It is a great
honour and pleasure for me to have the opportunity to
address this distinguished gathering of statesmen from
United Nations Member States. Despite past and
continuing challenges, this Organization remains an
irreplaceable forum where the representatives of many
nations can exchange opinions concerning the most
pressing issues facing the world we all live in.
Allow me at the outset to welcome the election of
Mr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua as
President of the Assembly at its sixty-third session. I
convey to him our unwavering readiness to cooperate
during the year of his mandate. At the same time, allow
me to congratulate the previous President, my
compatriot Srgjan Kerim, on his contribution to the
work of the world Organization over the past year,
during which numerous issues of global importance
5 08-51845
were considered. Through his engagement, my country,
the Republic of Macedonia, has confirmed in the best
possible way the values for which we stand and the
principles in which we believe when it comes to
international relationships, namely, multilateralism as
the key tool for cooperation and for the promotion of
the fundamental values of peace, democracy and
human rights and freedoms.
I take this opportunity also to welcome the efforts
of the Secretary-General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who
contributed greatly to the useful and functional
operation of the Organization over the past year.
In 2008 we enter the second half of the term
envisioned for the attainment of the Millennium
Development Goals. The results accomplished thus far
are not to be underestimated, but they are still far from
satisfactory. Furthermore, even the Goals that have
already been achieved are now jeopardized by the new
challenges and problems we are facing: the surge in oil
and food prices and the adverse effects of climate
change.
During this year, a slowdown in economic
development has been noted in many countries; that is
confirmed by numerous indicators forecasting regional
and global recession. It is therefore of the utmost
importance to devise new stimuli for the
implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.
Our debate should thus focus on issues such as
development and the implementation of effective
concepts for sustainable development, as a crucial part
of any agenda for the maintenance of long-term peace,
stability and security in the world.
Speaking of issues related to the sustainability of
peace and security, we have unfortunately to note that
here there are not many reasons for satisfaction. We are
still facing numerous crisis situations and old and
frozen conflicts, as well as a series of recent turbulent
incidents and tensions in several regions of the world.
Terrorist acts continue to occur with worrisome
frequency, yet Member States remain unable to reach
consensus on a truly necessary global counter-terrorism
convention. Such recalcitrance has rightly led some
people to question the relevance of the United Nations
in the present context, as well as the true meaning and
scope of multilateralism and the selective
implementation of international law and principles.
This year we commemorate the sixtieth
anniversary of the adoption of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, and it is only proper to
ask ourselves whether universal respect for its
provisions is possible. Human rights problems will
certainly not decrease if there continue to be different
interpretations of the provisions of the Declaration or if
those provisions are only partially implemented.
Acceptance of the entire body of human rights is the
basis of the rule of law and fundamental to resolving
bilateral and international conflicts. Only if those
provisions are universally accepted and sincerely
supported by all of us will humanity be able to proceed
on the path towards progress.
Solutions to problems should be sought within
the framework of respect for agreed norms and through
equitable dialogue and cooperation. In that context, the
United Nations has a specific and valuable role that
should not be neglected. It is therefore especially
important to develop the Organization further so that it
may become more efficient and more relevant in a
broader sense, as well as more responsible for the
people on whose behalf it acts. I am deeply convinced
that our differences are among the greatest values that
we possess and that each Member State, regardless of
its size, has a valuable contribution to make. It is
therefore necessary to overcome our existing
differences for the sake of a more efficient United
Nations that will serve the world in the twenty-first
century in the best possible way.
Over the past few years, South-East Europe and
the Balkans have begun moving in the right direction.
Although it is certain that not all open problems and
issues have been resolved, the tendency of the region
towards closer integration with international bodies is
clearly discernable. The activities of my country, the
Republic of Macedonia, are directed towards
continuing participation in and support for regional
projects and the consistent promotion of comprehensive
regional cooperation with all neighbouring countries. We
do not doubt that only together with the rest of the
Balkan countries will we be able to contribute to the
accelerated integration of the entire region into the
European and Euro-Atlantic structures.
At the domestic level, the Republic of Macedonia
is continuously working towards the sustainability of
its specific model of functional multi-ethnic
democracy. We believe that our model has broad and
positive regional implications because it has shown
that it is possible for different nations and cultures to
share the same territory and coexist productively.
08-51845 6
Two strategic goals that have enjoyed our highest
priority for years are integration into the European
Union and NATO. In recent years, we have invested
significant resources and focused all our efforts on the
accomplishment of those goals. Unfortunately, at the
NATO summit held in April 2008 in Romania, an
international precedent was set when the narrow
national interests of one country were presented as
being more important than the established principles of
international law.
Despite the obvious absurdity of the issue, my
country is participating actively and constructively in
the negotiating process with the Republic of Greece,
mediated by the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-
General, Ambassador Matthew Nimetz. At the same
time, we have consistently respected our legal
obligations and affirmed our constructive role by
making numerous suggestions and concessions during
the long-standing process.
I recall that, at the time of Macedonia’s
admittance to the United Nations in 1993, the first
major legal precedent was set. A decision was adopted
on that occasion to the effect that, instead of using the
name which my country had chosen, other Members
would address us as “the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia”.
Unfortunately, I am forced to conclude that in
that time the other party has not demonstrated the same
level of dedication to its agreed obligations, as
confirmed by its flagrant breach of the Interim Accord
signed by both countries in 1995. According to that
document, the Hellenic Republic is legally bound not
to object to Macedonia’s application for membership to
international, multilateral and regional institutions and
organizations in which the Hellenic Republic is already
a full member. Contrary to the agreed obligations, at
the NATO summit held in April 2008 in Bucharest,
Greece objected to the invitation to admittance to
NATO extended to the Republic of Macedonia and
insisted that, prior to integration, a mutually acceptable
solution to the dispute must be reached. The very logic
of the negotiations was seriously undermined by that
act, while at the same time the principles of the United
Nations Charter were derogated. Taking advantage of
its status as a standing member, the Hellenic Republic
has begun obstructing our integration into the
European Union, using similar arguments.
Let me take this opportunity to highlight once
again before the Assembly our position, which has
been openly expressed on numerous occasions. As a
responsible country fully aware of its internationally
agreed obligations, the Republic of Macedonia is ready
to accept a fair compromise and a reasonable solution
that will not deny our national and cultural identity. It
is understandable that we are not ready to consent to
just any kind of solution in a case of such national
importance. If our integration into international
institutions is to help stabilize our State, then we
should not allow ourselves to be humiliated and
internally destabilized by an unsatisfactory compromise.
To conclude, allow me to reiterate the well-known
fundamental position in which we, as a State, believe
and intend to firmly uphold in the years to come. The
principles and values enshrined in the Charter of the
United Nations are the highest goals around which we
should all unite. Respect for those principles and for
the full equality of States and peoples is the sole
guarantee for the noble mission of creating a more
dignified and just world.