Kosovo: News, Politics & Issues

[Pelister]

RTG, you crack me up/ (I mean that literally :-)

Coolski and Roqi, you made some excellent points.

This "would" have been my response. Recongise Kosovo on the condition that:

1. It returns the Gora region to Macedonia
2. Recognizes Macedonia under its Constitutional name

But that really doesn't help Macedonian one iota !

Who else thinks Kosovo is legitimate? Not many.

Someone made the point that Serbia would put an economic blockade on Macedonia which would cripple the little country.

There is also the issue of Albanians who want to break away from Macedonia. It sets a very dangerous precedents.

But...Roqi, your dead right.

The only thing I would add to your list is that Kosovo gives the Gora region back to Macedonia, and that it recognizes the Macedonian minority, its language, officially (and, assurance from Kosovo's friends in the E.U they will recongize Macedonia)

[Volk]

Most of you seem to be overemphasizing the importance of Macedonia to the IC...

Facts are we are not really cared about... thats the reality.

Here is the trade off:

Dont recognize Kosovo, the Sips will start to get agrovated and wave guns around

Recognize: jepardize our relationship with our largest trading partner and one of our closest friends

[Pelister]

Originally Posted by Volk

Most of you seem to be overemphasizing the importance of Macedonia to the IC...

Facts are we are not really cared about... thats the reality.

Here is the trade off:

Dont recognize Kosovo, the Sips will start to get agrovated and wave guns around

Recognize: jepardize our relationship with our largest trading partner and one of our closest friends

Isn't that the truth of it.

The E.U and the I.C do not care about Macedonia. It is just not that important to them, and I think there is a lesson in this for the Macedonian government.

Russia has realized that these "clubs" have their own agenda, so it now going to open new trade and diplomatic relations with anyone who wants to trade with it.

I wouldn't recognize Kosovo, not unless they handed back Gora. The Gora region, remember, was ceded from Macedonia, by Serbia in 1967. It therefore, rightly belongs to Macedonia, and not to Kosovo. I think the Macedonians should be asking for Gora back.

[Rogi]

Nobody needs to care about Macedonia. In fact, you should never base any foreign policy on a particular country caring about yours. Every country has it's own interests - thus, you present something to them that works in your interests, but appears to be in their interests.

Here's a general rule:

"When asking for help, appeal to a people's self-interest, never to their mercy or gratitude"
- Robert Greene, The 48 Laws of Power

[Pelister]

Here is Pelister's law of Common Sense.

Is it in Macedonia's self interest to compromise its name again? Some in the diaspora (!) would say it was. Some in UMD certainly thought so some time ago, and would you say they "care" about what happens to Macedonia? I'm sure some of them do.

Macedonia needs relationships with states that are based on mutual respect, recognition ... etc. I would say that that is a perfect place to base foriegn relations on.

Furthermore, what people have to realize is that there are States and clubs out there that make it their mission to scorn and deride Macedonians. In that context, I would say any state that can show mutual respect and recognition for Macedonia definitely goes in the "care" basket, and again, that is a perfect place to base foriegn relations on.

I think what Volk was referring to was the imbalance and uneveness, in the relationship between Macedonia, and say the E.U or Macedonia and say Greece, or NATO... etc.

What are Macedonians willing to compromise now? Is it a benefit to Macedonia to join the E.U? What would be the costs to its soveriegnty and identity, if it did?

The one and the only bench mark the Macedonian should concern themselves with for any relationship, negotiations ... etc, should be this: a complete and unequivacle recognition and mutual respect of Macedonian identity and soveriegnty. I don't think its in Macedonia's self interest to continue any kind of relationship with the E.U or with Greece, because they fail to meet this very basic, and fundamental principle.

Otherwise, the Macedonians are just pawns.

[Rogi]

Pelister, I don't know who you are, but I think you are pushing forward a smear campaign for no apparent reason.

Who in the diaspora thought that Macedonia should compromise on its name? I am yet to meet one such person.

Who in UMD thought that Macedonia should compromise on its name? As a member of the UMD Board of Directors, I assure you, that is the complete opposite of UMD's position. In fact in every communiqué with the Government, UMD has been pushing forward the position of abandoning the name negotiations, from its inception, to as recent as our meeting with the Prime Minister and President in July/August in Macedonia this year as well as the Prime Minister's most recent visit to the US.

Of course, as we have seen throughout Macedonia's history, those who want to destroy every group that makes attempts at moving Macedonia forward, will try every trick in the book, including such smear campaigns.

My personal view had always been our name, identity, culture, history, country and people must be defended at all costs, including that of war (yes, I would go, like many of my relatives who volunteered in 2001) - and the absolute majority of UMD's leadership shared and share this position.

[Rogi]

The idea here is not based on compromise.

The name negotiations are a farce, currently they only exist because the Macedonian Government is afraid to appear 'not willing to sit on a table and talk' - for fear of losing diplomatic support.
Is there some logic in that? Arguably, yes.
Is it the right move? In my opinion, no.


The idea and point here is, firstly about recognition of Kosovo, but also, what Macedonia can milk out of EU, NATO and everyone else that it can... what can Macedonia do to forward its interests, if we see the potential Kosovo recognition (or non-recognition) situation as an opportunity.

[Risto the Great]

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/3816/2/

Macedonia is more interested in nourishing the economic cooperation with Kosovo than vice-verca, considering its large surplus from the trade exchange between the two parties, concluded participants in a debate on Macedonia-Kosovo Economic Ties.

The debate took place Thursday in Skopje in organization of the Forum Centre for Strategic Research and Documentation in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy in the country.

Besim Bekaj, Chairman of Kosovo's Chamber of Commerce, expressed satisfaction with the economic cooperation between Macedonia and Kosovo, saying that it should not be based only on exchange of goods, but also offer opportunities for joint presentation at third markets.

- The solid economic cooperation is not followed by the political one and therefore it has been facing numerous institutional obstacles in spite of the fact that both countries are signatories of the regional free trade agreements. Macedonia should soon accept the new political reality and recognize Kosovo independence, thus eliminating unnecessary barriers and boosting the economic cooperation, Bekaj said.

Last year Macedonia-Kosovo trade exchange was at Euro 180 million, i.e. Macedonia's export was at Euro 170 and import form Kosovo at 10 million, Bekaj said.

Macedonia-Kosovo trade exchange has been based on the Interim and the Free Trade Agreement with former Serbia and Montenegro, former economy minister Stevco Jakimovski said.

The trade exchange with Kosovo is among the few that brings surplus to Macedonia, which will be altered in the future as the number of countries that are going to recognize it will go up, Jakimovski said.

The European Union and US have pledged Euro one billion at the last Kosovo Donors' Conference, which demonstrates the interest of the West in Kosovo, Jakimovski said.

Macedonia should work in favor of its economic interests and accordingly recognize Kosovo he added.

Asked about possible Kosovo sanctions if Macedonia fails to recognize its independence soon, Bekaj said Kosovo business community was not considering such a development.

- We are expecting for Macedonia to have a different approach to good neighborly relations. We will do our best to avoid boycotting of Macedonian products, but also expect for the country to act promptly, which refers to both political, business elite, Bekaj said.

[Risto the Great]

I would love to see a breakdown of what is being sold to Kosovo.

Especially before I comment on "who needs who" more.

[Rogi]

As far as I am aware, a substantial chunk of those exports are from Albanian-run companies in Macedonia, which is why I think it will be very, very unlikely that Kosovo would do that to 'their own'.