LOCAL PRESS

 

Brnabic: International community not to test Serbia’s patience (RTS/Tanjug)

 

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic feels that a huge amount of patience is needed to talk to Kosovo Albanian representatives, the Serbian government said in a press release. “A huge amount of patience is needed to talk to the current representatives of the Albanian people in Kosovo who are not serious, irresponsible, unpredictable and do not respect agreements,” Brnabic is quoted as saying. The press release added that “it takes endless patience to understand some international community representatives who watch in deafening silence as Pristina has been failing to lift a finger to implement the Brussels agreement for five years, as it violates agreements on visits by officials, arrests and terrorizes our negotiation team chief, exerts huge pressure on the Serb List which those people accept for the sake of the dialogue and compromise, for the sake of a sustainable peace in Kosovo and now, using the same terror that they used against Marko Djuric they are threatening the Serbian President”. “As prime minister, I am asking the international community not to test our patience and understanding but to realize how serious the situation is and act accordingly,” the press release added.

 

Vucic’s order regarding his visit to Kosovo and Metohija; decision to be made this evening (RTS)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic ordered the army, and then he requested the police and the Security Information Agency (BIA) to cease every communication with the Kosovo police, KFOR and any Albanian and international representatives that operate on the territory of the Autonomous Province of Kosovo in regard to his visit, Radio and Television of Serbia (RTS) learns. Vucic will decide this evening about the possible departure to Kosovo and Metohija.

Up until late last night, Vucic examined the situation with his closest associates, but they remained divided on whether he should visit Kosovo and Metohija or not.

 

Vucic will not meet with Pristina representatives in Brussels (Tanjug)

 

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has decided not to talk today with Pristina representatives in Brussels. The Head of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Marko Djuric has stated following talks between Vucic and Federica Mogherini that it is a question whether and when talks with Pristina will continue. Djuric says that the President has decided this over all deceptions, threats and lies of Kosovo Albanians. Djuric also said that unacceptable are attempts at depicting Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac as part of the Kosovo territory. “The only territory that nedds to be discussed is the territory of Kosovo and Metohija,” said Djuric. He says that the Serbian President will not address the public until tonight.

 

Dacic: Vucic isn’t afraid of going to Kosovo and Metohija (RTS)

 

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has told the RTS morning news that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is facing an obstruction of his visit to Kosovo and Metohija and threats, which shows that a peace agreement is not wanted. Dacic says that the President is on his way to Brussels and that this is important news since yesterday they were examining the option of whether he would go for negotiations in Brussels at all. “Vucic is intelligent and he will not allow the responsibility being also shared with Serbia. We will take part in the dialogue in talks with Mogherini so somebody doesn’t say that Serbia is obstructing the process,” says Dacic.

“At issue is obviously a coordinated activity that encourages all those opposing the reaching of an agreement. It is important that the people in the international community see what lunatics we are dealing with,” says Dacic. He says that the Serbian President will meet with Mogherini in Brussels and decide about further meetings on the spot. He says that there were discussions last night about Vucic’s visit to Kosovo and Metohija and there is the political and security level. “Vucic is not afraid of going to Kosovo and Metohija and to talk with our people. Pristina thinks that Serbia doesn’t have the right to think about Gazivode, let alone visit it,” said Dacic.

 

Ross: US companies in Serbia should help on EU path; Vucic: We can expect US companies to take part in Nis-Merdare-Pristina road construction (Beta)

 

US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross stated in Belgrade that he wanted US companies in Serbia to help the country on its path to the EU. At a joint news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Ross said he welcomed the signing of the memorandum of understanding in infrastructure on Sept. 6, adding that it would deepen the ties between the two nations. Some of the most successful and most recognizable tech companies are already active here. We want to make sure that they are your partners in growth and development and that their presence here can help support your membership in the EU, Ross said. The US senior official said Serbia had an important strategic location in global trade, since it was at the crossroads between Asia and Europe. Considering the established connections and the

possibilities for mutual economic growth, we are looking forward to further cooperation with the

Serbian government, Ross said. Vucic told a joint news conference with Ross that the signing of the memorandum had opened the doors to much closer cooperation with U.S. companies in the future. “We can expect US companies building the Morava corridor or Nis-Merdare-Pristina road very soon, we will discuss this. It is important that we improve our economic, political and overall relations with the US,” Vucic said.

 

Brnabic, Keefe discuss Belgrade-Pristina dialogue (Tanjug/Beta)

 

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic spoke with British Ambassador to Serbia Denis Keefe about the process of European integration of Serbia, the continuation of dialogue with Pristina, the development of e-government, media strategy and cooperation in the field of fight against corruption. Ambassador Keefe reflected on the recently held summit in London, which, he said, was very successful and another confirmation that the lasting stability of the Western Balkans is in Great Britain’s interest. The Belgrade-Pristina dialogue must result in a compromise, the Prime Minister said, and stressed that frozen conflict is not a good solution. Pristina has to respect the Brussels agreement and fulfil all the commitments from this document, the Brnabic underlined. Ambassador Keefe agreed that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is the only way to reach a solution for the future. When it comes to the media strategy, the Prime Minister stated that dialogue with media associations is regularly taking place, expressing gratitude for the support given to the process by the Delegation of the European Union in Serbia, the Embassy of Norway, the OSCE, Konrad Adenauer Foundation and other important partners. She underlined that the government will remain open for permanent dialogue with media representatives and hopes that the work on the media strategy will be completed by the end of this year.

 

Cucic: 4,114 migrants in Serbia (Beta)

 

In Serbia, there are 4,114 migrants in Serbia at the moment, Commissioner for Refugees and migrations Vladimir Cucic said on Thursday. Cucic told Beta that 3,386 migrants were accommodated in the centers and 359 are outside of centers whereas 336 migrants are in transit through different parts of the country. “It is the same number of migrants we had in August last

year. In March, April and May, the amplitude went down and their number was below 3,000. Now, with slightly more than 4,000 migrants, the amplitude went up,” he said. Cucic said that during the upcoming winter, certain number of migrants, who were in Bosnia and Herzegovina at the moment, were expected to return to Serbia. “We are absolutely ready for the upcoming winter, if it remained within the limits what we had in previous winters, and there are all signs it will be so,” he said.

 

REGIONAL PRESS

 

Election campaign officially starts on Friday; CEC calls on political actors to refrain from statements that spark tensions (BHT1)

 

The official election campaign for general elections in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) begins on Friday. Political subjects will be allowed to promote their candidates and programs until October 6, a day before the elections. The Central Electoral Commission B&H (CEC) verified 128 political subjects this year: 58 parties, 36 coalitions and 34 independent candidates. There are 30 political subjects more than during the last general elections. 518 future office holders will be elected. The CEC called for a fair election campaign. Member of CEC Stjepan Mikic called all political subjects, their followers and sympathizers, all those who are working on campaigns and those who will work in the election administration to refrain from statements that could create tensions and to lead a fair and proper election campaign. The CEC also warned citizens of promotions on social media, which already happened before and it could not be punished properly. Spokeswoman of the CEC Maksida Piric stated that the improved technology at polling stations will contribute to transparency of elections. ˝The ballot boxes are transparent, which will ensure transparency, but they will also preserve the secrecy of the votes˝ Piric stated.

 

EUD/EUSR, PIC SB, OSCE and CoE urge politicians to bear in mind citizens’ interests and refrain from rhetoric calling for divisions (RTRS)

 

The pre-election campaign in B&H starts today, September 7. The EU Delegation to B&H and the Office of the EU Special Representative in B&H (EUD/EUSR) have urged candidates and political leaders to bear in mind interests of citizens. The Peace Implementation Council Steering Board (PIC SB), the OSCE and the Council of Europe (CoE) have also urged politicians to run their pre-election campaigns without rhetoric calling for divisions. The EU Delegation to B&H (EUD) stated on Thursday that the elections are the key pillar of democracy and that despite of progress achieved within the Reform Agenda, challenges are still present. The EUD stated that B&H needs a discussion and focus on much-needed reforms and that this is something that citizens and young people in B&H fairly expect. According to the EUD, the European integration offer a model for the progress and this is a road that B&H has chosen.

 

Croats, get out and vote, let’s build B&H with Bosniaks (Vecernji list)

 

Top officials of the Croat People’s Assembly (HNS) Dragan Covic and Bozo Ljubic called on Croats in B&H to get out and vote in the upcoming elections and also called on Bosniak political parties and citizens to build stable and functional country, which would be based on appreciation of constituent status and equality of peoples, together with Croats. Covic and Ljubic deemed this is the only right way towards the membership in the EU and NATO. Covic and Ljubic issued a press statement, addressing citizens and representatives of the international community, in which they noted that “people whose political representatives are elected by other people is not a constituent people and political representatives elected in such way are not legitimate representatives”. Covic and Ljubic noted that “illegitimate representatives” cannot establish stable and legitimate authorities, while illegitimate authorities will lead the country to instability, political and security crisis. They also assessed that relations between Croats and Bosniaks went through different stages and added that there were wrong moves made by both of these sides. “We are sorry if some political moves of Croat representatives were interpreted by Bosniaks as denial of their constitutional rights, political subjectivity and ethnic dignity, especially in areas where Croats are majority”. Covic and Ljubic noted that these messages should not be viewed as an expression of weakness or fear but as the expression of “ethnic and political maturity and strength as well as responsibility towards the state we all share”. Covic and Ljubic also condemned attempts to intimidate Croats, threats with war and “outvoting and chauvinistic-like behavior” the goal of which was to abolish constituent status and turn Croats into second-class citizens in their own country. Covic and Ljubic explained that they refer to “the attempt of coup d’etat by the adoption of unconstitutional entity Law on Elections” and added that it is a shame that the HNS’ proposal on changes to the Law on Elections of B&H was not adopted.

 

HDZ B&H has new proposal on federal units (TV1)

 

A new proposal on federal units that comes from HDZ B&H appeared and it implies four territorial units in B&H and a district of Sarajevo. Some analysts assessed that the new solution is actually a previous proposal of the B&H Bishop’s Conference. TV1 warned that without additional information from HDZ B&H, no one can give the final word on whether the proposal solves the current situation in B&H or not. Experts assessed that this may also be a new deal reached between leader of HDZ B&H and Croat member of B&H Presidency Dragan Covic and leader of SNSD and Republika Srpska (RS) President Milorad Dodik. HDZ B&H advocates formation of a new state Constitution and a state composed of four or more territorial units and a district of Sarajevo. Covic said: “We want to ensure full constitutional equality of the Croat people and legitimate representation through the elections”. Covic added that in order to achieve this and in order to implement this program after the elections, HDZ B&H offers unity to everyone within the Croat people. SDS leader and candidate of the Alliance for Victory for the post of the RS President in the general elections in October Vukota Govedarica warned that the HDZ B&H’s program on additional federalization of B&H referring to municipalities in the RS is detrimental to the Serb people and the RS, noting that HDZ B&H will be prevented from forming four federal units in B&H. Govedarica assessed that this program actually represents the continuation of the ‘Prud’ Agreement that was signed at the beginning of 2009 by HDZ B&H leader Dragan Covic, SNSD leader Milorad Dodik and late SDA leader Sulejman Tihic.

“Dodik must be aware that by signing this agreement he made a deal that is detrimental to the interests of the RS and the Serb people. It is obvious now that a concept of the third entity has failed, but it is certain that Dodik and SNSD will later accept a program to the detriment of Serbs, in cooperation with HDZ B&H and other political parties from the Federation of B&H”, Govedarica stressed, explaining that therefore it will be very dangerous for the RS if Dodik wins the race for the post of Serb member of B&H Presidency. He added that the story about the third entity in B&H is detrimental to the Serb people who live in the RS. Govedarica emphasized that it was proven in 2000 that Dodik works for the Croats’ interests, reminding that he secretly signed back then the agreement on handover of the Jasenovac archival material that is marked as cultural heritage of significant importance for the RS. Head of SNSD Caucus in B&H House of Representatives (HoR) Stasa Kosarac stated on Thursday that SNSD will not accept any kind of redrawing of borders, formation of new federal units or formation of a district of Sarajevo. Kosarac stressed that HDZ B&H can offer voters whatever they want, while SNSD has the obligation to preserve the RS and its constitutional capacity and to return all of its competences previously taken by High Representatives. PDP’s Miroslav Brckalo also commented on Thursday the possible forming of the third entity in B&H. He said that SNSD members have voted in favor of the declaration glorifying the Croatian military operations such as ‘Maestral’ and ‘Oluja’, in which more than 12,000 Serbs from Krajina were killed. Brckalo reminded of the stance of PDP and the Alliance for Victory, which advocates the protection of the Dayton Peace Accords (DPA) that represents the only guarantor of existence and survival of Serbs in this region. He warned that any constitutional organization of B&H other than the DPA leads the RS into big uncertainty.

 

Trump to Ivanov: Prespa Agreement paves way for Macedonia’s NATO, EU membership (MIA)

 

The historic Prespa Agreement resolves the long-standing name issue with Greece and paves the way for Macedonia’s membership in both NATO and the European Union, US President Donald Trump says in a note of congratulations to his Macedonian counterpart Gjorge Ivanov on the country’s Independence Day – 8 September. “On behalf of the American people, I congratulate you and the citizens of Macedonia on the occasion of your Independence Day on September 8. Macedonia has much to be proud of this year.  The historic Prespa Agreement resolves the long-standing name issue with Greece and paves the way for Macedonia’s membership in both NATO and the European Union.  The Agreement and Macedonia’s membership in NATO will bolster security, stability, and prosperity throughout the entire region.  The United States stands ready to support Macedonia, especially with respect to upcoming discussions on your membership in NATO. I wish the people of Macedonia my very best on this special day” reads the note, published Thursday by the US Embassy in Skopje.

 

Stoltenberg: NATO door is open, but only people can decide to walk through it (MIA)

 

In a few weeks’ time, Macedonia will hold a referendum on the name agreement, so I encourage voters to turn out in strong numbers, as becoming a full member of the international community with all the benefits that this will bring is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday in Skopje at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. “The accession talks are underway. NATO membership is now within your grasp. This is an opportunity to consolidate peace and stability in the country and the region. To gain a seat, and an equal vote, at NATO’s table. And to join the most successful Alliance in history,’ Stoltenberg said. At the NATO Summit in July, he said, the allies invited Macedonia to start accession talks, following the agreement with Greece on the name issue. “Compromise is never easy. And both sides made difficult compromises in order to reach this historic breakthrough. And look to a brighter future,’ Stoltenberg said. NATO keeps almost one billion citizens across Europe and North America safe, so joining NATO would mean having twenty-nine other countries committed to protect you and your security, which is also the bedrock of prosperity and economic opportunity, Stoltenberg said. ‘Prime Minister, we want to see your country succeed. And we will support you. NATO’s door is open. But only the people of this country can decide to walk through it. So, your future is in your hands. We wait for you in NATO,’ Stoltenberg said. He also extended gratitude to Macedonia over its participation in NATO-led missions and overall contribution the international security. The invitation for starting the NATO accession talks has favorable effect on the cohesion in Macedonia and promotes the country as an example of strong leadership in the Western Balkans, PM Zaev said. He also reaffirmed Macedonia’s strategic goal – NATO and EU membership. “The 30 September referendum is yet another challenge. We are on a historic crossroad and I am certain that citizens will grasp the possibilities for the prosperity of our country and vote for our future,” Zaev said. He once again called on Macedonia to unite in turning the country’s strategic goals into reality.

 

Mickoski meets Stoltenberg, says VMRO-DPMNE supports NATO, EU accession (MIA)

 

VMRO-DPMNE supports Macedonia's NATO and EU accession because it is in the country's strategic interest, party leader Hristijan Mickoski told NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at a meeting on Thursday. Mickoski said the agreement with Greece is unacceptable for VMRO-DPMNE, the party said in a press release. VMRO-DPMNE is finishing its broad consultation process and the party's executive and central committee will hold a session next week regarding its position over the referendum.

 

Stoltenberg meets Xhaferi, coordinators of MP groups (MIA)

 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg met Thursday with Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi, accompanied by coordinators of MP groups. Xhaferi thanked Stoltenberg for his personal engagement and support to the Republic of Macedonia in obtaining the invitation for full-fledged NATO membership at the July summit in Brussels, the Speaker's Office said in a press release. He said Macedonia is committed to reforms through the annual Membership Action Plans and the Strategic Defense Review, which should result in the army's modernization. There is constructive dialogue with neighbors and settlement of open issues, as a prerequisite for individual progress and regional stability. Xhaferi expressed hope that the referendum will be a success, expecting citizens to confirm their commitment to EU and NATO membership, because the vote is seen as a roadmap to the future, not a look back to the past. Stoltenberg welcomed the signing of the name agreement with Greece and highlighted NATO's support in the reform process. He said the process should be finalized by ratification of the accession protocol by all 29 Alliance member-states, once the name agreement is implemented. He said the Alliance does not force any country to join, will respect the sovereign decision of citizens at the referendum, be it positive or negative, but added that NATO accession yields benefits for citizens, not only from a security standpoint, but also through economic prosperity and long-term social stability, reads the press release.

 

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SOURCES

 

Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini following a new round of Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue (EEAS, 7 September 2018)

 

In the context of the EU facilitated Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina I hosted President Aleksandar Vučić of Serbia and President Hashim Thaçi of Kosovo in Brussels today. I held several rounds of talks with both in bilateral format on all issues on the table. Difficulties remain. I trust the full commitment of both Presidents to continue the process and reach in the coming months a legally binding agreement on comprehensive normalisation of relations, in line with international law. I will convene in Brussels the next high level session of the dialogue before the Ministerial week of the UN General Assembly to bring the two sides together to advance the work on the content of the agreement.

 

Nimetz: ‘Another Name Deal Could Take Another 25 Years’ (BIRN, by Ana Petruseva, 5 September 2018)

 

In an interview with BIRN, the UN mediator between Greece and Macedonia recalls his years-long role in the negotiations – and warns of the huge risks, if the agreement is not approved.

Over a quarter of a century, Matthew Nimetz, the UN envoy tasked with mediating the dispute between Macedonia and Greece over the former’s name, has seen over a dozen prime ministers come and go in Skopje and Athens, while the bilateral row stayed the same. That all changed on his birthday this year. On June 17, when Nimetz turned 79, the Macedonian and Greek foreign ministers Nikola Dimitrov and Nikos Kotzias, signed the agreement on resolving the long-standing dispute. Nimetz was seated in the first row, among other foreign dignitaries, celebrating this historic agreement. In an interview with BIRN, Nimetz recalled both the negotiating process and his own role in it, alongside the significance of the timing and the huge risks if the agreement is not approved in both countries. The dispute dates back to Macedonia’s declaration of independence from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s and Greece’s objection to the use of the name “Macedonia”, which Greece claimed as part of its own heritage. As a result, Macedonia was admitted into the UN under an interim name, “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”. Athens has since blocked Macedonia’s efforts to join the EU and NATO unless the dispute is resolved and the country’s name is changed. Back in the early days of the dispute, the authorities in Skopje hoped that the world would side with Skopje and that countries would go on to recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name, despite the ongoing dispute. Soon, however, it became clear that with Greece a member of both the EU and NATO, the strategy was shortsighted. “There was a view in Skopje, in the early days, that time was on the side of Skopje. Time was not on Skopje’s side. There was a view that the heat of the Greek political life, [with mass demonstrations] would dissipate over time and Greek views would become more moderate while the international environment would change and more countries would recognize it under its constitutional name,” Nimetz recalls. “I had the opposite argument in those days. I said: ‘You ought to move fast here, you have a chance of becoming a part of the EU along with Bulgaria and Romania, you should settle this, move on, because you never know what can happen with the EU, with NATO, what will happen with the region,’” he said. “Things can get better on this but they can also get worse.” In fact, Macedonia secured the recognition of over 120 countries as the “Republic of Macedonia” but that did not include Greece, which blocked it from receiving an invitation to join NATO, while every recommendation by the European Commission to start accession talks failed likewise to materialize. Over the years, Greece rammed home its point by scolding international officials every times they just used the word “Macedonia”, instead of the interim name, issuing protest notes and reminders to stick to the UN-accepted formula. Nimetz laughs when asked how he handled this issue personally during the talks. “This was difficult for me personally, how to express myself and that is one of the reasons I always thought this issue needed to get solved because everyone in the world dealing with this issue, or with the countries involved, had a problem with how to speak, especially in English but also other foreign languages,” he says. “My approach was, sadly, to avoid the usage of the names, because it was always an issue. I never used FYROM because that is not an acceptable name, I would sometimes say, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which is a very, very, long name and not very comfortable – but it is the official one in the UN and I am a UN officer. “But you cannot have a conversation and keep using that name, so I tended to use the two capitals and say, ‘What is the view in Athens and what is the view in Skopje?’” A good illustration of how frustrating it was for officials at times was an exchange he had with former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki moon, who told him: ‘“Nimetz you’ve got to settle this problem right away.

I cannot say The Former Yugoslav Republic anymore; the last time I said Former Yugoslav Republic of Yugoslavia, everyone laughed at me, you have to solve this and get me out of this awkwardness.’ And I told him, ‘Yes sir, I will solve it, right away.’” After NATO’s Bucharest summit in 2008, when Macedonia failed to receive an invitation to join the alliance, Skopje decided to pursue legal action against Greece in the International Court of Justice. In 2011 it ruled in favour of Skopje. In reality, the ruling did not change much. The talks continued and, although no solution was in sight, Nimetz says it was important to keep going. “My strategy, even during periods when there was not much chance of an agreement being reached, was to maintain the dialogue, to keep the process going, to keep floating ideas, waiting for the timing to be right” he says. “Internal issues in both countries made it difficult during some periods to focus on this as the highest priority – economic issues, financial crisis, deadlocks in parliament, changes in government – but ultimately I think the right thing happened,” Nimetz adds.

What further complicated matters was the so-called “antiquization” process launched by Macedonia’s former prime minister, Nikola Gruevski. This resulted in the erection in Skopje of massive neo-Classical buildings and sculptures, including a huge statue of Alexander the Great in the centre of the city. The whole process additionally irked Athens and was widely deemed provocative. Talks only speeded up with the arrival of the new government in Skopje led by the Social Democrat Zoran Zaev in mid-2017. The government pledged to put the dispute to bed.

This was well received in Athens, where the government now saw advantages in reaching a solution of this issue.  Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov’s first official visit was to Athens in June 2017. A year later, a deal was struck, welcomed by moderates but dismissed by nationalists in both countries as betrayal of national interests. Under the agreement, signed in June, Macedonia is to change its name to “Republic of North Macedonia” in exchange for Greek support for swift accession to NATO and a start to EU accession talks. The new agreed name, the Republic of North Macedonia, will be used both internationally and domestically, an issue that was a priority for Greece. On the other hand, the definition of the country’s language will remain “Macedonian”, as Skopje had insisted. The people’s nationality will be defined as “Macedonian/Citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia”. Some opponents of the deal have tried to say key issues of Macedonian identity, nationality and language were never part of the negotiations. Nimetz insists the talks always included these issues. “The ‘name’ issue was what people talked about because the name of the state was the dominant issue in people’s perception but historians, when they go into the history of the talks, will find many, many, papers and proposals that deal with these [other] issues,” he says.  “In the UN, for every country there is a protocol, a sheet of paper in the administration for every country that says: name of the state: United States of America, capital city: Washington DC, nationality: American, language English; short name: United States,” he recalls. “So, we have the same for your country and it says, name: Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; capital, Skopje; and then nationality? So, what do we put there? Language? So, it was always an issue, and the entire package could have not been solved without that because it would have opened new controversies,” he explains. For the deal to come into effect, however, many hurdles remain. One hurdle is the support of Macedonians, as shown in a referendum set for September 30. If the referendum on the deal is successful, as current polls predict, parliament will have to adopt constitutional changes, for which the Social Democrats need a two-thirds majority. They will not have that without the support of the opposition, however. Macedonia’s opposition has yet to decide its position on the referendum but has been firmly against the deal, claiming it could have resolved the dispute in a way more favourable to Macedonia. Nimetz does not believe that is sensible. “There are some people in your country who say, ‘Let’s not go forward with this agreement, let’s wait, give it some more years, we’ll get a better deal in the future.’ I say: ‘You don’t know where the EU will be, whether they will want another member, whether they will want your country, you don’t know where NATO will be, you don’t know what happens in Greece with the changes in their government, you don’t know what happens in the broader region and European political and economic environment that will affect a new negotiation. The idea of long-term waiting is a very risky one.”  Nimetz fears that the current opportunity may not reoccur for a long, long time if it is rejected. “I hope the agreement will pass, and I think it will pass in both countries, because it is a fair and honourable solution that meets the essential interests of both countries, but if it doesn’t get approved I do not see another solution in the near term,” he warns. “It has taken 25 years to achieve this agreement, it may take another 25 years. And a lot of people will lose interest if this does not pass in your country,” he says. “If you reject it, I fear you would be viewed by many as telling the world: ‘We are not interested in a compromise solution, we are not interested to solve this issue with Greece, we are not interested in the EU process, we are not interested in NATO, we are not interested in solving problems.’ The rest of the world is likely to say: ‘OK, these folks are not interested in solving anything, so why should we worry about their situation? … So it may be many, many years before anything resumes on this issue, if it is turned down.”

Nimetz will retire now and is looking forward to relinquishing his involvement in one of Europe’s most intractable disputes. In his own words, “Hopefully the agreement gets approved in both countries, but in any case, I’ll move on.  Of course, I will always have a special feeling for these two countries, but I will not have a responsibility to worry about this issue anymore.”