Russian Minister visits Macedonia

I approve of Macedonia expanding ties with Russia.

Learn from Bill Clinton ... TRIANGULATE!

I believe that both major Macedonia political parties are on the wrong course. They both want to join Nato and the EU without any backup strategy when Greece uses its veto. You cannot expect a fair hearing from EU/NATO since it has ignored the human rights abuses of Macedonians in Greece since Greece joined the EU in the early 70's. Greece's minority rights values are by definition EU/Nato values.

My position is to continue with the Nato /EU course but at the same time, open all doors to Russia under the assumption that Macedonia will be locked out of Nato/EU. This is not a very attractive option since Russia has fallen so low that even the Ukraine is running away from it. Obviously, the US/EU/Nato is subverting Russia. It is also obvious that it is doing it with minimal effort yet Russian influence is collapsing like a deck of cards. Even though Russia is trying to position itself as a defender of Serbs in Kosovo, Serbia is trying to join the Nato and the EU ... YIKES.

RUSSIA SAVE YOURSELF

Having said that ... more contact with Russia,


Invite the Russian Orthodox Archbishop to Ohrid,
Invite Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn to Skopje,
Hold a Russian film festival,
Hold a Russian book Fair.
Produce a film about Macedonian Students in Russian circa 1900,


RADIO FREE EUROPE/ RADIO LIBERTY: "RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DEMANDS QUICK DEMARCATION OF MACEDONIAN BORDER WITH KOSOVA

Visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in Skopje on 8 December that the demarcation of Macedonia's border with Kosova must start as soon as possible, 'Utrinski vesnik' reported. The demarcation must be finalized before any talks on the future status of Kosova begin, Lavrov argued, adding that Russia regards Macedonia as a factor for stability in the Balkans (see 'RFE/RL Newsline,' 10 September and 1 and 7 December 2004 and 'RFE/RL Balkan Report,' 10 and 17 September 2004). Russia will therefore ask the UN Security Council, authorities in Belgrade, UNMIK, and the elected authorities in Prishtina to speed up the border demarcation. Lavrov added that Russia will ask the Security Council to pass a resolution on demarcation. Lavrov's Macedonian counterpart Ilinka Mitreva called relations with Russia 'excellent,' adding that they are a 'priority' for Macedonia. She said Skopje hopes to improve the cooperation with Moscow in economic as well as in 'military-technological' matters. UB"