[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 306 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 306

   Encouraging The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and 
  Greece to continue negotiations to determine a mutually acceptable 
          official name for the FYROM, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 17, 2005

   Mr. Price of North Carolina (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, and Mrs. 
   Maloney) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Encouraging The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and 
  Greece to continue negotiations to determine a mutually acceptable 
          official name for the FYROM, and for other purposes.

Whereas in 1991 the southern region of the former Yugoslavia declared itself an 
        independent country and recognized itself under the name Republic of 
        Macedonia;
Whereas since 1991 Greece has objected to the adoption and use of the name 
        Republic of Macedonia by such country, maintaining that the name 
        Macedonia refers to a regional province in northern Greece and that its 
        use by such country implies historical and territorial claims on Greek 
        Macedonian territory;
Whereas in 1993 such country was admitted as a member state of the United 
        Nations under the provisional name The Former Yugoslav Republic of 
        Macedonia (hereinafter referred to as ``FYROM'');
Whereas since 1993 the United States has recognized and referred to such country 
        as the FYROM;
Whereas on September 13, 1995, the FYROM and Greece, under the auspices of the 
        United Nations, signed an interim agreement pursuant to which 
        discussions would be held to determine a mutually acceptable official 
        name for the FYROM;
Whereas according to the 1995 interim agreement, the FYROM accepted that Greece 
        has the right not to agree to its accession to international 
        organizations if such accession is attempted with any other name that 
        has not been agreed on, apart from that of FYROM;
Whereas on November 4, 2004, the Department of State announced the unilateral 
        decision of the Government of the United States to recognize the FYROM 
        as the Republic of Macedonia;
Whereas the United States Government has stated that it would accept any 
        agreement on the name mutually accepted by both Greece and the FYROM;
Whereas the decision by the United States Government to recognize the FYROM as 
        the Republic of Macedonia has diminished the position of Greece vis-a-
        vis the FYROM in bilateral negotiations to determine a mutually 
        acceptable official name for the country and has encouraged efforts to 
        bypass talks on this issue;
Whereas Greece and the FYROM have been amongst the strongest allies of the 
        United States;
Whereas Greece has been promoting peace, democracy, stability, and economic 
        progress in the Balkans;
Whereas Greece and the FYROM have an excellent economic relationship;
Whereas Greece is one of FYROM's major trading partners with 12 percent of total 
        volume of trade and is the second major trading partner within the 
        European Union;
Whereas Greece is the largest and most stable financial investor in the FYROM, 
        having invested almost $1,000,000,000 while creating over 9,000 new job 
        positions;
Whereas a mutually acceptable solution will strengthen bilateral relations and 
        cooperation between Greece and the FYROM and will maintain and further 
        enhance stability in the region; and
Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union (EU), 
        and the United Nations continue to recognize and refer to the FYROM as 
        such: Now, therefore, be it:
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) urges The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 
        (hereinafter referred to as ``FYROM'') and Greece to honor the 
        agreement that they signed in 1995 under which both countries 
        agreed to determine a mutually acceptable official name for the 
        FYROM;
            (2) supports the continuation of efforts of the United 
        Nations to seek a mutually acceptable negotiated solution which 
        will meet also the concerns and interests of Greece and the 
        FYROM; and
            (3) calls upon the Government of the United States to 
        exercise its influence in encouraging the FYROM to fully abide 
        by the 1995 interim agreement with Greece and to redouble its 
        efforts to reach a mutually acceptable solution.
                                 <all>