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Jean-Patrick Connerade, University of London, former President of EuroScience
Borislav Pavlovski, University of Zagreb
Slavko Bogdanov, Columbia University
Francis D. Raška, Anglo-American University, Prague
Leonid Grcev, IEEE Fellow, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Mihajlo Popovski, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
Miranda Vickers, Independent Scholar, UK
Aleksandar Dimovski, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Jean Pierre Simeon, poet, editor of Gallimard, Paris
Branko Stavrev, theater director, Skopje
Emilia Waters, CATS College Cambridge
Jordan Plevneš, writer and former ambassador to France
Zhivko Popov, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Marija Risteska, Centre for Research and Policy-Making, Skopje
Katica Kjulafkova, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Dimitar Apasiev, Goce Delčev University, Štip
Daniel Weiss, University of Zürich
Victor Bivell, Publisher, Pollitecon Publications, Sydney
Marko Pavlovski, writer, University of Zagreb
Elka Jačeva-Ulčar, Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
Dragan Duško Vukotić, media specialist, Podgorica
Jani Bojadzi, Film and Theater Director, Skopje
Slave Gjorgjo Dimoski, poet, ex-president of the Board of Struga Poetry Evenings
Todor Čepreganov, Goce Delčev University, Štip
Bob Churcher, ex International Crisis Group Country Director, Kosovo
Bogdan Bogdanov, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
Blaže Minevski, writer, Skopje
Solza Grceva, Voice for Macedonia
Marjan Popov, Delft University of Technology
Aleksandar Shulevski, University of Amsterdam
George G. Durtanosky, Latvian Christian Academy, Riga
Viktor Gjamovski, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
Antoanela Petkovska, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
Irena Pavlova de Odorico, poetess, Italy
Rade Siljan, writer and publisher, Skopje
Sašo Kalajdžievski, University of Manitoba
Aldo Kliman, poet and president of the Macedonian Cultural Forum in Croatia
Milojka Kalkašlieva, judge of the Supreme Court of Macedonia (ret.)
Paul Filev, Literary Translator, Melbourne
Ringa Raudola, Department of Innovation and Governance, Tallinn University
Jovica Tasevski-Eternijan, poet, the Macedonian Writers’ Association
Marina Mijakovska, writer, Skopje
Kiril Barbareev, Goce Delčev University, Štip
Blaže Risteski, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
Zlatko Dizdarević, former ambassador, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Danilo Gligoroski, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Sasho Popovski, academic painter, Skopje

Confirmation of 76 Macedonians (and/or friends of Macedonians).
Let us pray for the rest!

[Risto the Great]

Bob Churcher, ex International Crisis Group Country Director, Kosovo

That name (or former affiliation) stood out for some reason.
It seems his own voice does not echo that of the International Crisis Group (anymore). And that is coming from someone pro Albanians in Macedonia/Kosovo. As evidenced here:

https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/39184/2003_Mar_3.pdf

More people (like him) blasting this treachery is a good thing.

[Tomche Makedonche]

Here's only some of the articles (ahem heavy propaganda) I came across on MIA today

https://www.mia.mk/en/Inside/RenderS.../382/134432619

Macedonia, Greece are Natural Allies, Name Deal will be Accepted, Dimitrov tells IBNA

Athens, 1 September 2018 (MIA) - Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov is convinced that the citizens of Macedonia will support the agreement with Greece because 'they choose wisely when faced with great historic challenges.'

"I am convinced that the agreement will be accepted by our people because, when we are at great historic crossroads, we make wise choices. I am also confident that even the ones, from both sides, opposing the agreement will, from a historical perspective, accept that this is an important step forward because there will be many benefits.

We are neighbours, we cannot change this fact, history cannot be changed, but we can influence our future and make it better. It is very easy for a politician to make a living from this dispute, but solving it creates a better life for the citizens of both sides", Minister Dimitrov told the Independent Balkan News Agency (IBNA).

Concerning reactions in Greece over the use of the terms "Macedonians" and "Macedonian", Dimitrov said that two countries in Europe in 2018 can agree on this - because in Greece, when one says that someone is Macedonian, they are referring to the old Hellenic culture and the local (northern Greek) region of Macedonia, and when a Macedonian is said to be in their country, they are thinking of something else.

"Why is that a problem? The right to self-determination is something that can not be disputed in the 21st century in Europe", Dimitrov said.

According to him, the "Macedonian language" is a South Slavic language, and so it is stated in the agreement," Dimitrov said in the interview cited by MIA.

"In order to invest our energy into something useful, namely the economic, cross-border and security co-operation, we need to remove and divert this unproductive debate", the Macedonian Minister said after the informal two-day ministerial meeting in Vienna.

"Both myself and my friend Nikos Kotzias are convinced that what we are doing is investing in our friendship because we are natural allies.

With a proper policy, in several years all dilemmas will fade away and we will all wonder how we had not done this at the beginning of the nineties and why we have put a whole generation undergo this dispute.

Our is a concrete achievement that has created a de facto solidarity and a beautiful bridge of friendship," added Dimitrov.

He said that the Macedonian government will continue to work hard and persuade the opposition to support the agreement.

The opposition has been accusing the government of capitulation, maintaining they would have achieved a better agreement than the signed one.

"A better agreement, for one or the other party," Dimitrov responded, "leads to a lack of agreement. Such is the nature of all compromise." ba/13:13

https://www.mia.mk/en/Inside/RenderS.../382/134433002

FM Dimitrov makes first referendum campaign stop in Tetovo

Tetovo, 1 September 2018 (MIA) - On September 30 we have a 'date with history', a major historic turning point, to open the doors for NATO membership, which will reinforce our statehood and security and bring investments as Macedonia becomes more predictable for foreign investors, Nikola Dimitrov said Saturday.

As for opening the doors for accession negotiations with the EU, it will help us become more European at home, establish more order, respect justice, and be more efficient, have our salaries increased," the Foreign Minister told reporters in Tetovo where he launched the referendum campaign dubbed "For European Macedonia".

He said he would make campaign stops in order to inform as many people as possible ahead of the referendum, to listen to their problems, and to answer questions in relation to the upcoming referendum.

"We have missed so many trains while being buried in trenches. The choice is - either we move forward with self-confidence, with a protected and affirmed identity and a compromise between our Macedonia and the region Macedonia in Greece or we move backwards to isolation in a state of powerlessness that nobody likes us and that we have no friends," stressed Minister Dimitrov.

When asked to comment on the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE having no official position yet on the upcoming referendum, he said that historic times required everyone to take historic responsibility. ba/16:58

https://www.mia.mk/en/Inside/RenderS.../323/134433044

PM Zaev: On Sept. 30 let's cement the future as European Macedonia

Dojran, 1 September 2018 (MIA) - Ahead of a historic question for the future of the country, I'm confident that together on September 30 we will make the right decision to cement the future as European Macedonia and we will tell the world that we are strongly committed to EU and NATO integration, Prime Minister and SDSM leader Zoran Zaev said Saturday at a rally of the coalition "Come Our For European Macedonia".

Dojran, he said, is the very place where Macedonia and Greece reached an agreement on the recognition of the Macedonian language.

"In May, it was here in Dojran that (Greek PM) Alexis Tsipras and I reached an agreement recognizing the Macedonian language. It happened before the EU Summit, when it was required of the two sides to make concession. We showed the EU nations that we are ready to make compromises so as to reach a deal," Zaev stated.

Macedonia, the Premier said, no longer has problems with the recognition of our country, nation, identity and language after reaching the agreements with Bulgaria and Greece.

"We made friends who I'm sure will strongly support us on our path to create European Macedonia. Our integration into the EU and NATO by accepting the deal with Greece is very important for Macedonia. I am confident that on Sept. 30 we will make a brave decision," noted Zaev.

Then you have these cheerleaders

https://www.mia.mk/en/Inside/RenderS.../382/134433321

Svilanovic: Only a successful referendum opens perspectives for Macedonia

https://www.mia.mk/en/Inside/RenderS.../382/134432831

US official: Macedonian citizens should make the right decision in name referendum

Meanwhile in Greece, they are apparently singing another tune

https://www.mia.mk/en/Inside/RenderS.../382/134432561

Prespa Agreement Concedes Macedonian language, identity to neighbors: opposition leader

Athens, 1 September 2018 (MIA) - The Prespa Agreement was reached in secrecy, without any input from the people, from the parliament and from opposition parties, the leader of the largest opposition party in Greece has said.

According to Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is president of New Democracy party, the agreement concedes the Macedonian language and Macedonian identity to Greece's northern neighbor.

"There is no chance that New Democracy will ratify the deal either during this parliament's term or the next one. The government is making nationally dangerous moves. They are already producing negative results," stated Mitsotakis, MIA reports from Athens.

The Greek opposition leader also accused the government of not reacting to statements of Macedonian top state officials.

"Mr Zaev himself has denied Mr Kotzias, and Mr Dimitrov has been telling us 'I'm Macedonian and I speak Macedonian.' Someone in the government has heard it, but has chosen not to react... Their irresponsibility won't be forgotten. Greeks should never be blindsided nationalists, they know they should be honest patriots," said Mitsotakis. ba/13:01

[Dove]

Courtesy of the Greek Reporter https://greece.greekreporter.com/201...me-since-2008/

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/08SKOPJE491_a.html

The details:

Classified By: DCM THOMAS J. NAVRATIL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

Elements of a Deal
-------------------

1. (C) Embassy Skopje assesses that in the context of an
agreement that clears the way for NATO membership and the
start of EU accession talks, the Macedonian government would
ultimately accept the following terms:

-- Name: Republic of Northern Macedonia (or: Republic of
North Macedonia)

-- Scope: in all international organizations, plus
bilaterally by any country that does not want to use the
constitutional name. (Although we have not discussed this
explicitly, presumably international agreements would follow
the same pattern, with multilateral ones using the new name
and bilateral ones having the option.) Macedonia would use
its constitutional name in referring to itself, on passports,
product labels, in the media, etc.

-- Identity: The language and nationality would be called
Macedonian, but this could be handled tacitly, perhaps as a
subsequent annex to a UNSCR, or in some other internal UN
document not subject to Greek review/approval. Bottom line
is Macedonia needs assurance that their language,
nationality, etc. would continue to be called Macedonian, not
North Macedonian.

2. (C) Today PM Gruevski would take exception to several
aspects of this package. He wants the modifier to be in
parentheses; he wants recognition of Macedonian language and
nationality to be explicit rather than tacit. On scope, he
would want to limit usage to IOs in which FYROM is already
used. For bilateral use, he would want the UN merely to
authorize, rather than encourage or recommend, use of the new
name. Similarly, he would seek to limit use of the new name
on international agreements. Nevertheless, we anticipate
that he would in the end decide to give ground on these
issues if it got him the deal. In any case, he has made
holding a national referendum part of his governing platform
and he will insist on fulfilling that prominent public
pledge. An agreement in September would allow time for this
referendum and passage of a UNSCR prior to the December NAC.

3. (C) Conversations with Prime Minister Gruevski and
President Crvenkovski, summarized below, underlie Embassy
Skopje,s assessment. This cable, together with Athens 1030,
illuminates the substantial gaps between the Macedonian and
Greek positions at this time.

Amb. Milovanovic ) PM Gruevski July 25
-------------------------------------

4. (C) After discussing concerns about Macedonian
developments that may affect NATO perceptions of Macedonia's
readiness (election problems, Parliament problems,
spectacular arrests, budget rebalance away from MoD), the
Ambassador urged that Macedonia take action to ensure that it
not only does not slip below NATO criteria, but that it keep
up as NATO continues to move ahead. Gruevski asked in turn
if we can solve the name issue. The Ambassador replied that
we are prepared to help Macedonia on this, and that we are
urging that the negotiations focus solely on the key areas of
the name and the usage, without inclusion of other bilateral
issues.

5. (C) Gruevski expressed his view that Greece is determined
not to solve this issue, and therefore he decided to open
other issues (i.e., ethnic Macedonians in Greece). The
Ambassador urged that Macedonia exert maximum efforts to find
a solution. Gruevski welcomed the next round of talks with
Amb. Nimetz in mid-August, and is prepared to accept
Nimetz,s invitation for a meeting among Gruevski,
Karamanlis, and Sec. Rice if the August talks go well and
produce progress toward a solution.

A/S Hill ) PM Gruevski July 26
------------------------------

6. (C) A/S Hill asked about lines of communication with
Greece, and Gruevski mentioned only the UN process. Gruevski
shared his assessment that the Greek side does not have the

SKOPJE 00000491 002 OF 003


intention to solve the problem. He noted upcoming elections
in Greece (early Parliamentary elections sometime between
October and April (note: Emb. Athens sees early elections as
very unlikely), local elections in April, and European
parliamentary elections in June) and cited Greek press
reports as indicating lack of intention to solve. Gruevski
argued that Karamanlis, position has hardened since last
October. No longer seeking just to find a new name to
replace FYROM, Karamanlis now seeks to broaden the scope to
all usages, and limit the Macedonian identity, history, use
of toponyms. Gruevski said he is willing to solve this,
based on real, reasonable redlines. Hill said he needs to
make sure the Macedonian people don't become frustrated and
have a nationalist reaction. Gruevski said this is already
happening in Greece.

7. (C) Gruevski cited a recent poll that VMRO commissioned
which he said showed that only 13 percent of Macedonians
would accept the name Republic of North Macedonia.
Nevertheless, if there were a proposal to use a name like
that, with the new modifier in parentheses, to be used
wherever FYROM is now, and recognition that the nationality
and language would be called Macedonian, Gruevski expressed
confidence that the public would support it in a referendum.
He said that he would support it, he would expect President
Crvenkovski, the international community, and the media to
support it, and that with a two-month campaign the public
would approve.

Amb. Milovanovic, A/S Hill ) Pres. Crvenkovski July 27
--------------------------------------------- ---------

8. (C) Crvenkovski said that the current situation with name
issue is blocked and he is concerned that this could go from
a temporary situation to become permanent. Everyone
including the international community is getting used to the
situation, which contributes to the threat of it being long
lasting/permanent. He is pessimistic for two reasons:
Karamanlis and Gruevski.

9. (C) Crvenkovski thinks Greece could agree to Northern
Macedonia. Hill asked about Macedonian identity and
language. Crvenkovski said a possible way out is the Greek
position that discussion is on the name of the country, and
nationality and language are not part of the talks.
Crvenkovski sees as a possible solution that only the name
and its scope of use are in the bilateral talks with Greece
and in the bilateral agreement Greece would sign. Macedonia
needs to keep Macedonian as its language and
nationality/identity but this could be in the UNSCR only (as
an appendix), not in something Greece has to sign or sign
onto, thus saving face for Greece and making agreement on
name and scope possible. Crvenkovski says Nimetz understands
this approach.

10. (C) Crvenkovski thinks Republic of (Northern) Macedonia
with a scope of using this wherever FYROM is used would work.
Says the scope strikes him as the most problematic element.
Pre-Bucharest proposal that Macedonia accepted recommended
that nations consider using (or recommended that they use)
the agreed name in bilateral relations instead of the
constitutional name, but the most recent Nimetz proposal went
to requiring bilateral international use and this is too
much. Also too much is any formula that requires Macedonia
to call itself something other than Republic of Macedonia,
for example on passports or products. It is one thing to
discuss how others call Macedonia, and under what
circumstances, but quite another beyond the scope of the
discussions or of the possible/reasonable to talk in terms of
dictating that Macedonia call itself something other than its
constitutional name.

11. (C) Crvenkovski said that Greece,s tactic is to provoke,
change goal posts, and prolong negotiations. But this is no
reason for Macedonia (PM Gruevski) to adopt the same tactics
(e.g. adding the Aegean Macedonian issue to the pot).
Macedonia needs a quick resolution and Greece does not so why
would they have the same tactics of obstructionism and delay?
But PM Gruevski is adopting exactly that delaying tactic.

12. (C) Crvenkovski is concerned that with Albania and
Croatia en route to NATO/EU and Serbia also, with an OK
government and Karadzic arrested, this means Macedonia is in
serious danger of winding up among the last of the Balkans to
get into NATO and EU (with Bosnia and Kosovo), which is very
bad.

SKOPJE 00000491 003 OF 003



13. (C) Crvenkovski also commented that he does not see any
regional issue (now that Kosovo is independent and Serbia is
moving in the right direction) that will attract the
attention of Brussels and Washington to focus on Macedonia.
The window of opportunity is closing fast.

14. (C) Crvenkovski is also concerned that even in the
unlikely event Karamanlis accepts a reasonable proposal on
the name (1) Gruevski will run away from responsibility for
concluding the deal and (2) if unsuccessful in avoiding
responsibility will go to referendum WITHOUT recommending a
yes vote to the public. Result of a referendum would be
helped by multi party support in Macedonia but really depends
on the question. They will get &yes8 if the question is
"do you want us to enter NATO and start negotiations with EU
under the name of Republic of (Northern) MK?" It will fail
if the question is &do you want us to surrender our
constitutional name in favor of..." (3) Gruevski does not see
EU and NATO as a sufficiently high priority to risk
supporting a decision or a referendum yes.

15. (C) Crvenkovski commented that the issue of compensation
for Aegean Macedonians and the issue of harassment at the
Greek border and denial of entry for these people will only
be solved when the name issue is solved and Macedonia is in
the EU. Because then Greek shenanigans will be contrary to
EU law of which Macedonia is a part. So although Gruevski
trots out the Aegean Macedonians as a nationalistic reason to
oppose the Greeks, in practice the way to really solve those
people,s problems is to compromise with the Greeks (assuming
Karamalis will accept a decent compromise).

16. (C) Crvenkovski strongly suggested a big push by the U.S.
in time for the Nimetz proposal/visit in mid August. He
suggested that the proposal fit on one page and only address
the name (Republic of Northern Macedonia) and scope (use
wherever FYROM is now used) and be a &take it or leave it8
offer. This could perhaps be concluded on the margins of
UNGA. UNSCR would include annex specifying language
Macedonian and nationality Macedonian, and Crvenkovski is
convinced Greeks will accept this if not asked directly to do
so or asked to sign onto it. Just let it be part of UNSCR
annex.
Milovanovic

[Risto the Great]

There we have it. The believers in DPmNE can now see where the notion of "northern" was first established. The fact that Zaev took it and brought it to a new level of rape doesn't make it any different from the initial rape. After all, a rape is a rape.

[Big Bad Sven]

SDSM and VMRO are two sides of the rotten anti macedonian coin. Both are willing to change the name and identity, both are in bed with the shiptars, both dont care about macedonia.

There are still a lot of brain dead macedonians who see Gruevski as a hero and his party. They still follow what their VMRO masters tell them to do - in this case its to 'boycott' the reffrendum and in the process help make the name change much easier

[Tomche Makedonche]

http://www.minareport.com/2018/09/04/zaev-yes-macedonian-companies-wont-be-allowed-to-use-made-in-macedonia/

Zaev: Yes, Macedonian companies won’t be allowed to use “Made in Macedonia”

In the capitulation signed by Zaev, as explained by the SDSM leader at the Economic Chamber of Macedonia, the right to non-exclusion on this issue has been defined. “If we do not agree and do not agree on this issue, it does not mean that the Agreement is invalid” stated Zaev.

According to Zaev, we have no problem whether “Made in Macedonia” will write for the region of Macedonia or the state Macedonia. But because of the new name, Macedonian companies won’t have such right, instead the exclusivity of it has been given to the Greek side.

– There are no aspirations to take our rights. The final goal is within three years of the verification of the agreement, to discuss the two countries because some Greek producers may want to use “Made in Macedonia” and here we have agreed the right to non-exclusivity. Our right is their right. We have no problem whether “Made in Macedonia” will write for the region of Macedonia or for our Macedonia, as a state.
However, a period of three years has been left to give Greece’s businesses the chance to have their own determination. If they decide to have Made in Macedonia their products, we are good with it. Greek producers may have issues with Macedonian companies using “Made in Macedonia” and can block it, but this is after three years – explained Zaev.

[Tomche Makedonche]

Whether its from a pro or anti government source, the reported statements by Zaev (and Dimitrov) boggle the mind. I seriously cannot fathom how any sane person can listen to these two and think "I have confidence in this man, he seems to know what he is talking about"

[Risto the Great]

How any of this can be described as a win is unfathomable. This is the peak of the trough.