Provocation towards Greece in FYROM
20.1.2012
Question for written answer P-000621/2012
to the Commission
Rule 117
Georgios Koumoutsakos (PPE)
Yesterday, the Greek Government was forced to take the serious step of protesting to the Government of FYROM, expressing its intense displeasure about incidents which took place several days ago at the carnival in the city of Vevčani. These incidents were unacceptable, provocative and offensive to Greece.
The main incident which led to a Member State making this serious gesture towards FYROM, a candidate for accession, was the burning of a Greek flag. In addition to the above, special emphasis must be laid on the fact that these unacceptable events occurred almost at the same time as negotiations under the auspices of the UN between Greece and FYROM restarted, after a long hiatus, with a view to reaching a solution to the issue of the name of this candidate country, in application of Decision 817/1993 of the UN Security Council.
In a view the above and in view of the European Parliament’s approval of the resolution on the progress of EU‑FYROM relations:
- 1.Is the Commission aware of the incidents in question?
- 2.Does it intend to mention the unacceptable nature of these incidents in any relevant protests to Mr Gruevski’s Government?
- 3.Does the Commission recognise that such provocative acts and incidents undermine the prospects for success of these negotiations, which are already difficult?
- 4.What view does the Commission take of such acts of provocation, given that they cultivate and maintain a climate of fanaticism, intolerance and tension in such a sensitive region as the western Balkans?
OJ C 75 E, 14/03/2013