20Should Macedonia Be Recognized?
In the article "EC Shuns Serb `Rump' Yugoslavia," May 4, the author concludes that failure on the part of the European Community to unconditionally recognize the so-called "Republic of Macedonia" will demonstrate weakness in the Maastricht accord.
He fails, however, even to mention that the Maastricht accord explicitly states that the EC will recognize breakaway Yugoslav states only if they commit themselves to political and constitutional guarantees that ensure no territorial claims against neighboring countries, including "the use of a denomination which implies territorial claims."
Seven months after their declaration of independence, the Skopje [Macedonian] leaders show no sign of democratic behavior, have drafted a constitution that blatantly disputes the current borders and reserves the right for the people of the new state to pursue by any means their claims against Greece, and continue to lie about the presence of a nonexistent "Macedonian" minority in Greece. The same constitution provides no human rights protection to the minorities of the state, like the significant Albania n minority, which expressed its opposition to the pseudo-Macedonian plans in January.
Contrary to the author's conclusion, failure of the EC to demand from the new states respect for democratic insti- tutions, acceptance of current borders, and human rights protection for minority populations will lead to the creation of a continuous threat to peace in the region and will destabilize democracy in Europe. George Philippidis, Denver Term limit goals
Though I applaud the news article "Term Limit Measures on the Rise," May 15, I must correct a quote in the story attributed to me. I did not say that the goal of term limitation is to "eliminate the playing field," but rather, "The goal of term limitation is to level the playing field and eliminate the advantages that incumbents have voted to bestow upon themselves."
Incumbent advantages - including free mailings, use of staff, campaign-finance advantages, and so on - are quite significant. These advantages distort the democratic process and cheat American voters of a real choice at the polls. Term limits leave the career politicians no escape hatch from the reality of citizen government. Paul Jacob, Washington Campaign Director, US Term Limits Orchestra history
Regarding the Arts page article "Cleveland Orchestra Boasts Matchless Sound," May 18: To truly touch the prestigious world-class highpoints in the orchestra's history, the author should have gone back further than George Szell and given proper credit to Artur Rodzinski, one of America's great orchestra builders.
In the New Grove Dictionary of Music, Michael Steinberg's biographical entry says that Maestro Rodinski "was the most exciting of the younger conductors in the USA in the 1930s." Mr. Steinberg points out that in 1933 Rodinski became conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra "which then began its history as a front-rank virtuoso ensemble."
In drawing attention to the orchestra's upcoming 75th birthday, the author should have included the recognition appropriate for such an outstanding person. Annagreta Swanson, Peterborough, N.H.
