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11.3.2003 To: Foreign Minister Alexander Downer Cc: Prime Minister
John Howard On the 15th of January 2003 the Government of the Republic of Macedonia implemented a new visa regime for Australian citizens, which has had a negative effect on many Australians travelling to Macedonia. Thousands of Australian citizens travel to and from Macedonia each year. The new visa regime creates enormous difficulties for Australian citizens in obtaining travel visas within Australia when seeking to travel to Macedonia. The underlying reason for this is that there is no official representation or Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia within the Commonwealth of Australia. Since proclaiming independence in 1991, the Republic of Macedonia has been an internationally recognised state, and up until a month ago there had been no problems or issues preventing people, especially Australian citizens, from traveling to the Republic of Macedonia. The Macedonian Alliance urges the Australian Government to formally liaise with the Republic of Macedonia in establishing an Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Canberra and to further establish consular offices within other cities of Australia. The opening of a Macedonian embassy within Australia will ease the burdens that many Australians will encounter with the new visa regime. A Macedonian Embassy will also provide a communication link between the two countries and this will allow, importantly, political and economic co-operation between both Australia and the Republic of Macedonia. This is a matter of high importance to Australians. We sincerely hope that this matter is given the attention it deserves as it effects tens-of-thousands of Australians and that an embassy of the Republic of Macedonia is established promptly. We look forward to positive feedback and further co-operation.
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