[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 16, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 16, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 62--RELATIVE TO THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

  Mr. D'AMATO submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 62

       Whereas the United States has strong and enduring 
     political, strategic and economic ties with the Hellenic 
     Republic of Greece;
       Whereas Greece has been a wartime ally of the United States 
     during every major conflict in this century;
       Whereas the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is of no 
     political, strategic or economic importance to U.S. interests 
     in the region;
       Whereas historical and archaeological evidence demonstrates 
     that the ancient Macedonians were Greek;
       Whereas Macedonia is a Greek name that has designated the 
     northern area of Greece for over 2,000 years;
       Whereas in 1944, the United States opposed the changing of 
     the name of the Skopje region of Yugoslavia by Marshall Tito 
     from Vardar Banovina to Macedonia as part of his campaign to 
     gain control of the Greek province of Macedonia and the major 
     port city of Salonika;
       Whereas the regime in Skopje has persisted in inflaming 
     tensions between it and Greece through a sustained propaganda 
     campaign and the continued use of an ancient Greek symbol, 
     the Star of Vergina, in its flag;
       Whereas the Skopje regime has refused to amend paragraph 49 
     of its constitution, a reference to the 1944 declaration by 
     the then communist regime calling for the ``unification'' of 
     neighboring territories in Greece and Bulgaria with the 
     ``Macedonian Republic'', and the Preamble and paragraph 3 
     which imply expansionist and irredentist policies;
       Whereas Greece has no claim on the territory of the Former 
     Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and has repeatedly reaffirmed 
     the inviolability of all borders in the area of the 2 
     countries; and
       Whereas it is in the best interest of the United States to 
     support its longtime and strategic ally Greece and oppose any 
     expansionist or irredentist policies in order to promote 
     peace and stability in the area: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),
       That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) the President should not have extended diplomatic 
     recognition to the Skopje regime that insists on using the 
     Greek name of Macedonia; and
       (2) the President should reconsider this decision and 
     withdraw diplomatic recognition and any consideration of 
     financial assistance until such time as the Skopje regime 
     renounces its use of the name Macedonia, removes 
     objectionable language in the Preamble and paragraph 3 and 49 
     of its constitution, removes symbols which imply territorial 
     expansion such as the Star of Vergina in its flag, ceases 
     propaganda against Greece and adheres fully to Conference on 
     Security and Cooperation in Europe norms and principles.

  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a concurrent 
resolution asking the President to rescind American diplomatic 
recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia [FYROM].
  In a effort to gain control of the Greek Province of Macedonia, 
Marshall Tito, in 1944, changed the name of the Skopje region of 
Yugoslavia from Vandar Banovina to Macedonia. The regime in Skopje has 
persisted in increasing tensions between it and Greece. The propaganda 
campaign against Greece from Skopje continues today.
  It is in the best interest of the United States to promote stability 
in the Balkans. By diplomatically recognizing FYROM, we will possibly 
jeopardize our relationship with Greece, and perhaps even threaten the 
peace in the Balkans.
  As you well know, Greece, our wartime and NATO ally, is an important 
strategic, political, and economic partner of the United States. Greece 
is also our main ally in the region and is crucial in promoting peace, 
democracy, stability, and economic progress in the Balkans.
  President Clinton's actions are in direct contradiction to his 
October 1992 campaign pledge to not recognize FYROM. Assurances from 
President Gligorov as to the several disputes with Greece are certainly 
not enough to allow for United States recognition. Before establishing 
diplomatic relations with FYROM, the Clinton administration should 
follow the following conditions: FYROM must remove the word 
``Macedonia'' from its name; remove the objectionable constitutional 
language in articles 3 and 49 of its constitution with respect to 
expansionist and irredentist policies; remove the objectional symbols 
implying territorial expansion, such as the star of Vergina on its 
flag; cease its propaganda campaign against Greece; and adhere fully to 
CSCE norms and principles. The United States should withhold all 
financial and/or other aid until these actions are taken.
  Mr. President, to put it simply, the President should not have 
granted diplomatic recognition to the Former Yugoslav Republic of 
Macedonia until the above conditions were met, and he should reconsider 
his decision and withdraw this recognition.

                          ____________________