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The ICJ to deliver its judgment in the FYROM v Greece case

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will deliver its judgment in the case concerning Application of the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995 (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia v. Greece) on Monday, 5 December 2011 (for more information see the Court’s press release here). The case started on 17 November 2008, with the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) instituting proceedings against Greece for what it described as “a flagrant violation of [Greece’s] obligations under Article 11 of the Interim Accord signed by the Parties on 13 September 1995” (see Application here).

Basically, FYROM has requested that the Court find Greece in violation of Article 11 of the Interim Accord and order it to cease and desist from objecting in any way, whether directly or indirectly, to the FYROM’s membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and/or of any other ‘international, multilateral  and regional organizations and institutions’ of which Greece is a member, in  circumstances where FYROM is to be referred to in such organization or institution  by the designation provided for in paragraph 2 of United Nations Security Council resolution 817 (1993). On its part, Greece claims that the Court has no jurisdiction to hear the case or the case is inadmissible, or in the alternative that FYROM’s claims are unfounded.

Hopefully, this eagerly awaited judgment, coupled with the (newfound) good will of the parties  and the efforts of high-profile international mediators will help solve the ongoing row between FYROM and Greece over the name of the former and also pave the way for FYROM joining NATO and the EU.

8 Comments

  1. Kiro Velkovski Kiro Velkovski 27 November 2011

    There’s no FYROM. If you are connected to law, you will know that all entities have the sovereign right to chose their names. It is Republic of Macedonia, or, simply, Macedonia.

  2. Gentian Zyberi Gentian Zyberi Post author | 28 November 2011

    Mr. Velkovski, the United Nations, the EU and other organizations refer to your State as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia or FYROM. If you have a look at the ICJ’s website you’ll see how your country is referred to in the name of the case.

    • Kiro Velkovski Kiro Velkovski 28 November 2011

      Well, then Republic of Kosovo does not exist. Or it exists?
      Again – it is sovereign right of every country to chose it’s name. (and UN and such does not use any acronyms, btw)

  3. Gentian Zyberi Gentian Zyberi Post author | 28 November 2011

    How did we get from the ICJ’s judgment in the case FYROM v. Greece to whether Kosovo does exist or not? Since you’re asking, FYROM/Macedonia has recognized Kosovo and you can check it here http://www.mfa-ks.net/?page=2,33 under number 50. And so have all its neighbouring countries, save for Serbia. There are 85 official recognitions and many other countries recognize the documents that the Republic of Kosovo issues. So, there you have it.
    As one country can choose its name, another country can refuse to recognize it under that name. Otherwise there would not be a need to bring a case before the ICJ, would it? As for the UN you can see under what name Macedonia is listed at http://www.un.org/en/members/index.shtml

    • Kiro Velkovski Kiro Velkovski 29 November 2011

      Just to picture you the obvious. MACEDONIA recognized Kosovo. And that is with all attributes of a country. Including the name. And vice versa. So, if you go into numbers, you are outnumbered, too. Macedonia has relationships with over 130 countries under its constitutional name. ONLY HANDFUL (12? 13?) countries still bow under pressure from the (morally and financialy bankrupt) former Macedonian possesion of Athens..
      So, you know nothing about the law – no company can deny the name of another company. No person can deny the other person’s name (except in Nazi or apparthaid camps ). No country can deny other country’s name. It’s sovereign attribute. And you should know that.
      (if you check the page you mentioned – 1. there’s no FYROM, 2. it says “By resolution A/RES/47/225 of 8 April 1993, the General Assembly decided to admit as a Member of the United Nations the State being provisionally referred to for all purposes within the United Nations as “The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” pending settlement of the difference that had arisen over its name.”. 3. It does not say what is the name of my country, but only how UN will temporarily refer to it, 4. the wording is such, as NOONE HAS THE RIGHT TO NAME OTHERS…)
      It’s basic human right to let other people chose the name of their kids, schools, language, highways, country. THAT is law.

  4. Anonymous Anonymous 1 December 2011

    Mr Velkovski,
    You say “No person can deny the other person’s name”! I agree. What happens when the name and cultural heritage that you choose for your country, happens to be part of another country? Macedonia was, and continues to be part of the Hellenistic world, not the slavic. You have every right to choose a name and culture for your new country, so long as it is not some else’s! Alexander the Great was not a Slav, his name was Alexandros, not Alexandrovski.
    This isn’t about just a name of a country, but the taking of a huge part of Hellenistic culture and calling it your own.
    I respect your right to call your country whatever you like, why do you deny my country the same right to keep its own name and culture?

  5. Kiro Velkovski Kiro Velkovski 5 December 2011

    Now what? Read the text of the Court decision – we have no obligation to use any other names but ours 🙂

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