| Editorial by President Ivanov in Le Monde | |
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Allow the Macedonian integration in the European Union d-r Gjorge Ivanov
One of the most beloved and respected European writers on the Balkans is Nicholas Bouvier (1929-1998) because, in his “The Way of the World”, he wrote the capital and precious thought for all peoples on the Balkans: "Maybe the mind of Europe is located between Paris and Berlin, but the heart of Europe is the Balkans."
Then, it would be definitely possible, 2800 years later, as it was well uttered by the herald of the European regionalism, Denis de Rougemont: "the mind and the heart to meet”. The Balkans today, again, more than ever, needs Europeanization and non-existence of all boundaries, which are still a hindrance for the Balkans to become part of what the visionaries call "Europe - our Common Home". The past experience denotes that our region has survived in peace when there was an open space. Pax Romanae and Pax Otomanae are historical evidence of that. Now we have new circumstances. For the first time in history, in the transition from the 20th into the 21st century, in all Balkans countries we have democratically elected governments. But the need for open space remained. Our region today needs what we call Pax Europeanae, because the European idea itself is a peace project. Now it is the moment again, through the Balkans, the European idea to produce peace and stability as generations of statesmen and visionaries in Europe already have done that. "To build Europe is to build peace," used to say the father of modern Europe - Jean Monnet. In brief, I will refer to this concept and my vision, reflected in the reality of my country, the Republic of Macedonia. What are the key prerequisites for such a model of coexistence, tolerance and respect for all identities and differences in Macedonia? These prerequisites are the deeply-rooted traditions and historical heritage. These prerequisites are the Macedonian identity and language, and since the independence until today, these prerequisites are the Euro-Atlantic integration processes that have strong internal cohesive power and at the same time strong motivating energy. But it is not all so simple and easy when it comes to European values. At least, not for my country. Unfortunately, even today, in the 21st century, when here in Paris, in the heart of Europe, in the country that generated and enforced practically the European idea, we are debating over the right of the national identities to enjoy their own affirmation in the European embroidery, we cannot say that these historical rights related to the present and future, are a reality for us, for the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia. Although at the beginning of the third millennium, we are still facing challenges eminent for the 19th century, when the countries and nations fought for their recognition. Unfortunately the condition that is imposed to us in order to continue on the path of progress, on the path of our Euro-Atlantic integration, does not include only denial of the name of our country, but also a denial of the individual human rights of my fellow citizens, the right to self-identification and to human dignity. Not a single country is allowed to violate the rights of its citizens by anyone, neither from the inside nor from the outside. No one may, nor can allow touching upon the domain of privacy, the scope of individual human rights by an act of public law. Simply, it is impossible to accept, and it is even less possible to implement a solution with such an effect. It is impossible that Europe is not aware of this. I do not know if, except in the case of Greece against Macedonia, in the 21st century, there is someone trying to deny the right of self-identification, the name. Unfortunately, to continue on the path of progress and integration, we are required to give up of the name of our nation, our language. And can you imagine that there is not a single country in the world that denies our identity and our name, except our neighbour Greece. In the 21st century identities are seen through the perspective of human rights. Human rights are the only mechanism that protects the identity, protects the personal feeling of belonging, self-identification, and dignity. Human rights are the guarantee for affirmation and respect of national identities. This truth must unite us all. The ones who do not want to respect this truth, for any reason, will be isolated and contested by the reality.
Europe, as an open space enabling free movement of people, ideas, capital and products! Union as an open space in which everyone enjoys its own rights and identity! As open space in which everyone is respected for what he/she is, regardless of the place of living and work! As a space of tolerance and celebration of diversity! Europeanization of the Balkans means to promote jointly the best tradition of our peoples and our spaces in the spirit of the European tradition of the greatest human desire, the desire for freedom. Each new abuse of the veto, as a principle of functioning between the European including the Balkan countries is anti-historical and anti-European act. The blockades imposed by the Hellenic Republic to the Republic of Macedonia concerning its accession into the European Union and NATO, if accepted as a new practice, will cause a dangerous chain reaction of vetoes which again may drawn us into the whirlpool of political anachronisms of the 19th century. Therefore, I recall Jean Monnet’s warning: "A veto is a profound cause, but also a symbol of powerlessness to overcome national egoisms. Very often it is an expression of the biggest and unconditional blockades”. I remember the spring of 2003 when Macedonia welcomed the great French writer Jacques Lakarier (1925-2005) who, on the shore of the magic Lake Prespa, shared between Macedonia, Greece and Albania, uttered his eternal sentence using those three languages: "It is equally important for Europe and for the Balkans. We have had thousands of yesterdays, but we have only one common tomorrow”
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