Interview with new Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki for "Dnevnik"

There are no reasons why the new Government should not make a serious attempt to develop closer relations with Germany, which can lobby for Macedonia's intents to become a member of NATO and the EU, new Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said. He said that he would use the gains from his stay in Germany, where he ob-tained a Master's degree, where he learned one more foreign language, and where he won many friends.

Dnevnik: Your and Prime Minister Gruevski's statements on the name provoked official Greece to react. It came out with an official position that the talks are led for a name that Macedonia will use in its international communication. How will you lead the talks, what will your strategy be?

Milososki: We do not want to agitate anyone. This is our policy. We do not want to agitate anyone as regards the differences over the name and irritate Greece. But we want to stress one thing: just like a person cannot give up his or her shadow, Macedonia cannot give up its constitutional name. There are no differences as regards use of the constitutional name between Macedonia and Russia or between Skopje and Washington, or any other country. There are differences only between Skopje and Athens. We should continue with a constructive approach in the talks so that we can find a mutual resolution.

Dnevnik: It seems that there is no progress with such strategy and position. Greece wants more efficient talks. What does "more efficient talks" mean?

Milososki: I think that there is progress. The last official proposal of Mr. Nimetz, regardless of the fact that it was rejected by Greece, can be considered progress. So something is moving as regards this issue and it will continue to move. We do not expect the name issue to be resolved in six months or in a year. The problem has existed 15 years, but we have found a mechanism for it to not be an obstacle to the development of friendly relations with Greece, especially at an economic plan. I think that the priority should be that which connects us and we should cooperate. We see no reason why Athens, which also has good and friendly relations with Washington, should not have an understanding for the position of the United States, which claims that Macedonia's constitutional name strengthens our internal cohesion, it strengthens the potential for Macedonia's stability, and thus contributes to stability in the region.

Our aim is for these historical differences to be overcome so that this reality, which functions better at a bilateral plan with Athens, to become a stable bridge that will not be threatened by anything.

The interview is published verbatim in the Infomac Daily News Service.