Sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, have claimed to be optimistic about the future outcome of the name issue with Skopje.

The Greek side, they claimed, is flanked by experienced diplomats, well known for their accomplishments in modern diplomatic history.

The Greek interlocutor in the past had been entrusted with the task of solving the issue of the pending parking tickets issued by the Mayor of New York to Greek Diplomats, for illegal parking, which amounted to $550.000.

The Greek Side, claimed that “the diplomats wouldn’t be obliged to pay, because no measures could be taken against them, due to Vienna Convention for Diplomatic Relations”.

The Mayor of New York sent the bill to the State Department. The Greek side continued to be confident. The State Department transmitted the bill to Ministry of Defense. The Greek side started questioning “There is something fishy about it..”.

Then they heard the news “All scholarships to Greek military personnel for training in the U.S. is suspended until the $550.000 parking ticked is paid to the Mayor of New York”.

The Greek side became anxious about the turnout of the issue. The charged the experienced interlocutor to start negotiations about the amount to be paid. “How about paying you $400.000 and we stop talking?”, “how about paying you $400.000 now and the remaining $150.000 is paid in 99 years?”, “how about paying now the whole amount minus 10%?”, “how about paying you in Panama Canal bonds?”, “how about not paying, but you to be free to park where you like in the center of Athens without getting parking tickets?”.

After receiving “No”s about a hundred times (2005-2006), the Greek side paid $550.000. The illegally parked cars’ owners were never called to reimburse the Greek tax payers money of $550.000 corresponding to their respective illegal parking practices.

The other strong weapon of the Greek diplomacy is the Supreme Service Council (“Anotato Ypiresiako Symboulio). It is comprised of high ranking diplomats (even retired ones, some of them very old, invalid or close to dying). The new clauses of the reformed status Law of the Foreign Ministry stipulate “that the low rank officials whose case is brought before the Supreme Service Council, have no right whatsoever to be represented before such a council even is the said council is ready to kick them out of the service for grounds of incompetence. In such cases, even the Foreign Minister cannot modify the Council’s decision”.

Retired ex diplomats, aged between 70 and 87, (experienced in persecuting young diplomats) that constitute “the Greek Foreign Minister’s elite advisory group”, have claimed that Greece shall come victorious in the name dispute with Skopje, if the latter ever decides that the issue shall be discussed and determined exclusively within the “Supreme Service Council” of the Foreign Ministry of Greece.

The only smart move by SDSM at these elections is their (semi-hidden) support for Boshkovski which took a lot of Ivanov’s votes. But they won’t have that advantage at the second round.

Anyway, the results thus far (from about 83,06% of the vote):

Ivanov(VMRO) – 35,33%
Frckoski(SDSM) – 20,12%
Boshkovski(Ind.)- 15,11%
Selmani(ND) – 14,97%
Budzaku(DUI) – 7,57%
Ruzin(LDP) – 3,74%
Hodza(DPA) – 3,16%

The willingness of the Albanian parties to sabotage each other is both good and bad. It’s unfortunate that they have to do this, but on the other hand a single party for all Albanians would probably be very bad for Macedonia.

Personally, I’m surprised that Frckovski did so well…

Doug M.

By the way, before Selmani announced that he is going to run for president, the other two Albanian political parties seemed uninterested in the presidential elections. But after he did, they nominated their own candidates just to sabotage him. And DUI’s Agron Budzaku managed just that on the last presidential debate. He uncovered some interesting things before the Macedonian viewers. Lets just say Selmani has not been telling the same things to the Albanians and Macedonians. Anyway, if it wasn’t for that debate and if the other two Albanian parties didn’t nominate their candidates, he would’ve actually had a shot for the second place (though it would’ve been a very tight race).

Still, all is not lost for Selmani. I think his greatest victory is that he got more votes than the other two Albanian candidates put together, so his party is probably going to replace Taci’s DPA as the second biggest at the next parliamentary elections. So, we are going to see more of him in the following years. And you know what, I think that’s a good thing, I’ll take Selmani over Taci any day of the week.

I’ll say again: soon I will post something about the name dispute. It will have a comment thread, in which you will be free — free! — to scream at each other all you like.

THIS IS NOT THAT THREAD. This is a post about Macedonia’s Presidential election. Comments that are not relevant the election will be deleted.

Thank you for your understanding.

Doug M.