Macedonia FM Addresses CoE Presidency Name

This term would “at the very least protect our national dignity as a country chairman,” Milososki stated in an interview for Deutsche Welle's Macedonian language program.

He noted that the term is within the norms and the spirit of the COE, “which promotes respect of human rights, freedom and democracy”, he said.

The name for the chairmanship, proposed earlier this month by Skopje, prompted reaction from Athens, where the move was viewed by some as a provocation.

Athens and Skopje are locked in a 19 year long spat over the use of the name Macedonia. Athens insists that Skopje’s official name, Republic of Macedonia, implies territorial claims against its own northern province, also called Macedonia.

However, the Greek delegation to the COE has so far not formally opposed the use of the term “Macedonian Chairmanship 2010”.

Milososki expressed his hope that the name spat between his country and Greece would not overshadow Macedonia’s term as chair of the organisation.

“Neither we nor Greece intend to overburden the Council of Europe with issues that are irrelevant for the work content of this organisation,” Milososki said.

Macedonia’s forthcoming six month chairmanship, which starts in May, should not turn into a “name” spat between Skopje and Athens, the visiting Secretary General of the Council, Thorbjorn Jagland, told media in Skopje earlier this month.

The Council of Europe is one of the oldest international organisations in the world. The Council has 47 member states, including the countries of the European Union. Its work puts particular emphasis on legal standards, human rights, cultural co-operation and democratic development of the member countries.