Greek veto - severest blow to NATO, US and EU
Makfax vesnik
Skopje /03/04/ 13:57
Greek veto to Macedonia's admission to NATO is without a doubt the severest blow to NATO, a blow to leading role of the United States, and it also showed the EU indifference.
Greece's veto shakes the foundations of NATO as a military and security ally and guarantor of peace and stability in the region and worldwide. The leading role of the United States as a founder, leader and one of the main pillars of the Alliance was degraded.
Failing to cope with Greek veto, both NATO and EU, at the same site, call the ill-omened ghosts of the Bucharest Treaty signed in 1913. It is this treaty, signed after the end of the First Balkan War, that enabled Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia to split Macedonia and cut it into pieces.
It's quite evident that the name is just an occasion. It is clear that the unsuccessfully hidden and never-ending territorial and other claims toward Macedonia stand behind the veto. Bulgaria was quite speedy in assuming its role in the imbroglio, and it failed to cover-up its aspirations in crucial moments. The ghosts of the past lurking in a shadow are likely to re-emerge in other neighboring countries with aspirations toward Macedonia and the Macedonian.
NATO leaves Macedonia in the cold at time when the country faces though challenges and dark scenarios. The world's most powerful military alliance failed to tackle a banal demand by Greece, a demand that causes disdain among all reasonable people worldwide. By failing to handle Greek veto, NATO descended to the same level, sending a negative message and showing a weakness.
The same can be said about the European Union, which is a collective member of the Alliance. The old and the new Europe stood aside, showing not only indifference but also showing that it is unequal to the task and the challenges. Quite possible is the explanation that Europe, through Greece, wants to settle the score with the United States. Nonetheless, the EU picks Macedonia to be the victim of geopolitics.
Nevertheless, Greek veto is a sober-down for Macedonia. The country finally faces the reality - in politics there are friends. It's clear that Macedonia has no powerful allies and supporters in NATO and in EU. This will certainly be a motive to reconsider the strategic goals.
After all, despite all challenges and uncertainties arising from Greek veto, it may turn into a benefit to Macedonia. Greece had permanently lost the absurd fight over name even though it was close to imposing a compromise. After the veto, nobody in Macedonia will be empowered to negotiate or to agree to any compromise on the name. /end/
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What a bunch of morons, the Greeks. I do like that Bush calls Macedonia by its name, Macedonia.