The Washington Times Publishes AHI’s Letter to the Editor on FYROMWASHINGTON, DC — The Washington Times published the American Hellenic Institute’s letter to editor, “Republic of Macedonia Eroding Good Relations,” September 12, 2014. (AHI note: The title of AHI’s Letter to the Editor submission was determined by the Editorial Board of the Washington Times and not at the suggestion of AHI). AHI Legislative Director Georgea Polizos wrote the letter in response to a September 1, 2014 op-ed column by Luke Coffey titled, “U.S. must help usher Macedonia into NATO over Greek objections.” Polizos addresses Coffey’s inaccuracies by first setting the record straight on Alexander the Great’s Hellenic heritage. She then corrects Coffey’s false statement that the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) makes “no territorial pretensions toward any neighbors” by citing several examples of where FYROM’s long-term policies, under the administration of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, have advanced extreme nationalism and provocation against Greece. “These acts are a breach of the U.N.-brokered Interim Accord, erode efforts to build trust and good neighborly relations and do not embrace policies compatible with NATO or European Union standards,” Polizos wrote.
The American Hellenic Institute is an independent non-profit Greek American public policy center and think tank that works to strengthen relations between the United States and Greece and Cyprus, and within the Greek American community.
### For additional information, please contact Georgea Polizos at (202) 785-8430 or at pr@ahiworld.org. For general information about the activities of AHI, please see our website at https://www.ahiworld.org and follow us on Twitter @TheAHIinDC.
September 10, 2014
The Editor
Dear Editor, Luke Coffey’s op-ed (U.S. must help usher Macedonia into NATO over Greek objections, Sept. 1) is, to borrow his word, “absurd.” First, Coffey’s account of ancient history is inaccurate. Alexander the Great was from the ancient Hellenic city-state of Macedonia, a historical truth supported by highly-regarded classicists and historians. Coffey’s statement that FYROM makes “no territorial pretensions toward any neighbors” is false. Under Prime Minister Gruevski’s administration, FYROM has pursued a long-term policy of extreme nationalism and provocation against Greece in conflict with Euro-Atlantic values. He has been pictured in public with a map of his country that includes the Greek province of Macedonia and Mount Olympus as one united political entity. FYROM reintroduced the Hellenic symbol “Sun of Vergina” as the symbol of its country in television advertising spots running internationally, including in the United States. These acts are a breach of the U.N.-brokered Interim Accord, erode efforts to build trust and good neighborly relations, and do not embrace policies compatible with NATO or EU standards. Yet, despite FYROM’s provocations, Greece has compromised greatly by proposing “a compound name for the country; a name that will distinguish it from both the Greek and Bulgarian part” in the effort to stabilize the Balkans and promote Euro-Atlantic standards, which is in the best interests of the United States. Sincerely, Georgea Polizos |
|
The Washington Times Publishes AHI’s Letter to the Editor on FYROM
|