MEDIATING MISSION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Van den Brook visited Skopje and Athens. According to what Van den Brook's said, it was wrong to think that the sensitive political issues which had burdened mutual relations for two years now, could be resolved in two days. In his written note to Papandreu, Gligorov showed readiness for continuation of the dialogue between Athens and Skopje, but "without conditioning in advance".

AIM, Skopje, February 23, 1994

The effects of the mediating mission of the Commissioner for external affairs of the European Union, Hans Van den Brook, who visited Skopje and Athens on Wednesday, will be a little better known tomorrow, when he is expected to return to Skopje. At this moment, however, no crucial turning point should be expected, and in the least that the Greek Government will withdraw its decision which introduced the embargo and closing of the border with Macedonia.

According to the words of Van den Brook himself, one should not believe that the sensitive political issues which have burdened the relations between the two countries for two years already, could be resolved in two days. Explaining his mission, this high official of the European Union emphasized that he had come to Skopje and was leaving for Athens in order to prove that the European Union could help in resuming the dialogue between the two countries. He especially stressed that the normalization of the relations between Skopje and Athens was important for the stabilization and security of the region, especially in view of the fact that these two countries were in a very dangerous spot of the world.

From Skopje, Van den Brook went to Athens with a written message of the President of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov addressed to the Greek Prime Minister, Andreas Papandreu. In it, Skopje calls Athens to continue the dialogue. But, according to the contents of the message which was promptly published by the Macedonian electronic media, the offer from Skopje still does not fulfill the conditions set by Papandreu. Namely, the message is not accurate about whether Macedonia will change the symbol on its flag and amend it Constitution which is demanded by Athens as a condition for the continuation of the Greek-Macedonian dialogue conducted under the auspices of the United Nations and with Cyrus Vance as the mediator.

Expressing the interest of his country in developing relations with Greece, Gligorov called upon the Greek Prime Minister to "create conditions for normalization of mutual relations" together. He availed himself of the opportunity to affirm the readiness of the Macedonian party to sign an agreement which would guarantee the existing borders between the two countries - it is stated in Gligorov's message, among other.

Gligorov also showed readiness to continue the dialogue with Athens on all issues seen differently by the two parties, including the issues of state symbols and taht of the name of the Macedonian state, which disturb Athens. With this in mind, he proposed a meeting of the ministers of external affairs of the two countries in any European capital. But, despite showing readiness to "seek adequate and mutually acceptable solutions for the existing problems", the Macedonian President did not promise that Greek conditions would be fulfilled before sitting down at the negotiating table. Moreover, he insisted again on the renewal of the dialogue "without previous conditions".

And that is exactly what the main reason was why Athens had so far decided to "exert pressure" on Macedonia. There was no doubt about it whether Skopje was ready to concessions. But, it was never ready to make concession prior to sitting down at the negotiating table. Athens, however, demanded previous meeting all her demands in order to negotiate only about the name of the Macedonian state, which Greece considers to belong to its historical heritage.

If Van den Brook took to Athens only what the Macedonian media revealed, it is hard to believe that things will move from standstill. Because that is exactly what Maceonia had offerd so far. It is interesting, however, that Gligorov's message to Papandreu includes a warning tone in it. Expressing concern becuse of the situation caused by the decision of the Greek Government to implement the embargo against Macedonia, Gligorov warned that "maintenance and continuation of such a situation will have undesired effects on peace and stability of this part of the Balkans".

VERA GEORGIEVSKA