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DE RUEHBS #0695/01 1351751
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P 151751Z MAY 09
FM USEU BRUSSELS
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INFO RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS PRIORITY
RUEHPS/AMEMBASSY PRISTINA PRIORITY
RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFITT/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE PRIORITY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000695 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/14/2019 
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM EUN KK MK GR
SUBJECT: MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT PLEDGES TO MAINTAIN OHRID IN 
FIRST MEETING WITH SOLANA 
 
Classified By: Pol M-C Christopher R. Davis for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
. 
 
¶1.  (S/NF) Summary: In his first meeting with EU High 
Representative (HR) Solana in Brussels on May 13, Macedonian 
President Ivanov pledged that Macedonia will "maintain Ohrid" 
and continue on the path of reforms necessary to achieve EU 
membership.  Solana informed Ivanov that Macedonia would be 
receiving "good news" from the European Commission on visa 
liberalization, adding that the Commission might issue its 
recommendation as soon as May 18. Accompanying Ivanov to the 
meeting, Macedonia Prime Minister (PM) Gruevski stressed that 
Macedonia was simply trying to survive economically, that he 
wanted to see visa liberalization realized, and that 
Macedonia wanted a date to begin accession negotiations.  In 
a short-notice meeting between Director General for External 
and Political-Military Affairs Robert Cooper and Macedonian 
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Bocevski prior to the Solana 
meeting, Bocevski suggested both that Macedonia was waiting 
until after the European Parliament (EP) elections to renew 
efforts to solve the name issue with Greece and might be open 
to renaming Skopje's international airport if convinced that 
Greece would respond to this gesture positively.  Hearing 
this, Council Secretariat Western Balkans official were 
interested in learning whether the Deputy Secretary might be 
willing to raise the issue during his upcoming trip to the 
region.  End Summary. 
Bocevski-Cooper Meeting 
¶2.  (C/NF) According to Council Secretariat contacts, 
Macedonian DPM Bocevski called Cooper requesting a meeting 
prior to Solana's meeting with President Ivanov and PM 
Gruevski.  In what participants characterized as a very frank 
discussion without notes, Cooper stressed that Bocevski 
needed to look into the intimidation aspect and its affect on 
municipal elections.  Cooper suggested that this touched on 
the Ohrid Agreement, something Solana cares about deeply, 
according to Cooper.  Turning their discussion to the 
economic situation in Macedonia, Bocevski reported that 
things were "very grim." 
¶3.  (C/NF) Regarding the name issue with neighboring Greece, 
Bocevski said that Skopje could not move on nationality and 
language until after the EP elections.  Responding to 
Cooper's question as to what Skopje could do, such as 
renaming Skopje's international airport, Bocevski was 
receptive to the idea.  Cooper suggested Skopje not 
immediately jump in, but first float the idea with the 
Greeks.  Cooper said that it would be important that Solana 
also receive this signal in his later meeting with Ivanov and 
Gruevski. 
¶4.  (C/NF) On the Skopje visit for Ivanov's inauguration that 
Kosovo President Seidju was not originally invited to, 
Bocevski indicated that Seidju had actually been invited, 
citing a "lack of diplomatic relations" as the earlier hold 
up.  (Note - the Council does not believe that Jeremic's 
visit to Skopje for the inauguration played any role.) 
Cooper stressed that responding positively to efforts by 
Pristina to end the border demarcation issue would make 
Skopje look better vis--vis Greece; i.e., showing that it 
can close a deal.  Bocevski then indicated that Skopje was 
considering inviting Seidju for an official visit, Seidju's 
first. (Note - the Council also feels this would be a coup 
for Pristina, since it would mark Seidju's first official 
foreign visit.) 
Ivanov/Gruevski-Solana Meeting 
¶5.  (C/NF) We are told that PM Gruevski reportedly wanted to 
meet Solana one-on-one, but Solana refused to meet Gruevski 
if not accompanied by Ivanov.  The tone/atmospherics of the 
meeting were reportedly very good, according to our Council 
Secretariat contacts.  Through a translator, Ivanov told 
Solana "I know Ohrid is a core point of your life and part of 
your heritage."  While the Council is not sure Ivanov and 
Gruevski would act on this, they took it as a positive sign 
and that DPM Bocevski had clearly briefed his principals. 
Ivanov added "we will maintain Ohrid,"  which reportedly 
impressed Solana.  During the press conference which followed 
their meeting, Solana said he looked forward to seeing Ivanov 
"in one of your cities."  (Note - the Council feels this is 
important, since Solana has not been to Skopje in years.) 
¶6.  (C/NF) Solana informed Ivanov that Macedonia would be 
receiving "good news" from the Commission on the visa 
liberalization front, possibly as early as May 18.  Solana 
congratulated Ivanov on this accomplishment. 
 
 
BRUSSELS 00000695  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶7.  (C/NF) Towards the end of the meeting, PM Gruevski made 
three points to Solana: that Macedonia was simply trying to 
survive economically, that he wanted to see visa 
liberalization realized, and that Macedonia wanted a date to 
begin accession negotiations.  On the name issue, Gruevski 
told Solana that he had called back his ambassador from 
Washington for consultations with himself, the president, and 
the FM.  He said "we cannot redefine our identity or 
language" and told Solana that he wanted to call for a 
referendum on the issue, per the constitution.  He also 
suggested that Macedonia would be in a waiting pattern until 
after the EP elections. 
 
¶8.  (C/NF) Ivanov was also originally scheduled to meet with 
European Commission President Barroso.  As we understand it, 
due to a choreography snafu on the Commission's part, 
Barroso's cabinet did not find a way for Ivanov to meet with 
Barroso.  As a result, Ivanov reportedly snubbed Enlargement 
Commissioner Rehn by then not meeting with him. 
Council Secretariat Request 
¶9.  (S/NF) Given Skopje's openness to possibly renaming the 
airport, Council Secretariat officials were interested in 
learning from USEU whether it would be possible for the 
Deputy Secretary to explore the matter during his upcoming 
visit to Athens and Skopje.  Council Secretariat officials 
believe that if the Greeks were to show a willingness to 
receive positively a Macedonian gesture such as renaming the 
airport and this were then relayed to Skopje by the Deputy 
Secretary during his visit there, Skopje might be convinced 
to rename the airport as early as the second week of June, 
after EP elections. 
 
MURRAY 
.