1990
Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
1991
Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
1992
Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
The Badinter commission opines that the ‘Republic of Macedonia’ meets the European Council conditions for recognition.
Foreign Minister Samaras presents a memorandum on ‘seven points of action’ aimed at convincing the EU and the US that Greece rules out any form of recognition of the new state under its present name.
Disagreement is recorded regarding Greek reactions in case that the new state is internationally recognised as ‘Macedonia’. Mitsotakis dismisses Samaras and takes up the Foreign Ministry himself.
‘The German position, within the framework of negotiations at the European Community level, as well as the discussions here, was and remains that we support a solution which can also be acceptable to Greece.’
In his first interview as Foreign Minister, Prime Minister Mitsotakis appears optimistic about the future course of the Macedonian Issue. He upholds Greece’s firm position on the name issue and claims that it enjoys EU support.
1993
Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
Seeking better American understanding of the Greek position, President Karamanlis addresses a letter to newly elected US President Bill Clinton. Karamanlis claims that heeding the Greek position is the only way to avert the spreading of the Yugoslav conflict southwards.
Having completed a round of separate talks with the Foreign Ministers of Greece and FYROM, the ICFY co-chairmen Cyrus Vance and Lord Owen hand to the two parties a draft agreement on ‘Friendly Relations and Confidence Building Measures’. The draft includes the name ‘Nova Makedonija’ as the single permanent appellation of FYROM.
A spokesman of the Belgian EU Presidency denies that the ‘11’ [except Greece] have prepared a plan for the establishment of diplomatic relations with FYROM.
Juri Trusin is appointed diplomatic representative of Russia to Skopje.
1994
1994 - Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
With regard to the dialogue at the UN, the Greek Premier professed readiness to have it resumed if the above preconditions were met. Further, he does not exclude ‘other modes of mediation, all transparent’.
The resolution further mentions in detail the Greek positions on the name, symbols and the constitution, condemns extremism and ‘Macedonian’ irredentism, and takes note of Greece’s willingness to guarantee the independence and sovereignty of FYROM as well as its intent to promote economic co-operation between the two states.
The Skopje government professes readiness to resume the dialogue with Greece on all issues, within the framework of the UN and through the mediation of Cyrus Vance.
The White House announces the appointment of Matthew Nimetz as special envoy of the US government on the Macedonian issue.
The Greek government spokesman states that Greece will not repeal the measures against FYROM unless FYROM takes specific steps ‘in practice’. He also notes that Greek foreign policy cannot be under the threat of possible action of the European Commission before the Court of the European Communities.
In his reply letter, Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Christos Zacharakis, points out that his government’s decision to take measures against FYROM has had negative and painful effects on the Greek economy too, while the adverse effects of the continuing international sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are still being felt.
He also reiterates his proposal for an agreement recognising the inviolability of the present borders between Greece and FYROM under the guarantee of the UN, the EU, the US, or anyone else.
Total: 1,936,877 (50,4% male, 49,9 female)
(Slav) Macedonians: 1,288,300
Albanians: 422,914
Turks: 77,252
Roma (Gypsies): 43,732
Serbs: 39,260
Vlachs: 8,467
Another twenty eight nationalities are registered, including:
Muslims: 15,315
Bosnians: 7,244
Egyptians: 3,169
Montenegrins: 2,281
Croats: 2.198
Bulgarians: 1,547
Slovenes: 391
1995
Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
According to Papandreou, the sanctions helped to pull the issue out of obscurity, and thus benefited Greece. The international climate has already changed and Greek positions are better understood in the US and the EU, the Premier maintained.
In a mild response to Andreas Papandreou’s interview of 15 January, the Foreign Ministry of FYROM argued that Skopje was not responsible for the breakdown of the UN-sponsored talks, and it is willing to resume the dialogue on a basis of equality, with or without a mediator. Significantly, there is no expressed reference to the familiar preconditions, such as the lifting of the trade sanctions imposed by Greece.
Papakonstantinou reveals that Greece and FYROM had agreed to 24 of the 25 points of the draft agreement prepared by Vance and Owen in spring 1993. The Greek side, he says, did not exclude direct talks under the aegis of the UN, in May 1993.
Papakonstantinou also politician disapproves the Greek sanctions against FYROM.
Zhelev, who had formerly denied the existence of a ‘Macedonian’ language, claims that ‘no one in Bulgaria tries to deny the existence of a Macedonian nation, though there are known instances that the two nations speak the same language’. He further supported the signing of various agreements, which were pending for some time, using, if need be, the English language!
1996
Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
In Skopje, Vice President Jane Miljovski states that as soon as the agreement is enacted into law by his country’s parliament, the restriction on the name will no longer be valid.
1997
Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
1998
Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
The language issue continues to cast a shadow over FYROM’s relations with Bulgaria, which refuses to acknowledge the existence of a "Macedonian" language. During the interview Mr Hadjinski reiterates his country’s proposal that agreements signed between the two states be published in two copies: one, for ratification by the Parliament in Skopje, stating that agreements are signed in "Macedonian" and in Bulgarian, and one, for ratification by the Parliament in Sofia, stating that bilateral agreements are signed in Bulgarian and in the official language of FYROM.
Mr Georgievski, the leader of FYROM’s largest opposition party, declares that there have been radical changes in Greece’s relations with his country, especially since Mr Simitis took over the office of Prime Minister, noting that "Mr Simitis has proved to be fairly moderate and objective towards FYROM".
After the talks the Greek Press Minister expressed what amounted to a wish for both sides to make progress on the name issue: "We believe that Skopje will not in the end refuse to do what it can to see that this matter is resolved, in order to eliminate this final cause of friction between the two countries. We feel that our relations with our neighbour have lately been good. And this is a very good sign, not only of flexibility, but I would say of good sense and wisdom in Greek policy". But the next day, when asked whether Greece was thenceforth going to call FYROM "Skopjian Macedonia", Mr Reppas stated that "Greece will in no circumstances accept for the state of Skopje a name containing the word "Macedonia" or any derivative thereof", and added that Greece wants the rules of good neighbourship to be respected and the Interim Treaty signed between Greece and FYROM in September 1995 observed and completed.
The Press Minister’s use of the name "Skopjian Macedonia", which he claimed was a slip of the tongue, sparked a reaction in Northern Greece, particularly on the part of the mayors on the co-ordinating committee of the association of Mayors of Macedonia and Thrace, whom Thessaloniki Mayor Konstantinos Kosmopoulos immediately summoned in extraordinary session. In their resolution, the mayors stated that: "we note that, given the tension lately created in the area by the events in Kosovo, the prolonged failure to resolve the question of the name of the neighboring state of Skopje engenders the risk that pressures and compromises may result in the imposition of solutions alien to historical truth and our national right". The resolution further notes that "on the major national issue of the name of the state of Skopje, without terms or derivatives containing our name of Macedonia, we stand firmly behind the decisions taken by the State". "Any derogation from these decisions is out of tune with the nation", continues the resolution, adding that "for all Macedonians in particular our name is a self-evident, sacred and non-negotiable element of our identity".
Similar declarations were made by PASOK deputy Stelios Papathemelis.
Greek Press Minister Dimitris Reppas comments on Premier Gligorov’s positions in the following terms: "Greece is desirous of having this state exist within present boundaries", adding that such declarations are better avoided: "Statements of this sort can make no profitable contribution to endeavours currently in progress to improve relations between neighbouring states. On the contrary, they create obstacles", the Press Minister declares, noting once again that the Greek government is leading the way in efforts to create a state of peace, stability and security in the Balkans.
Mr Pangalos stressed that the only problem marring relations between Greece and FYROM is the problem of the name, an issue that in his opinion had in the past been "wrongly handled by both sides, with exaggerations and campaigns and politicians exploiting the issue rather than seeking to come up with a solution. Now, however", he said, "this is no longer the case. It is a fact that the issue is not seen in itself as a major problem, but as a problem of semantics", because "there is nothing separating us, neither side has territorial claims on the other. What we have are common interests".
With regard to economic relations between the two countries, Mr Pangalos justified the absence of Greek public investment in FYROM (there is private investment) by the fact of the unresolved issue of the country’s name. "Any public investment in Skopje would have to approved by the Greek Parliament, and given the problem of the name public investment in your country becomes difficult", he pointed out.
On the subject of Greece’s proposal (made at the meeting in Crete) for regional co-operation in the Balkans, Mr Pangalos emphasised the benefits of such collaboration, while noting the opposition of certain states, such as Turkey. Commenting on the UNPREDEP peace-keeping force stationed in Skopje, Mr Pangalos noted that once its mandate is up and the Americans decide to withdraw their troops, "then we can think about setting up a multinational force", and expressed Greece’s willingness to take part in it.
The subject of the existence of a "Macedonian" minority in Greece provoked particularly harsh language from Mr Pangalos, who used phrases like "Sick minds are trying to create something of the sort". The fact that there exists in Greece "some population group that speaks another, Slav, language does not make it a minority community". He pointed out that the only minority that exists in Greece are the Muslims, who number some 120,000, and repeated that "the minority that certain sick minds in Skopje think exists, cannot be identified in Greece. There is no compact population group, we can’t start hunting for them like butterflies".
Mr Pangalos stated that language is not an essential element of national identity, citing as an example his own family which, he said, spoke a dialect of Albanian, "but that certainly does not mean that the members of my family feel themselves to be Albanians".
VMRO-DPMNE party leader Ljubco Georgievski described the interview as a "mortal blow to nationalism, that fatal enemy of all Balkan countries and peoples".
Honorary Chairman Florakis said that the question of the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia should neither become a principle issue in bilateral relations nor remain unresolved, which would leave it open to exploitation. The present situation, he stated emphatically, must be resolved once and for all, putting an end to the machinations of the imperialists who seek to divide the peoples of the Balkans.
President Kiro Gligorov, for his part, expressed his appreciation of the realistic position adopted by the CPG with regard to relations between the two countries, and stressed that he and his government see the visit of the CPG delegation as very positive. Referring to the issue of the name, President Gligorov stressed that his country "did not invent the name Macedonia but was using the name "Republic of Macedonia", which means that we are not referring to Macedonia as a whole but to the Macedonia which is a state with specific borders, a specific territory, constitution and laws". Finally, after noting his country’s desire to develop its relations with Greece, he affirmed that his country "has no claims on Greece, that it recognises and respects its borders, its national independence and its territorial integrity and that it refuses any involvement in the internal affairs of any other state ".
On the name issue Mr Pangalos declared that it was noted as a problem that could come up in various areas of collaboration, and stated that the two ministers had agreed to continue the process currently on-going in New York. Mr Hadjinski declared that the resolution of the problem must leave both countries feeling victorious. "We are", he said, "against a hasty solution, because the issue of the name is bound up with the entity of my country". He added, however, that "we are seeking some flexibility within the framework of the limits that exist on both sides".
The two ministers stressed that the positions of Greece and FYROM on how to deal with the crisis in Kosovo are identical. Any solution must be based on the principles of the unity of the Yugoslav republic and respect for existing borders in the region, and both Athens and Skopje will discourage any activity along other lines.
Mr Pangalos declared that the Albanians in Kosovo must enjoy autonomy and equal rights. "We have much to lose and little to gain from any expansion of the crisis" the Greek Foreign Minister said, and advised those who have a penchant for war games to curb their assertiveness because enough blood has been spilled by the amateurs in Bosnia and enough economic damage done to its neighbour states. He also noted that Greece supports the territorial integrity of FYROM and its gradual integration into the European Union.
Mr Hadjinski said that his country would welcome any NATO endeavour in Kosovo that was within the framework of international law. He called for condemnation of Serbian actions, and described the Yeltsin-Milosevic agreement as a first step towards a solution.
"Greece will do everything in its power, not only on the bilateral level but as a member of the European Union, the Western European Union and NATO, to safeguard the independence and territorial integrity of FYROM", Mr Mallias said. Commenting on the progress of talks between Greece and FYROM on the issue of that country’s name, Mr Mallias stressed that Greece is in favour of a solution that will leave neither side feeling defeated.
The excursion was organised by members of the Greek party "Ouranio Toxo".
Commenting on FYROM’s desire for integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, Mr Mallias stressed that "The stability, territorial integrity and independence of your country are significant parameters for the entire region, and Greece will make every effort, within the limits of its capacity, to promote your admission to the EU and NATO".
With regard to Greece’s economic policy in the Balkans and whether it is designed to foster the exercise of political influence or even, as the interviewer suggested, to facilitate the resolution of outstanding problems, Mr Mallias was categorical: "Greece collaborates with all the Balkan states on an equal footing. It is an insult to your politicians if you think they think otherwise".
Ljubco Georgievski, the leader of the VMRO-DPMNE, forms a coalition government with the Democratic Alternative Party and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DA), with the following members:
|
Post |
Person |
Party |
|---|---|---|
|
Prime Minister |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
|
Vice President |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
|
Vice President |
DA |
|
|
Vice President and Minister of Labor & Social Policies |
PDPA |
|
|
Ministry of Finance |
Boris Stojmenov |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Foreign Affairs |
Aleksandar Dimitrov |
DA |
|
Ministry of Defense |
Nikola Kljusev |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Internal Affairs |
DA |
|
|
Ministry of Economy |
Zhanko Chado |
DA |
|
Ministry of Development |
Milijana Danevska |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Culture |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
|
Ministry of Sport and Youth |
Georgi Boev |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Transportation & Communication |
Bobi Spirkovski |
DA |
|
Ministry of Ecology |
Toni Popovski |
DA |
|
Ministry of Construction and Urbanism |
Dushko Kadievski |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Agriculture |
Vladimir Dzhabirski |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Health |
Stojan Bogdanov |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Education |
Nenad Novakovski |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Trade |
Nikola Gruevski |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Emigration |
Martin Trenevski |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Ministry of Justice |
Vlado Kambovski |
DA |
|
Ministry of Local Self-Government |
Xhvedet Nasufi |
PDPA/NDP |
|
Ministry of Science |
Marie Rushani |
PDPA/NDP |
|
Ministry of Information |
Rexhep Zlatku |
PDPA/NDP |
|
Minister w/o Portfolio |
Ernad Fejzulahu |
PDPA/NDP |
|
Minister w/o Portfolio |
Gjorgji Naumov |
VMRO-DPMNE |
|
Minister w/o Portfolio |
Adnan Kjahil |
DA |
21 December 1998
With regard to Greek investment in the industrial sector, he cited the Mihailidis tobacco company, which bought "Stroumnica Tabak", and the Titan cement group, and noted the potential and prospects for investment in the textile and electric appliance sectors.
The Greek ambassador also touched on the still unresolved name issue, noting that "both sides have let slip many opportunities for settling the matter". He stressed that this issue is a "very delicate" one, and insisted that "its solution must not create winners and losers". A solution must be found that is acceptable to both sides and "that will not be a cause of friction in the future".
In conclusion, he invited the people of FYROM "to have confidence in their neighbour to the south, to have self-confidence in their proximity to Greece. My country is a member of the European Union, and FYROM therefore in some sort shares a border with the EU".
The following quotations are taken from the joint press conference given by the two Foreign Ministers to the local and international media, as reported by the Macedonian News Agency, "Eleftherotypia" newspaper, and others.
At the beginning of the interview Foreign Minister Dimitrov expressed his great satisfaction with the wide-ranging and open exchange of views between Mr Pangalos and the entire leadership of FYROM since, as he said, "we saw that relations between the two countries are improving, that it is in the interest of both countries to make proposals for the further improvement of our friendly relations and for multifaceted collaboration in all fields, and especially in the economic sector, defence, increased investment, culture, transport and communications and matters of mutual interest".
"The new government", Mr Dimitrov said, "is steadfastly oriented towards making a greater contribution to the development of relations with all neighbouring states, and we do not lose sight of the fact that Greece is a member of the European Union. Our unchanging strategic interests lie in this country’s integration into Europe, into a united Europe, and into the North Atlantic structures" said Mr Dimitrov, adding that "we are aware that there are problems and differences between the two countries. In the future we see a more complete development of the relations between us, and we have discussed specific regional situations, the stabilisation of peace, security in this region, development. I would like to express my satisfaction with the possibility of open, frank and cordial discussions between our two countries".
After this Greek Foreign Minister Theodoros Pangalos told the journalists that in his talks with FYROM Premier Ljubco Georgievski "we discussed all the issues ".
"The Prime Minister assured me that new government sees Greece as a strategic ally, and that initiatives must be taken in the fields of transport, communications and energy that will change the shape of this region". Mr Pangalos stressed that "our goal is, and we discussed this, to create between Skopje and Thessaloniki a pole of development that will enhance the entire region and will be a new field for productive relations".
"I am persuaded", continued Mr Pangalos, "that they want to work with us. We also discussed matters that have from time to time occupied the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One of these is the name issue, and I said that the Interim Agreement calls for a mutually acceptable solution. This name cannot be the initial position of either of the two sides. We must continue our talks at the United Nations and bring them to a conclusion as soon as possible. The name issue is for us not the principle aspect, but in the future it could lead to a political problem." Continuing, the Greek Minister said that "Greece supports Skopje’s European prospects, supports the country’s democratic and peaceful development".
Mr Pangalos also spoke of his meetings with former Premier Branko Chervenkovski and former Foreign Minister Blagoj Hadjinski, to whom on behalf of the PASOK party leadership he extended an invitation to visit Greece.
Turning to the subject of the talks in New York on the name issue, Mr Pangalos expressed his thanks to Ambassadors Zacharakis and Tosevski, both excellent diplomats, and added "Great progress has been made. There is still some exploration to done with regard to the name. It is getting to the point where the experts have done what they can and it is up to the politicians to assume their responsibilities. What we need now is courage and the support of the Press to encourage both peoples to look ahead and get past their suspicions and the pettiness of the past", Mr Pangalos said.
In response to a question from Nova Makedonija newspaper on minority communities in Greece, Mr Pangalos replied that the accusations of violations of the human rights of the Slav-speakers in Greece were circulated by ‘Ouranio Toxo", an party that took part in the elections under a common banner with the Stalinist "Organisation for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party", and the "Movement for the Liberation of Homosexuals". The nation-wide support for this coalition totalled exactly 1840 votes. At this point Mr Pangalos asked whether "it is really worth our while to talk about 1800 people and create a minority problem". He commented that "if we start getting into this area we will unearth minorities that you have never even imagined". If these people thought that their rights were being violated in Greece, they could go to the Council of Europe - of which Greece is a member - and seek justice, the Foreign Minister said.
As Mr Pangalos noted, "there is a decision of the Council of Europe, which is respected in Greece and which adjudged the Right to be on the side of the appellant". Consequently, said Mr Pangalos, "the same is true for groups of people who live here and who have a special sensitivity towards Greece", and he mentioned the "Pelagonia" association, a delegation from which he had met with in Skopje.
On the same subject, FYROM Foreign Minister Aleksandar Dimitrov stated that he and Mr Pangalos, in the context of collaboration between their two countries, had talked about respect for human rights and the agreement on the human rights framework, looking towards the future in order to build up a climate of confidence and solve all problems.
Finally, in answer to a question on whether the border between Greece and FYROM is open, Mr Pangalos replied that it was. At this point there was an intervention from Mr Mallias, the head of the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje, who said that since 1995 Greece had issued 1,300,000 entry permits for Greece from Skopje and Mr Pangalos added that there were specific difficulties with the Schengen Accord and that the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje had issued 50,000 Schengen visas.
1999
Jan - Feb - Mar - Apr - May - Jun - Jul - Aug - Sep - Oct - Nov - Dec
According to Vecer newspaper, "Mr Mallias is the first Greek diplomat to come to Skopje after the signature of the interim agreement and work towards improving relations between the two countries, and especially towards development of economic collaboration".
In an article headlined "Alexandros Mallias - The Great Icebreaker", Devnik newspaper described the former head of the Greek Liaison Office as an "exceptional diplomat", noting that he played a direct role in all the initiatives that led to the smoothing of relations between Athens and Skopje.
In an interview with the Skopje periodical Makedonski Expres, Mr Mallias expressed his thanks for the hospitality he had enjoyed in Skopje and his conviction that the three years he had spent there had paved the way for the development of relations of good neighbourship between the two countries.
Between FYROM and Greece there are three "minor issues": the name of the country, the flag and the constitution. "The Greeks do not need to worry, for our constitution states that we have no territorial claims, and our flag has been changed. We do not claim to be descendants of Alexander the Great", said Mrs Acevshka.
"Greece is FYROM’s second largest trading partner, and its number one investor. Instead of opting for war, we have chosen the mediation of the United Nations, with talks on the ambassadorial level under Mr Vance and Mr Nimetz".
In answer to the question of what right FYROM has to call itself "Macedonia", since its inhabitants do not consider themselves descendants of Alexander the Great but are Slavs who arrived much later in ancient Macedonia, which moreover is a Greek word (Makednos>Mekos=tall), the ambassador replied that they are called "Macedonians" because they have lived in Macedonia for a very long time, and recognised the right of others to call themselves Macedonians as well.
In reply to another question about the ethnic origin of the people of FYROM, Ambassador Acevshka stated that "we are Slavs and we speak a Slav language".
The "OMO Ilinden" organisation first appeared in 1990. The wing that has now been registered by the court in Sofia does not support the secession of Pirin from Bulgaria, but hails the recognition of the so-called "Macedonian language", and its members consider themselves to be "Macedonians" rather than Bulgarians. The new party’s constitution states that it is a party for the economic development and incorporation of the population of Pirin and for the protection of the rights of regional communities.
Attorney General Ivan Tatarchev intends to appeal the court decision on registration of the new party, as does the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party.
FYROM’s new Trade Minister, Blagoj Gruevski, declares that Ljubco Georgievski’s government will submit a new memorandum with certain alternatives relating to the code that represents the main obstacle to his country’s entry into the WTO.
These threats rouse the furore of the Bulgarian VMRO, whose leader, Krasimir Karakatsanov, declares that "Anyone who threatens any member of the VMRO will be punished in such a way that neither the Helsinki Committee nor Premier Gligorov will be able to help him".
Both sides engage not to advance territorial claims against the other, not to attempt, encourage or support hostile actions aimed against either state, and not to permit their territory to be used for activities by organisations or groups whose purpose is to break up the other country or to undermine or threaten the safety of the other state.
In addition, FYROM confirms that no point in its Constitution can be interpreted as a basis for interference in the domestic affairs of Bulgaria for the purpose of protecting the rights of persons who are not citizens of FYROM.
The Proclamation is signed in the official languages of Bulgaria and FYROM. Also signed at this time are seven bilateral agreements on double taxation, promotion and protection of investments, trade co-operation, co-operation in the international freight and passenger traffic sector, air transport, plus a protocol on co-operation between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries and an agreement on consulates.
On the question of international recognition of his country, he accepts that this has been delayed and attributes this to Greek objections to the name, symbols and certain articles in the constitution, adding that "In 1995 my country agreed to remove the Greek symbol from its flag and modified the controversial phrases in the Constitution".
"OMO-Ilinden-Pirin", for its part, threatens to appeal to the European Court of Justice, the Court of Human Rights or the United Nations if the Court of First Instance in Sofia revokes its registration as a political party.
P.I.R.I.N. is a Bulgarian acronym, standing for "Party for Economic Development and Population Incorporation". The party known as "OMO-Ilinden- P.I.R.I.N." was founded on 28 February 1998 in Gotse Delchev and is based in Blagoevgrad. It was registered on 12 February 1999 by decision of the Court of First Instance in Sofia, in accordance with the law on political parties. It is preparing, under the leadership of Ivan Sigartijski, to contest the municipal elections to be held in Bulgaria in the autumn of 1999.
At the same event, Vasil Toupourkovski attempts to restore a certain balance, stressing the need for friendly relations with Greece, but this only produces a strong reaction from the "Macedonians" present.
Dimitrov’s line was followed by VMRO party member and Emigration Minister Martin Trenevski who, meeting with members of the "United Macedonians" organisation on his visit to Canada, tells them (among other things) that Skopje has many enemies with plenty of money to spend, citing as an example the Greek Pan-Macedonian Organisation.
This meeting, which was shown on the private TV channel "Sitel" in Skopje, took place in a room decorated with flags displaying the star of Vergina and maps of "Great Macedonia".[which includes Greek Macedonia].
Trenevski used this occasion to attack the government in Skopje which "changed the flag of the Macedonian people in 1995", adding that he belonged to "a party that has never recognised and will never recognise the new flag that has been imposed upon us and which will change after the next presidential elections".
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