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This
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English version
| Biljana Vankovska: Post-Bucharest Macedonia |
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| “He is right - I am a frustrated intellectual, who believes that in times like these it is a sin not to be frustrated.”
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My recent critical columns were received as anti-NATO, which earned me (again!) the label of “frustrated person” - and a “woman” (!?). The editor-in-chief of the newspaper where I regularly publish even praised his own tolerance towards such a rare anti-NATO “flower” in a society where the overwhelming majority (95%) is pro-NATO. Unfortunately, he is right - I AM a frustrated intellectual, who believes that in times like these it is a sin not to be frustrated. True intellectuals are by default incapable of being good politicians because they do not admire the art of the possible; on the contrary, they are critics of what is real and possible; they are visionaries of the “impossible”.
Now, after the failure at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, it seems that Macedonia does not need a peace or anti-NATO movement at all. Greek nationalism served as a good substitute... As a professor of Peace Studies, I felt so miserable to see only some 30-40 people gathered in front of the government building on the eve of the NATO summit. It was sad to see what happened to the country once known as an “oasis of peace”!
These days I have come across an interesting comparison between NATO and the picture of Dorian Grey. What an accurate parallel! On the surface, the Alliance tends to present itself as an embodiment of “universal values” (as many like to believe), such as freedom, democracy, peace and respect for human rights. Its secret “picture”, however, gets more distorted and uglier with every new innocent victim in Afghanistan and Iraq. Behind the righteous rhetoric (which would be the envy of Orwell’s Big Brother), there is the reality of a Grand Strategy for the 21st Century that envisages preemptive nuclear attacks as well as the use of weapons of mass destruction. In the face of such facts, I should probably have greater understanding for a colleague of mine (sadly, from the Peace Program) who argues “it is better for us to be in NATO than NATO to be against us”. Yet, is it possible for us to feel safe and happy with a bad conscience and bloody hands?
The stage-management of the Bucharest summit was quite apparent - it shamelessly showed that “Dorian’s” picture did not need to be hidden at all. The dictator Ceausescu’s palace, built on the misery of thousands of Romanians, served as the theatre for a triumphant gathering of the political-military elites of the most powerful, but not necessarily democratic, powers in the world. The huge banners over the palace resembled scenes from past empires led and inspired by military power. The flames pictured on the Summit’s logo only missed the male torch holder of another infamous poster. Keeping in mind the unprecedented security measures that followed the Summit, one could say that the Empire, afraid of its own shadow and even its own citizens, is a miserable creature. Even more wretched are those who believe that such cowards could bring them prosperity, peace and happiness.
The Summit’s decision not to convey a membership invitation to Macedonia (due to the so-called name issue) enraged the majority of the population. Actually, there is a mix of frustration (towards Greece) and disappointment (with the other Allies), but even more a feeling of self-pity and sense of inflicted injustice for being unwelcome because of what we are (Macedonians). In other words, a whole nation is blind and unable to see the basic facts. How can one be angry with the Alliance that has proved so many times that it does not respect the sacredness of human life, the dignity of the “Others” or even the principle of rule of law? Macedonians cry because NATO turned a blind eye to the fact that Greece violated its international obligation not to avert Macedonia’s integration in any international organization (according to the 1995 Interim Accord signed between the two countries). At the same time, they forget that in 1999 the very same Alliance violated both the UN Charter and its own Statute. Even worse, its most prominent member-states violate the Geneva conventions on a daily basis as well as everything that is left out of international law. Have a look at the Alliance’s ‘successes’ in the Balkans: a Frankenstein-like state (Bosnia), a NATO military base-like state (Kosovo), and a country advised to give up its identity (Macedonia)! Serbia is a special story... and not a single conflict has been resolved. A series of frozen conflicts are in place and, of course, the legacy of the depleted uranium and cluster bombs for all the future generations...
Having belonged to the small percent (5%) of Macedonian citizens with an anti-NATO stand, I should have been satisfied with the Bucharest Summit outcome. But, the situation is now even worse than before Bucharest ... As soon as Mr. Bush swallowed a bitter pill (the Greek veto and also the disagreement in regard to Ukraine and Georgia), he conveyed a sort of ‘consolation prize’ to the Macedonian delegation, i.e., a (military-technical) agreement for “special relations between the US and Macedonia”. This was just enough for a new wave of enthusiasm in Macedonia. The fact that the country has practically no option but to join the Alliance (one way or another) is warmly welcomed. Big Brother promises security guarantees. Nobody even asks how it is possible that a state that (allegedly) meets all NATO criteria needs further security protection. Who should we fear? All around Macedonia there are now NATO member-states (including NATO-made Kosovo), except for Serbia who is preoccupied with internal turmoil. Nevertheless, Macedonians are feeling anti-climax, great disappointment becomes euphoria. The Skopje mayor proposes the City Park to bear the name of George W. Bush, while others have nick-named him “George the Great” and “George the Macedonian”. In all likelihood, two war criminals (Bill Clinton and George W. Bush) will be remembered and celebrated in Kosovo and Macedonia, two puppet states which are happy to love and to be loved by Big Brother. At the same time, in the US the public support for Bush’s politics has reached the bottom and more than 80% of Americans think that their country is moving in the wrong direction. Besides the fact that he is already a lame duck president, Macedonians are obviously looking forward to being led by someone else and being taken to a “bright future” regardless of the fact that the “future” has alot to do with the military failure in Afghanistan and Iraq. They do not even pay attention to the fact that Mr. Bush is totally irrelevant and that he is unable to make any commitment except delivering what the US possesses the most of - the weapons to fight their wars...
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Mountains
cannot be surmounted except by winding
paths.
Goethe |
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