MPO Convention Resolutions

UN, International Recognition of the Republic of Macedonia by its Constitutional Name

RESOLUTION

The duly elected delegates of the Macedonian Patriotic Organization of the United States and Canada (MPO) who met on September 1, 2007, in Dearborn, Michigan, for their 86th Annual Convention, unanimously voted to urge the United Nations (UN) and the governments of all nations to recognize the Republic of Macedonia by its constitutional name, to employ such name in all communications with such nation and to employ such name in all international bodies and organizations, and hereby proclaim:

WHEREAS, the Republic of Macedonia became a member of the UN on April 8, 1993, and, as an independent state, has the sovereign right to determine its national identity and name; and,

WHEREAS, since the Republic of Macedonia’s admission to the UN, it has been subject as a condition of such admission, to reference at such body and in other international bodies and organizations as the “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” or by the insulting acronym “FYROM” at the insistence of the Hellenic Republic; and,

WHEREAS, the imposition of the name “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” as a condition for the Republic of Macedonia’s admission into the United Nations and the continued reference to the Republic of Macedonia by such name is an affront to the Republic of Macedonia’s sovereign rights, an insult to the basic human dignity of its citizens, violates the letter and spirit of the United Nations Charter, and lacks any legal or rational basis; and,

WHEREAS, after the people of the Republic of Macedonia declared their independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 and named their new multi-ethnic, democratic nation the Republic of Macedonia, the Hellenic Republic imposed an illegal trade embargo against the Republic of Macedonia, devastated its economy and demanded amendments to its constitution and changes to its national symbols; and,

WHEREAS, the Hellenic Republic continues its refusal to recognize the Republic of Macedonia’s constitutional name, has failed to participate in good faith in the UN -brokered talks over the “name dispute” while disingenuously referring to the Republic of Macedonia’s “intransigence” at such talks, has made concerted efforts to misrepresent the term “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” as the Republic of Macedonia’s actual name, and most disturbingly, has threatened to veto the Republic of Macedonia’s admission to NATO and/or the European Union simply if the Republic of Macedonia refuses to change its name and bow to the Hellenic Republic’s demands; and,

WHEREAS, three of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, the United States of America, the Russian Federation and the People’s Republic of China, recognize the Republic of Macedonia by its constitutional name and more than 100 additional nations, a majority of the members of the UN recognize the Republic of Macedonia by its constitutional name; and,

WHEREAS, the continued use of the terms “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” and/or “FYROM” as a reference to the Republic of Macedonia by the United Nations, other international bodies, and certain nations is tantamount to approval of the Hellenic Republic’s outrageous, irrational, and anti-democratic conduct toward the Republic of Macedonia, THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, that the MPO Urges the United Nations, all other international bodies and all nations that have not yet done so, to end their tacit approval of the Hellenic Republic’s encroachment on the sovereignty of the Republic of Macedonia and to recognize the Republic of Macedonia by its constitutional name with all haste.

Copies to:
Secretary-General of the United Nations, United Nations Security Council, Officials & Members of the European Union & European Communities, President of the United States of America, its Secretary of State, US Ambassadors to all appropriate countries and organizations, Prime Minister of Canada & its Minister of Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canadian Ambassadors to all appropriate countries and organizations, Appropriate US Congressional Committees, Officials and media in the Republic of Macedonia