Skopje's travel advisory against Greece irks Athens
A travel warning issued by Macedonia urging its citizens not to travel to Greece because of outbreaks of violence in recent months contradicted Skopje's official proposal to enhance bilateral tourism and showed up Macedonian foreign minister Antonio Milososki as inconsistent, Greece's foreign ministry said.
Greek foreigh ministry spokesperson Giorgios Koumoutsakos said that on April 10 2009, Milososki had made public a letter that he had written to Athens asking for a strengthening of communication between the two countries and bilateral tourism co-operation.
"Five days later, for reasons known only to himself, he is purposely misinforming the citizens of his country, urging them not to visit Greece. Mr. Milososki is being inconsistent. We cannot understand or solve this confusion," Koumoutsakos said, according to a transcript of his remarks on the Greek foreign ministry website.
"The unfortunate conclusion is that those governing in Skopje have yet to tire of putting their worst selves forward, once again damaging relations with Greece," Koumoutsakos said.
In its travel advisory, the foreign ministry in Skopje urged its citizens to avoid extended stays in Greece and specifically to avoid large urban areas.
In an incident in March 2009, buses being used by Greek tourists were vandalised in Ohrid in south-western Macedonia. This prompted Greece to issue a travel warning cautioning its citizens to be careful when visiting the former Yugoslav republic.
Relations between Athens and Skopje have long been tense, especially about the issue of the use of the name "Macedonia". Greece objects to Skopje's use of that name for the country, claiming that it is historically inappropriate and could be exploited to reinforce territorial claims in Greece.
Earlier this month, Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis told Skopje that the road to possible EU and Nato accession would remain closed if it continued to antagonise Athens. In 2008, Athens blocked the issuing of an invitation to Macedonia to join Nato.
Greek foreigh ministry spokesperson Giorgios Koumoutsakos said that on April 10 2009, Milososki had made public a letter that he had written to Athens asking for a strengthening of communication between the two countries and bilateral tourism co-operation.
"Five days later, for reasons known only to himself, he is purposely misinforming the citizens of his country, urging them not to visit Greece. Mr. Milososki is being inconsistent. We cannot understand or solve this confusion," Koumoutsakos said, according to a transcript of his remarks on the Greek foreign ministry website.
"The unfortunate conclusion is that those governing in Skopje have yet to tire of putting their worst selves forward, once again damaging relations with Greece," Koumoutsakos said.
In its travel advisory, the foreign ministry in Skopje urged its citizens to avoid extended stays in Greece and specifically to avoid large urban areas.
In an incident in March 2009, buses being used by Greek tourists were vandalised in Ohrid in south-western Macedonia. This prompted Greece to issue a travel warning cautioning its citizens to be careful when visiting the former Yugoslav republic.
Relations between Athens and Skopje have long been tense, especially about the issue of the use of the name "Macedonia". Greece objects to Skopje's use of that name for the country, claiming that it is historically inappropriate and could be exploited to reinforce territorial claims in Greece.
Earlier this month, Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis told Skopje that the road to possible EU and Nato accession would remain closed if it continued to antagonise Athens. In 2008, Athens blocked the issuing of an invitation to Macedonia to join Nato.