Macedonia Jubilant over 'Landmark' ICJ Ruling against Greece

World | December 5, 2011, Monday // 16:57|  views

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki pictured next to an Albanian flag during talks with his Albanian counterpart Edmond Haxhinasto (not pictured), in Tirana, Albania, 03 October 2011. EPA/BGNES

Macedonia's government is pleased by the International Court of Justice's decision that Greece has been wrong to object to the country's NATO accession in 2008.

"The landmark ruling from the Court means that Greece cannot lawfully object to the Republic of Macedonia's membership of NATO," the Macedonian government has said in an official statement following the Court's ruling on Monday.

"The Republic of Macedonia welcomes the judgment of the Court, which precludes Greece from continuing its efforts to block my country from joining NATO and the European Union," Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki has commented.

"We started these proceedings in November 2008, after Greece objected to our accession to NATO at the Bucharest Summit. We brought the case to protect our rights under the Interim Accord of 1995, and we express our gratitude to the Court for its clear ruling that Greece's objection was illegal. The judgment is important because Greece has threatened to act in the same way in the EU context," Poposki has pointed out.

"Although this case was not about the name issue, the Republic of Macedonia remains strongly committed to finding a lasting, mutually acceptable solution to the difference with Greece over the name," the Foreign Minister has noted.

"The Republic of Macedonia remains firmly committed to the rule of law and to acceding NATO and EU membership. The decision of the Court marks a further step down the road to membership. Again, I look forward to Greece allowing our membership in NATO, in accordance with its obligations under international law, and with the support of the other NATO members," he has added.

On Monday, the court found that Greece's veto violated a provisonal 1995 deal under which the Balkan country had agreed not to object to ?acedonia's membership in international oanizations if it used the name "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," or Macedonia, while the matter was submitted to further negotiations.

U.N.'s highest court did not fine Greece, neither did it order it to refrain from similar moves against Macedonia in the future.

Macedonia is registered at international organizations as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia because of the name dispute, rather than Republic of Macedonia at Greece's insistence, which fears the name "Macedonia" might spur territorial claims for its northern regions.

Macedonia continues to have no date for starting the EU talks as the Council of the European Union has repeatedly put off grating the country a date, largely because of its name dispute with Greece.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!


Tags: FYROM, International Court of Justice, NATO, greece, macedonia, name dispute, ICJ, NATO, Nikola Poposki

Back  

» Related Articles:

Search

Search