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“Not only does the government in Skopje insist on being the sole claimant to the name of an entire area — the largest part of which lies outside its borders — but authorities in Fyrom insist on portraying Greek Macedonia as “occupied” territory. While government leaders declare they have no designs on Greek territory, they refuse to remove such claims from textbooks, state maps and national documents. Only a few weeks ago, the country’s prime minister was photographed laying a wreath on a monument to which a map of the so-called “Greater Macedonia” was attached; the map incorporated a considerable part of Northern Greece, including Greece’s second-largest city, Thessaloniki.

Winston Churchill is said to have observed once that “The Balkans produce much more history than they can consume.” Make no mistake: Given this sensitive region’s historical baggage, the monopolization of the term Macedonia by a single state is in no way conducive to good neighborly relations or regional stability. Perpetuating problems is always a recipe for trouble. We need a real solution to a real problem…”