Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr has poured cold water on a federal Labor MP’s call for Australia to recognise FYROM as ‘Macedonia’.
Stephen Jones MP, the federal member for Throsby, made a speech on Tuesday in Parliament House, Canberra, asking for a bi-partisan approach be made by Australian politicians in recognising “the Republic of Macedonia under that constitutional name”.
Mr Jones described it as “unfortunate that in Australia we are expected to use the anachronistic name, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in formal address”.
Mr Jones’ electorate has a significant number of people who trace their ancestry to FYROM.
After hearing the Throsby MP’s comments, Steve Georganas MP, federal member for Hindmarsh, spoke to Bob Carr on the matter.
Mr Georganas told Neos Kosmos: “Minister Carr reaffirmed to me that Australia’s policy on FYROM and the naming issue remained exactly the same, and there are no plans to change it.”
“I don’t agree with what Steve Jones said in his speech, and I’ve let him know.”
With Bob Carr’s reaffirmation of Australia’s position over the UN-brokered naming process, Georganas says it is important for the Greek Australian community – with a looming election coming up – to make their MPs and those running for election aware of the issue.
“Greek Australians need to be asking politicians who want their vote, what that politician’s views are on the subject of FYROM and its renaming,” says Georganas.
“Most MPs might not be aware of the issue, and it’s up to the Greek Australian community to inform them. and to let them know what their views are. Sometimes we as a community are falling down in that kind of lobbying.
“That’s how you reaffirm and get the federal government to continue its commitment, regardless of who’s in government.”
In his speech, Stephen Jones told the House of Representatives that the renaming of FYROM was “unfinished business”, and called upon Australian political leaders “from all sides of politics” to contradict the Australian government’s prescribed position on the naming issue.
“Nothing would be more significant that a bipartisan agreement to recognise ‘Macedonia’ by its constitutional name,” he said.
The MP alluded to reports that the FYROM government are considering naming prominent streets in Skopje after Bob Carr and Shadow Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, “in recognition of their leadership and their importance”.
Mr Jones called on Mr Carr and Ms Bishop to “truly earn this honour” by acceding to Skopje’s wishes.
In a statement provided to Neos Kosmos, the Australian Hellenic Council (AHC) said that Stephen Jones had shown a “total ignorance of history” and complete disrespect for UN resolutions over the FYROM naming issue.
AHC Victorian State Coordinator, Peter Jasonides described Mr Jones’ actions as “shameless opportunism” and that the Illawarra constituency MP was “trying (unsuccessfully) to undermine Australia’s participation towards a resolution in the ongoing name dispute.
“This shows just how opportunistic and shallow a politician he is. His call is contrary to the official policy of his own party; in fact, this policy is one of the few in Australia that has bi-partisan support,” said Mr Jasonides.
“He is playing a numbers game, trying desperately to lure voters.”
The AHC Victorian coordinator added that he was sure “people from all backgrounds living in Mr Jones’ electorate – Australians who know and respect history – will give him the history lesson that he so desperately needs, between now and election day… or on election day!”
