The United States Pan-Macedonian Association addressed a letter to United States Foreign Minister, John Kerry, urging him to not promote FYROM’s accession in NATO.
In its letter the Greek-American organization which represents Macedonian organizations in the U.S., stressed that “countries that aspire to join NATO should meet all the requirements and criteria for inclusion and FYROM is not one of those countries.”
In this extensive letter to the head of the State Department, signed by the President of Pan-Macedonian Association, Dimitris Chatzis and the Secretary, Thomas Rigas, the association mentioned their beliefs concerning Macedonian history, identity, the “expansionist aspirations” of Skopje, while they also commented on statements by the American ambassador in Skopje, Paul Wallers and the recent request by members of Congress for FYROM’s accession to NATO at the upcoming summit.
“A positive resolution of the name issue will be a key element in avoiding the threat to the territorial integrity of Greece and promoting stability in the wider region,” stressed the letter, which also mentioned the “economic and political advantages” of Greece as a “leading and stabilizing force” in the Balkans, which has been a NATO member for over 60 years and is currently a member of the EU.
The Pan-Macedonian Association also mentioned in the letter that “it is obvious that the problem is more than just the name of Greece’s northern neighbor” and that “it is about creating a country based on ultranationalist ideals.
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