Greece's Concern Over Recognition of Macedonia

The editorial "Balkans Are Test of 'New' Europe," April 10, suggests that the former Yugoslav "Republic of Macedonia" should be immediately recognized by the United States and the European Community (EC). This editorial is one-sided and insensitive to Greece's legitimate concerns over this issue.

The Greek name "Macedonia" was given to that region of Yugoslavia 47 years ago by communist leader Marshal Tito as a propaganda tool. He was planning to use the territory as a nucleus for the annexation of those parts of Bulgaria and Greece that were once the Macedonia of Alexander the Great.

Greeks fought a bloody civil war, with the support of the US, to avert these expansionist communist schemes to gain access to the Mediterranean and the strategic harbor of Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. These expansionist dreams are still harbored by Tito's successors, the present leaders of the republic, as is evidenced in a section of their Constitution and in maps they circulate that incorporate into their territory northern Greece.

Greece has been a faithful ally of the US all these years, and cannot comprehend why it is now placed in a defensive position and is ridiculed for its efforts to protect its northern province, Macedonia, against potential external threats.

Greece is ready to recognize the so-called "Republic of Macedonia," along with the other members of the EC, provided this republic conforms with the procedures unanimously adopted by the EC, on December 16, 1991: "The Com- munity and its member states ... require a Yugoslav Republic to commit itself, prior to recognition, to adopt constitutional and political guarantees ensuring that it has no territorial claims towards a neighboring Community State, including the use of a denomination which implies terr itorial claims." Alexios A. Cogevina, Boston Consul General of Greece in Boston

Letters are welcome. Only a selection can be published, subject to condensation, and none acknowledged. Please address them to "Readers Write," One Norway St., Boston, MA 02115.

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