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FM Milososki: "Macedonia ready to confront Greece before ICJ"
18. March 2011. | 14:34
Source: MIA
Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Milososki said that in its application, Macedonia requests ICJ to determine that Greece at the NATO summit in Bucharest in April 2008 breached Article 11 from the Interim Accord, i.e. it objected the NATO membership invitation for Macedonia, even though it would be referred to by the interim reference. The Court is requested to bind Greece to immediately make all the necessary steps in order to respect its obligations under Article 11.
The Republic of Macedonia is well-prepared for a public hearing, which is to be held this Monday before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague in relation to a lawsuit against the Republic of Greece for breaching the Interim Accord signed by the countries in 1995.
Foreign Affairs Minister Antonio Milososki at a press briefing on Thursday said that in its application, Macedonia requests ICJ to determine that Greece at the NATO summit in Bucharest in April 2008 breached Article 11 from the Interim Accord, i.e. it objected the NATO membership invitation for Macedonia, even though it would be referred to by the interim reference. The Court is requested to bind Greece to immediately make all the necessary steps in order to respect its obligations under Article 11.
The head of country's diplomacy, who will lead the Macedonian delegation to Monday's hearing, said the proceedings do not refer to the political name dispute between Macedonia and Greece and the Court will not settle the countries' differences involving the name. He noted that ICJ proceedings and negotiations aiming at overcoming the differences involving the name are two separate and different processes. "It is not expected the verdict to affect the negotiation stances of Macedonia regarding the name and the country with and without this lawsuit will continue with a political dialogue in order the name row to be closed, because the only way to settle the issue is through the UN-brokered talks."
"It is an international and legal dispute in which Greece is the focus of the lawsuit, not NATO and it refers to Greece's treatment prior to and during the Bucharest Summit," Milososki elaborated.
"We would respect the verdict, whatever it is going to be, but we would not prejudice before it is pronounced. The most important thing is to present Macedonia's arguments and facts before the Court, which are to lay grounds for a just decision to be reached," FM Milososki said.
He added that both parties in the dispute have agreed oral arguments to be presented at a hearing, which will be open for the public. Macedonia, Milososki said, has requested during the proceedings the Republic of Macedonia to be addressed by its temporary reference in full, instead by its acronym, which is in line with Resolution 817 of the UN Security Council.
The court deliberating the Macedonian lawsuit is comprised of 15 judges from all over the world, except from Macedonia and Greece. Both parties in the dispute have appointed one ad hoc judge each. Macedonia is going to be represented by a judge from Croatia, Budislav Vukas. "The choice was made taking into consideration his collaboration with the faculty of law in Skopje, excellent recommendations and solid reputation," stated Milososki.
Asked whether Greece will respect the ICJ decision, the minister said that the Court's verdicts were final and binding for UN members, i.e for parties involved in the dispute.
Macedonia as arguments amongst other things will present all statements and texts published in the press that are deemed useful and valuable.
ICJ will deliberate the appeal after the second stage of the process of oral arguments is completed, i.e. after March 30. The verdict is expected to be reached prior to or after the summer holidays, in the fall at the latest. During this period, the Court will monitor actions taken by both countries, which is why a briefing was held recently with representatives of all relevant Macedonian political parties, who have confirmed that their actions will be rational and sensible.
The public hearing in the Hague-based court will be held between March 21-30. According to a schedule posted on its website, the hearing will consist two rounds. In the first round, Macedonia will present its oral arguments on March 21 and 22, while Greece will present its counter-arguments on March 24-25. In the second round of oral arguments, on March 28 the team representing Macedonia will have the chance to respond orally to Greece's defence. The public hearing will end on March 30, when Greece is to present its closing arguments.
Macedonia filed its application before the International Court of Justice against Greece in November 2008, which was followed by two detailed written memorandums from 20 July 2009 and 9 June 2010.
Comments (16)
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19. March 2011. 09:03:09
| Ime
4
How can Skopja claim to be a country when in fact they do not recognise Greece as a country nor its borders???
Skpja claims the Northern Greece is part of Macedonia??
How is taht when they do not speak the same language, nor have the same history or culture???
Skopians are Slavs and speak the same language as Serbians,Croatians and Bosnians but Greek..Skopians cannot even read the symbols on Alexander The Great's tomb and yet refer to him as there own..How sad is that ???
19. March 2011. 09:03:09
| V.Papagiannis
6
"It is not expected the verdict to affect the negotiation stances of Macedonia regarding the name and the country with and without this lawsuit will continue with a political dialogue in order the name row to be closed"
This is a lie as the Skopians have said many times they will push through a resolution in the UN General Assembly on the name issue if the Court says we breached it. This should be thrown out because it is being used to push their illegitimate claim to Greek history!
19. March 2011. 14:10:57
| Ime
2
I and 3 million other Macedonian are offended that Slavic speakers who have no affiliation with Hellenism call themselves Macedonian. Macedonians and Hellenism has and will always be together. History is no liar.
19. March 2011. 14:10:57
| Ime
6
NORTHERN GREECE IS MACEDONIAN, GIVEN TO GREECE AFTER BUCHAREST TREATY 1913
19. March 2011. 17:28:37
| Peter
3
It is shameful,in the 21st century to continue fabricating history by Greece.Northerne Greece is Macedonia that was given to the Greeks by the Big Powers in 1913.Never before there were any Greeks residing in these areas.It is shameful,for Greece not recognising the indigenouse Macedonians who lived in this area fo centuries,even before Greece became as a state in 1830s.The comment below is missleading,Republic of Macedonia does recognises the Greek state,it is Greece who continues with lies about the Macedonians.Greeces problem is the refusal of recognising the Macedonian minority as former PM Mitsotakis in 1995 who said "it is not the name that botheres me,it is the recognition of the Macedonian minority that will hurt Greece politicly".Just remember,it was Greece who put up fierce arguments in 1925 at the League of Nations againts the claims of Bulgaria and Serbia.The Greek high representative Dendramis in arguments with the Bulgarians and Serbians not only recognised the language,but he furthere statet that "the Macedonian language is neithere Bulgarian,nor Serbian but an independent language."He listed various linguists and linguistic maps as evidence to support his claim of the independence of the Macedonian language.The high ranking Greek official representing the Greek state not only recognised the existance of the Macedonian identity,but openly defended and supported it.Rizospastis published a lengthy article on the position of the Macedonians in Aegean Macedonia in Nov.1932 clearly describing the level of Macedonian awarness:"What we have in Macedonia are neigther Greeks nor Bulgarians nor Serbs but the Macedonian people,the Macedonian minority which,in spite of all the blows and in spite of all the repression,preserves its economic and its national existance and a seperate culture". It is these Macedonians states another correspondent who:"Clench their teeth,stabbornly speak their Macedonian language of their own,for a free Macedonia".Greeces fabrication of history is only now coming to light.Furtheremore,the ancient Macedonians were not Greek as stated in the letter of Isocrates to Philip II in 338 BC.The epitaph composed by Demosthenes in 338 BC after the battle of Chaeronea furthere recognises the difference between the Macedonians and Greeks.Ancient history is the real history,as it was written then,not politisized as today by the Greek state.Greece should never been accepted in the EU,they lie about thei mix of minorities.It is evident,court after court by the Macedonian indigenouse Macedonians in Brussel have proven, that the Macedonian minority does exist in Greece.Greece continues with their atrocities againts the Macedonian people as we speak.It is unfortunate,the EU is continuing to pimp for the Greek state.
19. March 2011. 19:31:15
| Ime
2
hey pete, maybe there were some slavs who became greeks but can you explain to me why fyrom is entitled to greek and bulgarian macedonia.
19. March 2011. 21:48:24
| Pooley
2
Peter, do explain why there are no Roman, Byzantine nor Ottoman records that mention your "ethnic macedonian" race
do get a life
20. March 2011. 06:06:24
| Historian
1
If Alexander was alive, he would have be-headed all Hellenes for allowing the trators and enemies of Hellas (Skopjians- ex hellenic communies)alter the history he created as a Hellenic Macedonian.
MACEDONIA A NORTHERN HELLENIC (GREEK) STATE.
20. March 2011. 06:06:24
|
0
I am Macedonian and have every right to be named Macedonian and no one has right to take away that from me. Specifically, Macedonia's neighboring countries who have annexed territories of ancient Macedonia, exiled and assimilited the Macedonians. In fact, before Greece annexed 52% and the most archeological Macedonian land, the Macedonians were majority of the population living in what is today the province Macedonia. Today the people who live in the province Macedonia in Greece have majority of them resetled from minor Asia now finding themselves from the Greek Government propaganda that they are "Macedonians" thus ignoring the rights of the true Macedonians who have been living in the whole region of Macedonia for thousands of years. Shame on you Greece. Let the truth win for a change and every country in the world recognize Macedonia and let Macedonia have a fair access to every international organization that Macedonia want to join by their name.
20. March 2011. 13:35:13
| Tim
4
FYROM has no right to use a Greek name and Idewntity to describe itself.