Forty (40) members of the US House of Representatives signed a letter on Thursday, co-authored by Florida Representative Mike Bilirakis and New York Representative Carolyn Maloney, urging the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to reach a compromise with Greece over the name dispute. 
In their letter, Bilirakis and Maloney call on the FYROM government to stop its negative nationalistic propaganda and to work with the UN and Greece towards finding a mutually-acceptable solution. 
Furthermore, the representatives also call on FYROM to re-examine the content of books, maps and school books and ensure their accuracy.

Following is the full text of the letter and the names of the Representatives who signed.

109th CONGRESS 1st Session H. Res. 521
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) should cease its distribution of negative and nationalist propaganda and should work with the United Nations and Greece to find a mutually acceptable official name for the FYROM.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 27, 2005 , Mrs. MALONEY (for herself and Mr. BILIRAKIS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) should cease its distribution of negative and nationalist propaganda and should work with the United Nations and Greece to find a mutually acceptable official name for the FYROM.
Whereas on April 8, 1993, the United Nations General Assembly admitted as a member the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), not as the `Republic of Macedonia', but as the `Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia';
Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 817 (1993) states that the dispute over the name must be resolved to maintain peaceful relations between Greece and the FYROM;
Whereas on September 13, 1995, Greece and the FYROM signed a United Nations brokered Interim Accord;
Whereas since its admittance to the United Nations in 1993, the FYROM has allowed the publishing of negative and nationalist propaganda, including in school textbooks;
Whereas students are being taught that parts of Greece, including Greek Macedonia, belong to the FYROM;
Whereas some textbooks and maps show that a `Greater Macedonia' extends south to Mount Olympus in Greece and east to Mount Pirin in Bulgaria; and
Whereas this misinformation instills hostility in portions of the population of the FYROM toward Greece: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) urges the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to observe its obligations under Article 7 of the 1995 United Nations brokered Interim Accord and take steps to halt the proliferation of negative propaganda toward Greece and review the contents of textbooks, maps, and teaching aids to ensure that such tools are stating accurate information; and

(2) urges the FYROM to work within the framework of the United Nations process to reach a mutually acceptable permanent name.

Cosponsors of H. Res. 521 [As of 12/20/05]
1. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ)
2. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
3. Rep. Mike Bilirakis (R-FL)
4. Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY)
5. Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
6. Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO)
7. Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY)
8. Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA)
9. Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA)
10. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (D-MA)
11. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
12. Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ)
13. Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY)
14. Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-IL)
15. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI)
16. Rep. James Langevin (D-RI)
17. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
18. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI)
19. Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY)
20. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
21. Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-MO)
22. Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)
23. Rep. Michael McNulty (D-NY)
24. Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA)
25. Rep. Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
26. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
27. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
28. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ)
29. Rep. Donald Payne (D-NJ)
30. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
31. Rep. Steve Rothman (D-NJ)
32. Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT)
33. Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA)
34. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)
35. Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA)
36. Rep. John Tierney (D-MA)
37. Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY)
38. Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
39. Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA)
40. Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA)

^
top

print this page   send this page