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| The National Coordinated Effort of Hellenes-KEY U.S. POLICY-MAKER CALLS FOR INCREASED U.S. ROLE IN SOLUTION OF FYROM NAME ISSUE |
WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 13�The Chair of the Middle East Subcommittee, and frontrunner for the next Chair of the House International Relations Committee, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), expressed to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, that �I strongly believe that it is in the strategic interests of the United States to actively assist U.N. efforts to find a name that is mutually-acceptable to Greece and FYROM.� This communication followed the November 17 briefing on Capitol Hill that the new Greek Ambassador to the U.S. Alexandros Mallias gave on Greece�s important new role in the Balkans and the region, at which Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen introduced Ambassador Mallias.
In a letter, dated December 8, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen stressed to Secretary rice that, �our country can play a valuable role, behind-the-scenes, in finding a win-win name to this now-13 year dispute between our long-time ally, Greece, and our new friend FYROM. More specifically, I would urge your administration to particularly encourage our friends in FYROM to find a mutually-acceptable solution for the following reasons.
�As you recall, one year ago we changed our primary focus from trying to find a solution to this thorny name problem in this volatile area to a gesture to strengthen the hand of allies in Skopje in preparation for an upcoming domestic vote. As you know, this was very injurious to the newly-elected and extremely cooperative government of Greece. It is important that our government return its focus to solving this difficult name issue and to helping officials in FYROM understand that now that their domestic vote issue has passed, they must move back to sincerely trying to find a name that is acceptable to both sides.
�As well, it is important that our government utilize the goodwill engendered in FYROM by our dramatic departure from our long established position regarding the name of FYROM (recognizing this country as �the Republic of Macedonia�). As you may recall, I was one of 70 Members of Congress, representing all parts of the country and all ideological perspectives, who signed a letter to then-Secretary of State Colin Powell expressing our extreme displeasure with �this sudden, unilateral departure from long-standing US, UN, EU and NATO policy regarding FYROM.� We emphasized that this was a �counterproductive [action that] contradicts the historical facts about Macedonia, unnecessarily injures the culture of our faithful ally, Greece [and] interferes with the very successful efforts of our long-time ally, Greece, to bring economic prosperity to FYROM and bring peace and stability to the Balkans.�
Ros-Lehtinen concluded by saying, �I would also encourage our administration to support efforts to return to the U.N. proposal submitted in March of this year.�
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