RELATIONS BETWEEN BELGRADE AND SKOPJE FINALLY

NORMALIZED

AIM Skopje, April 8. 1996

"Final step in pacification of Southern Balkans" - is perhaps the best assessment uttered on the occasion of the agreement on normalization of relations between Belgrade and Skopje signed by heads of Yugoslav and Macedonian diplomacy, Milan Milutinovic and Ljubomir Frckovski, respectively. The assessment was made by Mr. Frckovski, who as he himself stated, was hoping that "another disputable issue in the Balkans was closed". And the had been burning under the ashes for a simple reason that Belgrade had refused to recognize the independent Macedonian state before this, according to many, key Monday. Finally, the last of Macedonian neighbours adopted this fact which was ratified three years ago when Macedonia was accepted in the world family of nations - the United Nations Organization.

If nothing else, before this happened it had been difficult to avoid opinions that Belgrade had not given up its aspirations to drag this southernmost former Yugoslav republic in one way or the other, under its patronage. If the general assessment, which could be heard from centres of world politics, was that this closed another open issue which could have developed into a potential spark which could spread the war fire in the over-sensitive Balkans, then the sharp reaction of Athens was also something that could be expected. The official reaction of Greek Foreign Ministry which still considers the name of the Macedonian state a theft of its "historic heritage" was that it was not "in the interest of stability in the Balkans", understanding this as "a move which was not friendly to Greece". Reasons for such understanding are in the fact that Belgrade has actually established relations with Skopje under for Athens still highly disputable name of the Macedonian state - "Republic of Macedonia".

On the other hand, Skopje is not even trying to conceal satisfaction with that very detail which is highly desirable for it. Having emphasized it, Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski declared that this was an event with "historical dimensions".

Macedonian diplomacy is satisfied with the job done. Finally, Belgrade has accepted, as Mr. Crvenkovski stressed, that the Macedonian-Yugoslav border was in fact the border between the two neighbouring countries. On the other hand, it managed to avoid the trap set by Belgrade which had tried to squeeze into the agreement the provision that "there are no more unresolved issues" between the two states, which would have meant that Macedonia renounced all claims on property of the joint former Yugoslav state. Belgrade simply had to agree with the Macedonian proposal that this issue which refers to succession after dissolution of former Yugoslavia, "be resolved by agreement", and as Mr. Frckovski clarified it, "by multilateral" agreement, which means on the international level and in agreement with other former Yugoslav republics. If that had not happened, as Macedonian Foreign Minister declared not long ago, Skopje would not have agreed to sign the agrement although it had looked forward to it so much.

Belgrade had obviously been in a scrape. One could say that it did not have any possibility to continue postponing the whole business either. Because, quite a long time ago the European Union conditioned its own normalization of relations with Belgrade and stressed that it would return its ambassadors only after it recognized the Macedonian state and established diplomatic relations with it. It was clear that the way for the FRY back into the international community and then its getting closer to European and world cashboxes led via Macedonia.

Macedonia has certainly resolved a large uncertainty. Existence of this state was finally recognized by its last neighbour which had for long avoided to do it. Unfortunately for Athens, it recognized it by its constitutional name. It is sufficient reason for the Greeks to understand this move of their former friend in the Balkans as an hostile step. Greek media go even a step further in their assessments interpreting it as envy of Belgrade caused by the important role which Greece should have played in a new redistribution of influence in the Balkans. This, as it called it "diplomatic move agreed between Belgrade and Skopje", was interpreted as "malevolence of Serb President Milosevic" by private Greek television "Mega".

Namely, evaluating that Belgrade established relations with Skopje despite elements which are disputable for Athens, and in an "awkward" and delicate moment for Greek Prime Minister Simitis who happened to be in Washington where it was expected he would be forced to discuss with American President Bill Clinton, among other, "the Macedonian issue", Greek media considered it malevolent. According to them, Slobodan Milosevic whose normalization of relations with the European Union was really conditioned by resolving the problem of relations between Belgrade and Skopje, had no reason to hurry. As they claim, the question of normalization of relations between the FRY and the EU was planned to be on the agenda of the session of European ministers in May. That is why they interpret this move as jealousy of Slobodan Milosevic who dreamed of being the leader of the Balkans, but Greece got in his way.

Although Skopje is, for the moment, gloating with satisfaction for having normalized relations with Belgrade, hoping, by the way, that economic relations will also improve, everything has not been quite finished yet. Determining of the border between the two states may be a reason for dispute. Because, as the agreement prescribes, a lot remains to be done: a joint inter-state commission needs to be established, which should draw the line of the border with the help of detailed geographic maps within 30 days. Problems may arise concerning it, because not such a long time ago, an incident almost occurred when Serb border patrols tresspassed on, what Skopje believed was Macedonian, and Belgrade thought was Serb territory. At the time, clashes were avoided only thanks to quick intervention of units of the UN stationed in Macedonia.

VERA GEORGIEVSKA