[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1962]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 24, 2007

  Mr. WEXLER. Madam Speaker, a little over twelve years ago, on 
September 13, 1995, Clinton Administration officials played a critical 
role in addressing a pressing issue in the Balkans and Europe. With 
American-led mediation, our longstanding friend, ally and strategic 
partner Greece signed an Interim Accord at the United Nations in New 
York with the newly-established former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 
a state that emerged from the disintegration of former Yugoslavia.
  This agreement paved the way for the normalization of relations 
between Greece and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Following 
the signing of this Interim Accord, Greece, like the United States, 
strongly supported the newly established state, both politically and 
economically. Greece fully backed FYROM's aspirations to join the key 
institutions of the European and Euro-Atlantic community, and Greece 
became the number one investor in that country, with $1.1 billion 
invested capital.
  Unfortunately, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has not 
fully reciprocated these gestures and I am concerned about unacceptable 
propaganda impugning Greece's history and cultural heritage. It is 
critical that Skopje address this propaganda and show increased 
flexibility during the ongoing U.N. negotiations, with a view to 
finding a mutually acceptable solution on the name issue. Resolution of 
this issue is not just a bilateral issue with Greece, but has regional 
and international dimensions.
  As Chairman of the Europe Subcommittee in the House Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, I have been working in a bipartisan fashion with the 
subcommittee's ranking member, Congressman Elton Gallegly to support 
efforts to resolve this long-standing issue, including introducing 
House Resolution 356. This resolution expresses the sense of this House 
that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) should not 
violate provisions of the United Nations-brokered Interim Agreement 
between the FYROM and Greece regarding ``hostile activities or 
propaganda'' and should work with the United Nations and Greece to 
achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals of 
finding a mutually-acceptable official name for the FYROM.
  House Resolution 356 already has 73 cosponsors and I would urge my 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to cosponsor this resolution 
and urge authorities in Skopje to join Athens and meet their 
obligations deriving from the U.S.-brokered Interim Accord.

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