Well, looks like my optimism for a more moderate, concilatory and understand set of policies and actions was in vain.
Quote:
US recognises Macedonia, angering Greece
November 5, 2004 - 2:14PM
The United States has recognised the small Balkan nation of Macedonia under its constitutional name, the Republic of Macedonia, a decision that risks the wrath of NATO ally Greece.
US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher announced the move, saying it was "an appropriate and correct step at this juncture ... to support a path of openness, stability and democracy in Macedonia".
Since it broke away from Yugoslavia, Macedonia has been a staunch ally of the United States and has sent troops to US-led mission in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In an overture to the Greeks, Boucher also said the United States had gone "out of our way to make clear to the Greek government, to the Greek people that this is not a decision that is in any way directed at them or intended to offend them. It was what we thought was the right thing to continue a progress toward stability in the region".
In Athens, Greek Foreign Minister Petros Moliviatis said he summoned the US ambassador to Greece, Thomas Miller, to lodge a formal complaint.
"I also pointed out the multiple negative consequences of such a unilateral move," he said.
But Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski hailed the US decision as the country's biggest diplomatic victory since it gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and later joined the United Nations under the name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYRM) to sidestep Greek objections.
Greece has claimed for decades that the use of the name Macedonia implied territorial claims toward Greece.
Greece, the European Union and international organisations use the FYRM acronym to refer to Macedonia.
The EU says it has no plans to change its policy on the name.
US Secretary of State Colin Powell called Moliviatis to explain the decision, after US officials in Athens told Greek foreign ministry officials of the decision earlier, Boucher said.
Powell told Moliviatis the decision was unrelated to President George W Bush's re-election on Tuesday, and was "not designed to be the first (foreign policy) decision after the US election in any way", the spokesman said.
Boucher also rejected a reporter's suggestion that the United States decided the benefits for Macedonia from the decision outweighed Greek hostility, saying, "It's not just a two-part equation".
© 2004 AP
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REF:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/US-...547369364.html
I think the message is clear. "Do what we want and you will be rewarded, regardless of the consequences."
I'm of no fixed or firm opinion on the issue of whatever the FYOM names itself, but I do believe a country should be careful not to anger its long-time allies in an attempt to offer short-term vacuous benefits to its much smaller, short-term allies. Maybe that's just me.
Mr Mephisto