VZCZCXRO4161
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSQ #1139 3351618
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011618Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5488
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA
RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

UNCLAS SKOPJE 001139 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SCE, EUR/RPM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA WELCOMES NATO SUMMIT STATEMENT, 
ACKNOWLEDGES NEED FOR FURTHER REFORMS 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) In a telcon November 30, MFA State Secretary Igor 
Ilievski told P/E Chief the GOM was delighted with the NATO 
Summit statement at Riga announcing, inter alia, the 
Alliance's intent to "extend further invitations to those 
countries who meet NATO's performance based standards..." 
The government also was very pleased with President Bush's 
public statement of support for NATO enlargement in 2008.  In 
a letter to President Bush dated November 30 (septel), Prime 
Minister Gruevski thanked the President and the people of the 
United States for backing Macedonia's NATO membership 
aspirations, and reiterated Macedonia's appreciation for the 
2004 decision to recognize Macedonia's constitutional name. 
 
¶2. (U) On December 1, PM Gruevski issued a public statement 
thanking NATO member states and President Bush for 
encouraging Macedonia and its citizens to accelerate the 
implementation of NATO MAP-required reforms.  Although he 
stated that the Riga documents "show that Macedonia, Croatia 
and Albania will become NATO members" in 2008, Gruevski also 
noted the need to complete remaining tasks, and underscored 
that NATO membership should be "deserved," and not a "gift." 
He characterized the Riga Summit statement as a "stimulus" 
for enhancing Macedonia's position as a NATO membership 
contender, which would help raise living standards and 
improve government performance. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Speaking to the DCM at a November 29 "Riga Summit" 
luncheon for NATO embassy representatives, Defense Minister 
Elenovski expressed his great appreciation for U.S. support 
for Macedonia's NATO aspirations and, perhaps caught up in 
the positive mood after reading the Riga Declaration, 
indicated that a 2008 invitation seemed very likely.  DCM 
acknowledged the progress made to date by the GOM, and by the 
Defense Ministry in particular, but cautioned the Minister 
that much work remained to be done on the reform agenda, and 
that time was short.  Elenovski agreed and said he would work 
to prevent the GOM from prematurely congratulating itself. 
 
¶4. (U) Local press reaction was generally positive and 
balanced, highlighting the strong likelihood of NATO 
enlargement in 2008 and noting the need for continued 
progress on reforms to improve Macedonia's chances of 
receiving a membership invitation.  An editorial in one 
respected Macedonian daily suggested that Macedonia should 
not be "euphoric" about the Riga statement, but should 
instead concentrate on "finishing its homework" for NATO 
membership.  Former PM Buckovski, writing in another daily, 
asserted that "following the Riga declaration...it (remains) 
for us to demonstrate that we understand our priorities and 
how to accomplish them.." 
 
¶5. (SBU) Comment: The Riga Declaration and President Bush's 
statement have had a salutary effect, boosting public and 
government confidence vis-a-vis NATO membership.  While some 
officials occasionally lapse into over-confidence regarding a 
2008 invitation, most understand the government has many 
remaining tasks, and little time in which to complete them, 
before it can count on a membership invitation.  We will 
continue to work with the government to keep them focused on 
needed reforms, including combating corruption and 
trafficking in persons, using the post-Riga positive momentum 
here to press the GOM to accelerate the entire reform 
implementation process. 
WOHLERS