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Painter: Keeping Macedonia out of NATO is dangerous precedent
23. April 2012. | 10:42
Source: MIA
Painter stresses that NATO's central pillar - enlargement is not on the summit agenda, but if countries such as Macedonia, which has met all criteria and continuously contributes to collective security, is not allowed to become member, this weakens the main objective of the region - security, stability and prosperity.
Macedonia has met membership criteria, its rejection represents a dangerous precedent and incentive for keeping the NATO enlargement process hostage of bilateral disputes. Now is the time for the Alliance to fix this unjust decision from Bucharest, but Chicago should not be the only opportunity for the country's NATO entry, says Sally Painter, CEO at Washington-based "Blue Star Strategies".
"We should not wait for a miracle in Chicago. I always hope for the best for Macedonia, especially with regards to this issue. Four years have passed since Bucharest and the NATO summit in Chicago should not be the ultimate point or the only opportunity for Macedonia's NATO accession. Alliance doors remain open for your country and I hope to see Macedonia and other regional countries become members as soon as possible", Painter told Macedonian TV program "Porta".
According to her, it is clear that all NATO member-states, including Greece, agree that Macedonia has met the membership criteria, but the name row remains.
"Macedonia is 'de facto' a part of the Alliance, but the name issue is of concern for your southern neighbor and unfortunately Macedonia was did not join the Alliance in Bucharest. Was it fair - no, but you should not give up because of this. The United States and I believe all European countries want to see Macedonia as full-fledged NATO member as soon as possible, hoping this will occur at the Chicago summit", says the U.S. analyst.
Painter stresses that NATO's central pillar - enlargement is not on the summit agenda, but if countries such as Macedonia, which has met all criteria and continuously contributes to collective security, is not allowed to become member, this weakens the main objective of the region - security, stability and prosperity.
"Now is the time for NATO to mend its unjust decision. It is clear that every European country that meets conditions and can contribute to the Alliance's security can become member. Macedonia easily meets both criteria. Macedonia's rejection represents a dangerous precedent for other regional rivalries, meaning that one country can indefinitely prevent the accession of another. This can serve as an incentive to hold the NATO enlargement process hostage to bilateral disputes", adds Painter.
The U.S. administration's position regarding Macedonia's NATO accession is clear - it wants to see the country in the Alliance, which was confirmed by Presidents Bush and Obama at the 2008 and 2009 NATO summits.
Pertaining to the possibility for destabilization on the Balkans, the Washington analyst believes the region is stable and has had no serious conflicts over the past decade, whereas all countries share excellent cooperation on security issues.
"There is no need to raise these issues, since the main goal of all Balkan states is NATO and EU integration. Macedonia has always been a leader in preservation of peace and reaching solutions through peaceful means. Therefore, I cannot see any threats for destabilization of your country or the region", says Painter.
With regards to last week's murder of five persons near Skopje, she expresses her shock and extends condolences to the victims' families, as well as conviction that state institutions will find and punish the perpetrators.
"It is unfortunate to hear such news, when five young people are killed while fishing. I am convinced that the Ministry of Interior is working hard on finding those responsible for this crime. There is no need for interethnic tensions, this is not something that people of morals and ethic would want to happen, regardless of race, color and ethnic background. Those involved in the murders deserve the heaviest penalty and I am sure justice will be served", underlines analyst Sally Painter.
Comments (18)
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23. April 2012. 18:15:47
| Ime
4
Sally Painter is full of bacon. FYROM apologists are the ones destabilizing the Balkans by dishonestly pretending not to notice FYROM attempts to steal both Greek and Bulgarian history. (and constant "united Macedonia" irredentist language. With NATO "allies' like Sally Painter who needs enemies like Nazis.
23. April 2012. 18:15:47
| Ime
5
FYROM has not met all the conditions for entry. It does not have good relations with its neighbours and fellow NATO members. If NATO is a defence alliance it has to protect its members defence interests. If FYROM doesn't stop its obvious propaganda Tfabrication of history,claims on Greek and Bulgarian land and identity) it simply cannot be allowed in.
24. April 2012. 05:55:11
| Ime
5
This is what NATO stand for unity. What unity do Greeks and Bulgars stand for, the denial of a Macedonian identiy. Comments are a loud of crap! The balkans suffer from selective thinking. They only believe in old world imperialist empires that are lost. Dead. Gone.
What about a future of equality, and freedom of people. When will the balkans have a revolution. A revolution of thinking and step up to the 21st century.
Sally Painter is honest and speakes the truth to those who can cleary see it for the truth. FYROM is the former yugoslav republic of MACEDONIA. Note former YUGOSLAV and REPUBLIC. FYROM is fine to comfort Greeks or should I call you former OTTAMAN Province of Yunnistan! OPOY
NOT TO FUNNY IS IT!
24. April 2012. 05:55:11
| chris
5
Well done. Macedonia has met all requirements for NATO membership, and Greece waived its veto in 1995 when it signed the Interim Agreement. As confirmed by the International Court of Justice, Greece violated international law in Bucharest.
www.macedoniainnato.org
24. April 2012. 05:55:11
| NATO member
7
I don't think satisfying every whim of Greece's nationalist parties is required for NATO membership. If that were the case every new entrant to NATO could be arbitrarily extorted by existing members who might want territory or to affect the rights of their citizens.
Apart from the fact that Greece has been told by the ICJ that blocking Macedonia is illegal, the idea that wishes of nationalists in another country can trump the democratic right of a country to name itself in it's constitution is completely ludicrous!
24. April 2012. 05:55:11
| Ime
6
Macedonia has done everything right and has good relations with the region. What propaganda the people of Macedonia are descendent from the people who lived in Macedonia before them and they cant call themselves Macedonian? Why not? No on has the right to take some ones identity. These people are the modern descendents of the people who lived their before them. Some arguments are illogical which shows who is putting out propaganda.
24. April 2012. 05:55:11
| igsi
5
Great article. It outlines that what Greece did to Macedonia is injustice. What it wants to be favorable to the small republic that has no way of ever attacking or undermining Greece is no less than to extinguish its identity and no self respecting people nor country would ever do that. It matters not who is wright about history, it matters that people and countries for that matter would resort to bullying and not respecting basic human rights or international law on self determination. The stated threat to Greece is nonsense, Greeks as a collective are just mean.
24. April 2012. 05:55:11
| Ime
1
What's "dangerous precedent" is alleged Nato allies undermining the security of other NATO allies for the sake of cold war communist propaganda and to appease ultra nationalist in the former Yugoslav republic (clearly trying to usurp Greek history as a tool to insinuate Macedonia Greece is occupied territory). Don't suppose you know anyone unprincipled like that Sally? How much does the FYROM government pay you to lobby for them? Was it was worth the price of your soul?
"This (US) Government considers talk of Macedonian "nation", Macedonian "Fatherland", or Macedonia "national consciousness" to be unjustified demagoguery representing no ethnic nor political reality, and sees in its present revival a possible cloak for aggressive intentions against Greece" - US State Department Dec, 1944 (Foreign Relations Vol. VIII Washington D.C. Circular Airgram - 868.014/26)
http://tinyurl.com/nel46d
24. April 2012. 05:55:11
| Ime
1
"Blue Star Strategies" is a for profit company that is PAID to lobby governments for causes. CEO Sally Painter lecturing about ethics, while she accepts money from the (mostly) former ethnic Bulgarians of the ultra nationalist government of the former Yugoslav republic (out once again to ethnically erase Macedonians and substitute themselves with word games)... is not too unlike Nazi lobbyists in America prior to WW2.
Sorry. It's not the fault of Greeks FYROM apologists now dishonestly and patronizingly pretend to not notice their irredentism and sudden change into ancient macedonians (aka self-identifying Greeks). Identity theft is not a human right Sally. Ethnic cleansing Greeks is not a "human right" Sally.
24. April 2012. 05:55:11
| ovchar
9
The arrogance and racist greeks are afraid of a level playing field in the international scene with regards to their treatment of not only the republic of macedonia but also their large macedonian minority within their own borders...shame on greece the so called cradle of democracy...they are an ethnocentric bully and only want to hear their own voices...too bad...macedonians have a voice and are using it to tell their own storey...