Македонска Искра

Selected from the archives
Interview with Mr. Hans Lothar Steppan, former Ambassador of Germany in Macedonia

Mr. Shtepan, what was the occasion, in other words, what has lead you in writing of this book “Macedonian knot”?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: In the time of my official working in Macedonia and during the time of my retirement, I have listen so many wrong information and lies about the history of Macedonia from the neighbor-countries, so, that how I come in conclusion that I must inform myself directly from the original reports of the German embassies and consulates in the capital cities of the European great forces and from the Balkans countries from XIX and beginning of XX century for the truth of the Macedonian history. Exactly this, I was doing with months in the Political archive in the Ministry of foreign affairs in Bon and later in Berlin.

In the working title, the subject matter is about the Macedonians identity. What was the conclusion about the truth for the Macedonians identity?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: The identity of one people in this moment is decisional criterion for its recognition from the family of peoples, when other countries are starting that identity to dispute. Only the unjustified rights of demands leads to problems for the country, when the third countries don’t own correct historical knowledge’s for that state or they are mislead. That is the case with Macedonia. Bulgarians are claiming that Macedonians are speaking Bulgarian and because of that they are Bulgarian even though this is not true. Greeks are claiming that “Macedonia” is exclusive name only for them even though this request doesn’t have any bases. Also, the Albanians in the frames of Macedonia are requesting for more territory, which don’t belong to them; also they are developing certain mechanisms of repression.

Hand which will unite the Macedonian knot will be not found here, at home, but in Europe”. How you comment this statement?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: The statement of the Russian General about the solution of the “Macedonian knot” helped by Europe, it turns out profitable. (Because of that, I don’t like to imagine how development of Republic of Macedonia will pass without EU, especially without USA and UN.) For final recognition of legitimacy of democratic actions for achievement of the Macedonian independency, European Union was necessary in 1991. Indeed, in Brussels and in the members-states of EU, during the time, existing true data about the Macedonian question as consequence of the dramatic events in XX century (First and Second World War as well as the Cold War) were repressed, so it came to that, neighbors of Macedonia, without international organizations to establish order, they could wanted their unjustified requests. But, it should be expected; that these hanging conditions will end soon.

You are saying that tight connection between the history of Macedonia and the history of the German Rajah is unexpected. Your comment?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: I don’t expect these fates of Macedonia to be so tight connected with the politic of the German Rajah before First World War. As example, I didn’t find any information in any German book of history about the dynastic connection between the Greek (Danish) Kingdom and Prussian Hoencoloric. Only the original acts in the archive of the Ministry of foreign affairs of Germany gives me extensive data about the marriage of the sister of the Kaiser Wilhelm the Second. Sofi a with the Greek heir to he throne Prince Constantan. The forces of Atlanta, England, France and Russia have approved attack for the four Balkans kingdoms against the Turkish Empire with consequence for annexation and separation of Macedonia, Western Tracie and South Epire, because they wanted to use Balkans countries for completing of encirclement of Germans and of Hapsburgs Empire, but it can imagine that the Kaiser Wilhelm without family connection between Greek and German Monarchy will not allowed attack against the Balkans countries from the empires’ immature against Turkey. The history of Macedonia, in that case will have completely different course. Tragically, this German-Greek dynastic connection has brought to that, the Kaiser to approve to his brother-in-low to start war against the Turkish Empire.

You concluded that the Republic of Macedonia is target of its neighbors. Why?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: I am afraid, that if Bulgaria, Greece and Albanians from Macedonia ask for their request because of the separate elements from the Macedonian identity and with favorable condition, they can try, in action to transform their requests according to the model from the XIX century. If my fears and fears of many other peoples according to the opinion of the Macedonian neighbors are not based, than for them it will be easy these fears to be removed, with cancellation of their requests and with acceptation of Macedonia without any limits. Greek is still invited to show the historical proof that Macedonia was Greek even in the ancient time or belonged to Greek. (Politically wanted ideas or ideological claims are not satisfying the scientific requests)

You notice, that the resistance of the Greeks’ regime and of the Greek public to use the name Macedonia for us, in base is because of the languages nationalism, in other words, false argument that only Greece has right to use the Name Macedonia and the ancient Macedonian symbol “Star of Virginia”. According to you, how will end this quarrel with Greece?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: From the independence of the Republic of Macedonia until today, the Greeks authorities are permanently claiming that the name “Macedonia” and the star (or sun) from Virgina belongs only to the Greeks; they explain their rights with excuse that ancient Macedonia was always Greek. This claiming, under my opinion is historically untenable. The solution, it seems to me is less difficulty it seems on first sight:
- About the star from Virgina, Macedonian government under the pressure from the USA (and from EU) from uninformation of the true connections of the history was forced to revoke the ancient Macedonian symbol, which was found on the Macedonian ground 1912/13 polled from Greece.
- About the legal name of the state Macedonia, in 1991 was accepted unreserved by the many states and permanent members of the Security Council of UN Kina and Russia (and Russians must known very good the history of Macedonia) and that the United States of America. It can be expected also the European states on the base of their historical researches to bring out consequence as USA about the history of Macedonia (even when they have let up because of their misunderstand solidarity under the permanent pressure from Greece) to recognize the right of Macedonia for unlimited use of this name. Because Greece cannot, or should not be force, to follow the unique solution equal to the truth, I accept the old proposition from the former president of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov, Greece and Macedonia to follow the Irish-English model from 1021 and to named each other by their own notes.

The Constitutional of Greece in the article 108 is predicting care of Athens for the Greeks Diaspora, but the Greeks are angry with the Constitutional of Macedonia Skopje is obligated to take care of the Macedonians who are out of the state, in which Athens believed that it could be found possibility for territorial aspiration. How you explain this illogic?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: The Greeks attitude is “illogical” because Athens is giving the right for this, that Greece has exclusive right to take care of its Diaspora, but Macedonia has not have that right. International world of states has give to the Greece the only true answer; they haven’t accepted the Greeks note to Macedonians.

What do you think about the conclusions/ speculations that since 1992, secret plans have existed between Micotacis and Milosevic for separation of the Republic of Macedonia between these two countries? Does this kind of agreement existed?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: About the Milosevic, can be believed about the existence of plan for separation of Macedonia between Serbia and Greece (because international mediums are holding to the rile: where is a smoke, there is a fi re). Maybe, one day we will read from his memoirs, what was agreed between him and his repeated guest (in spite of the sanctions from UN), the premier Micotacis.


According to you, it’s not correct that Macedonia after the 2001 have increased the rights of the Albanians, even has given amnesty for the Albanian terrorists of UCK?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: I belief, that Macedonia under the pressure from EU was forced to give impropriated higher recognitions to the Albanian minority in Macedonia. I completely agree with my colleague and successor, the ambassador of Germany Shramaer, whit his published article “New Law for territorial organization and the referendum from November 2004” in the “Announcements” of the Association of Southeastern Europe, Munich, number 12/2005.

Your analyses are giving impression that the Albanian minority in the state is not aimed to common peaceful future in the frames of the Republic of Macedonia. Do you see danger for our stability from these Albanian aspirations? At least, the Macedonian knot should be untied in Europe. If that day comes, will that be the end of our problems?

LOTHAR STEPPAN: The analysis of the statements of the Albanian politicians, has bring me to conclusion that certain groups in Macedonia and in the neighbor countries basically are not having anything common for the aim of the states solution. With this, fears of the many ethnical Macedonians are more understandable. Only for us lefts to hope that majority of the Albanian citizens in Macedonia will think differently that the extremists. The unlimited obligation exists for the European and international organizations for removing of some new injustice – not only for Albanians, but also for the Macedonians.

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