Academics Take Issue with Macedonia/Greece Prespa Agreement

BALKANS AND EASTERN EUROPE, 3 Sep 2018

Biljana Vankovska, et al. – Balkan Insider

29 Aug 2018 – As scholars and authors we wish to take issue with the distortion of the Prespa ‘agreement’ in some quarters, and portrayal of opponents as nationalist and extremists.

The agreement does not serve the needs of Macedonia or Greece. It shows no respect for international law, human rights and democratic principles.

An agreement trying to define political, historical and cultural boundaries between “classical Macedonia” and (would be) North Macedonia is a bizarre undertaking in the 21st century. The construction of identities is not for governments. Macedonia is subjected to arbitrary international engineering against the will of the people. With little public support a highly polarized atmosphere deepens internal divisions. The asymmetric ‘deal’ will not lessen regional tensions as only the weaker (Macedonian) side was forced to compromise, to force (North) Macedonia into NATO – itself in an identity crisis.

The deal denies constitutional sovereignty of Macedonia, with final say given to the MPs of a foreign country (Greece). The new name is intended for not only international relations but also internal legal order. The attribute Macedonian is to be erased from all official documents and public use under threat of Orwellian sanctions. History teaching is going to be decided by governmental bodies rather than by scholars.

International mismanagement continues. While supporting confidence building, conflict resolution, and reconciliation, we argue that the Prespa Agreement is not an accord that promises sustainable peace. NATO membership is unlikely to bring social and economic progress or security to the small Macedonian state; ironically, Greece offers the best proof of what international dictates do on the European periphery.

SIGNED:

1. Biljana Vankovska, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
2. James Pettifer, Oxford University
3. Venko Andonovski, writer, Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
4. Milan Kundera, writer, Paris
5. Richard Falk, Princeton University
6. Žarko Puhovski, University of Zagreb
7. Lidija R. Basta Fleiner, University of Fribourg
8. Darko Mitrevski, film director, Los Angeles
9. Georges Banu, President of the Prize of Europe for the Theatre, Paris
10. Jan Oberg, director of Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, Lund
11. Gorazd Rosoklija, Columbia University
12. Josette Baer Hill, University of Zurich
13. Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
14. Jean Pavleski, Sorbonne University, founder of Éditions Economica, Paris
15. Nada Boskovska, University of Zurich
16. Jovan Donev, former ambassador to the United Kingdom
17. Stefano Bianchini, University of Bologna
18. Vladimir Unkovski-Korica, University of Glasgow
19. Pepe Escobar, Geopolitical Analyst at Asia Times
20. Radmila Nakarada, University of Belgrade
21. Igor Janev, University of Belgrade
22. Zhidas Daskalovski, Kliment Ohridski University, Bitola
23. Nikola Popov, McMaster University, Ontario
24. Erol Tufan, poet, Turkey
25. Bernd Fischer, Indiana University, Fort Wayne
26. Mitko Madzunkov, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
27. Mite Stefoski, Director of Struga Poetry Evenings
28. Johan Galtung, founder of Transcend University
29. Vitomir Mitevski, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
30. Jean-Patrick Connerade, University of London, former President of EuroScience
31. Borislav Pavlovski, University of Zagreb
32. Slavko Bogdanov, Columbia University
33. Francis D. Raška, Anglo-American University, Prague
34. Leonid Grcev, IEEE Fellow, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
35. Mihajlo Popovski, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
36. Miranda Vickers, Independent Scholar, UK
37. Aleksandar Dimovski, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
38. Jean Pierre Simeon, poet, editor of Gallimard, Paris
39. Branko Stavrev, theater director, Skopje
40. Emilia Waters, CATS College Cambridge
41. Jordan Plevneš, writer and former ambassador to France
42. Zhivko Popov, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
43. Marija Risteska, Centre for Research and Policy-Making, Skopje
44. Katica Kjulafkova, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
45. Dimitar Apasiev, Goce Delčev University, Štip
46. Daniel Weiss, University of Zürich
47. Victor Bivell, Publisher, Pollitecon Publications, Sydney
48. Marko Pavlovski, writer, University of Zagreb
49. Elka Jačeva-Ulčar, Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
50. Dragan Duško Vukotić, media specialist, Podgorica
51. Jani Bojadzi, Film and Theater Director, Skopje
52. Slave Gjorgjo Dimoski, poet, ex-president of the Board of Struga Poetry Evenings
53. Todor Čepreganov, Goce Delčev University, Štip
54. Bob Churcher, ex International Crisis Group Country Director, Kosovo
55. Bogdan Bogdanov, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
56. Blaže Minevski, writer, Skopje
57. Solza Grceva, Voice for Macedonia
58. Marjan Popov, Delft University of Technology
59. Aleksandar Shulevski, University of Amsterdam
60. George G. Durtanosky, Latvian Christian Academy, Riga
61. Viktor Gjamovski, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
62. Antoanela Petkovska, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
63. Irena Pavlova de Odorico, poetess, Italy
64. Rade Siljan, writer and publisher, Skopje
65. Sašo Kalajdžievski, University of Manitoba
66. Aldo Kliman, poet and president of the Macedonian Cultural Forum in Croatia
67. Milojka Kalkašlieva, judge of the Supreme Court of Macedonia (ret.)
68. Paul Filev, Literary Translator, Melbourne
69. Ringa Raudola, Department of Innovation and Governance, Tallinn University
70. Jovica Tasevski-Eternijan, poet, the Macedonian Writers’ Association
71. Marina Mijakovska, writer, Skopje
72. Kiril Barbareev, Goce Delčev University, Štip
73. Blaže Risteski, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
74. Zlatko Dizdarević, former ambassador, Bosnia and Herzegovina
75. Danilo Gligoroski, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
76. Sasho Popovski, academic painter, Skopje

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Related News:

• US Supports Prespa Agreement, Looks Forward to Macedonia Being 30th NATO Member – “Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met on August 21 with Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov. The Secretary congratulated his counterpart on the historic Prespa Agreement between Macedonia and Greece. The Secretary expressed his support for the…
• Macedonian Parliament Ratifies Name Agreement – “Macedonia’s parliament has ratified an agreement with Greece to change the former Yugoslav republic’s name at a plenary session that was boycotted by the main opposition party. Lawmakers on June 20 voted 69-0 to ratify…
• UN – There is Positive Progress on the Name Issue – “The United Nations says progress can be made to resolve a 26-year-old dispute between Athens and Skopje over Skopje’s use of the name Macedonia. UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters late on January 29…

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Biljana Vankovska is a member of the TRANSCEND Network for Peace Development Environment.

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