[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1782-E1783]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FORMER YUGOSLAVIAN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: NATION-BUILDING IN A HOSTILE 
                              NEIGHBORHOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Mr. BEREUTER.  Mr. Speaker, as the 104th Congress comes to its 
conclusion, this Member would take a moment to point out a major, 
unsung success story in American foreign policy. For 5 years the Former 
Yugoslav Republic has survived in a fragile and tenuous manner. 
Surrounded by adversaries and facing an embargo from Greece, the tiny 
Balkan State of Macedonia, which is formally recognized at this time in 
international fora as the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia 
[FYROM], has defied the odds and emerged as a viable state. FYROM has a 
democratically elected government, and with international assistance 
seems to have avoided much of the turmoil that has afflicted the rest 
of the former Yugoslavia.
  The United States can justifiably take some pride in Macedonia's 
success. For the past 3 years, American troops have served in the 
international peacekeeping force that monitors the border with Serbia. 
Together with Danish and Swedish troops, these forces have served as an 
important deterrent to ensure that the Bosnian conflict did not migrate 
into the southern Balkans. American diplomats helped resolve, or at 
least dramatically reduce, the longstanding differences the Government 
of Greece has had with the Skopje government. American foreign aid and 
technical assistance, including assistance provided by the University 
of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business Administration, has provided an 
important catalyst to develop entrepreneurs in Macedonia.
  Many obstacles remain. Greeks and Macedonians continue to have a 
number of differences, including the final name of the country. Ethnic 
Albanians has serious concerns that their special needs are not always 
adequately considered. And, there always is the grave risk that a 
crisis in Kosovo would spill over into Macedonia.
  These potential problems notwithstanding, Macedonia rightfully 
deserves praise. As Cord Meyer noted in a recent editorial, ``For the 
first time in many years, it is possible to look with some optimism at 
the future of the southern Balkans.'' This Member would ask that Mr. 
Meyer's editorial entitled ``Achieving Stability Macedonia's Way'' from 
the September 26, 1996, edition of the Washington Times be included in 
the Record.

              [From the Washington Times, Sept. 26, 1996]

                  Achieving Stability Macedonia's Way

                            (By Cord Meyer)

       On September 8, Macedonia celebrated the fifth anniversary 
     of its vote for an Independent and sovereign Macedonia, as 
     opposed to remaining part of the Socialist Federal Republic 
     of Yugoslavia. It is the only former member of the Yuguslav 
     Republic that managed to declare independence peacefully and 
     without bloodshed. Even Slovenia had 10 days of war before it 
     broke free.
       Having survived an attempt to assassinate him last October, 
     the 79-year-old president, Kiro Gligurov, has made an 
     extraordinary recovery from his serious wounds, is now back 
     in full control of the presidency, and presides over a 
     coalition government. Having survived the glancing blow of 
     United Nations sanctions aimed at Serbia and a year's embargo 
     on its trade with Greece, the Macedonian economy is beginning 
     to feel results from the rigorous privatization program that 
     Mr. Gligorov has insisted upon.
       Mr. Gligoruv can also claim a large share of the credit for 
     the timely deployment in 1993 of the U.N. peacekeeping forces 
     in Macedonia's Northern border with Serbia. The assignment of 
     500 U.S. troops and 600 Nordic forces as an effective 
     tripwire to discourage aggression remains a classic example 
     of timely preventive diplomacy. It would be a serious mistake 
     to withdraw these forces prematurely, as some of Congress are 
     urging.
       Another example of effective diplomacy was the agreement 
     reached last September by Macedonia with its southern 
     neighbor, Greece. By agreeing to change its flag and

[[Page E1783]]

     modify its constitution, Macedonia with the help of Cyrus 
     Vance as U.N. negotiator, managed  to lift the damaging 
     embargo on trade with Greece. The name issue was set aside 
     for future negotiation and both countries claim to be 
     enjoying profitable and peaceful relations.
       Perhaps the most serious and difficult unresolved problem. 
     Macedonia now faces is the status of its 23 percent Albanian 
     minority. In addressing that issue, we are fortunate to have 
     available a number of recommendations made this week by a 
     working group appointed by the Council on Foreign Relations 
     to promote stability in the Southern Balkans. They urge as 
     the first priority maintaining the U.N. force on Macedonia's 
     border with Serbia, as proof of U.S. commitment to 
     Macedonia's territorial integrity and to minimize military 
     expenditures by the Balkan states.
       Second, the working group urges support of economic 
     recovery in Macedonia, because no effort to reduce ethnic 
     conflict is likely to succeed if economic conditions 
     deteriorate. They recommend international support for 
     ``construction of an East-West transportation corridor that 
     would link Bulgaria to its Adriatic ports via Macedonia.'' 
     They urge other efforts at economic integration of the 
     region.
       Thirdly, the group found two key areas where reforms could 
     make a difference: education and the political system. They 
     urge the Macedonian government to end its opposition to 
     Tetovo University, where the Albanian language is taught, and 
     the expansion of Albanian language instruction at Skopje 
     University. They call on the United States ``to accompany 
     efforts to facilitate the satisfaction of Albanian cultural 
     needs with efforts to support Macedonian cultural 
     development.''
       Finally, the working group heard several conflicting 
     arguments about the ethnic composition of public sector 
     employment with the Albanian minority claiming 
     discrimination. In the long run, the conclusion was that 
     economic progress in Macedonia will depend on the growth of 
     the private sector.
       On the issue of electoral reform, they found a consensus 
     that reforms should be designed ``to equalize the population 
     of electoral districts and introduce some element of 
     proportionality in the distribution of seats.'' The hope is 
     that the probable increase in diversification of ethnic 
     Albanian participation in parliament would encourage Albanian 
     participation in coalition politics and legitimate the 
     Macedonian political order in the Albanian community. The 
     group suggested permitting the use of minority languages in 
     the conduct of local business in state offices.
       Finally, Macedonia's political stability is to some extent 
     at the mercy of events in Kosovo on its northern border. The 
     90 percent Albanian majority in Kosov has been kept under a 
     brutal suppression by the 10 percent Serbian minority, and 
     the danger of a violent revolt has been real. However, on 
     Sept. 3 Slobodan Milosevic, the president of Serbia, seems to 
     have reached a deal with Ibrahim Rugova, the longtime leader 
     of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, to end the six-year Albanian 
     boycott of state schools. Motivating Mr. Milosevic may have 
     been the American warning to him that he could not expect to 
     join the International Monetary Fund until he improved his 
     treatment of the Albanian population.
       For the first time in may years, it is possible to look 
     with some optimism at the future of the Southern Balkans.

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