Tribune Excerpts
The following article appeared in the March 2006 Edition of the Macedonian Tribune
Ambassador Dimitrov: U.S., Macedonia Share Common Interests
By Virginia Surso
Nikola Dimitrov, Macedonia's ambassador to he U.S. reviewed his tenure in Washington – his accomplishments, his disappointments, his dreams for the future.
He will return to Macedonia this month when his tour of duty ends. His successor will be Ljubcho Jordanovski, former president of Macedonia's Parliament, the second most powerful position in the country.
Summing up the actions of the American-Greek lobby in working against Macedonia, Dimitrov said, "As with all communities which immigrated to America a while ago, American-Greeks are burdened by sentiments that dominated their fatherland at the time they immigrated; whereas, the Greeks in Greece are more in touch with reality of the times."
He adds that Greece has a very strong interest in a prosperous northern neighbor. "We share this desire for prosperity for all the Balkans."
"If Greece want to play a leadership role for stability and prosperity in the Balkans, it will have to put the challenge of our name behind. By challenging our name, our identity, Greece is sending a very wrong message."
When Dimitrov arrived as Macedonia's second ambassador to Washington, the post had been vacant for 18 months. It was a very critical time and there was no voice for Macedonia in the most powerful country in the world. It was the end of the 2001 crisis. (The Ohrid Framework Agreement ended the conflict by granting rights to Macedonia's largest minority, the Albanians).
Dimitrov's objectives were to revise and strengthen the partnership between Macedonia and the U.S. and to work on Macedonia's image in Washington, which had been tarnished during the 2001 crisis.
"Today, Macedonia is known to be a functioning, multi-ethnic country in pursuit of EU and NATO membership, and we have received invitations from both to begin the process" he says.
"After the first few months of working with the administration and Congress, I realized I needed a set of basic objectives otherwise my work was decided by the events of the day."
One of these objectives was to present and promote Macedonia's perspective on the name issue "which is of paramount importance to Macedonia." His other objective was to convince the administration that what is in Macedonia's best interest also is in America' interest.
"Today we share the same fundamental interests for Macedonia and the region – stability and EU and NATO membership."
He is proud to say, "I played a role in Macedonia's decision to help in other parts of the world where U.S. interests are at stake – Iraq and Afghanistan. At the same time we confirmed our own stability in our willingness to take part in an historic fight for freedom for other nations."
"There have been generations of Macedonians who fought for the freedom of Macedonia, and I am really proud to be part of a generation taking part in the liberation of other nations."
"When I arrived in the U.S., Macedonia was called FYROM. Today, they address me as the Ambassador of Macedonia. I am leaving with the knowledge that the U.S. and Macedonia are partners sharing the same interests.
"One lesson I learned is that if one pursues truth and works energetically to make this truth known, anything can happen. If we work together and if we speak the truth, miracles can happen."
"In Macedonia, there is a feeling that everything happens because of others – we aren't powerful enough to create our own destiny. Recognition by the U.S. proved the contrary."
He views another of his accomplishments as the renovation and opening of the new Macedonian Embassy in Washington. "It is nice to see our national flag flying in our yard in Washington."
"On the other hand, I wish I could have established one organization for all Macedonian-Americans so that we are like the other groups – the Greeks, the Baltic nations, the Turks, and so on, all working together for Macedonia."
"I continue to work with each group individually, but not all together. I hope my successor can create one organization to encompass all Macedonians."
