[MGSA-L] Re: Letter to the President.

Fri Nov 5 09:50:06 PST 2004

George Savidis wrote:

> 3) Skopje was plenty stupid and intransigent, continuing to try and play
>    between the Europeans and the US, and was helped in making a mess by certain
>    elements in Greece (his initials are a. Samaras).
>

The fact remains that Greek Foreign Minister Antonis Samaras rejected the
proposal made by Portuguese Foreign Minister Pineiro regarding the -admittedly
inappropriate- name "New Macedonia", as a 'compromise' state designation for
Skopje.  It is all-too-evident that then Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis
was in fact keen to entertain the idea of a combined/ composite name.  However,
in an unprecedented turn of events he was effectively forced to acquiesce,
albeit reluctantly, in the face of vehement opposition by the majority of his
own party, ND.  Most importantly though, Mitsotakis was confronted with the
strong endorsement of Samaras's view [1] by the joint Council of Party Leaders
presided by then President of the Hellenic Republic Constantine Karamanlis
[...with the notable exception of Aleka Paparriga of the Greek Communist
Party].

It is noteworthy that premier Mitsotakis's subsequent decision to fire Samaras
and appoint himself as Foreign Minister -in a rather despotical fashion if I
might add- is a clear indication as to Mitsotakis's modus operandi and
fundamental opposition to the so-called "maximalist line," vis-à-vis "no
Macedonia or its derivatives." [1]

Doubtless, we should expect to hear a lot of blame about this "maximalist
approach" in the days to come (predictably, in a scholarly fashion AND as
always, on hindsight...)  At the same time, one wonders what was the Greek
strategy on the matter from 1995/1996 to date, under the 'tutelage' of the
state-sponsored Greek foreign policy 'think tank' ELIAMEP? [2]

C.D.K.

[1] See "Greece's Macedonian Adventure: The Controversy over FYROM's
Independence and Recognition" by Dr. Evangelos Kofos.
http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Contributions/contr_Kofos19990705.html

[2]  http://www.eliamep.gr/4/7/text.asp?pub_link_id=242
http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Opinion/comm_20040314Veremis.html
http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Opinion/comm_20010304Couloumbis.html

George Savidis wrote:

> That interpretation is already making the rounds on the far right and far
> left blogs here in the states, and I am sure it has some currency in Greece,
> but really it isn't what happened.
>
> 1) The fact is a major donor of bush sr personally stopped imminent
> recognition by bush sr 13 year ago. Gligorov then attempted to force the US
> hand by going through Europe despite a Bush sr. attempt at an early
> compromise.
>
> 2) Greek American supporters of candidate Clinton successfully argued that
> Clinton should take a position in acknowledging Greece's legitimate
> concerns. Everyone knew at the time the goal was not to establish a
> permanent US policy against but to give Greece more leverage in negotiating
> a  compromise.
>
> 3) Skopje was plenty stupid and intransigent, continuing to try and play
> between the Europeans and the US, and was helped in making a mess by certain
> elements in Greece (his initials are a. Samaras).
>
> 4) The Clinton administrating meanwhile came udder withering pressure,
> especially from State, and externally from George Soros. It decided to
> modify its position.
>
> 5) in the Greek American community everyone screamed bloody murder. some
> people argued for a recognition with some conditions (like Australia's) but
> most of the Greek American lobby decided to go for a photo op.
>
> 6) now additional pressures in Skopje, and issues of stablity were used by
> state to successfully press its 13-year-old position home.
>
> I don't think it is Machiavellian, it is just a 13-year-old pressure from
> state which no one Greek of influence stateside cared to resist any longer.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: mgsa-l-bounces at uci.edu [mailto:mgsa-l-bounces at uci.edu]On Behalf Of
> AKarpathak at aol.com
> Sent: Thursday, November 04, 2004 8:01 PM
> To: LYNGOS at aol.com; mgsa-l at uci.edu;
> ". at maillists.nac.uci.edu."@maillists.nac.uci.edu
> Subject: Re: [MGSA-L] Re: Letter to the President.
>
> Why are Greek Americans who voted for Bush surprised at this?  It's pay back
> time for the position/support, etc. in Iraq.  The goody bags are now gonna
> start rolling open for the good boys, too bad for those who took the
> alternative position.  It's elementary my dear Watson.
>
> Ah... Machiavelli........  if only everyone was good at your game!!!
>
> Anna K.
>
> In a message dated 11/4/2004 3:24:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> LYNGOS at aol.com writes:
>
> >Dear Mr. President
> >Today I am released from my loyalty to you Sir and to your party.
> >In the millions of votes that you received in the elections of 2000 and
> 2004,
> >please count two votes less.
> >For someone who recognizes the Slavs and Albanians of F.Y.R.O.M. as
> >Macedonians and their country as Republic of Macedonia, you do not deserve
> them.
> >I wish I could take them back.
> >
> >So long Mr. President.
> >George Sofoklis Tsapanos
> >2027 E. Laura Ave.
> >Visalia, Ca 93292
> >559-627-3346
> >Lyngos at aol.com.
> >
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