If there is going to be lasting peace in the Balkans, then Greece will have to make a change in its foreign policy. Greece has vetoed Macedonia's bid at joining NATO and are threating to do the same for the EU. This is not over large issues, it is over the name of Macedonia. Yes Greece is going to stop Macedonia's bid for joining anything because they use the name Macedonia. This could cause a destabilizing affect for the whole Balkan region.
The reason that Greece does not like Macedonia to use the name Macedonia is because some Greek states are called Macedonia as well. This leads Greece to think that Macedonia will try and take some of their territory. Macedonia has stated many times that they are not going to take that action, but that has not appeased the Greek government. This issue almost stop Macedonia from joining the UN but they go by the name of The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
It appears that the Greek government finds a name more important then the stability of its neighbours. Macedonia almost went into civil war in the late 1990s but the international community was able to stabilize the country. One of the major ways that they were able to stabilize the country was the promise of joining NATO and EU. They have vetoed the NATO bid and next will come the EU bid. This will remove one of the reasons to keep the peace in Macedonia.
There is also an election in Serbia shortly and the position that Greece has taken is not helping. It appears that the EU members are only out to help themselves and not those who could join. Greece has threatened to use its veto power a lot, it looks they are following the US as a role model.
It appears that the Greek government finds a name more important then the stability of its neighbours. Macedonia almost went into civil war in the late 1990s but the international community was able to stabilize the country. One of the major ways that they were able to stabilize the country was the promise of joining NATO and EU. They have vetoed the NATO bid and next will come the EU bid. This will remove one of the reasons to keep the peace in Macedonia.
There is also an election in Serbia shortly and the position that Greece has taken is not helping. It appears that the EU members are only out to help themselves and not those who could join. Greece has threatened to use its veto power a lot, it looks they are following the US as a role model.
No comments:
Post a Comment