[Interview with Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki by Zana P. Bozinovska; place and date not given: "We Are Defending Nation From Greek Aggression"]

[Passage omitted on Dnevnik introduction]

[Bozinovska] A potential Greek blockade would not come as a surprise, because it has announced on several occasions that, unless a solution to the name dispute is reached, it will impose a veto on our EU accession, too. What are you going to do then?

[Milososki] We will first focus on what has been established as our objective, that is, to meet the European Commission's criteria. The commission is the guard of the EU agreements, so we believe that, for the sake of its own credibility, as well as to keep the doors open to the EU integration process, it will be an institution that will make the relevant assessments and recommendations and that the European Council will decide on the basis of this. In any event, if Athens decides to block us, this decision will impact Greece's internal political developments, related to their disproportion of political forces and internal political problems, but this will not be the Republic of Macedonia's responsibility. Macedonia cannot convince Athens that the policy of blockade is a strategy that is not useful either for it or the region.

Force of Arguments

[Bozinovska] Do you still believe that we can catch the NATO train, although "the deadline" of 9 July that the NATO secretary general pointed out has expired?

[Milososki] It is not questionable whether we belong to NATO, because it has been confirmed that we belong there, but it is a matter of time and more favourable circumstances for this to happen. More favourable circumstances means a more positive, more constructive, and more broadminded approach by Athens in terms of NATO's strategic determination for its expansion. This should be an approach in which the open bilateral issues will not be abused. With our engagement in the UN-mediated name talks, we will do our utmost to attain this common goal. Still, I will repeat that we have been doing and will continue to do the things that depend on us. Yet, we cannot bear the responsibility for the things that depend on someone else and for certain irrational and futile assessments by other states, in this case by neighbouring Greece.

[Bozinovska] Greece is showing no signs of intending to give in regarding this case. Have we come to terms with the fact that we will have to wait for another date to join NATO in one or two years or when the dispute is solved?

[Milososki] We can in no event accept that the dispute should be resolved at any cost. This dispute is not of secondary, but of primary importance for Macedonia's national interests. Hence, I believe that we should retain our principles and national interests regarding our constitutional name in this respect.