Interviews 2009

Well, my job, of course, is to transmit messages from Macedonian leadership and what is happening here. I know people are interested. The Deputy Secretary was here few weeks ago, so he has his own impression. The new team is getting firmly in place, and this would be my first chance to meet with the Assistant Secretary Phil Gordon, who is the new Assistant Secretary for Europe. I met him before he took office, but he is now in office and I will have a chance to talk to him and of course, Deputy Secretary Steinberg again and many others.     

Q: Recently we witnessed visits to the region by high ranking U.S. officials Vice President Biden and Deputy Secretary of State Steinberg.  Is this a message that the Obama administration will strongly be involved in the region, which is contrary to forecasts that Washington will leave aside the Balkans.

-  I always find these forecasts to be interesting. But I think anyone would relay that the Balkans have always been important to the United States and our record here proves that. Our goal, of course, remains for the region to be fully integrated into a Europe whole, free and at peace, and that has been the same policy and the same goal for American administrations, at least since the WWII.  Saturday we will celebrate and commemorate D-Day, which was of course an important turning point in World War II. It represents the commitment of the United States through its blood and treasure, in helping Europeans secure freedom and peace. The visits by Vice President Biden and Deputy Secretary Steinberg are the latest higher-profile evidence of our interest in the success of this region but I would not say they indicate a new path. In fact, it shows a continuation of the path that has been a part of our foreign policy for many, many years. The United States remain steadfast in support for those who seek stability and prosperity in the Balkans.  

Q: The two countries signed a Declaration for Strategic Partnership just after the Bucharest Summit. But we could notice with regret that Macedonia was bypassed by former president George Bush when he visited Croatia and Albania last year. Furthermore Joe Biden visited Bosnia, Serbia and Kosovo, but not Macedonia. Is our friendship stated in the Declaration moving in the right direction, or are there some obstacles in the way?

First and foremost, our friendship remains strong; it’s a friendship between nations, between people. I think it would be simplistic to equate the frequency of high-level visitors or high-level meetings with the overall state of our relations. We do seek to engage with all our friends at all levels of protocol.  We considered the visit of Deputy Secretary Jim Steinberg and that of Secretary of Defense Gates last fall, in September, ten days after I arrived as Ambassador, to be important occasions of high-level engagement.  As I have said so many times, Macedonia has no better friend than the United States.  Does that mean we agree on everything?  No.  Are there areas where we seek change and improvement? Yes. Most fundamentally, our relations are founded on the recognition by the leaders and citizens of both our countries that we share common goals and that we both benefit from working together to achieve them.  I think those have been the messages of high level visitors to Macedonia and other countries in the region, and often the message in visits to any other friends around the world.

Q: Can we expect in the near future that the Macedonians could travel to the States without visa?

I do not believe that in the near future there is something like that on the horizon. That is a matter of U.S. law; it is something that is affected by Congress, not by the executive branch, not by the State Department. We implement the laws that are created by the Congress. It is a very complicated law and of course we deal in our own back yard on these issues with our closest neighbors, Mexico and Canada, in how to handle that. We want our door to be open, we want to have visitors and exchange programs, but right now that it is not something that we are looking at in our relationships.

Q: Your predecessor H.E. Milovanovic once stated that the new embassy will be sign of the American-Macedonian friendship. This is of course a visible mark of that friendship.  Could you tell us what is the essence of our mutual relations in this new world, which is facing new challenges such as the global financial crises, climate changes and terrorism?

It is a very good question, and an appropriate way to look at relationships in terms of foreign affairs and relationships between countries. I think people throughout the world work towards the same goals and those goals are also the foundation of the relationship between our two countries.  We all want a government and institutions that we can trust.  We all want the opportunity to succeed.  We all want schools that prepare our children for the future.  We all want a peaceful world where terrorism and crime don’t infringe on our individual personal security.  These simple principles are really the cornerstones of our mutual relations.  Macedonia and the United States agree that democracies should cooperate together to address global challenges, terrorism, crime, environment, and we are proud to be part of common efforts in areas including security, economic stability, law enforcement, and education. These are key parts of our bilateral relationship, our assistance program.

Q: Let’s go back to Bucharest. The Alliance noted with regret that the name talks did not produce a successful outcome. What exactly happened at the Summit? 

First, you have to start with what is an obvious fact and that is the United States strongly supported NATO membership for Macedonia at the Bucharest Summit, and we continue to do so.  That has been reiterated just recently in the communiqué issue for this year’s summit, at Strasbourg-Kehl, and in President Obama’s own personal statements, in which he made remarks, and made specific gestures, expressing the desire to see Macedonia in the Alliance. As you know, NATO practice requires consensus. That is the backbone for NATO; that is why it has been such a successful alliance. This practice requires consensus for all new membership decisions and that has not been achieved due to the unresolved name dispute.  I think the key point to realize is that the power and responsibility to resolve this dispute lie with Macedonia and with Greece.

Q: I remember that our Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the delegation is leaving Bucharest and it returns among its people. Was Macedonia abandoned in Bucharest?

I think we have shown very clearly, certainly, since I arrived here almost eight months ago, that we are very much a friend to Macedonia. We have the Strategic Partnership Declaration and we work in a whole area of fields, to help Macedonian citizens. Macedonia and Greece have a dispute, it is a dispute that has been around for a long time, and it is a dispute that we believe can be settled. And to settle it, the two countries need to take a serious, mature approach and find a resolution so that we can move ahead, so we can put this behind us and see Macedonia as full member of NATO. To see the Macedonian leadership sitting at the table next to the American President and other leaders, fully integrated in the Euro-Atlantic structures.

Q: It seems that the whole negotiating process could be stalled if Greece did not accept any fair compromise. So far Macedonia, but not Greece, was under strong pressure to accept a new name. Can you tell us what the position of Athens is after the meetings between Secretary Clinton and Dora Bakoyannis, and after the visit of Steinberg to Athens?

About the Greek position, you have to ask the Greeks. Greece and Macedonia are addressing this problem through UN mediation.  Both countries have reiterated their desire and commitment to reinvigorate that process with the help of mediator Nimetz. After the Greek elections, or I should say more precisely European elections, later this month or into the coming months, this is the crucial and important time.

But I think there is a perhaps a flaw in your question. From our side, we have been working hard with both Macedonia and Greece on this issue but the solution will have to come from these two parties and not us.

Q: Mr. Steinberg said creativity could be found in the name talks. For what kind of creativity in the name talks Mr. Steinberg spoke about, if he was correctly quoted in the newspapers? Was he referring to a geographical name, or he implied that some very new ideas could be brought to the negotiating table soon?

Again, this is something that has to be resolved between Greece and Macedonia, not the United States. But what the Deputy Secretary of State made clear was a call for both sides to open up their thinking, as they begin to reinvigorate this process. That is how disputes are solved, with creative ways to do that. That is what real diplomacy is all about. At times, we allow ourselves to get boxed in to a certain way of thinking and I think, what the Deputy Secretary was indicating, and what I’ve been saying, is that a fresh look may be useful. Take a fresh look at what is important and how you can achieve what is best for your future.  

Q: Last year you promoted Macedonia during the so called Road Show, a campaign aimed at attracting American investors to Macedonia. I think it was an amazing event in California and other places. Two weeks ago you (alongside with four other ambassadors) said “think twice before you decide to invest to in Macedonia.” What has changed in this period of less than one year?

The area that was specifically troubling lately was the way the courts are handling some business disputes.  We all know that businesses must have confidence that authorities will handle disputes in the most transparent way, with clear rules and regulations being applied consistently to every situation.  If authorities do not respond in this way, then businesses are not going to invest.  Period.  That’s a simple premise. No one wants to open a business, or invest their precious capital in an environment where they cannot trust the legal system to protect their investment. 

Q: Representing your country which is a signatory of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, don't you think that the spirit in it of multiculturalism is endangered by the new concept of bilingualism?

Being bilingual, or multilingual is a strength and I think that the people of the country would gain from focusing on the benefits they could secure by embracing the many languages and cultures represented in this country rather than using them as a point of division.  You mentioned my trip to the US to promote Macedonia as a good investment opportunity.  One of the things I stressed in each of those meetings was how a multiethnic Macedonia gave it a strategic advantage over other countries in the region.  What other country has a better populace to do business with Serbia, Albania, Kosovo, Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro, based on your language capabilities and location. That is a strength.  The fact that you have citizens with a common history with all of these countries opens doors that others must continue to knock on.  I am convinced that the more your schools and people embrace this idea, the better future you will have.  It will take finding a common ground but it will be worth the effort.  The motto of the United States is “E pluribus unum” (Out of many-one). That is what has made our country strong, and honestly, that is what makes our country feel a special kingship to this country. The same motto can be applied in Macedonia: Out of many-one. That is the strength.

Q: However, some political circles one time they speak about unitary state; another time that we cannot develop the multiculturalism in a unitary state.

We are much bigger country, 300 million, and big space, but we are a strong, united country, and we get our energy from the diversity. That does not mean that there are no threats, but we engage in a dialog, and there is a constant commitment on every level. That is the key for success.

Q: What would be your comment on strong statements by the ethnic Albanian political leaders about possible radicalization if we do not find any compromise over the name?

I think that the people of Macedonia want this dispute to be resolved and that is not the exclusive feeling of one ethnic group or one political party.  The last poll I saw showed the highest support for NATO membership in the history of the country.  The leaders of this country must work hard to fulfill the public’s mandate.  Will it be easy? No.  Leadership rarely is.  It will, however, be something that solidifies Macedonia’s place in a Europe that is whole, free and at peace.  It will also mean that the future of this country and the people of Macedonia will be protected by the strongest military alliance the world has ever known. 

Q: It seems that a global anti-Macedonianism is developing. Our country and territory is not recognized, and some do not recognize even our language. For us, Macedonians, it is not acceptable, for example, that in many documents there is a perception about the country as a new one, one that exists since 2001. Could you comment on that?

Maybe people spend too much time worrying about these things. This is a young country that became independent for the first time 18 years ago. It is recognized at the UN and around the world. What needs to be resolved is the so called question of the name. The country needs to find a resolution to the name in order to start moving towards further full integration. The identity is yours, it belongs to every individual, every group. That is something that cannot be negotiated. With the name solution, the Macedonian European identity will be strengthened, which I believe is a desire of all citizens for many years. That is the goal the United States share and some of our partners too, but you need to do the things for yourselves. Help yourself so we can help you. You know, we can also say that the world is anti-American It is a topic of discussion on newspapers front pages constantly. But one should look at the challenges and seek solutions for those challenges, find creative and mature solutions, make tough decisions and move forward.