Macedonia votes to protect Americans from ICC

AFP ^ | October 16, 2003

[joan]

SKOPJE, Oct 16 (AFP) - The Macedonian parliament on Thursday ratified an agreement with the United States to protect US citizens here from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC), officials said.

Seventy eight of the 80 deputies present in the 120-seat parliament voted in favour of the agreement which was signed in Washington in June this year.

Deputy Foreign Minister Fuad Hasanovic told parliament the agreement, which would prevent Macedonia extraditing US citizens to the ICC, would not affect Skopje's relations with the European Union.

Brussels is a strong supporter of the court and has voiced its opposition to bilateral arrangemements that would undermine its ability to prosecute war criminals.

Hasanovic said Macedonia could now expect continued US support for its bids to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

He also noted that for the "first time since independence Macedonia and the USA have signed a document in which the country is referred to by its constitutional name -- Macedonia."

Greece has a long-standing dispute with Macedonia over its name, which is the same as a Greek province.

The United States fears the court could become a forum for politically motivated prosecutions of US citizens, especially soldiers deployed abroad, and has been on a worldwide campaign to sign bilateral immunity deals.

Under US law, Washington must suspend military assistance to most ICC member nations that have not signed such agreements.

[joan]

bump

[longtermmemmory]

Greece has a long-standing dispute with Macedonia over its name, which is the same as a Greek province.

))) )))) )))

More than just a name. The dictator Tito created the yugoslavian province of macedonia as an effort to make a north south land claim.

There is the false claims to alexander the great's history. Including the placent of the 16 point star of alexander in their unofficial "flag".

The current internationally recognized designation is FYROM for former yougoslav republic of macedonia.

The provice in greece can trace back to 1000's of years. King philips grave is also there.

[Seselj]

More than just a name. The dictator Tito created the yugoslavian province of macedonia as an effort to make a north south land claim.

Tito created Macedonia only for one reason, to weaken Serbia. Tito's thinking was, a weak Serbia makes a strong Yugoslavia. So he took a portion of Serbia and made it into a new republic and called it Macedonia. Tito was not thinking of Greece when he did this, which was at that time a small insignificant country compared to Yugoslavia.

[longtermmemmory]

even with both true, Tito created a fraud for political purposes.

Given the number of military bases on greek islands. Greece was a significant warm water allie of the USA.

The Heraklion airbase in Crete is still a nifty hub of activity.

Tito had to have been considering Greece because he would have picked some other non-Greek name.

take care.

[Jacob Kell]

"Tito's thinking was, a weak Serbia makes a strong Yugoslavia."

Yugoslavia was weak no matter what.

[Seselj]

I don't think Tito came up with the name Macedonia. Someone else probably came up with that name. Tito couldn't care less what it was called, as long as it was clear that it was no longer part of Serbia. I seriously don't think that Greece even crossed Tito's mind when he created Macedonia.

[Seselj]

Weak how? Politically, militarily and economically it was the most powerful country in eastern Europe (excluding USSR). Of course that was only while everyone was united...

[Seselj]

I'm curious, do you think that the ancient Macedonians were Greeks?

[Jacob Kell]

The key word was 'united'. WHen Tito was no longer around with his cleverness and ruthlessnes, Yugoslavia fell apart. Serbs, Croats, and all th eothers were probably too different from each other to stay in a single state.

[Jacob Kell]

At the risk of sounding cliche, who or what are or were 'Greeks'? Over the centuries and millenia, many different peoples settled Greece. Dorians, Mycenians (sic?), and others. Which of them can be called 'Greek'?