Conditions for Greece's Recognition of Macedonia

The article neglects to mention that since the turn of the 20th century, Greece has pursued an aggressive policy of territorial expansionism in the Balkans, by which it acquired its northermost region called "Macedonia" in 1913. Post-World War II iron rule of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe served to restrain Greece's historical policy of aggression against its neighboring Balkan states. With the collapse of communism, Greece has resumed its policy of the pre-communist era by denying the

existence of an independent Macedonia.

By blocking the recognition of the Republic of Macedonia, except on the condition that the Macedonians relinquish their historical name, Greece contributes to the destabilization of the post-communist Balkan region. It is Greece's conduct which risks drawing other Balkan countries into a tragic conflict. Greece's intransigent stance on the issue cannot help but arouse the historically based suspicions of its neighbors that more than just a name is involved. Persida Zlatkov, New York

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