Australian DFAT and Immigration joint release on agreement between Greece and FYROM<P>

M112

15 September 1995

JOINT STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SENATOR GARETH EVANS, AND THE MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS, SENATOR NICK BOLKUS

AUSTRALIA WELCOMES INTERIM ACCORD BETWEEN GREECE AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

The Australian Government welcomes the interim agreement, signed in New York on 13 September, between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia which establishes a new relationship between the two countries based on international law and peaceful, friendly relations.

The agreement should make a positive contribution to regional security and allow the two countries to develop constructive bilateral relations as neighbouring countries should.

The agreement is a comprehensive one based on the so-called "small package" which was developed under United Nations auspices and puts to one side for the time being the issue of the future name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

It provides for both parties to recognise the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of the other. This will involve the mutual recognition of Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the establishment of diplomatic relations and liaison offices in each other's capital, with the ultimate goal of relations at Ambassadorial level. The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will cease to use the symbol that is now on its national flag and will provide binding assurances that its Constitution is consistent with the principles of international law and good neighbourly relations. Greece will terminate the trade embargo it imposed on the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in February 1994.

Senator Evans and Senator Bolkus said the agreement was consistent with the approach the Australian Government had taken on these issues and met its key concerns.

Both Ministers see the agreement as an encouraging development and look forward to other outstanding issues, including that of nomenclature, being settled in the same spirit of constructive cooperation.