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Sun, Nov 22 2009
Macedonia's new president says solving 'name dispute' is priority
The presidential candidate of Macedonia's ruling VMRO-DPMNE coalition, Georgi Ivanov, won the second round of elections on April 5 2009 with about 63 per cent of the votes in a poll which narrowly exceeded the voter turnout required for the election to be valid.
He defeated social democrat Ljubomir Frckovski, who conceded with public congratulations to Ivanov.
Voting was peaceful, as with the March 22 first round of Macedonia's presidential elections, satisfying calls from the European Union and others prior to the elections for Macedonia to avoid a repeat of the violence that marred the summer 2008 parliamentary elections.
Ivanov told a news conference in Skopje that Macedonia's citizens had shown that the way could be opened for the country's European prospects.
According to a report by Bulgarian news agency Focus, he said that he hoped, in conjunction with all the country's institutions, progress could be made towards membership of the EU and Nato and resolving its dispute with Greece about the use of the name Macedonia.
The prolonged dispute has led Athens to block Skopje's Nato and EU progress pending a resolution. UN-brokered attempts to negotiate a solution are to resume later this year.
Speaking earlier, just after he voted in the second round, Ivanov said that solving the name dispute with Greece was the highest priority.
"We have to find a compromise so that both sides are satisfied. I will work in order to push the (negotiation) process until the final solution," he said.
He defeated social democrat Ljubomir Frckovski, who conceded with public congratulations to Ivanov.
Voting was peaceful, as with the March 22 first round of Macedonia's presidential elections, satisfying calls from the European Union and others prior to the elections for Macedonia to avoid a repeat of the violence that marred the summer 2008 parliamentary elections.
Ivanov told a news conference in Skopje that Macedonia's citizens had shown that the way could be opened for the country's European prospects.
According to a report by Bulgarian news agency Focus, he said that he hoped, in conjunction with all the country's institutions, progress could be made towards membership of the EU and Nato and resolving its dispute with Greece about the use of the name Macedonia.
The prolonged dispute has led Athens to block Skopje's Nato and EU progress pending a resolution. UN-brokered attempts to negotiate a solution are to resume later this year.
Speaking earlier, just after he voted in the second round, Ivanov said that solving the name dispute with Greece was the highest priority.
"We have to find a compromise so that both sides are satisfied. I will work in order to push the (negotiation) process until the final solution," he said.
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Skopje determined to solve name dispute, president tells Obama
'My job is to lead Macedonia into Nato and the EU,' says Macedonia's new president Gjorge Ivanov, pledging good neighbourly relations 'especially with Greece'.
Macedonia’s new president to be sworn in
Inaugural speech in Skopje to include Gjorge Ivanov’s policy on Macedonia name dispute. First official visit will be to Brussels.
Greek PM firm on Macedonia name dispute
History cannot be rewritten, and it is up to Macedonia to make the choices that will put it on track to be integrated into Nato, the EU, Kostas Karamanlis says.
Greece's newest messages on Macedonia name dispute
Greek envoy in Washington speaks in favour of 'Northern Macedonia' while prime minister Karamanlis calls for solution that 'avoids nationalism and hatred'.
Macedonia poised for elections run-off on April 5
Polls say Georgi Ivanov will win presidency, while second round of mayoral elections being held in Skopje and 43 municipalities
Ivanov set to win Macedonia presidential election runoff - poll
Ruling party's candidate heads for victory on April 5, but many do not intend voting and also-rans decline to endorse finalists
Ivanov leads in first round of Macedonia presidential elections
Voting proceeded peacefully in elections key to EU hopes; second round expected on April 5
Macedonia on the eve of campaigns for March 22 elections
Party leaders meet to try to ensure voting goes peacefully, a key condition for Macedonia's European hopes; 'name dispute' with Greece to be big issue
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It is province Luxemburg in Belgium and Luxemburg like state too.
And what do you say for the name Republic of Slavic Macedonia
Rozumite ? Panimayite ? Tu comprends ? Nu intelegete ? Suprasti ? Yr ydych chwi yn dirnad ? (there are two living languages older than Greek in Europe - see if you can spot them above).
Beyond that, this URL (a very recent one from UNHCR about Greece in 2009) says it all:
http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/49b7b2e52.pdf
We do not say katalaveis, but katalavaineis. You still don t master Alexander s language...
No, it's future tense - it has yet to happen. Katalaveis ?
They didn't...
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Except that Greece loses its "veto" on Macedonian EU Accession.....
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Just supposing - supposing - Greece gets suspended from the EU for sustained financial malpractice (not impossible !) What happens then ?
Definitely not. Turkey isn't in EU yet... Greece is the winner in this case.
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The Cyprus issue will end with a reunification. Greek cypriots will be the winner in this, since both parts of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots agreed their state to be a federation with one national identity and two distinct entities. Turks will be absorbed in this federal model, to become cypriots citizen and not turks cypriots anymore. Turkey will loose their illegal cyprus territory and that satisfies me.
Also I want Turkey to enter EU. For many reasons I'm lazy to explain here, that is a very benefic opportunity for Greece if Turkey become a EU member someday.
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FYROM never shows a good will to solve the name problem. So I'm pessimistic about it. But Greece will be the winner in all the cases, so let's not give importance to this...
What natiionality am I in the eyes of a greek and greece?
I am born in the USA, both my parents were born in the USA in the 1920's. All four of my grandparents came from what is now greece, in 1914, 1915 1920 and 1921. All 4 of them and all 8 of their parents come from the following 3 villages. Visheni\Vissinia Kostursko\Kastoria, Ekshi-Sou\Xino Nero Lerinsko\Florina and Banitsa\Vevi Lerinsko\Florina.
None of my 4 grandparents and as far as I know, none of my 8 great grandparents spoke greek, so I don't think I am greek. I am a 'cradle Orthodox' so I can't be a Turk. Please tell me what I am.
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to Dr Teknikai - actually it's Belgium that has the "Province de Luxembourg", not the Netherlands, and the Belgian French-speaking province is physically next to the Grand Duchy of Luxemb(o)urg, which is trilingual (French / German / Letzeburger ) There have never been any problems, since the Germans invaded the lot in the "Bastogne" campaign of 1944, opposed by General Patton. Beyond that, in common sense Jim does have a good point. In terms of Balkan politics and memories that last 1000 years, he probably doesn't.
Jim, you are being stupid now, stop it. The Georgia in the US and the nation of Georgia are two different entities, and moreover, one does not have pretensions of thieving history, misappropriating facts, figures, dates and making hostile propaganda against the other. In this instance it is namely FYROM provoking Greece through its insistence of pursuing a wantonly rridentist agenda and "antiquing" itself with idiotic statues perporting to be the progeny of Alexander the Great; which inturn makes it like increasingly idiotic and isolates itself.
Next you'll tell me that Luxembourg out to be offended by the region of Luxmebourg in Holland; seriously child learn some facts first and then post.
Georgia does have territorial claims over the state of Georgia, they do not have facebook sites, textbooks and websites with the state of Georgia included as their territory....two very different situations!
Jimmy
The States is very far away from the Balkans please do not mess up
by using oversimplifications if you knew the history of the issue you would certainly not come up with black or white logic.
Marie lisette
the name is not Vardanska but Vardarska thanks a lot.
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for your.
In the Unitesd States we have a state named Georgia. There is also a nation named Georgia. I have never heard of any complaints or confusion because of this. I fail to understand why we can't have two Macedonias.
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