 | Foreign relations of Greece: Encyclopedia II - Foreign relations of Greece - The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Foreign relations of Greece - The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Greek refusal to recognize the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) under its chosen name of "Republic of Macedonia" has been an important issue in Greek politics since 1992. Greece was adamantly opposed to the use of the name "Macedonia" by the government in Skopje, claiming that the name is intrinsically Greek and should not be used by a foreign country.
Furthermore, Greece believes that an independent "Republic of Macedonia" bordering the Greek region of Macedonia would fuel irredentist tensions in FYROM. The dispute led to a Greek trade embargo against FYROM. in February 1994. Mediation efforts by the UN, U.S., and EU brokered an interim solution to some of these differences in September 1995, leading to the lifting of the Greek embargo.
The republic agreed to be recognised internationally as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) while retaining "Republic of Macedonia" as its constitutional name, as well as changing aspects of its national symbols and constitution to address Greek concerns that they laid claim to Greek cultural symbols and territory.
Since the signing of these interim accords, the two governments have concluded agreements designed to facilitate the movement of people and goods across their common border and improve bilateral relations. Talks on remaining issues are still being held under UN auspices in New York.
Greece's stance on the naming issue has come under increasing pressure in recent years. At least 20 countries have recognised the Republic of Macedonia, rather than FYROM. These include the United States (in November 2004), the Philippines, Iran, Estonia, Malaysia, Russia, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, Bulgaria, Turkey, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, and others. The European Union, however, has publicly stated that it has no plans to recognise the FYROM as the Republic of Macedonia.
In the spring of 2004, FYROM substituted its army on the Greek border with police patrols, as part of its general border demilitarization framework.
Greek foreign policy strongly supports FYROM's integration into NATO and the European Union, as a part of the long-term process of integration of the majority of Balkan states into the EU. Greece is the first among foreign investors in FYROM, having invested a total of more than 460 million euros. It is expected that the relations between the two countries will improve even more when FYROM is accepted as part of the European Union.
Other related archives15 November, 1912, 1920s, 1923, 1930s, 1946, 1949, 1950s, 1953, 1960, 1962, 1970s, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2004, 8 May, Aegean, Aegean crisis, Albania, Albanian Orthodox Church, Amnesty International, April 10, Athens, August 17, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Black Sea, Bosnia-Herzegovina, British, Brussels, Bulgaria, CIA, Cold War, Constantinople, Croatia, Cyprus, Cyprus dispute, Davos, Switzerland, EOKA, EOKA-B, EU, EYP, Estonia, European, European Union, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, George J. Tenet, George Papandreou, senior, Greco-Turkish relations, Greece, Greek, Greek Orthodox, Greek military junta, Greek-Americans, Greeks, Ionian islands, Iran, Istanbul, Italy, Izmir, July 15, Kocaeli, Korean conflict, Lithuania, Magna Graecia, Makarios, Makarios III, Malaysia, May 6, Megali Idea, NATO, Pakistan, People's Republic of China, Persian Gulf War, Philippines, Pontus, President, President of Cyprus, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Smyrna, Social Security, State of Palestine’s, Truman Doctrine, Turkey, Turkish Cypriot, Turkish Federated State of Northern Cyprus, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, USA, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United Nations, United States, WWII, Western Thrace, World War II, armed forces, censorship, continental shelf, coup, de facto, enosis, government of Greece, guarantorship agreement, irredentist, islet in the Aegean, martial law, miniskirts, nautical mile, occupation of Iraq, self-determination, torture
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
