UMD supports Macedonia in joining NATO and EU, but only by preserving its name, identity

Skopje, 16 August 2010 (MIA) -  We are not part of the campaign run by immigrants requesting name talks to be stopped, but we do consider that the name of the Republic of Macedonia is the Republic of Macedonia and we support that name, stated Meto Koloski - president of the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) that is leading a delegation of 18 congressional staffers.

He said that UMD through a resolution adopted at its June congress was supporting Macedonia's NATO and EU membership, but only by preserving its name and identity as well as launch of a procedure on amending the UN Security Council Resolution 817 referring to the name "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia".

Koloski said the Turkish Coalition of America (TCA) financed the visit in order the US guests to learn more about Macedonia, its institutions and the situation in the country as well as to assist the country in its EU-NATO efforts.

TCA president Lincoln McCurdy said the United States lacked information about Macedonia and Turkey, while the organisations of Macedonian and Turkish immigrants were not organised enough to counter the strong lobbying of Greek and Armenian Americans.

- We want to tell the US Congress that a balanced dialogue is needed - all groups should be heard and history shouldn't be interpreted from the viewpoint of one group. Macedonian, Greek, Turkish and Armenian immigrants have one thing in common - they are all American citizens and should enjoy the same rights, said McCurdy.

Asked about the name row, he said he wasn't wise enough to give an advice, stressing that it was necessary more and more people to be informed about the Macedonian truth involving the dispute with efforts made by Macedonian immigrant organisations.

- The United States can only encourage Greeks and Macedonians to settle the issue and to move forward, because the countries have their own issues that require resolution, McCurdy stated.

The delegation includes 18 congressional staffers and TCA representatives, 15 professors and businessmen from Turkey. They are scheduled to meet on Monday with President Gjorge Ivanov, ministers Antonio Milososki and Zoran Konjanovski and to visit Bitola and Ohrid.