Embassy Row [EXCERPT ONLY]
The Balkans might be one of the most politically unstable regions in the world, but one Greek diplomat provided a measure of reliability as he tried to negotiate peace throughout southeast Europe for more than 10 years.
Alexandros P. Mallias, Greece's new ambassador in Washington, thinks stability in the Balkans is in the national security interests of the United States, which intervened militarily during the Clinton administration to end civil wars in Bosnia and in Kosovo.
"We need a spirit of cooperation to prevail throughout the Balkans," he told Embassy Row recently. "The Balkans is an ideal zone for a U.S.-European Union strategic partnership."
Mr. Mallias began his official duties in the Balkans in 1993 when he joined the team from the Greek Foreign Ministry that tried to find an acceptable name for one of Greece's northern neighbors.
Whether that northern neighbor is known as Macedonia or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia might sound like a silly dispute to outsiders. But Greeks have an ancient claim to the name Macedonia and have been demanding that its neighbors find a new title for their country.
Mr. Mallias said Greek negotiators thought they had proposed a reasonable compromise when they suggested the use of the name in the Macedonian language, Republika Makedonia-Skopje. (Skopje is the capital.)
"To our surprise, our friends in Skopje rejected it," the ambassador said. "They felt self-confident after the American recognition."
In November 2004, the Bush administration decided to recognize the country as the Republic of Macedonia.
Mr. Mallias said that one of his tasks in Washington is to get the United States to support NATO membership for Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia and Montenegro.
"Greece's goal is to have all of the region as members in NATO and the European Union," he said.
Mr. Mallias also reiterated Greece's support for Turkey's membership in the European Union, adding that the Muslim nation must meet the same qualifications as other EU candidates.
"We want Turkey to change, not Europe," he said. "It may be the biggest challenge in Turkey's history."
Mr. Mallias has served under 11 Greek governments and 13 foreign ministers. He was the Greek representative in Macedonia in 1995 and ambassador to Albania in 1999.
Split from Serbia
The Greek ambassador might be hoping for stability in the Balkans, but the Bush administration is preparing for more disruption with its plans to appoint a former top diplomat to talks on the future of Serbia sponsored by the United Nations.
Frank Wisner, who served as ambassador to India and Egypt, is expected to be appointed to the talks that could decide whether the restive province of Kosovo gets independence. Serbia has offered a considerable amount of autonomy but rejects a division of the country.
Reuters news agency yesterday quoted diplomatic sources as saying that Mr. Wisner's appointment will be announced soon.
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By James Morrison
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
