Press Releases & News
MPO liaison tells Senators of MPO support of Lugar resolution
Macedonian Tribune, April 2008 edition
March 4 was a busy day for Vladimir Atseff, MPO’s Liaison in Washington. He visited 30 Congressional offices and a Helsinki Commission Hearing. His purpose was to push Senators to accept Senator Richard Lugar’s Resolution 459, which supports NATO expansion including membership for the Republic of Macedonia. The hearing examined NATO expansion.
The Helsinki Commission is a bicameral agency that monitors progress in implementing the 1975 Helsinki Accords. It consists of nine members from the US Senate, nine from the House, and one member each from the US departments of State, Defense and Commerce.
Congressman Alcee Hastings is chairman and Senator Benjamin Cardin is vice chair. Atseff’s written report to the MPO Board explained, “The hearing examined enlargement issues for NATO in light of the April 2, Bucharest Summit. Currently, Macedonia, Albania and Croatia hope for invitations to join the alliance while Ukraine and Georgia expect to be offered Membership Action Plans.
“The hearing assessed the readiness of these countries to take the next steps in their respective integration paths with particular focus on democratic development and respect for the rule of law.
“Testifying before the Commission were Dr. Michael Haltzel, the Honorable Steven Pifer and Janusz Bugajski (1992 MPO Convention speaker). All three work for the Center for Strategic and International Studies.”
All recommended membership for the three prospects with Haltzel and Bugajski expressing concern that Greece will veto Macedonia’s nomination due to the name dispute. The group believes Macedonia has made exceptional progress and merits membership. Macedonia received good marks in the areas of democratic development, security reform, contributions to NATO and the US, domestic stability, regional security and an improved economy. A written statement by Macedonia’s Ambassador Zoran Jolevski was placed into the official record.
Earlier in the day Atseff visited the following offices of members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: Christopher Dodd, John Kerry, Russell Feingold, Barbara Boxer, Bill Nelson, Benjamin Cardin, Robert Carey, Jim Webb, Chuck Hagel, Norm Coleman, Lisa Murkowski, Jim DeMint, Johnny Isakson and David Vittter.
He also visited the following offices of members of the Senate Armed Services Committee: Carl Levin, Edward Kennedy, Joseph Lieberman, Jack Reed, Ben Nelson, Evan Bayh, John McCain, John Warner, James Inhofe, Jeff Sessions, Saxby Chambliss, Lindsey Graham, John Cornyn, John Thune, Mel Martinez and Robert Byrd.
Editor’s Note: Elsewhere in this issue see MPO President’s letter in Support of Resolution 459.
