MHR Review
Issue #13 December 2012 ISSN 1839-8707
Contents Macedonian Human Rights Review no.13, published in January 2013 as a survey of September to November 2012
3 Joint Statement by Macedonian Community Organizations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator The Hon. Bob Carr
8 Carr Hears Republic of Macedonia Plea by Chris Paver
10 Letter to Al Jazeera World from Dr. Chris Popov
11 Letter to Dr. Kathy Alexander from Jason Kambovski
12 Letter from Chris Thomas of the City of Melbourne to the AMHRC
15 Letter from Katherine Walsh of the Office of the Minister for Ageing to David Vitkov
16 Letter from the Macedonian Orthodox Community of the City of Greater Wollongong to the AMHRC
18 Macedonian Senior Citizens’ Club of Doncaster Donates to Vinozhito
19 Show Your Support for Macedonian Human Rights
20 Macedonian Support for Australia’s Successful Bid for UN Security Council Seat
21 AMHRC/MHRMI Strongly Condemn Racist Slur by EU Ambassador
22 Religious Unrest in Macedonia by Tom Vangelovski
25 The Rise of “Golden Dawn” in Greece by Pavle Filipov Voskopoulos
27 The Troublemaker of the Balkans by George N. Papadakis
29 An Incarcerated Village by Dimitri Jovanov
30 The Dark Heritage: A Review of Keep the Candle Alight by Jim Thomev
37 A Macedonian Food Festival by Diane Kitanoski
40 The Poetry of Radovan Pavlovski by Dr. Michael Seraphinoff
42 The Partition of Macedonia and the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 – An international scholarly conference
43 Book Review: Macedonia and Greece – Battle for the Name: Legal Mechanisms in the United Nations for return/use of the name – Republic of Macedonia by Janko Bachev by Dr. Vasko Nastevski
50 Images from the MHRMI Human Rights Night
51 About MHRMI and AMHRC
Joint Statement by Macedonian Community Organisations to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator The Hon. Bob Carr
16 ● November ● 2012
On Friday the 16th of November, the Macedonian Orthodox Community of the City of Greater Wollongong - ‘Saint Dimitrija Solunski’, organised a community consultation with Australia’s Foreign Minister, Senator Bob Carr. The consulatation was held at the community’s premises in Wollongong and before a ‘full house’, Dr. Vasko Nastevski of the AMHRC delivered the following words to Senator Carr:
Minister, we appreciate you taking the issue. time today to meet with representatives To the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and from the Australian Macedonian com- in that capacity, we also note your regu- In the course of history, there have been munity. We note well your statement in lar statements about human rights issues specific geo-political reasons that have July of this year when you graciously around the world. For example: led various detractors to attempt to deny acknowledged the valuable contribution the existence and identity of the Macedo- of the Macedonian Community in Aus- The fact that human rights will al- nian people, as a consequence giving rise tralia. Moreover, we are pleased to hear ways feature in discussions between to serious existential questions. This can of the increasingly healthy bi-lateral rela- yourself and your Chinese counter- and does result in great anxiety amongst tionship between Australia and the Re- part; the Macedonian people world-wide. public of Macedonia. How Australia will not hesitate to Bearing this in mind, the Republic of Without question, this relationship has raise human rights issues regarding Macedonia’s right to determine its own been given important impetus by the re- the two Papuan provinces with our external forms of representation, is also a cent visit to the Republic of Macedonia Indonesian neighbours; right which presumptively forms part of by the Hon. Stephen Jones MP, who is the notion of self-determination in its also present here today. Accordingly, I How Australia will contribute to cultural sense. That is, this is a human would like to extend our deep apprecia- maintaining pressure in Fiji to up- right that transcends to the individual tion to Stephen for his abiding interest hold human rights; and level and is expressed as a right to self- and commitment to the Macedonian identification. Community in Australia. I can assure How Australia will provide support him that it does not go unnoticed. to address broader human rights is- Therefore, the Republic of Macedonia sues in Myanmar. exercising its independent legal personal- No doubt, as Stephen would have identi- ity under an identity of its own choosing fied during his visit, there is a need for Minister, clearly there is a consistent is not just doing so in any abstract sense, Australia to upgrade its diplomatic pres- theme emanating from the Australian but in a direct evocation of its people. ence in Macedonia. People to people Government that it is concerned about contact forms a very important part of human rights issues and that it will speak Nobody has the right to interfere with the bilateral relationship between Aus- up in favour of human rights. such an historical and naturally evolving tralia and Macedonia and the current process that gives expression and recog- Australian Embassy covering Macedo- The Macedonian Community in Austral- nition to a unique group of people, and nia is more than 500 km away in Bel- ia has its own human rights issue, which nobody should be complicit in any at- grade. we would like to re-emphasise today. tempts to interfere in that process.
Given the large bi-national community in As you are no doubt aware, the Macedo- Minister, the Macedonian community Macedonia we call upon the Australian nian Community in Australia has con- would like Australia to recognise the Government to upgrade the current Hon- sistently opposed the Australian Govern- country’s democratically chosen name orary Consulate to the status of an Em- ment’s approach in relation to the way in i.e. the Republic of Macedonia, as have bassy. While we appreciate opening a which it engages with the Republic of more than 130 countries around the new diplomatic mission can be an ex- Macedonia. world. pensive exercise, especially in difficult economic times, may we suggest that in The current Australian Government poli- There are a number of more practical the case of a new Australian Embassy in cy to refer to Macedonia by the internal reasons why we strongly believe that Skopje, the cost could be minimised or United Nations “provisional reference”: Australia must alter its current policy and even offset by a regional reorganisation “the former Yugoslav Republic of Mace- forms the basis of a letter that I have been of Australia’s missions in South Eastern donia”, is something that we find to be asked to read out to you today on behalf Europe. In such a scenario, an Australian demeaning, but also inconsistent with the of the Macedonian Community in Aus- Embassy in Skopje could cover Macedo- prevailing international practice. tralia. nia and some of its neighbouring coun- tries. Fundamentally, this is a human rights 1. Minister – There is a need to update 4
practice on Macedonia in light of the provisional reference by the UN, Evidence of this fact can be found in changed conditions then one should consult the legal the fact that over 130 countries (two- basis for the adoption of the refer- thirds of UN members) recognise Since 1994, when Australia first con- ence, as it contradicts DFAT’s so- the democratically chosen name of sidered its approach to the Republic called “consistency” argument. the Republic of Macedonia in their of Macedonia, there were only a bilateral relationships. handful of states which recognised Namely, UNSC Resolution 817 the independence of the Republic of clearly states that: “… the State Indeed, all of Australia’s major allies Macedonia, even fewer which rec- whose application is contained in have recognised the “Republic of ognised its official name. document S/25147 be admitted to Macedonia” (i.e. USA, UK, Canada) membership in the United Nations, as have other powers such as Russia, However, since then, in the follow- this State being provisionally re- China and India. There is no reason ing 18 years, the Republic of Mace- ferred to for all purposes within the why Australia cannot do the same. donia has entered into diplomatic United Nations as "the former Yugo- In fact, Australia is now in the mi- relations with about 160 states and slav Republic of Macedonia" pending nority and is inconsistent with inter- over 130 of these states (i.e. 80%), settlement of the difference that has national practice.
do so under its official name the arisen over the name of the State”. 3. Minister - There are comparative “Republic of Macedonia.” The key phrase here is “referred to examples of inconsistency in Austral- for all purposes within the United ia’s position relating to so-called “UN 2. Minister - Australia’s position does Nations”. practice” not represent “UN practice” There is nothing in UNSC Resolu- The case of Burma/Myanmar Australia’s policy is based on the so- tion 817 or indeed in any other UN Officially, within the UN, the name called “provisional reference” which resolution or document that prevents of this state is the “Republic of the stems from Security Council Resolu- states from recognising the Republic Union of Myanmar”, while until tion 817. DFAT has claimed that of Macedonia under its official recently Australia referred to the “Australian policy on this matter is name. UNSC Resolution 817 does country as “Burma”. Why the incon- consistent and unchanged” and that not bind other parties or indeed sistency? Why did Australia not fol- it “follows UN practice”. But, if by member states in their dealings with low “UN practice” here? “consistent” with “UN practice” the the Republic of Macedonia. Department is referring to the use of Minister, we note that earlier this
year that the Australian Government We have heard in the past that Aus- 7. Minister - There is ample prece- began using the official name of tralia’s approach to this issue is “fair” dence for making a change to policy in ‘Myanmar’ in referring to that coun- and “neutral”. This is simply not the bilateral relations try. case. Rather it is totally in line with the Greek Government’s position. A For example, the majority of the 160 Could Australia not take a similar fairer and more neutral approach states which with the Republic of approach to the Republic of Mace- would take into account all of the Macedonia has entered into diplo- donia? relevant facts and give due consider- matic relations did so from the outset ation to all points of view. under this name. The case of Kosovo Firstly, the official name of the coun- However, a smaller group of coun- More than half of the countries try, which has been democratically tries (most notably, the UK, USA around the world do not recognise chosen by the people of the country and Canada) did so under the provi- the independence of Kosovo and the and is enshrined in the country’s sional reference but then modified issue is still pending between Bel- constitution, is the Republic of Mac- their policy and recognised the offi- grade and Pristina. Also Kosovo is edonia. The freely chosen name is cial name. There is no reason why not even a member of the United consistent with the right to self- Australia could not follow this trend Nations. determination; a fundamental aspect and also join the other 130 or so of international law. states which recognise the official However, Australia did not wait for name in bilateral relations. an outcome in relation to the future Internationally, more than 130 coun- status of Kosovo before recognising tries have recognised the county un- 8. Minister - Recognition would not it as an independent state. In fact, der the name ‘Republic of Macedo- “inflame” community relations in Australia was only the 8th country in nia’ and only a handful of other Australia the world at the time. countries, which includes Australia and Greece, use the UN provisional Despite the fact that large Macedoni- Why does Australia ignore “UN reference in bilateral relations, as an and Greek communities reside in practice” on Kosovo but claim to well as within the UN itself – where the United States and Canada, when follow it in relation to Macedonia? it was initially intended to be used both of these countries made the de- for all internal purposes. cision to recognise the official name 4. Minister - Recognition of the Repub- of the Republic of Macedonia (in lic of Macedonia will not interfere with Australian policy does not strike a 2004 and 2007 respectively), it DID the UN discussions balance between the use of the name NOT result in an “inflammation” of Republic of Macedonia and the community tensions, nor did it lead Australian recognition of Macedonia “provisional reference.” Australia to mass protests either in the US, has NOTHING to do with the UN simply uses the “provisional refer- Canada or even Australia. discussions between Skopje and ence” in bilateral and multilateral Athens. The UN process is an entire- contexts but encourages Athens and In 2000 when the Victorian Govern- ly separate matter and Australia is Skopje to “resolve” the issue. This, ment restored the term Macedonian not bound by any UN terminology simply put, is in direct support of the to refer to the Macedonian language or process. position of Athens and implicitly after the HREOC found that the re- legitimises something that is legally naming of the language was unlaw- 5. Minister - Australia’s approach is and morally untenable – the attempts ful, it DID NOT result in an not consistent with its major allies of Athens to undermine the funda- “inflammation” of community ten- mental right of a sovereign nation to sions, nor did it lead to mass protests choose its own name. All of Australia’s major allies in Victoria or anywhere else in Aus-
(including the United States, Canada, tralia. A much more balanced position the UK and India) have recognised would be for Australia to recognise the Republic of Macedonia under In 2007 the Greek Prime Minister the Republic of Macedonia for all that name in bilateral relations. There visited Australia, as did the Macedo- purposes (i.e. bilaterally and multilat- is no reason why Australia could not nian Prime Minister in 2009. The erally) while encouraging Athens follow this trend. respective visits DID NOT result in and Skopje to maintain friendly dia- an “inflammation” of community logue on the basis of mutual respect 6. Minister - Australia’s current policy tensions, nor did it lead to mass pro- for human rights. is NOT a balanced approach tests by either community. 6
In the last decade the Republic of Recently, Macedonia was among the tion to the Republic of Macedonia with a Macedonia has opened up an Em- 140 states which supported and vot- view to affording the country the digni- bassy in Canberra and a Consulate ed for Australia in the ballot for a fied recognition it deserves, i.e. under its General in Melbourne. Both diplo- place on the UN Security Council. It official and democratically chosen name. matic offices OPERATE NOR- should be noted that Macedonia vot- MALLY and the Macedonian diplo- ed for Australia at the expense of at Prepared by the executive members of Australi- matic presence (as well as the Greek least one of the European candidates; an-Macedonian Human Rights Committee Inc. Embassy and its various Consulates) despite its strategic goal to join the (AMHRC) with the approval of the following Macedonian community organisations: has not resulted in an EU at some point in the near future. “inflammation” of community ten- Macedonian Orthodox Community of the sions, nor have they led to any mass Macedonian state support for the City of Greater Wollongong ‘Saint Dimitri- protests either in the US, Canada or Australian UNSC bid is in contrast ja Solunski’ Inc. Australia. to other countries in South East Eu- Macedonian Community of WA (Inc.) rope which did not support Austral- Macedonian Community of Adelaide and 9. Minister - Macedonia has actively ia's candidacy; opting instead to back South Australia Inc. Macedonian Orthodox Community of demonstrated support for Australian fellow EU member-states. For ex- Australia Ltd national interests ample, Greece did not vote for Aus- Macedonian Orthodox Community of tralia in the UN ballot. Melbourne and Victoria Ltd As you yourself have previously The Association of Macedonian Commu- noted, Australia and Macedonia are Minister, given all of the above infor- nities in Australia Inc. allies in the international missions in mation, we now strongly urge the Aus- Iraq and Afghanistan respectively. tralian Government to commit to a re- view of the nomenclature it uses in rela-
Carr Hears Republic of Macedonia Plea
By Chris Paver 16 ● November ● 2012
The Hon. Bob Carr
Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr heard the case for Australia name, the Republic of Macedonia." to officially recognise Macedonia under its constitutional name the Republic of Macedonia during a visit to Wollongong yes- He said the UN reference did not bind other parties, noting that terday. nations including the US and the UK referred to the Republic of Macedonia in bilateral relations. Senator Carr received a warm and familiar welcome at the Macedonian Orthodox Community of Wollongong St Dimitri- "There is no reason why Australia cannot do the same," he said, ja Solunski Church in Stewart Street yesterday morning. to applause from about 200 people at the event.
Senator Carr was quickly surrounded by people on his arrival, He also said Australia's approach was "totally in line with the including many who remembered his first visit to the city as Greek government's position", adding that recognition would the NSW Opposition Laeader in 1991. not "inflame" community relations in Australia because it had not done so overseas. After a brief church tour, the group moved into the function centre, where Dr Vasko Nastevski from the Australian Mace- In addition, he argued that Macedonia had supported Austral- donian Human Rights Committee in Victoria made an impas- ia's successful bid for a place on the UN Security Council. sioned speech on behalf of Macedonian community organisa- tions calling on the government to recognise the Republic of Senator Carr said the presentation was "powerful and persua- Macedonia. sive".
At present, Australia refers to the country as "the former Yugo- "We hear you, we understand the arguments, and we'll get slav Republic of Macedonia" in accordance with the terminol- there," he said. ogy used by the United Nations. "[The arguments] are under active consideration and we hope However, Dr Nastevski argued this was "demeaning" and we can clear up this whole nomenclature challenge before "inconsistent with the prevailing international practice". long."
"Since 1994, when Australia first considered its approach to the Senator Carr, Throsby MP Stephen Jones and Cunningham Republic of Macedonia, there were only a handful of states MP Sharon Bird also met Wollongong City councillors and which recognised the independence of [the country], even few- others, including students from Dapto and Warrawong high er which recognised its official name," he said. schools, at a roundtable discussion in Wollongong yesterday.
"However, since then, in the following 18 years, the Republic of Source - illawarramercury.com.au: Macedonia has entered into diplomatic relations with about http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1126992/carr- 160 states and over 130 of these states ... do so under its official hears-republic-of-macedonia-plea/?cs=307 8
On your website (http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/aljazeeraworld/2012/10/2012102510913860159.html ) you have provided a description of the programme entitled “Macedonia: A River Divides” which has been airing on Al Jazeera World.
The programme description contains descriptions of Macedonian ethnicity and the Macedonian language which Macedonians rightfully find offensive and highly discriminatory; namely, “Slavic-speaking majority”. Please note that the Macedonian majority in the Republic of Macedonia has a concrete and historically-based identity which is precisely that-Macedonian. The Macedonian majority in the country identifies itself- and its language-as only Mace- donian as can be attested to by checking the results of numerous census counts and does not self-describe as “Slav” or “Slavic-speaking”. Similarly, the language spoken by Macedonians is Macedonian and nothing else. The lan- guage is recognised as Macedonian world-wide and its description as “Slavic” is to completely ignore and deny its status as a distinct language with its own specific grammar, vocabulary and history.
In only one place in the programme description do you use the term ethnic Macedonian, whereas your reporter ap- pears to have no qualms about describing Albanians using their term of self-ascription and self-identification “ Alba- nian”, as in “ethnic Albanian minority”, “of Albanian origin” and “Albanian youths”
I therefore request that you remove the offensive term “Slavic-speaking” from your programme description and re- place it with Macedonian. Descriptors such as “Slav” and “Slavic-speaking” should also be removed from the pro- gramme itself, or if that cannot be done, an apology provided to the thousands of Macedonian viewers you have of- fended.
Yours sincerely
Dr Chris Popov Executive Member Australian-Macedonian Human Rights Committee Inc.
10
Re: False information on the website of the City of Melbourne 23 ● October ● 2012
I refer to the following information on the website of the Furthermore, outside of Greece, there are at least three City of Melbourne: cities with larger Greek-speaking populations than Mel- bourne. The population of the Greek-Cypriot controlled “Melbourne is said to have the third largest Greek- part of the Cypriot capital Nicosia/Lefkosia was 206,201 speaking population in the world after Athens and Thes- in 2001. In 2001, Limassol, the second city in Cyprus, had saloniki, Melbourne’s Greek sister city.” a population of 161,200 (See: http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/ portal/portal.nsf/ http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutMelbourne/ All/817E9279C04E4480C2257023002B858C? History/Pages/multiculturalhistory.aspx#greeks OpenDocument.)
“Hosting the third largest Greek-speaking population of Also, according to the US Census Bureau, as of 2011, any city in the world, it is appropriate that Melbourne New York had a Greek population of 155,425 (See: http:// should have a strong and vibrant sister city relationship factfinder2.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/ with a suitable Greek partner.” productview.xhtml? http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutMelbourne/ pid=ACS_11_1YR_S0201&prodType=table). MelbourneProfile/SisterCities/Pages/Thessaloniki.aspx Therefore, on the basis of the above official government “Athens might be a world away but Melbourne is home to statistics, it appears that Melbourne, far from being the “third largest Greek city in the world”; it is in fact the the largest Greek population outside Europe.” NINTH largest in the world and the FOURTH largest http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutMelbourne/ outside of Greece. PrecinctsandSuburbs/Pages/Culturalprecincts.aspx#greek In light of the above facts, we kindly request that you An actual examination of the facts clearly demonstrates remove claims of Melbourne being the “third largest” that the claim of Melbourne being the “third largest Greek Greek-speaking city in the world and the “largest” outside -speaking population in the world” is plain wrong. In fact, of Greece and Europe the from the website of City of it is factually incorrect. Melbourne and from any future publications issued by the City of Melbourne. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, at the 2011 Census there were 116,802 persons in the ENTIRE I look forward to receiving a response from you in relation STATE OF VICTORIA claiming to speak Greek, in to this matter. addition to the English language: http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/ Yours sincerely, getproduct/census/2011/quickstat/2 Jason Kambovski Moreover, according to the official Hellenic Statistical Authority, in as of 2011 there were five cities in Greece Executive Member itself with a larger “Greek” population than Melbourne, Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee Inc. assuming that all those counted considered themselves to be able to speak Greek. They were: Athens: 3,074,160; Salonika: 790,824; Patras: 214,580; Heraklion: 173,450 and Larissa: 163,380. See: http://www.tovima.gr/ files/1/2011/07/22/apografh22.pdf.
Continued on next page... 12
Re: Use of the term “Macedonian (Ελληνικά)” for the Macedonian language by the Victorian 6 ● September ● 2012
We refer to the Tourism, Leisure & Recreation Seniors Government leave to appeal against the full Federal Card Directory 2012–2014, issued by the Victorian Gov- Court's decision to remit the case for consideration by the ernment. HREOC in accordance with the law as established by the Federal Court. Subsequently, the Victorian government The Interpreting Services information on page 5 incorrect- readopted the correct term, Macedonian, to refer to the ly refers to the Macedonian language as “Macedonian Macedonian language. (Ελληνικά)”. The word in parenthesis is written in the Greek language and means “Greek”. Therefore the mean- We therefore demand that the Victorian Government ing of the term “Macedonian (Ελληνικά)” in the publica- promptly corrects and reissues the publication and refers tion is “Macedonian (Greek).” to the Macedonian language as Macedonian (Македонски) i.e. Macedonian, followed by the word Minister, as you may well appreciate, the Macedonian- „Мaкедонски“ (this is how to write the word Macedoni- speakers in Victoria and beyond find the term an in the Macedonian language). In practical terms, this “Macedonian (Greek)” to be inaccurate and highly offen- would mean updating the document online AND re- sive. sending the hard copy or issuing a correction to the docu- ment to all those who were sent the original publication by Moreover, we would like to bring your attention to the post. fact that a previous decision by the Victorian government in 1994 to rename the Macedonian language “Slav Mace- We would also appreciate an apology from Victorian gov- donian” was declared unlawful by the Human Rights and ernment in relation to the publication of the offensive term Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC). On 8 Sep- in reference to the Macedonian language. tember 2000, Hearing Commissioner Alexander W Street SC made the following determination: Finally, could you please provide us with an explanation as to why the Macedonian language was listed as I declare that the respondent has engaged in “Macedonian (Ελληνικά)” i.e. “Macedonian (Greek)? conduct rendered unlawful by section 9(1) of Who was responsible for renaming Macedonian into the Act by the act of issuing the directive in “Macedonian (Ελληνικά)” i.e. “Macedonian (Greek) and terms of the memorandum dated 21 July will action be taken against that person/persons? What 1994 which involved a distinction based on steps will be taken to prevent this from happening in the ethnic origin in re-naming the language future? Macedonian and had the effect of impairing the recognition on an equal footing of a hu- We look forward to a swift resolution to this matter. man right in the cultural life of users of the Macedonian language and I declare that the Yours sincerely, respondent should not continue such unlaw- ful conduct. David Vitkov Executive Member The full decision can be viewed here: CC: The Hon Ted Baillieu, Premier of Victoria
http://www.macedonianhr.org.au/wip/images/stories/pdf/ hreoc.pdf
Commissioner Street’s final decision in HREOC was tak- en after the High Court had refused to grant the Victorian
14
16 ● November ● 2012
We the Management Committee of the Macedonian Ortho- “We the Management Committee from the Macedoni- dox Community of the City of Greater Wollongong "Saint an Orthodox Community of Wollongong "Saint Dimi- Dimitrija Soulunski” as well as our cultural and educational trija Soulunski" wish to thank the Minister for Foreign branches and our parish priest wish to take this opportunity Affairs the Hon Senator Bob Carr for taking the time to to express our gratitude to all the executives from the AM- meet and hear the concerns of the Macedonian Com- HRC that were involved in preparing the joint statement for munity in the Illawarra region. We the Macedonian the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Hon. Senator Bob Carr. Community of Wollongong have always been loyal to Australia. We believe that Senator Carr is a man of We also wish to take this opportunity to thank our new principal and we plead with him for fairness and justice friend Dr. Vasko Nastevski for the powerful joint statement and after 22 years we believe that it's time for Senator he delivered on behalf of all the Macedonian Organizations Carr to take whatever action is required for the Repub- in Australia. His composure and delivery were hypnotizing lic of Macedonia to be recognized under its constitution- as he had everyone there listening and waiting for his every al name, by the current Australian Government.” word, followed by a huge applause on numerous occasions. Once again we wish to thank all those that were involved And just after Vasko finished the joint statement, we quote and attended this historical event, on behalf of the Macedo- part of the speech from our Minister for Foreign Affairs the nian Orthodox Community of the City of Greater Wollon- Hon Senator Bob Carr. “Can I thank Vasko for that gong "Saint Dimitrija Solunski" powerful and persuasive presentation. I and my Parlia- mentary colleagues heard the case put, but we have nev- United for all Macedonians. er heard it better and stronger in respect of today. We hear you, we understand the arguments and we will get Fote Lozenkovski there.” President
We also wish to thank Chris Angelkov, for introducing us Boris Vrtkovski to George Vlahov, David Vitkov, Jason Kambovski and Secretary now Vasko, from the AMHRC. We are very proud to be members of the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Dave Tanchevski Committee and to be associated with such a competent and Treasurer professional group of young Macedonian leaders. Ljupco Stefanovski Dear friends at the AMHRC on behalf of our Community President Overseeing Committee Organization we also made a very short and moral plea to the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Hon Senator Bob Carr.
16
Macedonian Senior Citizens’ Club of Doncaster Donates to Vinozhito
On 13 September 2012, Dr. Chris Popov from the Australian- Macedonia, Australia and elsewhere. The President of the Mac- Macedonian Human Rights Committee attended the weekly edonian Senior Citizens’ Club of Doncaster, Mr. Ilo Palev, also gathering of the Macedonian Senior Citizens’ Club of Doncas- addressed those present and urged them to continue their sup- ter. The purpose of his visit was to officially receive on behalf port for the AMHRC and Vinozhito. The cheque for the of the AMHRC the $1,500 dollars that the Club has donated to amount of $1500 was officially handed over by the club’s Vinozhito, a political party of the Macedonians in Greece. Treasurer, Mr. Boris Karadaov.
Dr. Popov was very graciously received by the club members The AMHRC wishes to express its gratitude to the Macedonian and delivered a short address in which he thanked them for their Senior Citizens’ Club of Doncaster for its generous donation donation and the patriotic spirit which had motivated it and also and long-standing support for the work of the AMHRC and outlined the current activities and initiatives being undertaken sincerely hopes that the cooperation between our two organiza- by the AMHRC in defence of Macedonian human rights in tions will continue to grow and develop in the coming years.
18
MHRMI and AMHRC call on garia, Greece and Albania; Macedonians throughout the world Show to show their support for human The crucial Our Name is Mace- rights for Macedonians throughout donia campaign, which de- the Balkans. mands that Macedonia end all negotiations over its name; and Your MHRMI and AMHRC finance and organize all Macedonian human Funding successful election rights activities and work directly campaigns for Macedonian can- Support with every Macedonian human didates in Bulgaria, Greece and rights organization includ- Albania. For ing Vinozhito, OMO Ilinden PI- We also lobby strongly for recogni- RIN, MAEI, Nova Zora, Narodna tion of Macedonia and Macedonian Volja, Ilinden Tirana, the Home of human rights in Washington, Otta- Macedonian Macedonian Culture, and all others. wa, Canberra, Brussels and By supporting us, you are directly throughout the world, specifically: supporting the cause of human Meetings with Canadian, Amer- Human rights for all Macedonians. ican, Australian and European Among our many initiatives are: heads of state and parliamentar- ians; Rights Macedonian language classes in Aegean Macedonia and Alba- Meetings with Foreign Affairs nia, including the opening of officials from Canada, Austral- another new kindergarten class ia, the US State Department, in Korca, Albania; Council of Europe, among many others; In addition to the MHRMI/ AMHRC-purchased and fi- Attendance at United Nations, nanced radio station in Lerin, OSCE and other international we recently opened a TV sta- human rights conferences and tion in Korca; Meetings with UN Ambassador The historic Detsa Begaltsi law- Nimetz to reiterate our demand suit against Greece for the re- that the international communi- turn of confiscated property, ty support the end to the "name citizenship and financial com- negotiations". pensation; Macedonians are organized, ener- The funding of pro-Macedonian gized and determined to pursue newspapers and publications in their struggle for universal human Aegean Macedonia, Pirin Mac- rights. The biggest challenge we edonia and Mala Prespa; face is a financial one. Please show your support by joining The landmark European Court the MHRMI Human Rights of Human Rights judgments Fund or the AMHRC's Macedonian against Bulgaria and Greece for Minorities Support Fund. violating Macedonian human rights; Thank you in advance. The operation of human rights offices for Macedonians in Bul-
Macedonian Support for Australia’s Successful Bid for UN Security Council Seat
Melbourne and New York City 19 ● October ● 2012
Yesterday, Australia was elected as a non support Australia’s candidacy; opting ************** -permanent member of the United Na- instead to back fellow European member tions Security Council (UNSC) for a peri- -states. Established in 1984, the Australian od of two years beginning on 1 January Macedonian Human Rights Commit- 2013. Luxembourg was also elected, out- The AMHRC now calls upon the Aus- tee (AMHRC) is a non-governmental polling fellow EU member-state, Finland. tralian government to reciprocate by sup- organisation that informs and advocates porting the Republic of Macedonia’s bid before international institutions, govern- The Australian Macedonian Human for a seat on the United Nations’ Human ments and broader communities about Rights Committee (AMHRC) was Rights Council in the period 2014-2016. combating racism and promoting human pleased that the Republic of Macedonia rights. Our aspiration is to ensure that voted for Australia in the ballot of all UN Moreover and without further delay, Macedonian communities and other ex- member states. Macedonia’s support for Australia should recognise and utilise the cluded groups throughout the world, are Australia represents a clear expression of Republic of Macedonia’s democratically recognised, respected and afforded equi- the will to strengthen and deepen the bi- chosen name, as have more than 130 table treatment. For more information lateral relationship. countries around the world. This repre- please visit www.macedonianhr.org.au, sents more than two-thirds of all UN email [email protected] or via Macedonian support for the Australian members, most of whom voted for Aus- +61 3 9329 8960. UNSC bid is in contrast to some coun- tralia in the Security Council vote. tries in South East Europe which did not
20
AMHRC/MHRMI Strongly Condemn Racist Slur by EU Ambassador
Melbourne and Toronto 20 ● November ● 2012
deny Macedonians the right to self-identification? Was it his intention to violate the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights? Or was it his desire simply to appease and use “language understandable” to certain members of the Committee be- fore which he was appearing?
Given that Mr Orav has refused to publically apologise for his use of the offensive “Slav Macedonian” remark, it is now incumbent upon the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, to instruct him to do so. Moreover, Mr Orav ought to publicly re- commit himself to the basic principles of the EU, including respect for the right to self-identification. In future he should simply refer to ethnic Macedonians as Macedonians.
The Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee Failing a public apology from Mr Orav, Ms Ashton has a (AMHRC) and Macedonian Human Rights Movement Inter- moral obligation to remove him from the post. national (MHRMI) strongly condemn the racist slur by the Head of the EU Delegation to the Republic of Macedonia, AMHRC/MHRMI has formally written to Mr Orav and Ms Mr Aivo Orav. In comments made last week to the European Ashton in relation to this matter and we encourage all Mace- Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr Orav re- donians to do the same: ferred to Macedonians as “Slav Macedonians.” Mr Avio Orav The term “Slav Macedonian” is not a term of self- EU Head of Delegation to the Republic of Macedonia identification and therefore is totally rejected by Macedoni- [email protected] ans in the Republic of Macedonia and beyond. As well as being offensive and insulting, such terminology has been Baroness Catherine Ashton used in the past as a term of abuse by various states where High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Af- Macedonians have and continue to reside. fairs and Security Policy [email protected] AMHRC/MHRMI would also like to remind Mr Orav that the use of “Slav Macedonian” is fundamentally incompatible ______with the basic principles of the European Union. For exam- ple, Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union begins by Established in 1984, the Australian Macedonian Human Rights declaring that: “The Union is founded on the values of re- Committee (AMHRC) is a non-governmental organisation that spect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the informs and advocates before international institutions, govern- ments and broader communities about combating racism and pro- rule of law and respect for human rights…”, while Article moting human rights. Our aspiration is to ensure that Macedonian 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European communities and other excluded groups throughout the world, are Union stipulates that: “The Union shall respect cultural, re- recognised, respected and afforded equitable treatment. For more ligious and linguistic diversity.” information please visitwww.macedonianhr.org.au, email in- [email protected] or via +61 3 9329 8960. Mr Orav has responded to the public outrage in Macedonia over his offensive comments by claiming that: “I used lan- Macedonian Human Rights Movement International guage understandable to those present at the meeting…nor (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for did I have an intention to offend anyone.” Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information: www.mhrmi.org, www.twitter.com/mhrmi, www.facebook.com/mhrmi, [email protected], +1 416-850-7125. AMHRC/MHRMI finds it hard to believe that Mr Orav was not aware that his reference to “Slav Macedonians” would cause offense. Moreover, if it was not his “intention” to cause offence, then what exactly was his intention? Was it to
Religious Unrest in Macedonia By Tom Vangelovski
During recent months, violence has once Islamic religious buildings and property. 2,500 in the 2002 census.6 Of those that again erupted between the majority Mac- Wahhabis have set up a small but com- have resisted ‘Albanianisation’, many are edonian (64 per cent) and minority Alba- mitted network of followers, particularly beginning to shed their Macedonian iden- nian (25 per cent) communities in Mace- among younger Albanians across West- tity and identify simply as ‘Muslims’. It is donia.1 Here, the overwhelming majority ern Macedonia and the capital Skopje. among this group, particularly in the vil- of ethnic Macedonians (97 per cent) iden- They have also taken control of up to five lages of Labunista, Podgorci and Oktisi tify as Christians while a similar majority key Mosques, through which they have (all within the Struga municipality), that (98 per cent) of ethnic Albanians identify infiltrated the IRC leadership.4 While young men are being targeted by a num- as Muslims.2 There is also a small Mace- Sulejman Rexhepi and his followers have ber of radical Islamist groups, particularly donian Muslim community, mainly in the resisted the Wahhabis in the past Wahhabis and Tablighi Jamaat, whom south-western municipality of Struga. The (becoming victims of physical attacks and some believe is now being used, wittingly vast majority of Muslims in Macedonia anonymous death threats), recent reports or unwittingly, by extremists to attract are Sunni’s with small pockets of indicate that Rexhepi has made peace new recruits.7 There are also increasing Bektashis and Sufis.3 with them and allowed them to maintain reports of young ‘Macedonian’ Muslims their positions within the official hierar- from this region being sponsored to study ‘Conventional wisdom’ suggests that chy of the IRC.5 in madrassas in Pakistan and Saudi Ara- there is a long tradition of tolerance be- bia and identify new recruits from among tween the Christian and Muslim commu- Another unexpected development has their family and friends. nities in Macedonia. However, much of been the radicalisation of a section of the this thinking was influenced by socialist small Macedonian Muslim community. The recent violence began on the eve of dogma and the failed Yugoslav idea of Historically, this small community has the Christian Orthodox New Year, 13 ‘brotherhood and Unity’, rather than the identified itself as ethnically Macedonian January 2012, when the Macedonian reality on the ground. Even during social- and supported the Macedonian majority populated village of Vevcani celebrated ist times, Macedonian authorities, along over their co-religionists in the Albanian with its traditional carnival. As part of the with many ordinary Macedonians, community. However, since the early carnival, residents usually dress up and viewed Islam with suspicion and saw it as 1970’s, and particularly after Macedonian satirise political and social events that an integral part of Albanian nationalism. independence in 1991, the community have occurred during the past year. As During the 1970’s and 1980’s, Macedoni- has come under increasing assimilatory part of this year’s festivities, a group of an authorities sought to repress Islam pressures from the Albanian community. Macedonian men dressed as burqa-clad through numerous discriminatory poli- Albanian political, cultural and religious women and reportedly performed simu- cies, including banning Islamic education leaders have promoted the idea that this lated sex acts. This caused outrage for children under the age of 15. community is really Albanian, which was amongst the local Muslim community, Armed conflict between ethnic Macedo- ‘Macedonianised’ during socialism. As particularly in the neighbouring munici- nians and ethnic Albanians in 2001 saw proof, they offer their shared Islamic faith, pality of Struga. the beginnings of Islamist radicalisation claiming that if one is a Muslim, they can- not be a Macedonian and therefore must In reaction, both Albanian and Macedoni- among some elements of the Albanian an Muslims protested in Struga, chanting community and the small Macedonian be Albanian – a form of ethnic proselytis- ing through religious affiliation. ‘death to Christians’, attacking a number Muslim community. In particular, radical of buses carrying Macedonians and rais- Wahhabis from Saudi Arabia have slowly Since the decentralisation of various polit- ing a green flag representing Islam in but surely made inroads into the Albanian ical and budgetary responsibilities in front of the municipal building, with community both at the grassroots level 2004, Albanian elites, who control key some reports suggesting that it was actual- and within the official hierarchy of the local governments, have also been able to ly a Saudi flag.8 This was followed by a Islamic Religious Community (IRC), offer political and financial incentives to number of attacks on local Churches, two headed by Sulejman Rexhepi. The IRC is ethnic ‘converts’. The assimilatory pres- of which were burned. the officially registered organisation rep- sure may be working, as those identifying resenting Muslims in Macedonia and as Macedonian Muslims have dropped Muslim leaders across the country called holds the title deeds to the vast majority of from 39,500 in the 1981 census to only for restraint from their followers, but they
22
also accused the national government of conflict in Macedonia has a number of 4 S. Javanovska & B. Gjorgeski, “Radical Islam promoting ‘Islamophobia’ because it tra- deep-seated causes, including competing in Macedonia Worries Western Observers”, Free ditionally funds the Vevcani carnival.9 rights claims and incompatible Republic, 9 July 2010, http:// www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2549441/ Albanian Muslim religious leaders and worldviews based on their respective na- posts (accessed 13 April 2012). Albanian political leaders also called for tional ideologies and religious belief- an official apology from the Mayor of systems. Whether the latest violence is the 5 Vecer, Pagaat li poglavarite na muslimanite od Vevcani and demanded that criminal result of conflicting religious belief- Makedonija I Albanija vo nemilost kaj stancite, charges be brought against those in- systems, other deep-seated issues merely http://www.vecer.com.mk/print.asp? 10 itemid=2ca5f947804cf4419f0e5ac8275598bc volved. manifesting themselves as religious con- (accessed 1 February 2012). flict or a combination of both is not al- Low-level violence has continued inter- ways clear. Indeed, conflict between eth- 6 State Statistical Office of the Republic of Mace- mittently since, including an off-duty eth- nic Macedonians and ethnic Albanians donia, Census of Population, Households and nic Macedonian police officer killing, in has always involved a strong religious Dwellings in the Republic of Macedonia – Book self-defence, two ethnic Albanians who element and both sides see the ‘other’ not XIII, 2002, Skopje, 2005. were part of a group that threatened him only through an ethnic lens, but a reli- 7 See C. Deliso, “In Macedonia, New Concerns and his daughter in the majority Albanian gious one as well. This may be because about Rural Fundamentalism”, Balkan Analysis, populated town of Gostivar. Other vio- the ethno-religious dividing lines are rela- 2 October 2006, http://www.balkanalysis.com/ lence has involved armed gangs of youth tively straightforward – Albanians being blog/2006/10/02/in-macedonia-new-concerns- from the two communities in open street Muslims and Macedonians being Chris- over-rural-fundamentalism/ (accessed 20 March 2012) and C. Deliso, “After Macedonia’s Islamist battles across the capital, Skopje, and in tians. Protests, Investigators Search for Significance April this year, the mysterious execution- In addition, it is becoming more common amidst Confusing Array of Motives and Clues”, style murder of five ethnic Macedonian Balkan Analysis, 13 February 2012, http:// fishermen. While little information is pub- for both communities to identify religion www.balkanalysis.com/macedonia/2012/02/13/ lically available about the most recent as a marker of identity and new loyalties after-macedonias-islamist-protest-investigators- murders, many Macedonians blame Al- on the periphery are arising as a result. search-for-significance-amidst-confusing-array- Evidence of this is the Macedonian Mus- of-motives-and-clues/ (accessed 15 February banian militants and consider these mur- 2012). ders as part of the continuing violence that lim community, which has gradually left the Macedonian ‘camp’ and aligned itself began in Vevcani and possibly as retribu- 8 See Associated Press, Macedonia Muslims urge tion for the police officer’s killing of the with its co-religionists in the Albanian restraint over carnival, 30 January 2012, http:// two Albanians in Gostivar. In response, community. In the longer-term this can be news.yahoo.com/macedonia-muslims-urge- thousands of Macedonians have held pro- seen through their self-identification as restraint-over-carnival-160154233.html (accessed either Albanians or Muslims in censuses 31 January 2012), SETimes.com, Macedonians tests against the government for not pro- subject to religious tensions, 3 February 2012, tecting them and stamping out Albanian and through their voting patterns where they either support one of the ethnic Alba- http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/ extremism. At the time, the authorities en_GB/features/setimes/features/2012/02/03/ arrested a dozen suspects claiming they nian political parties or their ‘own’ Mace- feature-04 (accessed 16 February 2012) and MI- were a part of a radical Islamist cell donian Muslim Party of European Inte- NA, Islamic Radicals in Struga Creating Prob- whose aim was to ultimately spark anoth- gration (PEI). When religious loyalties are lems, 31 January 2012, http:// combined with incompatible nationalist macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/20230/1/ er war between the Macedonian and Al- (accessed 1 February 2012). banian communities and spread their own ideologies and competing claims over constitutional and territorial rights, it brand of extremism in the ensuing chaos. 9 makes for an explosive mix and one to Associated Press, Macedonia Muslims urge After six months of investigations, charg- restraint over carnival, 30 January 2012, http:// es were finally laid against six men in watch over the coming year. news.yahoo.com/macedonia-muslims-urge- October.11 Four are in custody and the restraint-over-carnival-160154233.html (accessed other two are believed to be in hiding in By Tom Vangelovski 31 January 2012).
Kosovo. The six men are accused of ter- ______10 Ibid. rorism, however, reports indicate that evi- 11 dence is still lacking and the case against 1 State Statistical Office of the Republic of Mace- S. Dimovski, “Macedonia Files Charges Over 12 the accused remains weak. donia, Census of Population, Households and Skopje Killings”, Balkan Insight, 30 October Dwellings in the Republic of Macedonia – Book 2012, http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/ macedonia-files-charges-for-skopje-killing While the level of violence remained rela- XIII, 2002, Skopje, 2005. (accessed 2 November 2012). tively low over the European summer, 2 State Statistical Office, The 1994 Census of 12 even with suggestions of paramilitaries Population, Dwellings and Agricultural Holdings Ibid. being mobilised on both sides, relations in the Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, 1996. between the two communities are still highly strained and violence can erupt 3 M. Koinova, Muslims of Macedonia, Centre for with little provocation. The longer-term Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe – Southeast Europe.
The Rise of “Golden Dawn” in Greece
By Pavle Filipov Voskopoulos
During recent months there has been much chatter in Greece and Greek people to prosper’. Additionally, over last few years, the on the wider international scene, about the political party operating notion that Westerners are the most to blame for the economic in Greece, under the name, Golden Dawn. The party has attracted crisis in Greece, has become mainstream. this attention because of its highly aggressive entry onto the Greek political scene in general and especially on account of the brutal Unfortunately, all of that is on par with the manner in which the physical actions it has carried out against economic migrants in average Greek citizen has been educated; indoctrinated with an Athens. anti-Western ideology and a demonic view of foreigners, a per- spective that has existed since the very formation of modern The seemingly novel nature of the Golden Dawn phenomenon is Greece, over a century ago. These notions were recently given a result of its recent entry to the Greek parliament – taking 18 added vitality by the war that ended the Yugoslav federation in the seats, with around 7% of the national vote. The first thing we need 1990’s. to mention in regard to this apparently new phenomenon (I say ‘apparently’, as the party has been in existence for decades), is that One might logically ask: how did the conflict in the former Yugo- the ideology and practical activity of this neo-NAZI party, is not slavia ‘complement’ the anti-Western prejudice traditionally pre- only focused against economic migrants, but all ethnic, religious sent in Greek national ideology? It provided an opportunity for and social minorities. Greece, on the basis of a Christian Orthodox connection, to demonstrate solidarity with the Serbs i.e. Milosevic, Karadzic and Though why has the Golden Dawn phenomenon become more Mladic, in relation to the war in Bosnia, and in relation to the widely visible and successful? The uncomplicated answer is ow- emergence of an independent Macedonian state. And of course, it ing to Greece’s deep economic crisis. Though once we begin ex- was the West that eventually brought an end to the activities of amining the parameters of Greek national culture, we find that Milosevic & co. pointing to the crisis is not enough. Golden Dawn and other Greek Political Parties Greek National Culture Since its formation in the 1980s until recently, Golden Dawn had To a large extent, Greek political parties and the average Greek almost no support from the Greek public. The reason is that it had have similar worldviews and hold onto similar stereotypes. These nothing to offer Greek citizens in terms of policy that was different perspectives have strengthened over the last few decades and to- to the major political parties, as well the smaller non-parliamentary day they aggressively manifest themselves via Golden Dawn. parties. The existing parties were already offering Greek voters a Among the main components of the Greek ideology is a belief similar type of policy, with some slight variations. that ‘the Greek people are the chosen people, special and different to others because the Greeks of today are the descendants of the Additionally, in the political life of Greece, one of the main char- glorious Greeks of the past and have lived on this territory for the acteristics is a system of ‘patronage’ which has a long and deep last 2,500 years’ tradition. In particular, ‘patronage’ in this context means that if one is a member of a ruling or powerful political party, in return for This is the basis of the destructive ideology which prevails in voting for the party at an election, one may receive certain Greece today. Much like branches emanating from the trunk of a ‘benefits’ such as being employed in the public sector. In this re- particular tree, the following interrelated claims are also a signifi- gard, Golden Dawn could not compete with the major parties. cant part of Greek national culture: ‘Greeks today have a glorious Although Golden Dawn espoused an anti-Western platform, es- past; Greece has inherited ancient Greek culture; other peoples/ sentially the other parties did the same. It is precisely for this rea- nations cannot be considered to be on the same level as Greece; son that this neo-Nazi party (the organisation became a political over the last few centuries Greece has had many enemies – the party in the 1990s) did not receive much support from Greek citi- most dangerous of Greece’s enemies are the Balkan nations, fore- zens. most Turkey; and that all of these foreigners have not allowed the
However, with Greece now facing bankruptcy, the major political against this party. In other words, they have attempted to ‘launder’ parties have struggled to maintain the system of ‘patronage’. In their ideology via Golden Dawn in a similar manner to which a relation to this, the Greek media began to increasingly promote a criminal or mafia gangster launders money. They have done this demonic view of the international community, especially by regu- by allowing Golden Dawn to legally exist in Greek society. larly launching irrelevant and or baseless attacks against European Union (EU) institutions and the International Monetary Fund, And so my dear readers, this is the situation in Greece today. A simply because they forced the political establishment of Greece destructive anti-Western, anti-democratic ideology prevails in to implement some necessary structural economic reforms, which Greek society and political life. We, the Macedonians in Greece, had a negative impact on the system of ‘patronage’. are continually victimized and targeted as a result of this ideology. We strive to be constructive with pro-Western positions, in soli- In this new set of circumstances many Greeks began to feel alien- darity with a small number of democratically minded Greeks, in ated and thus the aggressiveness of the populist neo-Nazi Golden an attempt to reform Greek national ideology. Our task is by no Dawn, became an attractive alternative. Yet it is quite scandalous means an easy one. Unfortunately Greece today resembles the last that in a member-state of the EU and the so-called ‘cradle of de- days of the Weimar Republic in Germany in the 1930s. The result mocracy’, a neo-Nazi party is allowed to officially exist, to have of the subsequent expansion of Nazi ideology was the stigmatisa- the ‘right’ to be active to the extent that it acts as an ‘evictor’ of tion of minority groups, especially Jews and Roma. Those few migrants in Athens and other areas. The behavior of this party is democratically minded Germans who stood up for the rights of the tolerated by the judicial authorities in Greece; behavior which Eu- Jews at the time, were labeled traitors. Today in Greece, minority rope as a whole knows all too well, given previous experiences groups including the Macedonians are stigmatised, while demo- with Nazism’s abhorrent ideology and appalling practices. It is cratically minded Greeks are a minority within Greek society and unfortunate that there are daily manifestations of neo-Nazism in are also labeled as traitors. Greece today. Never-the-less, Vinozhito and the enlightened Macedonians in Another ‘curiosity’ to take note of, is the fact that the major parties Greece shall always, as a matter of principle, strive to achieve a in Greece do not at all consider it necessary to take steps to outlaw real democratic future. this neo-Nazi party, despite the clear manifestations of anti- democratic behavior. Instead, the major Greek political parties Pavle Filipov Voskopoulos is a member of Vinozhito, a Mace- have been focused on preventing a decrease in voter support at the donian political party struggling for the rights of Macedonians next elections, without attempting to reform the dogmatic nature in Greece. of Greek nationalist ideology. Moreover, the leaders of these par- ties have tried to gain the sympathy of various international actors Translated from Macedonian to English by David Vitkov of by labeling Golden Dawn a neo-Nazi party in contexts outside the the AMHRC. bounds of Greece, while back at home they have taken no action
26
The Troublemaker of the Balkans
By George N. Papadakis
Anyone who has received an education lus [another way of saying this might be last month, there have more energetic at a Greek university and not just in the ‘top heavy’]. In Europe, if such matters public statements about the “defence of fields of political science or international cannot be discussed in a friendly face to our national interests”, than I have ever relations, would be familiar with the face manner, and if, when they are men- seen before. It’s as if everyone from notion of an “international troublemak- tioned, they look upon us as foreign in- Papoulias and Tsipras, to Delave-kur-as, er”. This refers to a country which con- terlopers, then there is no possibility of and from Avramopoulos to half of the tinually creates problems for its neigh- going forward.” These words were ut- New Democracy parliamentarians, have bours and for the international commu- tered some time ago now, by the Chan- been bitten by a bug – representatives of nity in general. In Greece, we have al- cellor of Germany, Angela Merkel and I both the state and para-state have un- ways regarded Turkey as such a coun- think they reveal what all the other leashed an uncontrolled and untenable try; once in a while we have also as- members of the EU think of Greece and verbal assault, which has shocked for- signed such a role to Macedonia and indirectly, though clearly, indicate that eign observers. more rarely, to Israel. they have a score to settle with the 11 million (or may be 10, because immi- The Serbian president, Tomislav Ni- However, what is really the case? It is grants in Greece, don’t count) little trou- kolic – a politician who needs to answer very clear that over the last four years, blemakers, who, when they unite, create some serious questions in his own right, the real international troublemaker has a headache for the international commu- but still not remotely in Papoulias’ been our country [Greece] and that is on nity. league – could not understand why, at account of its astronomical debt and its an official dinner held during an official inability to demonstrate – not even re- And what do we do? Instead of feeling state visit in Athens, the brotherly com- motely – that it can come to terms with embarrassed about the horrific picture rade of Milosevic, Karadzic and Mladic, the debt, without endangering the Euro that we present to the outside world, we i.e. Papoulias, approached him and zone and international markets in gen- do all that we can to make it still worse. asked for “Serbia’s practical support” eral. In no way has Greece shown that it Instead of rolling up our sleeves and for Greece’s paranoid desire to re-name is capable of carrying out the necessary working to change our conditions, it a sovereign independent state. And we structural reform. seems as if we do everything we can to ask, in what practical way could Serbia drive our European friends crazy. How lend support to Greece in regard to this “It is not permissible, every time a form else to describe the mass lunacy, in the matter? Perhaps by ceasing to recognize of privatization becomes necessary in context of the worst crisis ever faced by the Republic of Macedonia under that Greece, for there to be strikes. It is not the neo-Greek state, of directing our name and to begin referring to it as permissible for the public transport sys- interest towards Macedonia and Turkey, “FYROM”, or better still, as “Skopia”? tem to not cover its costs and for the tax instead of looking at ourselves in the Or should Serbia invade Macedonia authorities to be unable to gather up the mirror? Honestly, over the course of the from the north and thereby realize the taxes in a country which is hydrocepha-
dream of Milosevic and Papoulias, of a from the mouths of people who lie as neighborhood. joint Serbo-Greek border? much as they breathe – people like our dear Delave-kur-as. A Macedonian George N. Papadakis is a member of What can one say about the insane de- journalist asked him why Greece is fla- Vinozhito (a Macedonian political ceit of a possible future premier of grantly ignoring the spirit of the decision party struggling for the human rights Greece, Aleksis Tsipras, who asserted made by the International Court at The of Macedonians in Greece) and a that the constitution of the Republic of Hague; in answering the question, journalist who writes for Nova Zora – Macedonia foreshadows an advance of Greece’s representative for foreign af- a newspaper voicing the concerns of the country to the Aegean coast? Where fairs, Delave-kur-as, revealed a truth: Macedonians in Greece: http:// did this illusion come from? And why “The problem [which Greece has with novazora.gr/ did he not apologise when the error be- the name of the Republic of Macedonia] came widely known? When the Turkish creates a barrier to strengthening and Translated from Macedonian to Eng- Minster of Foreign Affairs accurately deepening the relations between the two lish by George Vlahov of the AM- pointed out that Greece does not respect countries and a barrier to the general HRC. the rights of Muslims residing on the stability of the wider region.” islands of Kos and Rodos, Avramopou- los and his underling in the Ministry of With these simple words, this overly Foreign Affairs responded with a pack talkative liar deconstructed decades of of lies … it is no wonder that every time systematic efforts by Greek govern- Delave-kur-as asserts Greece “is a mod- ments to convince themselves and oth- el for the respect of human rights”, it ers that Greece amounts to a factor for brings on horse laughter…. stability in the Balkans. Without want- ing to, he recognized that Greece is ac- As with when we open our mouths tually a major factor in destabilizing the more than we should, so it is now, that Balkans, because a problem that Greece this barrage of anti-Macedonian and anti alone possesses – not to mention our -Turkish rhetoric, has been accompa- continually strained relations with Alba- nied by some unintentional truth. This is nia and Turkey – is preventing the de- George Papadakis the only way one can hear the truth velopment of general stability in our
28
An Incarcerated Village On the 30th of October 2012, the court hearing of the “accused” in- habitants of the village of Zabrdeni, Lerin (Florina in Greek) County, took place. They had been arrested during the attempt by people from By Dimitri Jovanov Zabrdeni to prevent the intended carrying out of military exercises, uncomfortably close to the village.
Unjust prosecutions were made against seven inhabitants of the vil- lage, after a number of incidents involving the use force by the police, in order to remove a blockade erected by inhabitants from Zabrdeni in 2008. They were protesting, logically, to prevent military exercises and the firing of heavy artillery right next to their properties. It was a reaction against a regularly occurring degradation of their well being.
The police used force against women, children and the elderly and even broke a hand of one inhabitant of the village. Four villagers were handcuffed, arrested and taken to the police station in Lerin. They were held all night and essentially used as a means to ‘encourage’ the inhabitants of Zabrdeni and neighbouring villages to end their protests and blockades. It is obvious that the aim of the authorities was to ter- rorise them into fearful submission. The police then continued ‘hunting’ and brought legal charges against a further three inhabitants of Zabrdeni.
The ‘well prepared’ prosecution resulted in a penalty of six months jail, suspended, and a fine amounting to 200 Euros for the former president of the village, Mr. Kole Michkov (Nikolaos Mitskopoulos). The remaining ‘accused’ were penalised with 8 months jail, suspend- ed, and a fine for each of them, of 200 Euros.
And the charge was? “The blocking of traffic”. The defendants have already lodged an appeal and it is expected that the matter will be re- examined, within two years time, by the appellant court in Kozhani. As one inhabitant of Zabrdeni remarked about the first trial, all the judges were young and experienced, and upheld the accusations of the prosecutor, without a thorough examination of the events sur- rounding the affair.
Once again, the rights of citizens have been sacrificed before the altar of “national interests”. Somehow it was in the “national interest” to stage military exercises by the homes of the “strange” inhabitants of Zabrdeni, in order to terrorise them and the rest of the “strange” in- habitants residing in the wider region.
We shall end this report by quoting a policeman involved in the re- moval of the blockaders of Zabrdeni: “I am not interested in what you are doing, I am not from this area, I come from far away … you are doing well at dying of cancer [!]. As you live by the border [of Greece] you need to endure military exercises. That is if you don’t want us to take Zabrdeni beyond the border!” No further commen- tary is required!
Dimitri Jovanov, editor of Nova Zora, a monthly newspaper voic- ing the concerns of Macedonians in Greece: http://novazora.gr/
Translated from Macedonian to English by George Vlahov of the AMHRC.
The Dark Heritage: A Review of Keep the Candle Alight By Jim Thomev
A play in the Macedonian language Written by Dushan Ristevski Directed by Stefo Nantsou Performed by the Australian Macedonian Theatre Company of Sydney
In Dushan Ristevski’s latest drama, We are confronted with the seemingly remarkable interpretation of it: Оставија свеќата да гори (Keep the unresolvable relationships of three gener- Candle Alight) the focus is domestic vio- ations – five family members in all. Scene But in the main it [i.e. incompetent lence; inevitably the atmosphere, for most 1 through to Scene 14 take place in the rule] provokes less laughter than of the one and a half hours of crisis, is lounge room of Altana the grandmother, tears, and the prevailing emotion heavy with foreboding about things going who is the representative of the first gen- under the Crescent is a paralysing wrong – confronting and often unpleas- eration from the Macedonian migration. fear. But fear in Macedonia is ant. And things do go very badly for the The last scene, Scene 15, takes place in more than an emotion. It is a (somewhat) unfortunately named the living room of an apartment to which physical disease, the malady of the Magarevski family. Yet for all that, there Elena, the wife who has separated from country, the ailment that comes of is humour, strength and a suggestion of her abusive husband Done (Altana’s son), tyranny. One enters some hovel enduring vitality. where she begins a new life with her two which a peasant family calls its teenage children, Emma and Chris. home. In the oppressive darkness The complex theme of violence in the one becomes gradually aware of daily lives of a Macedonian family is ex- The three generations are living together a living something which stirs or plored in the simplest of dramatic terms – as a matter of necessity due to financial groans in the gloomiest corner on it is presented without any explicit judg- hardship. They live in a modern suburb in the floor beneath a filthy blanket. ment or moralising beyond the words and the country reputed to be one of the most Is it fever, one asks, or is it small actions of the characters themselves. This livable if not the most livable on planet pox? And the answer comes in the is not to say that the drama is unclear earth in early 21st Century. accents of custom and common about whether wife-beating and living in place, “He is ill with fear”. The mutual torment with the family is a bad Now that I have warmed to my theme, I word [fear] becomes the key to thing… want to take the reader back to the begin- half the circumstances of exist- ning of last century, and cite a passage ence. Fear is the dominant the The presentation I saw on the modest written by a very astute observer and ever-present motive. It builds vil- stage of a Sunshine community hall thinker who travelled through Macedonia lages. It dictates migrations. It around midday on Saturday 24 Novem- early in the stormy first decade and pub- explains deceits. It has created the ber showed that all you need for a drama lished a remarkable book in 1906. morals of a country. 1 is “two boards and a passion”. At any rate, it moved me deeply by addressing After suggesting that there were often It would be hard to imagine a more suc- through its action, central questions about folksongs in the traditions of the inhabit- cinct summary of what life had become the basis of social life, the family, its ants of the weird country he has been ex- for the ordinary subject people of the Ot- strengths and vulnerabilities and its moral ploring that satirised the incompetence of toman yoke. For the purposes of the ap- disintegration. the Turkish rulers, the writer relates an preciation of the drama which the Aus- extraordinary story and gives an equally 30
tralian Macedonian Theatre of Sydney is much that is universal, or relevant to come to terms with. The heritage of re- presented to the Macedonian speaking family life in many other even markedly solving conflicts with their fists runs public, I want the reader to remember the diverse cultures. Human passions are per- through the three males - the grandfather, essential ideas and images in the above manent, just the “floorboards” on which father and son – Chris begins his career as quote from H. N. Brailsford. they are enacted may be different. a school bully.
As a result of Ottoman/Turkish tyranny At the outset, the stage is set for the ten- Done’s own problems are multiple: gam- and oppression fear was so pervasive that sions and conflicts to follow with the arri- bling, drinking, inability to hold down it became a physical disease. And it is no val of Done (the father) and his wife with jobs, poor management of money, his big leap to infer from this that all tyranni- their two teenage children at the grand- lack of sensitivity or moral maturity in cal behaviour whether by governments, mother’s place (Altana, the Baba). What significant personal relationships, impetu- employers or managers or husbands can follows from this entrance into the battle- osity, bad temper issuing in violent be- lead to the development of a slave men- ground –the lounge room – for the next haviour as a way of dealing with the tality in the victims of oppression whose 14 scenes is the unrelenting disintegration world. His personal weaknesses are well dominant mode of control is fear or terror. of the family. Altana does not like her attested in the interactions with his mother The moral degradation alluded to and the daughter-in-law Elena; Done tries to con- Altana. In the same scene (2), he has al- migrations Brailsford mentions in 1906 trol everybody and resorts to violence to ready upset his wife and sent off his are very familiar occurrences in Macedo- resolve major conflicts; Emma the daugh- daughter in tears. The following ex- nian history; the uncertainty, insecurity ter runs away from home and is brought change between Done and his mother and fear at the centre of existence in their home by the police; and Chris the son is occurs immediately after Done has homeland explain why Macedonians suspended from school for bullying. thrown out of the house his friend Peter went to foreign lands as itinerant migrant who has been harassing him over a long- workers (Печалбари) or migrated perma- Done makes futile gestures seeking work standing debt: nently when the opportunity offered itself. and raising loans. He is not simply de- (And of course there were those who plorable. Elena works but the money is Done: Have you got $100 you can give were expelled by hostile governments.) hardly adequate, and she feels powerless; me? Altana relies on her pension but the The passage above may not be relevant to weight of dead traditions and her lack of Altana: (amazed) What? What did you explain a wife beater’s psychology and insight are major weaknesses. The frus- say? still less to excuse it. But I invoke the his- tration, humiliation, mutual incomprehen- tory because the presence of soul- sion, and boredom has horrific outcomes: Done: You really have a problem with shattering fear as the dominant controlling Done beats his wife black and blue and your hearing when money is factor in people’s lives results in similar smashes furniture. The house that was mentioned. social wreckage. Of course, the causes of intended to be a temporary haven for the the fear, insecurity and uncertainty are family is transformed into a hell. Altana: Are you short again? due to a radically different time and place Done: Tomorrow I’ll get my Centrelink and life circumstances. (But then let’s The family interactions are cringe-worthy remember Chinese Communist strong- for the most part. The bad nurturing of the payment. I’ll pay you back. male is neatly (and comically) illustrated man Chou en Lai’s famous remark about Altana: You said the same thing last the French Revolution of 1789: asked in in Scene 2 where Chris the teenage son week but… the early 1960’s what he thought about its goes to each of the adults to ask for mon- consequences, he simply replied, “It’s too ey. He asks his father for $20, his mother Done: I swear by my mother, I’ll give it for $50 and his Baba (Altana) for $100 in early to say”.) back to you. quick succession. Young Chris is spoilt One of the play’s greatest virtues is the and manipulative. He has no adequate Altana: Did you gamble them away quick pace of its narrative and the con- role model or parental example that could again? stant dramatic action (things happening to steer him through to moral growth. people and done by them). A tale of woe Done: (angry) What are you talking piled upon woe passes before us with Indeed, one of the crucial issues is the about? You want to lecture me great fluency. A riveting story in itself stunted moral growth of the three genera- like Elena? engages the audience; for those who have tions of males. Done’s father Bozhin had a serious interest into the whys and been violent when he was alive. And Altana: (crosses herself before the icon) wherefores of domestic violence of this even from beyond the grave he exerts an God help me! Why can’t God specific family, we get a clear picture, but influence that has made life a struggle for just take me so that I can be free are left with a few imponderables toward Altana in her widowed present as her and not have to see such shame! the end. As with any accurate depiction in memories of raising their two children a drama centred on social problems, there Done and Sally are bitter and difficult to Done: That’s enough! Don’t pray and
carry on like some nun – just same grave as Dad. proach makes her appear feeble-mined give me money. and unable to acknowledge that her son is Altana: Ooh! What do you mean in the as badly behaved as her dreadful de- Altana: (She shows him her bank book) same grave? Never with your ceased husband. Altana is played with Here look, I don’t even have a father! I barely freed myself from empathic insight and flair by Irena Vel- single dollar…I can’t even pay him in this world, and you want janova. However, for those who have for a coffee with my friends. me to be with him in the other observed or lived closely to such grand- world. mothers, with all their blind love, loyalties Done: (He grabs the bank book, glances and confusions, the power of such a dev- at it and throws it back to her) Done: Okay, okay, just don’t shout. I’ll astatingly accurate portrayal can be upset- What have you spent them on? go and get a loan. ting. One could weep with the pity of it – Do you have another account? pity, and appalling sadness. (Here we Altana: I had money put away for all that have a case where the sensibility or expe- Altana: No my dear, may I die on the but you wanted to buy yourself a rience of the viewer plays a big role – it is spot, if I have… car and- not always possible to detach one’s self and not be affected because the drama is a Done: An old person doesn’t need mon- Done: I needed a car for work. piece of make-believe.) ey…she’ll only lose them… Altana: You should have taken out a This passage is typical of the trenchancy Altana: I’ll die and you won’t have mon- loan, not leave me without a of the dialogue. The Macedonian lan- ey to pay for my funeral! People cent… guage, as used in this play, carries more will laugh at me, and they’ll be meaning and nuance with fewer words pointing the finger at you… Done: I can’t get any credit. But what am I arguing with you for? I am than the English. (At any rate, in translat- ing I am having difficulty in capturing the Done: You just wait - don’t die on us off to look for work. (Goes) until we get some money togeth- communications with equal incisiveness in English.) This is one of the beauties of er. Altana: You are going to look for work now? On Sunday? (She crosses the Macedonian colloquial language as a Altana: I gave you my last dollar for the herself) Dear God, make this boy unique code when used with artistic sen- car and that money was meant to come to his senses and give him sitivity. Emotional and intellectual satis- pay for my funeral. All our peo- good health. faction is a product where there is a dis- ple have bought their little grave tinct and appropriate style – i.e. where the plots and I’ve missed out… (See Appendix 1 for Macedonian origi- words are absolutely suited to the subject. nal) This is what verbal should be and why it Done: You don’t need a grave. We’ll can be a delight even with the most unset- cremate you – it’s cheaper. Is there any surprise in Done asking his tling issues. pensioner mother for a $100, just as the Altana: (Appalled) No! Not that! Never! grandson Chris did on his collection And this is where, I believe, art has it over What am I - a dog? round mentioned above? Scene 2, one of what normally seems to pass for the longest in the play, suggests a rich “entertainment” in mass culture in the Done: Would you prefer to be eaten by complexity beneath the simple surface of West. Serious art brings us closer to reali- worms? daily life. Thus the issue of money and its ty, makes us contemplate it in images and role brilliantly illustrates the natures of language – style – that illuminate the Altana: Shame on you! I gave you birth, both father and son, and highlights the world. In contrast, I invite any reader to raised you and this is how you lack of moral compass and the destructive reflect on the heroes of the past few dec- humiliate me! relationships within the family. Altana is ades that come from Hollywood – Arnie, inclined toward the traditional castigating the Terminator, Rambo and Bruce Willis Done: I was only joking – we’ll bury mother-in-law (свекрва) role as she blowing everything and everyone up in you how you’d like. blames Elena for the family crisis; this is a the cause of justice. Is it “mere entertain- common phenomenon where the mother ment” to have macho fascist-types who Altana: I want a grave with a monument is blind to the spoilt son’s inadequacies are morally indistinguishable from each just like your father’s. even when his behaviour is monstrous. other hell bent on mutual destruction? Of Elena is the one blamed for Done’s be- course it’s only a movie, which makes a Done: You’re crazy! That cost $20,000! haviour as she has “failed to make him lot of money and costs a lot of money to make. This is a big part of the world in Altana: (adamant) I think I deserve as happy”. Altana’s irrational attitude is a which children are being raised in. And as much. product both of her tradition and person- ality; she was never supposed to be criti- I write this, America is in emotional tur- Done: Okay, then. We’ll put you in the cal of the men in her family, and this ap- moil about its gun laws – President 32
Obama is worried about how “we Ameri- during the 20th Century. another big moment in the dialogue to cans entertain ourselves” as well as the 300 show the calibre of the script, its classical million privately owned guns across the Some earlier testimonies as to what hus- clarity and masterly selection of detail: country! band and wife relationships were like un- der the Ottoman Empire are given in the Elena: My God, Done! What have you The discussion between the two teenage huge folkloric collection of Kuzman Shap- done? Why have you thrown out Magarevski children about the vicious as- karev. In one of his tomes, he records the my cooking! sault on their mother by their father, re- following curiosity as part of what were flects the language of the Australian social considered traditional values, laws or prac- Done: (brusquely) Why? Because it’s milieu. Violence, here as in the USA, is tices regulating husband and wife relations good for nothing! Not even a dog unrelentingly presented in the lounge (published circa the early 1880’s): would eat it. rooms of all citizens through the television in both “factual” (news etc) and fictional The husband has absolute author- Elena: (sneering) Your mother’s cooking form – the latter being passed off as the ity over his wife but not over her is no better! “entertainment” that has even the President property. He has the unquestiona- worried (the following section of the orig- ble right to demand of her, total Done: You’re not worth my mother’s inal dialogue is in English as it is the submission. Should she be disobe- little finger! You should admit dominant language of the third genera- dient, he has the right to rebuke you are worthless! You’re as tion): her, beat her, but not to the point dumb as a bean, and you can’t where he maims or mutilates her, even boil a pot of beans! Chris: If he hits Mum just once more – as that would be far too tyranni- I’ll kill him. cal. Nevertheless, there are men Elena: I know I am not worth much. I whose wives out of sheer misery cook, clean, wash and iron clothes Emma: No, I’ll kill him… I’ll make him and shame have endured beatings for you, and I am still worthless. suffer before I cut his throаt… with much physical harm without Are you aware that if it wasn’t for complaining to anybody. But me you would stew in filth and Chris: Don’t be stupid, you can’t even there are women who do not put die of starvation! You can’t even kill a fly. up with the slightest physical mal- make yourself a sandwich. I serve treatment and have even brought the food up to you as if you were Emma: I can get a roре and hang him, like the matter before the church au- in a restaurant but even that is not in that movie... thorities or even insisted on a di- good enough for you! You be- vorce. 234 have like a boy who hasn’t grown Chris: I’ll get an axe and cut his head up. (Mimics him) “Elena where off. Apart from the oddity of retaining owner- are my socks? Where are my un- ship of her dowry as stated in the first sen- derpants…bring me a beer… Emma: I think we should poison him… tence – unlikely in practice given the pow- bring me some water…” Do you I’ll go on the net and see what the er over her granted the male by tradition; want me to wipe your arse as safest way is. the wife clearly was no better (or worse) well? Chris: That’s enough! You are not going off than most Christian women anywhere in Europe. Done: (gets up) That’s enough! Stop to do anything. If someone is go- carrying on and chattering like a ing to do something it’s going to Presumably the somewhat arbitrary de- magpie! Do you want me to put be me. marcation point of allowing beatings but you back in hospital? You got not mutilations was due to prudential con- citizenship in this country when I Emma: Should we tell mum about it? siderations rather than to notions of fair- married you, so don’t jump up and down now. If I did not get Chris: Not a word to anyone, got it? Or ness, or respect for the rights of the wom- you out of the village you would I’ll kill you too… an. After all, a maimed woman would probably not be as effective in cleaning still be eating slops in the pig sty This is a little in one’s face to say the and cooking, child rearing or fulfil other, with the rest of the pigs! least…I’ll say no more. much heavier conjugal duties. Elena: Goodness gracious me! You I cannot help reverting to history again – The resolution of the crisis in the play saved me, hey? Would you like the play before us necessarily makes one comes after the abject horror of the beating me to call you God now? If you seek for the factors that have contributed of the wife and the maltreatment of all hadn’t married me you would still toward the creation of the human beings three women. The anguish of living in be crawling around the pubs with who emigrate from Macedonia to more constant fear has become too unbearable that horrible mate of yours Peter. developed countries in the West in waves for Elena. Again I cannot resist quoting Done: If I hadn’t married you, you’d
have been begging in the streets. with one punch! ble breakdowns in trust – and this is one of (Sits down) them. Elena: Oh I know what a big dangerous Elena: If it weren’t for me, you would man you are! Just you dare hit me What Done can do, cannot really be decid- have been the one begging in the and I’ll call the police! ed by anyone else, as it is an existential streets! You’re not even capable problem for him to work out. For men of holding down an ordinary job. Done: (sits down) I know, that the law in who can only resolve personal and emo- Your mother was looking after Australia, right or wrong, women tional conflicts with physical violence, to you up until yesterday, now I have have more rights than the men. merge out of the mire, is often too big a that honour! Instead of going to task. But this is another of those areas in look for a job you just lie there Elena: Exactly. And do you know why life where generalities are not very helpful. like a sack of potatoes and watch it’s like that? Because there are a And where we lack enlightenment we television all day with your moth- lot of men around like you. And if should be silent. er! there were no laws like that you would treat me like an animal! Keep the Candle Alight depicts the patriar- Done: What about you? You have for- (shakes her head) Oh Elena, chal relations between husband and wife in gotten the years where you sat on Elena, you have put up with abuse extremis, at its most oppressive. The sym- your backside at home, while I and have lived in fear for years. bolism of the title, of a candle burning be- worked at two jobs! Why? (turns on Done) What fore an icon of Jesus is the way Altana, the wrong have I done? Have I ever grandmother, copes with the appalling Elena: If you worked that hard why did insulted or done something horri- experience and the attendant memories of the bank take our house off us? ble for you to treat me with such having lived with a brutal husband. In a contempt and lack of respect? corner of her lounge room, she lights the Done: Of course the bank took our home candle regularly in the hope that her hus- when all you did was hang around Done: If you don’t like it – leave! band will not return to continue his harsh shopping centres and wasted treatment of her. It makes for a very mov- money on stupid things! Elena: I don’t see any other way out of ing (and humorous, if you are lucky this hell. I’ll have to go. I’ll take enough to be able to laugh at such things) Elena: Is that so? And have you forgotten my children and you shall never scene when she explains this to her recep- that you used to give me $10 a see us again. tive and sympathetic granddaughter Em- day? ma. The constantly lit candle before the (See Appendix 2 for Macedonian origi- icon is the deep hold the past has on her. Done: That’s as much as you deserved. nal) Her terror at the prospect of meeting her Elena: Oh ye, I deserved as much! – and Elena, the besieged wife, mother and husband again is further emphasized by what about you? You gambled daughter-in-law (played with great human- her reaction at the suggestion by Done that away the house and threw my life ity and aplomb by Velentina Apos- it would be a good bit of cost-cutting if she were buried in the same grave with her into the bargain! tolovska), does not collapse under the pres- sure. In the above passage she can give as husband, as we can see in the passage I Done: Here, we do have a house. good as she gets, at least in the verbal ex- quoted above from Scene 2. changes. So it is quite convincing that she The cast gave an admirable account of Elena: This is not my house – and it’s not ups and moves off with the children to themselves – the three main protagonists yours either. build a new life without Done, who is con- Altana, Done, and Elena were an artistic veniently carted off to jail for a short spell. Done: Okay then, go to work and buy delight – the other characterizations were yourself one, don’t just blabber Nikola Apostolovski, in the (unenviable) also appropriate, maintaining the integrity away about how terrific and hard- role of Done, gave a nuanced perfor- of the action. The life that exhibited itself working you are! mance; he certainly looked the part of the on the humble stage of a Sunshine hall down and out, the loser, without giving the demonstrated that a great deal of useless air of the heavy macho. After displaying unhappiness can be avoided when we look his worst, and plumbing the depths of deg- for the real human being, their thoughtful- Elena: It looks like I am fated to be both radation, powerlessness and in despair, ness, their vulnerable delicacy and tender- husband and wife because you are Done elicits our pity as he does not lapse ness. not capable… into it himself. In the last scene, he tries to For all the rough play in the action, this patch the world he destroyed but Elena, Done: (stands up in menacing anger)) presentation was a gratifying experience. I quite realistically, dumps his conciliatory Who isn’t capable? You witch! do not think I am alone in experiencing bouquet of flowers in the waste bin, once I’ll make you fly out the window this deep satisfaction, given that a well- he leaves. In life there are tragic irretrieva- 34
crafted work of art is involved. The exhila- je, Dr. Vitomir Micev, wrote a mono- друга книшка? ration and stimulus, the heightened, clear graph titled Fear, (sub-titled, from the depiction of characters and action, are diary of a psychiatrist, Стравот, низ Алтана:Не мајче, да пукнам овде ако products of exceptionally good collabora- дневникот на еден психијатар) имам... tion between writer, director and very en- about thirty years ago in which all the gaging actors. case studies are analysed from a Доне: На стар човек не му требаат Freudian perspective (alas a bit too пари...ќе ги загини... The combination of Dushan Ristevski the crude for my taste on some occa- writer and Stefo Nantsou the director and sions). He was a specialist on phobias, Алтана:Ќе умрам и ќе немате пари да actor is working better and better magic. clearly the central problem in his clini- ме закопате. Ќе ми се смеат Dushan captures the idiom of the Macedo- cal work. луѓето, а и вас со прст ќе ве nian psyche its rhythm and stress with покажуваат... great accuracy – his observation is very 2. Kuzman A Shapkarev, Izbrani Dela, clear-sighted and his deployment and se- Tom 4, priredil T. Sazdov, Misla, Доне: Па ти чекај и не умирај додека lection of material makes for a compact Skopje 1976. не собереме пари. drama. Stefo on the other hand not only Алтана:Последниот долар ти го дадов displays his usual versatility as actor (he ______за колата, а тие пари ми беа за plays three secondary characters); he has закопнина. Нашите, сите имаат also been able to utilise this material for the APPENDIX 1 купено место за гроб, а јас така most subtle effects. His use of first time actors (especially Irena Veljanova who Доне: Да не имаш 100 долари да ми останав... дадеш? plays the demanding role of Altana su- Доне: Не ти треба гроб – ќе те perbly) is strongly reminiscent of the won- Алтана:(Се изненадува) А? Што, што изгореме – така е поевтино... derful films Pier Paolo Pasolini made in ми рече? the 60’s in Italy. The Italian film director Алтана:(Одговорува со одсечност) Не, hired actors from different, often humble Доне: За пари не ти се слуша. тоа не! Што сум јас, куче? walks of life, people who had never acted – an incredible expression of faith in the Алтана:Пак немаш? Доне: Ами сакаш црвјата да те јадат? sensitivity and good sense of ordinary peo- ple. And if we reflect on this notion for a Доне: Утре „сентралинк“ ми плаќа. Алтана:Срам да ти е! Те родив и moment, it becomes clear that most so- Ќе ти ги вратам. израснав за вака да ме called common people in the world are понижуваш? uniquely good actors in their daily lives – Алтана:И минатата недела така ми one meets with so many people that are рече, ама... Доне: Се смеам – ќе те закопаме како just brilliant actors in a natural, spontane- што сакаш... ous way. Доне: Жими мајка ќе ти ги вратам. Алтана:Сакам гроб да ми направите For all the horrible degradation, the end Алтана:Пак ги искоцка? како што јас му направив на result of the play is far from bleak, or no татко ти. bleaker than real life for most of us. There Доне: (Со агресивност) Што е сега? И is some sense that human beings (in gen- ти како Елена ќе ме пееш? Доне: Ти како да немаш памет! eral, if you prefer), are all right, really. And Кошташе 20 илјади долари. as for the Macedonians – if they can live Алтана:(Се крсти пред иконата) Тешко and struggle with their heritage of darkness мене. Како нема Господ да ме Алтана:(Категорички) Мислам дека and oppression, and get through it, as they земе и да се куртулам, да не заслужив за толку. must with the new generations, whether as гледам срамотилоци. a group or as individuals – they should be Доне: Добро де, добро. Ќе те ставиме accorded every respect and recognition. Доне: Доста! Не богомоли како некоја во истиот гроб со тате. калуѓерка, туку дај пари. ______Алтана:Аууу! Како во истиот? Никако Алтана:(Вади банковна книшка) Еве со татко ти! Јас одвај се спасив ENDNOTES види, немам ни еден долар... не од него на овој свет, а ти сакаш можам ни едно кафе со и на тој свет да сум со него. 1. Henry Noel Brailsford, Macedonia: „френојте“ да се напијам. Its Races and Their Future , Methuen Доне: Океј, океј, само не викај. Јас ќе & Co, (Nabu reprint). I should add Доне: (Ја грабнува книшката, земам кредит. that a psychiatrist, practising in Skop- погледнува и ѝ ја фрла назад) Каде ги потроши? Да не имаш Алтана:Јас си имав пари за тоа ама ти
сакаше да си купиш кола и... Доне: (Станува) Доста! Не скокај твоја... многу. Што си се разгракала Доне: Ми требаше кола за на работа. како некоја страчка. Да не Доне: Тогаш оди работи и купи си, а сакаш пак ќе те пикнам в не само да зборуваш колку си Алтана:Требаше да си земеш кредит, а болница? Граѓанка те направив вредна и работлива. не јас да останам без една за да ми скокаш сега? Ако не цента... те извадев од селото до ден Елена: Така ми било пишано. Кога ти денес ќе јадеше трици со не си способен, јас треба да Доне: Кредит не ми даваат. Туку, што свињите. бидам и маж и жена... се расправам со тебе... одам да барам работа (Излегува). Елена: Леле, мајко, ти ме спаси, а? Да Доне: (Станува со заканување) Кој не не сакаш сега да те викам е способен? Вештицо, со една Алтана:Да бараш работа сега? Во Господ. Ти мене ако не ме тупаница ќе леташ низ недела? (Се крсти) Господе! земеше до ден денес ќе шеташе прозорец! Дај му памет и здравје на по кафаните како оној детево... смрдениот Пида. Елена: Ааа, знам, ти си опасен маж. Само еднаш мавни ме и одма (Затемнување на сцената) Доне: Ако не те земев, ти ќе питаше ќе викнам полиција! по улиците. (Седнува) ______Доне: (Седнува) Знам де, знам... тоа Елена: Море јас ако не бев, ти си тој си е закон на Австралија, криви APPENDIX 2 кој ќе питаше по улици. Не си – прави жените секогаш имаат повеќе право од мажите. Елена: Лелеее Доне, што направи? способен една обична работа да си ја задржиш. До вчера мајка Зошто ми ја истури манџата? ти те гледаше, а сега јас. Елена: Токму така. А знаеш ли зошто е така? Затоа што има многу Доне: (Отсечно) Зошто? Затоа што не Наместо да бараш работа, ти лежиш овде како вреќа со такви мажи како што си ти. И чини! Ни куче не ја јади. Ако ако немаше таков закон, ти не знаеш да готвиш, не си го компири и по цел ден телевизија гледаш со мајка ти. мене ќе ме третираш како губи времето. животно. (Ја ниша главата) Еј, Елено, Елоно, со години Елена: Ами манџите на мајка ти не се Доне: А ти? Заборави кога седеше со трпеше малтретирање и подобри? години дома и си го ширеше задникот, а јас работев по две живееше во страв. А зошто? Доне: Ти на мајка ми не можеш ниту работи? (Се врти кон Доне) Што ти на малиот прст да ѝ се фатиш. имав згрешено? Дали некогаш Треба да признаеш дека за Елена: Ако толку многу си работел ти згрешив нешто или те ништо не те бидува. Проста си тогаш зошто банката ни ја зеде навредив за да ме третираш со како грав, а еден грав не знаеш куќата? толкава омраза и непочит? да зготвиш. Доне: Па сигурно ќе ни ја земи кога Доне: Ако не ти се допаѓа, оди си. Елена: Знам, знам дека не ме бидува. ти по цел ден киснеше во Елена: Јас на гледам друг излез од овој Ти готвам, ти чистам, те перам, шопинг и само глупости пекол. Ќе морам тоа да го те пеглам и пак за ништо не ме купуваше. направам. Ќе си ги земам бидува. Дали си свесен дека ако децата и нема да не видиш мене ме нема, ти ќе скапиш во Елена: Така ли? А заборави ли кога повеќе. смрдеа и ќе умреш за јадење. ми даваше по десед долари на Не знаеш ниту еден сендвич да ден? Немав пари едно рало си направиш. Ти го сервирам гајќи да си купам... јадењето како во ресторан, ама Доне: Толку заслужуваше. ниту тоа не е ти е доволно. Се однесуваш како недорастено Елена: Да, јас толку, а ти? Ја прокоцка дете. (Го имитира) „Елена каде цела куќа и ми го прокоцка ми се чорапите... каде ми се животот. гаќите...донеси ми „бира“... донеси ми вода...“. Да не сакаш Доне: Еве, имаме куќа. и газот да ти го бришам! Елена: Ова не е моја куќа, а не е ни 36
A Macedonian Food Festival
Visited by our roving photographic journalist, Diane Kitanoski
The sun was shining bright when the Macedonian Australian Organisation (MACO) held it’s first and very successful food festival in Williamstown in October last year. With over 5,000 Macedonians turning up to taste the traditional food, the demand for kebapi outstripped the supply, but the rakia was plentiful, and the tasting of various imported beers and wines, was also on offer.
Nationally known musical act the Bumbari band graced the stage amongst many dancing groups includ- ing Geelong’s group Biser. The crowd’s hearts were singing as everyone joined in to do an “Oro”, with many flags proudly flying high towards the end of the day.
It was a showcase of Macedonia’s rich culture with people coming from as far as regional Victoria. It was a day for young and old. Everywhere you looked it was a sea of red and yellow with people proudly wearing the Macedonian colours. A wonderful cultural event promoting Macedonian food and its culture to the next generation of Australian Macedonians.
Text and photos by Diane Kitanoski.
38
Radovan Pavlovski, who was born in Southern Serbia (1937), is one of the finest poets to ever write in the Macedonian language. His poetry will, no doubt, continue to be read or recited by generations of Macedonians to come. It is such a gift to those who speak the Macedonian lan- guage.
Radovan Pavlovski might be considered difficult to understand if one insists on a clear, precise message from a poem. However, he might be considered one of the easiest poets to simply ap- preciate and to enjoy.
Perhaps I can best illustrate my point for the Eng- lish speaking reader by making reference to the lyrics of a Bob Dylan song. His lyrics often have some similar effect on me as those of Radovan Pavlovski. Take, for example, a lyric like: "I ain't gonna work on Maggie's farm no more. She hands you a nickel, she hands you a dime, then she fines you every time you slam the door." The Poetry of Radovan Pavlovski
The listener to this song has no idea who Maggie is, other than the fact that he or she runs a farm and is not a particularly kind employer. So much ANGEL so that the singer vows that he will never work on her farm ever again. However, the listener 1. immediately understands and appreciates the The stars of the dead give forth their light sentiment of the song, that there are petty tyrants Such brightness from all sides out in the world (a teacher, a drill sergeant, an that one's eyes ache at the sight employer, etc.) whom one vows never to will- and there is no shade for rest or sleep. Women, ingly fall under the power of again. We may not mothers, children, old men, young boys and girls know the specific details of the story in this song, with padlocks and keys hitched to their belts but we can readily appreciate the sentiment and climb up the mountain identify emotionally with the singer. walk across the sky and call to their Angel and he responds and opens their eyes: The poet Radovan Pavlovski has a similar effect The star of our people rises on those who listen to his poetry. The elusive and from joy I feel I must clap with my hand metaphorical language that is so characteristic of on stones, on my knees, and my heart Radovan Pavlovski's poetry touches the listener is full of tenderness and the mountains tremble in much the same way as Bob Dylan's use of from the beauty. For our Lineage the Angel has been words. If one cannot say precisely what the poet the seed and flame for a thousand years; meant in a poem, one can almost always appreci- In a small temple he leaves a sign. ate the meaning of the poem on some emotive, Whether you come from wars, intuitive or instinctive level. or seek healing in freedom or perhaps you no longer have any parents, One of my favorite poems by Radovan Pavlov- brother Angel, come with me, sharpen my sight, ski, translated by the distinguished professor of if pain torments you, move a mountain Slavic studies and devoted friend of Macedonia, and be again Reginald de Bray, in a book entitled Road to the the visible fruit of an invisible power. Mountains, Leros Press, Canberra, 1985, is enti- tled simply "Angel." Part 1 of this poem reads as follows:
40
Ангел
1. Изгреваат и ѕвездите на умрените Толку светлина од сите страни кога од видливост очи болат а нема ни сенка за одмор и сон Жени мајки деца старци момчиња и девојки со катанци и клучеви заденати за појас се искачуваат на планина горе по небо чекорат и го довикуваат Ангелот свој а тој се одѕива одврзува очи: Изгрева ѕвездата на народот а мени ми доаѓа од радост да треснам со дланка по камења по колена да ми се отвори нежно срце, планините да затреперат од убавина Од наша Лоза бил Ангелот на илјада години семе и пламен, Dr. Michael Seraphioff во мал храм тој остава нишан. Од војни ли доаѓаш, во слободали бараш лек или ти веќе немаш родители, Ангелу брате, појди со мене, изостри вид, ако те измачува бол, помести планина и пак биди на невидлива сила видлив плод.
There, no doubt, could be other interpretations of this po- em, but I see the poet, above all, evoking the memory of those who struggled and died to realize the dream of an independent Macedonian nation state. "The star of our peo- ple rises," writes the poet. And as he celebrates those who died for the good of us all, as he declares them to be our "Angels," he calls for their help to give us strength to endure the hardship that is the lot of those who would sustain the Macedonian name, identity and state in an all too often hostile world: "the Angel has been the seed and flame for a thousand years."
The best poetry manages to somehow give expression to that which is difficult to find words for. In this case, the joy of a people at the realization, after so much time and so much suffering, of a common dream of freedom of expres- sion and self-determination. And what better word can there possibly be to describe those who suffered and died for the sake of their people than to name them our angels.
Dr. Michael Seraphinoff
In respectful recognition of the importance of the partition of Macedonia in 1913, the AMHRC is planning a series of manifestations to mark the passing of one hundred years since that fateful event. Among the most prominent of these is the following:
The Partition of Macedonia and the Balkan Wars of 1912-13
4-6 September 2013 ● Melbourne, Australia
The Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) in cooperation with Monash University
An international scholarly conference
The year 2013 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of the second Balkan War. As a result of this war, a region of the Ottoman Empire known as Macedonia was divided and annexed by Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria. This was sanctioned by the signing of the Treaty of Bucharest on the 10th of August 1913. In the context of Macedonia’s highly contested modern history and the current topicality of the Republic of Macedonia’s international recogni- tion, this multidisciplinary conference will aim to make a substantial contribution to an understanding of this im- portant aspect of modern Macedonian history. The conference will attempt a historical survey of the context and the effects, both short and long term, of the partition of Macedonia on the inhabitants of Macedonia, from a variety of perspectives, especially linguistic, sociological, anthropological and political.
Some of the speakers who will be in attendance and their topics:
Professor Andrew Rossos, University of Toronto: The Balkan Wars (1912–13) and the Partition of Macedonia: A Historical Perspective
Professor Victor Friedman, University of Chicago: The effects of Partition on the languages spoken in Macedonia
Professor Katerina Kolozova, American University College Skopje: History as Contingency and as the Real of a National Identity
Professor Keith Brown, Watson Institute, Brown University: How Trauma Travels
Professor Peter Hill, University of Hamburg: The Partition in relation to the later Codification of the Macedonian Language
Professor Loring Danforth, Bates College: From the Partition of Macedonia to the Creation of the Transborder Prespa Park
Professor Christina Kramer, University of Toronto: Partitioning Language Policy and Status Planning in Macedonia
To be followed by presentations from six more academics specialising in Macedonian Studies.
The conference will end with the 30th Annual AMHRC Dinner on Saturday the 7th of September 2013, at which members of the Macedonian community will be able to interact with the conference speakers.
It is envisaged that a book containing the papers presented at the conference will be published for distribu- tion to tertiary libraries.
Other announcements to be made over the coming weeks and months. 42
Book Review: Macedonia and Greece – Battle for the Name: Legal Mechanisms in the United Nations for return/use of the name – Republic of Macedonia by Janko Bachev
Article by Dr. Vasko Nastevski
Dr Janko Bachev’s Mace- legal mechanisms in the tional community relative selves, prosecuting a case donia and Greece – Battle United Nations that are to other states. Significant- that seeks the “returning/ for the Name is a valuable available to the Republic of ly, this feeling is being ex- usage of [Macedonia’s] and appealing book that Macedonia to initiate action pressed here by an ‘insider’; constitutional name in the adds to the existing dis- for “returning/usage of its that is from somebody that UN” firstly requires undo- course around the interna- constitutional name in the not only resides within the ing existing legal agree- tional community’s so- UN”. However, to the re- Republic of Macedonia, but ments and other interna- called ‘name issue’, in viewer, the book is less has been part of and tional legal instruments be- which the Republic of about the standards and au- worked within the internal fore one can make the case. Macedonia finds itself in a thority to be found in sub- state structures. Dr Bachev makes a valiant perpetual discussion/ stantive international law attempt in this regard, most- negotiation over the right to and the associated proce- The difficulty of Dr ly through a positivist anal- use its democratically cho- dural and legal mecha- Bachev’s intellectual task is ysis of the existing state of sen name. The substantive nisms, although Dr Bachev notable, requiring the piec- international law. The self- content of the book repre- does a very good job outlin- ing together of various are- acknowledged motivation sents Dr Bachev’s doctoral ing these, rather the book as of international law and behind Dr Bachev’s work dissertation, awarded from seems to be more a reflec- practice, international pro- is twofold: firstly through the School of Law tion on the growing frustra- cedural and legal processes patriotic duty given the is- ‘Justinian I’ Skopje. The tion and disappointment and reconciling sensitive sue is of the highest nation- primary focus of Dr with Macedonia’s interna- international politics. al interest and secondly, an Bachev’s book is stated as tional status and especially Whilst none of these things intellectual contribution to being the processes and the its treatment by the interna- are a mystery in them- an area that has not been the
subject of much deep anal- the many stages of Mace- position that a dispassionate these two instruments ysis, at least within the Re- donia’s quest for recogni- formulaic legal approach to themselves represents a public of Macedonia. tion under its self chosen the ‘name issue’ can avoid breach of international law name. Nevertheless, for ‘winners and losers’ in a and that their inherent invi- The book is written in Mac- readers wishing to engage political context and the tation to reach a ‘solution’ edonian, so I feel that a cou- the stated purpose of the inevitable emotional politi- over the name of an inde- ple of qualifications are book, it is not till chapter cal confrontations between pendent and sovereign necessary. Firstly, every four that the book comes the two countries. Accord- country, in the circumstanc- effort has been made to into its own. ingly, Dr Bachev states that es, is yet a further violation translate the arguments and the Republic of Macedonia of international law. Indeed, positions articulated in the Here, the book is neatly needs to overturn its current he argues that these two book in their original con- sequenced. It begins with a policy of pursuing a politi- very instruments can form text as accurately as possi- discussion about whether cal/diplomatic approach part of the evidence and ble. Of course any errors in the so-called name issue is and turn to available legal argumentation in any legal this regard remain with the best approached as one be- mechanisms. Without yet proceedings. Dr Bachev author of the review. Sec- ing purely legal in nature or analysing Dr Bachev’s pre- presents his own innovative ondly, it should be under- one that has a political char- ferred approach, purely legal reasoning with a view stood that not all of the nu- acter. Dr Bachev asserts from a lawyer’s perspec- to annul any procedural ances and complexities in that Macedonia’s prefer- tive, it is of course a sensi- significance that might be the arguments promulgated ence to date to follow a po- ble course to take. But it is given to Security Council by Dr Bachev are likely to litical/diplomatic course has difficult to accept that legal Resolution 817 and the In- be captured in such a short proven ineffective. Moreo- proceedings themselves, terim Accord. It is this legal review. ver, he suggests that contin- particularly in an interna- reasoning that offers the uing down this path will not tional context, will remove most interesting reading in The Book result in an acceptable out- political sensitivities given the book and is therefore come for either side, least that international legal pro- worth summarising. The book has four main of all for Macedonia. The ceedings are in themselves chapters. The first three implication seems to be that the result of strategic politi- Security Council Resolu- chapters rehearse the recent both states’ essential inter- cal calculations. tion 817 historical machinations ests cannot be reconciled from the declaration of in- through political and diplo- Nevertheless, Dr Bachev Dr Bachev submits that the dependence of the Republic matic means. Dr Bachev then tackles perhaps the Republic of Macedonia of Macedonia in 1991 to does not hesitate to outline most important part of his should publically state that the formal ‘name dispute’ that for Greece, this ulti- task, the possible procedur- accepting Resolution 817 and the United Nations. mately means denial of a al limitations present to pur- does not at the same time This background and his- Macedonian identity, and suing legal mechanisms. mean that the Republic of torical context forms a very conversely for Macedonia These include Security Macedonia has undertaken useful prelude to the book’s it means defence of its Council Resolution 817 in binding obligations to reach ultimate purpose of investi- name and identity. A politi- which Macedonia gained an ultimate conclusion to gating the various legal cal outcome is only possi- membership to the United the so-called ‘name issue’. mechanisms within the ble if one of the parties to Nations under the Indeed, Dr Bachev argues United Nations for chal- the ‘dispute’ withdraws ‘provisional’ reference “the that through a purely tech- lenging Macedonia’s exist- from their fundamental po- Former Yugoslav Republic nical/legal perspective the ing status. Dr Bachev, at sition. The implication be- of Macedonia” and the In- only obligation that exists times, also provides some ing that this is unlikely giv- terim Accord entered into for both sides is that both detailed and intriguing ac- en that it would represent by the Republic of Mace- sides should enter into and counts of various manoeuv- complete defeat of one side. donia and the Hellenic Re- conduct discussions in rela- rings by state institutions, public, which engaged both tion to the differences over international and regional Although not obvious, sides in the so-called ‘name the name. In other words, organisations and certain from here Dr Bachev’s ar- negotiations’. Dr Bachev the Security Council, individual actors through gument seems to follow a declares that the nature of through Resolution 817 is
44
merely providing the basis the Commission takes the language version of the In- taking international legal for a resolution, but no view that the use of the terim Accord, ratification action due to the existence binding obligation to actu- name “Macedonia” cannot was for an Interim of the Interim Accord. He ally reach a final agreement imply territorial claims “understanding” and not rightfully argues that the over the name. In doing so, against another state given necessarily an Interim very basis of the Interim Resolution 817 neither pre- that the Republic of Mace- “accord” and secondly, Accord, in which it engages vents the Republic of Mac- donia has renounced such referring to the Republic of both parties in negotiations edonia from using the claims. Fifthly, it should be Macedonia in the Interim over the so-called ‘name name chosen by its people. understood that Resolution Accord as the “Party of the issue’ remains inconsistent 817 is itself a document that Second Part” gives the im- with the general thrust of Secondly, the Republic of has temporary import for pression that the contracting international law and the Macedonia should publi- which its significance has party is a private party and purposes and rules of the cally declare that under in- passed. The two decades of not the sovereign and inde- United Nations itself. De- ternational law it has a right negotiations/discussions pendent country of the Re- spite this, the Republic of to choose its own name and has not resulted in any public of Macedonia, as a Macedonia entered into the that it will never accept the agreement and neither is subject under international Interim Accord in good ‘provisional’ reference “the there any such agreement law and as is conceived faith and in full observance Former Yugoslav Republic on the horizon. Therefore, within the Macedonian of its requirements. Not- of Macedonia” to be its the indefinite use of a constitution. Further, the withstanding this, following name. Thirdly, it should be ‘provisional’ name is simp- legally correct appellation all reasonable attempts to made clear that the Repub- ly not reconcilable with any recognised under the con- resolve the so-called ‘name lic of Macedonia’s mem- legal thinking or human stitution is that of the dispute’, after seventeen bership in the United Na- logic. Twenty years is more ‘Republic of Macedonia’. years there seems no pro- tions is a definite fact and than a reasonable period of Accordingly, formal legal spects that a resolution will cannot be re-opened. The time to try and reach an instruments in which the be found. Moreover, given ‘provisional’ reference can- agreement and the failure to Republic of Macedonia that the Republic of Mace- not be made a condition for do so suggests that it is enters into must contain the donia is to seek full use of such membership. Indeed, simply not possible. All of correct appellation. Even its self chosen name within Resolution 817 makes it this indicates that whatever more interestingly, Dr the United Nations any on- clear that the Republic of obligation Macedonia may Bachev suggests that dur- going ‘negotiations’ serve Macedonia has fulfilled have had to negotiate over ing the international legal no perceivable objective. “the criteria for member- its name stemming from proceedings in which the ship in the United Nations Resolution 817 is now at an Republic of Macedonia Accordingly, Dr Bachev laid down in Article 4 of the end as any legitimate basis brought the Hellenic Re- appends his case by refer- Charter”. Whilst Resolu- that Resolution 817 might public before the Interna- ence to Article 5(2) of the tion 817 recommends use have had has surely been tional Court of Justice for Interim Accord in which of the ‘provisional’ refer- exhausted. breach of the Interim Ac- each party not only ence, at the same time it cord, the revelation that “reserve all of [their] rights does not prevent the Re- Interim Accord Greece itself had not actual- consistent with the specific public of Macedonia using ly ratified the Interim Ac- obligations undertaken in its constitutional name, Before delving into his rea- cord is probably due to sim- [the] Interim Accord”, but which is evidenced by the soning against the Interim ilar restrictions in the Greek “to carry out normal trade fact that it has entered into Accord, Dr Bachev takes constitution; that is Greece and commerce between diplomatic relations with the opportunity to firstly being referred to as the them in a manner over 130 countries as such. point out that ratification of “Party of the First Part” in consistent with their the Interim Accord by the the Interim Accord. respective positions in Fourthly, the Republic of Macedonian Parliament is regard to the name of the Macedonia should recall arguably inconsistent with In any event, Dr Bachev Party to the Second Part Opinion 6 of the Badinter the constitution of the Re- then proceeds to make the [Macedonia]. The Parties Arbitration Commission of public of Macedonia. case against any possible shall take practical 11 January 1992, in which Based on a Macedonian procedural limitations from measures so that the
difference about the name sistent with Article 53 of Dr Bachev then appears to contradiction inherent with- of the Party to the Second the Vienna Convention on go off on an interesting tan- in the Interim Accord itself. Part [Macedonia] will not the Law of Treaties, which gent from his legal reason- By this stage it seems to be obstruct or interfere with states that: ing and provides a brief an obvious point, perhaps normal trade and criticism of Macedonia’s more so because he alludes commerce between the A treaty is void if, at the initial rush to entertain and to it throughout his book, Party of the Second Part time of its conclusion, it engage in processes that but even this does not de- [Macedonia] and third conflicts with a saw it relinquishing its orig- tract from its damning con- parties”. Dr Bachev inter- peremptory norm of inal national flag, make clusion. Dr Bachev firstly prets this as meaning that general international amendments to its constitu- points to Article 5(1), nobody, not even the Unit- law. For the purposes of tion to effectively withdraw which neatly encapsulates ed Nations can prescribe a the present Convention, a any interest to the Macedo- the whole purpose of the different name for the peremptory norm of nian minority in Greece Interim Accord in which “Party to the Second general international law (despite that the Greek con- the “parties agree to con- Part” [Macedonia] and that is a norm accepted and stitution promotes Greek tinue negotiations … with a equally nobody can compel recognized by the interest in Greek minorities view to reaching agree- the “Party of the First international community outside of Greece), to all ment on the difference[s]” Part” [Greece] to accept of States as a whole as a but abandon the historical that have arisen over the that name. norm from which no argument to Greece and to name. He then points out to derogation is permitted hastily accept the use of the the Preamble of the Interim In the alternative, Dr and which can be ‘provisional’ reference “the Accord and especially Arti- Bachev reminds his readers modified only by a Former Yugoslav Republic cle 9, which states: that under Article 23(2), the subsequent norm of of Macedonia”. He affords “Interim Accord shall general international law a lot of the blame to the In the conduct of their remain in force until having the same foreign and diplomatic affairs the Parties shall superseded by a definitive character. corps of the Republic of be guided by the spirit agreement, provided that Macedonia at the time and and principles of after seven years either Moreover, Article 103 of especially the insufficient democracy, Party may withdraw from the Charter of the United expertise in international fundamental freedoms, this Interim Accord by a Nations states that “[i]n the law and practice. In a sense, respect for human rights written notice, which shall event of a conflict between and as mentioned at the and dignity, and the rule take effect 12 months after the obligations of the outset, it seems to the re- of law, in accordance its delivery to the other Members of the United viewer that this short di- with the Charter of the Party”. Dr Bachev asserts Nations under the present gression reflects the larger United Nations, the that based on this clause, Charter and their frustration and disappoint- Universal Declaration the Interim Accord argua- obligations under any other ment of the position in of Human Rights, the bly technically elapsed in international agreement, which the Republic of European Convention 2002, but because neither their obligations under the Macedonia finds itself. The for the Protection of side has formally with- present Charter shall reader should expect such Human Rights and Fun- drawn their participation it prevail”. Accordingly, Dr parenthesis frequently damental Freedoms, the continues to remain valid. Bachev argues that based throughout the book, but International Conven- Nonetheless, it is open to on general international law far from being distracting tion on the Elimination the Republic of Macedonia and the law of the United (unless you are a lawyer of all Forms of Racial to invoke Article 23(2) Nations, the Republic of hell bent on pure legal rea- Discrimination, the based on the fact that it has Macedonia has a right to soning!), it provides an in- Convention on the technically elapsed, in do- use a name of its own teresting supplement to the Rights of the Child, the ing so the Republic of choosing and therefore it book’s central purpose. Helsinki Final Act, the Macedonia can make a uni- cannot be consistent with document of the lateral announcement that these rights and at the same Finally, in returning to his Copenhagen Meeting of the Interim Accord is effec- time ‘negotiate’ its name. legal reasoning, Dr Bachev the Conference on the tively null and void, con- highlights directly the clear Human Dimension of
46
the Conference on thorities in the Republic of icate and hold Macedonia’s cretion of the Security Security and Macedonia. Moreover, any notification in abeyance, Council. In doing so, Dr Cooperation in Europe such course should firstly the inevitable reaction by Bachev again speculates and the Charter of Paris secure wider consensus Greece and even the possi- that this can only result in for a New Europe. within the political system bility that such a the Security Council mak- and political subjects of the “provocative” action may ing political/diplomatic rec- As Dr Bachev asserts, it is Republic of Macedonia as leave the General Assem- ommendations. This of these very international in- a question that involves the bly apprehensive. For these course will defeat the pur- struments that maintain in- highest national interest. and other reasons, Dr pose of seeking a legal out- ternational legal obligations One gets the sense that Bachev does not recom- come. Further, a hearing such as the right to self de- these practical points are mend this option. before the Security Council termination, the equality of made by Dr Bachev as a invites concentrated lobby- sovereign states, the right of way to lead into heavy criti- Regarding the Security ing behind the scenes to try a state to be in charge of its cism of past failures by pre- Council option, Dr Bachev and garner the votes of the own jurisdiction, the non- vious authorities. Whilst firstly runs through the vari- members of the Security interference in a states’ do- read objectively such cri- ous ways in which the Council, which itself di- mestic affairs and so on. tique can be constructive, question of the name of the minishes any so-called le- The above rights, as ex- on occasions it does appear Republic of Macedonia can gal process. For these rea- pressed within the interna- as if Dr Bachev is merely find its way before the Se- sons, Dr Bachev does not tional instruments men- using the opportunity to curity Council. This can recommend this option ei- tioned, upon a closer analy- make domestic political happen via the Secretary- ther. sis fundamentally provide points against the existing General or the General As- that the name of a state is political structures in the sembly, in which a request The next organ considered exclusively an internal country. To a reader with is made regarding Macedo- is that of the General As- question for the state itself some knowledge of the nia’s membership within sembly. Here the Republic and one that cannot be sub- politics within the Republic the United Nations, or alter- of Macedonia will simply ject to ‘negotiation’ with of Macedonia, despite be- natively if one of these or- request that the General any other party. ing reasonable criticism, it gans believes that the issue Assembly place on its can distract from the main is likely to endanger inter- agenda for one of its plena- Legal Mechanisms purposes of the book. national peace and security. ry sessions the request that By Article 35(1) of the the Republic of Macedonia The book then moves to its Dr Bachev spends a bit of Charter of the United Na- be able to use the name the inevitable finale methodi- time going though the like- tions, the Republic of Mac- ‘Republic of Macedonia’ cally outlining the four pos- ly processes necessary in edonia, or any other mem- within the framework of sible legal mechanisms in his four options. Without ber may bring any dispute the United Nations. Dr the United Nations availa- reciting all of the details to the attention of the Secu- Bachev highlights that ar- ble to the Republic of Mac- here, in summary, regard- rity Council. Dr Bachev gumentation will need to be edonia for “returning/usage ing the Secretariat of the examines the possible is- led by Macedonia both re- of its constitutional name in United Nations, the Repub- sues that the Security garding procedural and le- the UN”. These include the lic of Macedonia would Council may take into con- gal matters, which will no Secretariat of the United simply formally notify the sideration once the matter is doubt illicit strong reactions Nations, the Security Coun- General-Secretary that the before it, but this remains by Greece and even at- cil, the General Assembly Republic of Macedonia largely speculative. Dr tempts to obstruct the and the International Court will request that henceforth Bachev then notes that whole process. Assuming of Justice. From a practical within the United Nations once the issue is before the Greece is not successful in perspective, Dr Bachev that it be referred to by its Security Council, it essen- scuttling the process, the adds that ultimately the self chosen name. Dr tially removes any possibil- question should ultimately choice of which legal path Bachev does not ignore the ity of the General Assem- come down to a vote in the to take should be as a result likely reactions to this, from bly making its own recom- General Assembly. Whilst of strategic political calcu- the possibility that the Sec- mendations and leaves the there will be a need to un- lations on behalf of the au- retary-General may prevar- matter to the absolute dis- dertake serious lobbying
and possibly see off other vo’s unilateral declaration strong precedence stem- neither will an international procedural committee stag- of independence. Dr ming from the ICJ that legal answer such as the es, Dr Bachev asserts that Bachev questions the mer- clearly points to a decision one recommended in this an intelligent campaign by its behind the ICJ’s opinion in favour of Macedonia. Dr book result in a resolution the Republic of Macedonia in which they stated that Bachev here points to an of the so-called ‘name is- should ensure that it Kosovo’s actions were not ICJ advisory opinion of sue’ in its totality. This may achieves majority support, inconsistent with interna- 1948 in which it states that cause a victory within the not least of all from mem- tional law or at least inter- there should be no condi- framework of the United ber countries that have al- national law did not prevent tions extraneous placed on Nations, but it will not dis- ready recognised the Re- such actions. applicant countries for suade Greece from pursu- public of Macedonia in bi- membership in the United ing any and all methods to lateral relations under its Nevertheless, Dr Bachev Nations outside of Article 4 interrupt the Republic of constitutional name. Ac- still recommends the ICJ as of the Charter of the United Macedonia’s status else- cordingly, Dr Bachev rec- a reasonable option for the Nations. Dr Bachev recom- where. As Dr Bachev him- ommends this option be Republic of Macedonia for mends this option. self identifies, Greece’s pursued. various reasons. Firstly, fundamental position from given the length of time of Brief Comment which it cannot withdraw Finally, Dr Bachev outlines the current ‘negotiations’ politically, let alone psy- the process in which the and the almost non-existent Dr Bachev has provided us chologically, is to deny the International Court of Jus- prospects that a ‘solution’ with a worthwhile contribu- existence of the Macedoni- tice (ICJ) may play a role. will be found through the tion to the conversation on an people. The existence of By Article 96 of the Char- existing processes, for the the right of the Republic of a country that declares its ter of the United Nations General Assembly seeking Macedonia to use its self independent legal personal- either the Security Council an ICJ opinion perhaps of- chosen name. The underly- ity as the Republic of Mac- or the General Assembly fers the best hope of con- ing assumption in his work edonia, representing as it may request the ICJ to give cluding the so-called ‘name however is that a ‘name does the reality of a Mace- an advisory opinion on any issue’. Secondly, Dr issue’ exists and that the donian identity, is the very legal question. Dr Bachev Bachev optimistically best way to confront it, antithesis of the current suggests that the more like- reaches the conclusion that from the perspective of the Greek State. So the ques- ly scenario is that the Gen- the Republic of Macedo- Republic of Macedonia is tion that remains unan- eral Assembly makes the nia’s prospects for success to treat it as a purely legal swered is: international le- request given historical before the ICJ are very question. Firstly, whilst the gal proceedings to what preferences that such mat- good based on international ‘legal’ case for Macedonia end? Why would the Re- ters are referred following law. This being so, he con- is strong, even a most com- public of Macedonia put resolutions by the General siders that the ICJ will have prehensive legal victory itself through such anxious Assembly. Again, Dr little option but to find in will not resolve the so- moments? Why should it? Bachev does not ignore that favour of Macedonia. Also, called ‘name issue’. It is Is this not really an ‘issue’ the Republic of Macedonia unlike the Kosovo case, difficult to imagine Greece for Greece? will need to lobby hard to there does not seem to be simply accepting any such get such a resolution. Fur- much international pressure legal outcome and as is Certainly, for the purposes ther, once before the ICJ, to influence the outcome in proven time again, there is of international justice, the Dr Bachev does express the ICJ based on political very little international en- challenge is not simply to some cynicism that the considerations, or at least forcement of international appreciate the competen- judges of the ICJ may not against Macedonia, which law, least of all against cies and relational context always be immune from is evidenced by the fact that Greece. Greece has been of the various international political influences, espe- the Republic of Macedonia acting outside such legal legal structures and pro- cially when it concerns the was successful in its recent frameworks for decades cesses, but also the moral interests of the large pow- case before the ICJ arguing with its consistent human and conceptual location of ers. He points to the that Greece had breached rights violations against the the issue which inevitably “debacle” over the advisory the terms of the Interim Ac- Macedonian minority. As I pre-empts any practical le- opinion sought over Koso- cord. Thirdly, there is have written previously, gal response. To this effect, 48
contemplating a purely le- as offered in a previous arti- gal response seems limit- cle published in Issue 12, ing. Whilst we need to ac- following this, the Republic cept that Dr Bachev’s clear- of Macedonia can then ly stated aim is to highlight “provide notice to the Unit- the legal mechanisms avail- ed Nations and other inter- able to the Republic of national and regional bod- Macedonia for return and ies that it will henceforth be use of its constitutional exercising its independent name in the United Na- legal personality under an tions, his book does howev- identity of its own choos- er indirectly make a very ing”. Once this step is tak- strong moral claim on be- en, the question then is half of the Republic of what value is there in get- Macedonia. This may leave ting bogged down in diffi- some readers wondering cult legal proceedings why a laborious legal pro- where a risk always re- cess is necessary given the mains of losing? clear moral position of the Republic of Macedonia. Dr Bachev’s genuine desire to disentangle the Republic Dr Bachev’s book should of Macedonia from its cur- Dr. Vasko Nastevski give the reader the real im- rent status is more than pression that the issues be- commendable. In doing so ing confronted by the Re- he presents both innovative public of Macedonia seem legal reasoning and a more to be of their own doing. than useful exposition of Not only from the fact that the various legal processes it was poor political judg- and mechanisms in the ment and decisions that led United Nations. To this ex- the Republic of Macedonia tent, his book is a signifi- into its current status, but cant contribution to this even worse, seemingly the unresolved discussion and most difficult and complex one that will perhaps have legal arguments for it to greater impact within the make now (assuming we Republic of Macedonia follow Dr Bachev’s legal than elsewhere. approach) lies in the fact that the Republic of Mace- Dr. Vasko Nastevski – donia continues to entertain Executive member of the ‘negotiation’ and AMHRC. ‘discussion’ over its name. To turn to Dr Bachev’s the- sis again, it would seem that in the first instance, the real decision to be made is one of a purely political character. In other words, withdrawing from the Inter- im Accord is in substance a political question. Further,
Some images from the MHRMI human rights night and other events, last September with special guest Dimitri Jovanov, the editor of Nova Zora – a monthly newspaper voicing the concerns of Macedonians in Aegean Macedonia
50
RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
ABOUT The AMHRC and MHRMI are part of an international Macedonian network that spans Australia, North America and Europe, including: AUSTRALIAN MACEDONIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE
Address Suite 106, Level 1 MHRMI & 55 Flemington Rd North Melbourne, 3051 Telephone +61 3 9329 8960 Email [email protected] AMHRC Website www.macedonianhr.org.au MACEDONIAN HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT INTERNATIONAL
Address 157 Adelaide St. West, Suite 434 Toronto, Canada M5H 4E7 Macedonian Telephone 1 416 850 7125 Email [email protected] Human Rights Website www.mhrmi.org MACEDONIAN ALLIANCE FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Movement The political party of the Macedonians in Albania
International Website www.macedoniansinalbania.org EUROPEAN FREE ALLIANCE—RAINBOW (MHRMI) has Address Stephanou Dragoumi 11 PO Box 51, 53100 Florina/Lerin, been active since Greece Telephone +30 23850 46548 1986. The Email [email protected] or [email protected] Australian Website www.vinozito.gr OMO ILINDEN PIRIN
Macedonian Address Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad 2700 Zk ‘Elenovo’ bl 6 v. Bar. 6 Human Rights p.k. Mechkaroovi Email [email protected] Committee Website www.omoilindenpirin.org (AMHRC) has MACEDONIAN SOCIETY “ILINDEN” TIRANA A Macedonian cultural association in Tirana, Albania
been active since Website www.ilinden-tirana.com 1984. NOVA ZORA A pro-Macedoniannewspaper based in Aegean Macedonia, Greece, edited by Dimitri Jovanov and with a printed circulation of 20,000 copies per month
Both MHRMI and Website novazora.gr AMHRC are non- NARODNA VOLJA A Pro-Macedonian newspaper based in Pirin Macedonia, Bulgaria, edited by Jan Pirinski and Stojko Stojkov. The first edition was published in 1980 governmental organisations that Website www.narodnavolja.com inform and advocate about TEAM MEMBERS combating racism MHRMI AMHRC and promoting Jovan Drenoski, Treasurer Chris Angelkov, Perth Representative Gligor Apoleski, Sydney Representative Michael Georgiev, Marketing human rights. Our Ljubica Durlovska, Review Production Designer/Assistant Editor Donna Gulcev Tase Filipov, Treasurer joint aspiration is to Tomislav Jakovleski Ivan Hristovski, New York Correspondent/Representative ensure that Velibor Jakovleski Jason Kambovski, Communications Advisor/Executive Member Slavko Mangovski, International Coordinator Sasha Nackovski, Political Liaison Officer Macedonian Jimmy Mihajlov Dr. Vasko Nastevski, Secretary/Executive Member Daniel Nikoloski , Adelaide Representative/Online Management Tonia Miovska, International Coordinator communities and Lisa Penova, Adelaide Representative/Online Management Bill Nicholov, President Dr Chris Popov, Media Liaison/Executive Member other excluded Lazo Ognenov Michael Radin, Adelaide Representative Andy Plukov Peter Sarbinov, Deputy Secretary groups throughout Mark Opashinov, Secretary Vasko Tanevski, Adelaide Representative the world, are Bill Pavlovski, Public Relations Chris Terpos, Marketing Manager Liljana Ristova Jim Thomev, Columnist for MHR Review John Tsiglev, Members’ Representative recognised, Silvana Talevska David Vitkov, International Co-Ordinator/Executive Member respected and Luby Vidinovski, Vice President George Vlahov, Editor MHR Review/Executive Member
afforded equitable Special Thanks to Con Christov for his technical assistance treatment.
MHR Review copyright Salient Publishing all rights reserved