AMAC ready to respond to Gruevski's visit

The AMAC Executive Board will be holding a meeting on Monday to discuss future course of action on the issue. Mr Gruevski is planned to come to Australia to sign a bilateral Social Security Agreement similar to the one already in effect between Greece and Australia since October 2008.

According to the President of AMAC, Nick Koukouvitakis the organisation will be sending letters to Federal and local politicians outlining their vigilance on the naming issue. "We want to make sure that Australia will not be changing its position on the issue," Mr Koukouvitakis said to Neos Kosmos English Edition (NKEE).

Australia currently recognises Greece's northern neighbour with the nomenclature former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in adherence to the United Nations (UN) terminology.

The question arising from Mr Gruevski's anticipated official visit to Australia is under which name will the Social Security Agreement be signed.

A number of nations have recognised the so-called constitutional name of "Republic of Macedonia". Mr Koukouvitakis noted that AMAC plans to inform Australian politicians that the Greek community will not accept any change of policy on the naming issue.

The outgoing Ambassador of Greece to Australia, George Zois has stressed the fact that such a move by Australia could only signal intransigence on the part of FYROM. "...a recognition on the part of Australia of their so-called constitutional name, would certainly be a push for them to be more intransigent," Mr Zois emphasised during a recent interview to NKEE.

Mr Zois expressed his hope that Australia will not be changing its policy especially during this critical phase of the negotiations under the UN auspices, between Greece and FYROM on the naming issue. -
AMAC is also expected to send letters to Australian media calling their attention on the name they are going to be using when reffering to FYROM.