Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last week, the member for Cowan spoke strongly in favour of Australia recognising the Republic of Macedonia by its preferred name. I too understand how strongly Australian Macedonians, and indeed Macedonians, object to the UN naming of Macedonia as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Common sense tells us that we should not continue to burden a country with a name that it hates. I note that the US and the United Kingdom have taken steps to use the title 'Republic of Macedonia' and I would very much like to see a bipartisan approach adopted in Australia in resolving this issue. Personally, I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the House and with the communities to bring forward a resolution.

I acknowledge the excellent advocacy of Vele Trpevski, the ambassador to Australia, and Western Australia's Honorary Consul Zoran Coseski, not just in this matter but also in developing links between Australia and the Republic of Macedonia. The Republic of Macedonia has a strong parliamentary democracy and has been working hard to develop their economy and to deal with the challenges of being a small, landlocked and unaligned nation in a Europe which is contracting, and I strongly support their endeavours to join the European Union.

The Macedonian diaspora is an asset for the republic and Australian Macedonians are using their talents and networks to advance both countries. I want to add that the Macedonian community in Perth are a community of exceptional force and vigour. They have been making an extraordinary contribution to Western Australian life and doing an extraordinary job in keeping their very rich culture alive. I wish them well.