Statement

Ambassador Reeker’s Statement Following the Meeting with NSDP Leader Tito Petkovski

November 18, 2008

Ambassador Reeker:  [I was happy] to have an opportunity to meet with Mr Tito Petkovski, an old friend whom I remember from my time in Macedonia before and, of course, who I believe was the first and only President of the Macedonian Parliament to visit our Congress in the United States.  Obviously, I am taking the opportunity to meet with leaders and members of the opposition as well as the government here in Macedonia. As I have said many times, the opposition is very important in a democracy…more. 
You can see that in my own country, where the new president elect, Mr. Obama, is not only meeting with the outgoing administration, but indeed yesterday met with Senator John McCain in a very friendly and open discussion about cooperating and dealing with the challenges that the United States faces in the future. 

We had an opportunity to talk about my recent trip to the United States with the PM and his team, where we introduced Macedonia as a potential place for business and investment with American companies, and had other meetings, both in San Francisco and in Chicago, focused on that theme of investment.  And we talked about the upcoming elections in Macedonia at the end of March.  These are going to be very important elections, we all agreed, and of course Macedonia has a report from the European Union as well as recommendations from the OSCE on steps that should be taken in preparation for those elections and we from the United States with our other partners from the international community will be working very closely with Macedonian authorities to make sure that those elections in March are very positive.  So, I want to thank you again for receiving me and [for] the chance to meet with you and your team, and I look forward to keeping in touch. 

Question:  Will the charges against Greece jeopardize the name negotiations?

Ambassador Reeker:  Well, the decision to file the case with the ICJ was obviously a decision taken by Macedonia; that is a decision for the Government of Macedonia.  I was pleased to hear the Foreign Minister say yesterday that Macedonia still is very much a part of the UN process.  As you know, the United States has supported the UN process under Ambassador Nimetz as a way forward to find a mutually agreeable solution to this name issue.  We still believe a solution can be found, must be found, and of course, the position of the United States is still very much to see Macedonia join as a full member of the NATO Alliance. 

Question:  How do you perceive Macedonia’s move?

Ambassador Reeker:  I think, again, it is a subject for you to ask Macedonia – the Macedonian officials, their views on that.  We very much support the UN process and will continue to support that, and obviously we’ll be advising the new administration on the facts and the situation as we move forward in the coming weeks and months.

Question:  How worried should Macedonia be if this name issue [unintelligible].  You were trying to help us get investments for Macedonia.  How important was the unresolved name dispute and the blockade to NATO and EU integration with the investors?

Ambassador Reeker:  Obviously, it’s a very competitive world for investments and business; I think we all know that.  We in the United States know that, as well.  So, everything Macedonia can do to improve its position, to make itself more attractive to investors, is important.  We have long supported Macedonia’s integration into trans-Atlantic structures, NATO, and of course helping Macedonia with reforms necessary to join the European Union as well.  I think those are two important factors when investors are looking at places, but Macedonia has a lot to offer.  A resolution of these issues and moving forward with the reforms, using the reports and the recommendations as tools to help the country move forward, would be a very positive thing.

Question:  What kind of elections would you expect, bearing in mind the current political scene?

Ambassador Reeker:  As I already indicated, I think these will be very important elections.  As you know there were some difficulties with the elections in June.  The international community notices, I think Macedonians noticed as well, that there was some disappointment that those elections failed to meet commitments that Macedonia had made.   So, March 29^th will be a new opportunity.  Macedonian people will be watching, and I think that’s most important, but the international community will be watching as well.  There are recommendations and guidelines for reforms and steps that can be taken now in preparation for those elections to make them very successful, and that’s what we hope to see. 

Question:  Do you still hope that a resolution of the name dispute is possible in the coming weeks, or do you think this [ICJ lawsuit] complicates the issue?

Ambassador Reeker:  That is really up to the two sides.  Resolution of the name issue is something that must be done by Macedonia and Greece together.  We support the process, we stand ready to help where we can, but it really is something that is up to the two sides --and they have a UN process under Ambassador Nimetz at their disposal to use and find a solution to this very long-standing problem that we need to put behind us. 

Thank you.

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