MHR Review

Issue #10 March 2012 ISSN 1839-8707 Contents MHR Review no. 10, published in March 2012 as a survey of December 2011 to February 2012

3 Editorial by George Vlahov 7 In Review: Tashko Georgievski’s Black Seed by Dr. Michael Seraphinoff 9 MHRMI Response to National Post Letter “Canadian : Don’t Rewrite Balkan History” by Bill Nicholov 11 Australian Government Announces Policy Shift and Recognises the Macedonian Community 12 Здружени да ја добиеме финалната битка за името од Игор Павловски 13 Chronology: How the “Slav Macedonian” Policy Came to an End Compiled by David Vitkov 16 Искрена Благодарност од Православната Заедница до АМКЧП од Игор Павловски 17 Letters: From: Dimitri Ioannou (Jovanov)

From: Dr. Gjorgje Ivanov—President of the Republic of

To:/From Editor of Eurofile—Peter Sarbinov 21 In Review: Cilevics on Minority Protection in Europe by Vasko Nastevski 25 Show Your Support for Macedonian Human Rights 26 Interview with Johnny Tsigliev by Ljubica Durlovska

34 Intimate Nostalgias: Nine Poems by Jim Thomev 37 Morally and Ethically Bankrupt Journalistic Standards by David Vitkov 39 Дајте и' поддршка на борбата за човекови права на Македонците 40 A Retrospective on the Fight to (Re) Register OMO “Ilinden” Pirin and the Plight of the Macedonians in Bulgaria: Entering a Second Decade on the Eve of a Second Century Struggle by David Vitkov 44 Over and Above Carnivals by George Papadakis 46 U.N. Expert Recommends Bulgaria Recognise its Macedonian Minority 48 American Students Meet Macedonians in by Dimitri Ioan- nou (Jovanov) 49 СРЕДБА НА АМЕРИКАНСКИ СТУДЕНТИ СО МАКЕДОНЦИ ВО ГРЦИЈА - Димитри Јованов 50 Австралиските власти го користат терминот „Македонци“ Editorial About the Re-Naming of ’s Macedonian Community by George Vlahov

s part of a Ministerial State- therefore a breech of the spirit of needs to do here, is imagine the re- ment delivered by Senator Australian multiculturalism, point action if a government, Australian or Gareth Evans in the Austral- four of the “Guidelines” state that otherwise, decreed that all Australi- A ian parliament on the 14th this new descriptor “…is not meant ans shall from now on be officially March 1994, the Commonwealth to be considered as an ethnic identi- recognised and referred to as “Anglo government directed all Australian fier. Nothing in the Common- -” or “Germano-Austral- government departments and agen- wealth’s decision affects the right of ians”? Would the terms Anglo or cies to use the descriptor “Slav Mac- individuals or organisations to call Germano accurately encapsulate edonian” when referring to people themselves whatever they wish.” what constitutes an Australian? Ob- who live in or originate from, the Re- viously not, and Macedonians are public of Macedonia. A government, deciding to refer to no different in this regard. The ori- an ethnic group in a manner differ- gins of modern day Macedonians However not all Macedonians resid- ent from the way the group chooses are complex and varied – just like ing within Australia, originated from to identify, is clearly inconsistent the origins of Australians and all oth- the Republic of Macedonia. Thou- with those tenets of multiculturalism er ethnic/national groups. Therefore sands in fact came to Australia from that espouse respect for the right to the “Slav” prefix was not only an of- the part of Macedonia located with- self-identify, and more particularly, fence to the dignity of Macedonians, in the borders of Greece. But the equality of treatment: there is an it was downright inaccurate. government was ‘clever’ to the end. ethnic community in Australia, the According to the “Guidelines” for the name of which is “Macedonian,” When our government asserted, implementation of the new terminol- however, the federal government that its decision did not affect the ogy, those groups or individuals that states that it will no longer recognise ability of Macedonians to identify as do not live in or originate from the it as “Macedonian”, but as “Slav- they choose (as it is stated in the Republic of Macedonia, but who do Macedonian”. Therefore the Mace- “Guidelines”); the government must possess a Macedonian ethnic back- donian ethnic community has be- have been aware that this is false in ground, are to be described as come the “Slav Macedonian” ethnic a very practical sense – for the “organisations and individuals asso- community. Thus the word “Slav,” in “Guidelines” specifically state that ciated with Slav-Macedonians” and this context, is ethnic. Macedonians, the prefix is to be used for “service thus, this group of Australian citizens know themselves as “Macedonian”; delivery purposes”. Thus in order to was lowered to the status of mere this name is the basis of their identi- obtain certain services, one would “associates”. The “Guidelines” fur- ty and it is woven into the fabric of have to accept the new label and ther stated that the “…term ‘Slav- their culture in a thousand different indeed, this occurred on more than Macedonian’ is to be used as a geo- and complex ways. By manipulating one occasion. graphic description where country of the Macedonian identity marker, the birth or nationality data is required government objectively undermined But governments in this country by DIEA for program administration the very essence of the cultural should have understood in a more or service delivery purposes.” ground upon which Macedonians fundamental sense, that the claim stand. A clear case of negative dis- about the ability to continue to self- In a poor attempt to pre-emptively crimination, as no other ethnic identify was a clumsy piece of deceit quash any objections based on the group in Australia was treated in this designed to divert attention from a claim that this constitutes racial dis- way. very salient point. It is meaningless crimination or an impingement up- to claim Macedonians have the abil- on the right to self-identification and To put this another way, all one ity to freely express their identity, if www.macedonianhr.org.au 3 www.mhrmi.org relevant others refuse to respect such nected to their ethnic identity. For the just and diabolical decision. expression. We are not here referring Australian government to change the How the Directive Came into to some ignorant individual bigot. Dis- name/manipulate the identity of the Existence respect from such sources may never Macedonian community at the be- disappear from our planet. No, we are hest of another community, is de- We shall begin by reiterating that the talking about the Australian federal meaning enough on its own. To do it decision to rename the Macedonian government, our government; we are at the behest of certain fanatically in- community of Australia was an- talking about the responsible authori- tolerant members of the Greek com- nounced on the 14th March 1994. A ties; about the sacred relationship munity is extremely hurtful for those few days prior, a meeting was held in that is supposed to exist between the Macedonians who migrated to this Canberra between the leaders of the representative and the represented. country in order to escape Greek state Greek community and Foreign Affairs We are talking about the basis of persecution. Minister, Senator Gareth Evans, modern democracy, a basis upon Prime Minister Paul Keating and the which a modern western nation like This extends to some Australian-born Minister for Ethnic Affairs Senator Australia is meant to exist. Macedonians, who have come to suf- Nick Bolkus. (Tony Wright, fer what is known as trans- Morning Herald, 15/3/94, p. 1) “The This profaning of the sacred relation- generational trauma. When the Aus- Greek side came with a list of de- ship between the representative and tralian government decreed that it mands, starting with the reversal of the represented, by the representa- would officially refer to Macedonians recognition.” (Warren Osmond, Syd- tive, was intolerable. It made the rela- as “Slav Macedonians”, many Austral- ney Morning Herald, 26/3/94, p. 29) tionship meaningless. Those who rep- ian-born Macedonians found it very These “demands” were made by resented our community did not rec- difficult to cope with what they per- Greek community leaders in response ognise its existence. This was hurtful ceived as disrespect for the trials and to the news that the Australian gov- for every Macedonian-Australian, tribulations of their parents, grandpar- ernment, in February 1994, recog- whether they experienced the “Slav” ents and other fellow Macedonians. nised the independence of the Re- prefix ‘directly’ or not. For it was, al- This is most certainly one of the rea- public of Macedonia – albeit under ways and everywhere, direct. It was sons why the Macedonian demon- the abominable (and again at Greek the official policy of Australia that Mac- strations held during the 1990’s in behest) name: “Former Yugoslav Re- edonians are not Macedonian. What protest against the government’s de- public of Macedonia”. “Finally the made this doubly worse, was that cision, were so well attended by Greek delegation proposed the gov- none of the other communities that younger Macedonians. ernment adopt the term “Slav- come together to form the Australian Macedonian”…”... “Looking at the list nation, were treated in this way. It is not just that migrant Macedoni- … we – the Prime Minister, Bolkus ans from Aegean Macedonia have and I – had a quick chat in the PM’s Throughout the last 18 years, there had to struggle immensely to pre- office before we saw the delegation. were periods when governments serve their culture and their identity in We said NO, NO to the first demands, used the prefix more or less; but this the face of continual assaults from and as to this last item we decided prefix all the time ‘hung’ over the the Greek state. And it is not just that that provided that we stick to the let- whole Macedonian community in the our government, chose not to repre- ter and explain, this one was do- form of multiple ‘swords of Damo- sent Macedonians and to not even able.” ... “We’ve known for ages that cles’. Every time one of these swords consult them when it altered their the Greeks wanted this and that the dropped (i.e. on every occasion that identity at the behest of bigots from other side would dislike it, Senator the prefix was actually implemented), within the Greek world – a world Evans told the Herald.” (Ibid) the psychological carnage was se- which now has a century behind it of vere. And just as painfully irritating, manipulating the identity of Macedo- Why would an Australian government was the fact that the government’s nians and of persecuting them in vari- accede to such a ‘demand’? We here directive gave legitimacy to bigots in ous other ways. It is that the Australi- have to come back to the issue of the wider community. That is in situa- an government, i.e. the Australian- Australia’s recognition of the Republic tions, where the government’s policy Macedonian community’s govern- of Macedonia. “Senator Evans recalls ‘technically’ should have had no influ- ment, adopted the very symbol, that Senator Bolkus worried that ence whatsoever. But of course, it did “Slav”, which was and still is used by recognition might damage the Keat- – how could it not have!? Greece to conceal and deny the exist- ing government’s standing among ence of the Macedonian ethnic group. Greek-Australian voters, a solid major- Trauma Moreover, as we have pointed out on ity of whom vote Labor. The govern- other occasions, the word “slave” is ment says there are 500,000 Greek- derived from the word “Slav” within Australians [a gross exaggeration! – Many Macedonians migrated to Aus- the Greek language. It was quite tralia in order to escape abuse con- GV] and only 75,000 Macedonian- simply an extremely insensitive, un- Australians, having the www.macedonianhr.org.au 4 www.mhrmi.org largest concentration of each. Most was in the hot seat, and he was los- ald asked, to “decree that all Australi- Greek-Australians live in very safe La- ing his temper... Delegates say he ans be called Anglos?” (15/3/94, p. bor seats, but Greeks in more afflu- called them hare-brained and thick- 6). The Macedonian community ent, marginal seats may be a decisive headed. ... Senator Bolkus said al- made it clear that it did not in any way swing factor in a handful of Mel- most nothing, except to say (twice) oppose Greek usage of the term Mac- bourne seats. Even rhetorical threats that both communities should comply edonian, yet this was not good of Greek defections to the Coalition with multiculturalism. Mr Keating only enough – a policy of outright public were serious issues for Labor leaders. said his main interest was to calm the humiliation was deemed necessary Bolkus’ position was that he saw the situation ... Senator Evans said he and the Macedonian community’s inevitability of recognition but he was going to make his Senate state- identity would be officially denied. thought it too hard to sell politically ment later that day and asked what until, and unless, the US changed its name they would suggest to replace Oh how ‘reasonable’ of you Mr. position, Senator Evans said this Slav-Macedonian. We said Macedoni- Gareth Evans; as I understand it Mr. week. When the US announced an and he said, you’re being unrea- Evans, these days you have the au- (recognition) he said: “You’ve got me”. sonable, I can’t find a compromise if dacity to address academic confer- To have stayed out on a limb would you’re going to say that... The Mace- ences held in support of the notion of have been to concede that our for- donian community didn’t get any- human rights...the organisers of these eign policy is driven by domestic eth- thing; it just got a lot of humilia- conferences obviously don’t know nic considerations, Senator Evans tion...” (Ibid) your past – a past that exposes you told the Herald. On March 14, he told as a charlatan; a charlatan who the Senate recognition had already This version of events was confirmed hurled abusive adjectives like “hare- been too long delayed. His February in most other mainstream media at brained” and “thick-headed” at peo- 15 recognition statement, highly qual- the time. For example, Melbourne’s ple who were trying to protect their ified to meet Greece’s objections, was Age newspaper reported: “…the Fed- human rights.... criticised by Greek and Macedonian eral government bowed to Greek community leaders.” (Ibid) Senator pressure to refer to residents of the The exact meaning of Senator Evans’ Evans could not have been more cat- Former Yugoslav Republic of Mace- egorical; he made the decision to not usage of the word “compromise” was donia as Slav-Macedonians. The gov- made clear in a later piece in the Syd- recognise the Republic of Macedonia ernment has agreed to ‘instruct’ all by its democratically chosen name in ney Morning Herald. “Dr Tamis [the departments and to ‘encourage’ stat- Greek community’s leading spokes- order to please bigots in the Greek- utory bodies such as the ABC and Australian lobby. This is also the con- person on the ‘Macedonian issue’] SBS to apply the name ‘Slav- says this [the decision to rename] text for understanding how the feder- Macedonians’ to those with links to al government could accede to a was a compromise by the Greek com- Macedonia. A letter from the Foreign munity many of whom wanted to call “demand” to change the name of Minister, Senator Evans, obtained by Macedonians in Australia. Macedonians Skopjans, the Greek ‘The Age’, reveals details of the agree- government argot.” (26/3/94, p. 29) ment between Greek community A compromise between the Greek Was it any surprise that Senator leaders and the Prime Minister, Mr community and the Australian govern- Bolkus played a key role in this pro- Keating, Senator Evans, and the Im- ment! The Macedonian community cess? No! “The other key Minister, migration Minister, Senator Bolkus. itself was completely left out of the [consulted by Evans] and so far the The hour-long meeting in Canberra discussion! On the whole Greek com- most redescent in public was Senator on Thursday with 18 Greek communi- munity leaders were delighted and Nick Bolkus. Australian-born of Greek ty leaders followed a rally by 60,000 made it clear that they would begin decent he has kept close links in Melbourne to protest against Aus- lobbying all governments in Australia throughout with what his staff call the tralia’s recognition of the Former Yu- to adopt the prefix (Helen Signy, Syd- communities – meaning the Greek goslav Republic of Macedonia ney Morning Herald, 2/5/94, p. 6). communities.” (Ibid) Certainly the ….” (Martin Daly, Age, 12/3/94, p. 1) Macedonian community was never To summarise then: “Instead of main- consulted until after the decision had One would have liked to ask Senator been made!! taining the ethnic affairs status quo, Bolkus how the Macedonian commu- Senator Evans has stripped one nity is not respecting multicultural- group of people who identify as Mac- “Late on the Friday afternoon (March ism!? For it was he, his government edonians of their Australian ethnic 11), Macedonian community leaders and certain Greek community leaders identity and imposed the ethnic label were belatedly invited to a Canberra who were conspiring to publicly and suggested by their adversaries in the meeting the following Monday, the officially disrespect the identity of an Australian-Greek community on the same day Senator Evans was to an- Australian community! We would also remainder. This needless contrivance nounce the Slav-Macedonian deci- have asked Senator Evans if it would can only antagonise the very ‘Slav- sion. The atmosphere was icy, and be “unreasonable” for him, as Warren Macedonian’ Australians it so arro- Senator Evans talked a lot. Evans Osmond of the Sydney Morning Her- www.macedonianhr.org.au 5 www.mhrmi.org gantly patronises.” (Warren Osmond, the governments of Canada and Aus- and among other things, Macedoni- Sydney Morning Herald, 15/3/94, p. tralia with their explicitly multicultural ans in Australia will need to become 6) policies accept the principle of self- more active citizens, if this disrespect- ascription and have recognised the ful policy is to be finally brought to an Taking all of the reports above into existence of Macedonians as an eth- end. account, the ‘reason’ for the renam- nic group. com- ing policy becomes quite manifest. munities in these and other countries, However, bi-partisan political courage Senator Evans made it clear that it therefore, are generally known as will also be needed from the major was a decision based upon the Labor Macedonian communities, with only political parties - the courage that is, governments’ perceived need to ce- the Greek community raising its voice to stand up to a hubristically national- ment Greek votes. It had nothing to in protest. Greece, however, with its ist bully. In possessing a serious form do, as Senator Bolkus so deceitfully nationalist ideology of ethnic homoge- of xenophobia that prevents it from suggested, with the spirit of multicul- neity and purity continues to deny the recognising even the existence of non turalism. Again, and obviously, the existence of a Macedonian minority -Greek ethnic groups within the bor- government made a decision to not within its borders, a position that will ders of the modern Greek state, recognise an ethnic community by its prove increasingly difficult to main- Greek culture, is not unique, if one chosen name – something that fla- tain...” (Danforth, 1995: 248). looks at Europe’s not too distant past. grantly contradicts the essence of But today, Greece stands virtually multiculturalism. All of this was in the main body of the alone. In other words, the time for the text; however, Danforth discovered West in general and Australia in par- Conclusion just prior to publication that he would ticular, to stop ignoring this serious have to add an embarrassing qualify- problem, passed long ago. Those who ing footnote to the above paragraph: truly believe in respecting others and Attempts by governments and others “33. A significant exception to this take seriously the protection of hu- to interfere with, disrespect and disre- generalisation has been the March man rights cannot be supportive of gard the self-ascription of ethnic com- 1993 [sic] decision of the Australian Greece’s substantial efforts to coerce munities is a highly detestable form of government to begin referring to Aus- the Macedonian state into changing abuse and a dangerous threat to all tralia’s Macedonian community in all its name. Thus it is very disturbing that that is worthy within the notion of hu- official contexts as “Slav-Macedo- no Australian government has mani- man rights in particular and western nians” (Danforth, 1995: 248). fested the decency to simply respect society in general. This is why the AM- the democratically chosen name of HRC struggled for 18 years to bring the Republic of Macedonia. about an end to this ethno-centric big- Australia allowed itself to be singled otry – something which, for those who out as a stooge for the bigotry of an- are still unaware, we finally succeed- other country, for 18 years. And the George Vlahov ed in officially achieving in January of current Australian government contin- this year. ues to allow itself to be singled out in this manner as it is one of only a mi- nority of states which continue to re- In the conclusion of his well known fuse to recognise the Republic of book about the “Macedonian Con- Macedonia by the name the inhabit- flict”, the Anthropologist, Loring ants of that country democratically Danforth, wrote: “At a collective level chose. We hope this soon changes

www.macedonianhr.org.au 6 www.mhrmi.org In Review Tashko Georgievski’s Black Seed by Dr. Michael Seraphinoff

he publisher, Pollitecon, in- First published in 1966, Black Seed from the very first interrogation follow- troduces their publication of won the “13 November Award” from ing his arrest, that nothing other than Tashko Georgievski's novel the City of . It has been made complete and absolute submission T Black Seed, translated by into a successful film and has been will be acceptable to the authorities. Elizabeth Kolupacev Stewart, with the translated into a number of European Early on in the story this is clearly following: languages. This is the first translation spelled out: into English. “Black Seed is one of the great politi- “What’s your name?” cal novels of modern literature.” It is The author, Tashko Georgievski, was “Andonis Sovichanis, captain, sir!” one of the few books that examines born in Voden in Aegean Macedonia muttered Doni. life in the Greek prison camps during in 1935 and left Greece as a refugee “From which village?” the , providing a rare in 1946. He has published over 12 “From Sarakinovo, sir.” insight into a period when the State- books and is one of Macedonia's sponsored persecution of political most acclaimed contemporary au- “From Sarakinovo?” dissidents and ethnic minorities, par- thors. “Yes, captain, sir, from Sarakinovo, in ticularly Macedonians, was at its the Voden region.” most intense. The book also contains an article on “Why are you here?” And he came Georgievski by Mateja Matevski, one and stood right in front of him, eye to The main character, Doni, is an ethnic of Macedonia's leading international eye; as if he wanted to smile at the Macedonian from Aegean Macedo- poets. The article discusses the conquest near at hand, but Doni an- nia (northern Greece). Conscripted theme of “returning” which is com- swered him: into the Greek army, he is accused of mon in Georgievki's books and which “I don't know, sir.” being a communist and along with echoes the feelings of many thou- Slowly the Captain’s smile faded. other political prisoners is taken to sands of Macedonians who, because “You don’t know?” one of the concentration camps and of Greek government policy, are de- “I don't know, sir, I'm a soldier, they forced to “confess” and pledge alle- nied the right to return to their homes said “come on”, they loaded me on giance to Greece. But Doni has noth- in Aegean Macedonia. and here I am.” Silence enters the ing to confess; his crime is simply to room. Nothing else remains. The Si- be a Macedonian. I would add that the novel's chief ap- lence, Doni and the Captain. But they Written in a direct and succinct style, peal is due to the main character's were not alone. In the corners there Black Seed is a story of courage, refusal to submit to unjust authority. were soldiers with truncheons. The compassion and truth which is uni- He is tortured by his Greek captors Captain circled around the table… versal in meaning. It will move every- simply in order to teach him to cringe one who reads it. and obey, and by extension, to secure “The captain shoved a sheet of paper the obedience of fellow Macedonians and a pen under his nose, two men in Greece. He is made to understand, grabbed him from behind by the www.macedonianhr.org.au 7 www.mhrmi.org arms, a third tried to force the pen It is certainly noteworthy that Done, us. I regard it as a small victory for into Doni’s hand, but Doni stretched the hero of Tashko Georgievski's nov- humanity whenever one of us manag- his fingers and shouted: el is tortured by unjust Greek authori- es to care about someone or some- “I don't know anything. I don’t know ties who continue to violate the rights thing outside of our narrow self- anything. I don’t know…” of Macedonians in Greece to the pre- interest. And make no mistake, no sent day. However, the challenge that one achieves real freedom at the ex- “When they pushed him down the Done must face is, in essence, the pense of others. That is a lesson that stairs he did not see how many more challenge we all must face at times. Greeks will also someday learn, that they will only be truly free to enjoy au- men were in the line…” While we certainly admire Done for thentic self-hood when they extend that freedom to Macedonians and The theme of resistance to unjust au- his stubborn resistance to unjust au- thority, few of us are prepared to ac- other oppressed minority peoples in thority is a universal one. History rec- their society. ords instances from the time of Christ, cept all of the consequences of a thor- the early Christian martyrs, right up to oughly principled stand. For example, our own day and the brave resistance a man with a family to feed may Black Seed ('Crno Seme' in Macedoni- of the people of the Middle East, who choose to bear the unfair treatment of an) is available in Australia for $15, have suffered and died this past year an employer rather than cause his which includes postage and handling. in what has become known as the family to suffer, if he were to be fired Overseas airmail is A$20. Arab Spring. I have posted a free from his job for challenging the boss. download at the website Macedoni- Politicians frequently compromise Black Seed, Paperback, 113 pages, principles in order to achieve some anLit.com of my translation into Eng- Celloglazed cover, Published by lish of the memoir of a now deceased incremental progress in instances Pollitecon Publications, 1996: http:// Macedonian professor of geography, where they deem the perfect to be www.pollitecon.com/ Dr. Toma Batev, which is also quite the enemy of the good. instructive concerning the strength that some men and women demon- However, living in such an imperfect strate when faced by state-sponsored world takes a toll on the spirit. There is brutality. From that memoir readers certainly a cathartic effect in bearing can learn something about the brave witness to the courageous endurance resistance of Macedonians like Toma of a Done Sovichanov. Such a tale, in Batev to the unjust authority of the the hands of a skillful storyteller such post World War II Yugoslav com- as Georgievski, draws us in so that we can feel sympathetic emotions for munist regime. Dr Michael Seraphinoff someone like Done normally reserved only for those people who are close to

www.macedonianhr.org.au 8 www.mhrmi.org hy the National Post mistake, "Greece" did not exist during chose to be "objective" the Ottoman occupation of the Bal- MHRMI and let the Greek com- kans or at any time in history. It was W munity have equal time in created by the West in the 1830s. Al- responding to the recent op-ed about so, after Greece tried to eradicate Macedonia is beyond me. One should Macedonia's existence, it only started Response to not give the oppressor the opportunity to claim that it owned the name Mac- to justify its brutal actions against the edonia in 1988. The region of Mace- oppressed. donia that it annexed was officially re- National named as such in 1988. Before that, they referred to it as "Northern The vast majority of readers, under- standably, have no interest in hearing Greece". Post Letter the long, drawn out version of Greece's romanticized history. Greece Of course, Greece continues to deny is the only country in the Western the existence of Macedonian people - “Canadian world to claim that it has no ethnic mi- a very difficult task when one, or sev- norities and proudly proclaims its eral million, are standing in front of "ethnic purity". Dangerous statements you. coming from the self-proclaimed Greeks: Don’t "birthplace of democracy". The fact remains, Macedonia has ex- isted since antiquity and has always Rewrite In their Letters to the Editor, the Con- been called Macedonia. Case closed. sul General of Greece and various Or should be. Greek organizations referred to the Balkan Republic of Macedonia as "FYROM". ( "In sharp contrast to Greece's con- Despite Greece's intense propaganda structive efforts, FYROM Prime Minis- campaign, more than 130 countries History” ter Nikola Gruevski..." and "This is (including Canada, the United States, what Canadians should consider Russia, China, and over two thirds of when they hear the complaints of the all UN members, including four of five FYROM partisans..." ). No Macedonian permanent UN Security Council mem- introduces him or herself as being bers) have recognized the Republic of by Bill Nicholov from "FYROM". These statements Macedonia. Macedonia must stop show readers what the official Greek negotiating its own name and the rest position is: deny the very existence of of the world must stop calling for a a country and an ethnic group. They've "solution" to the "name dispute". The- taken their directive from the top. For- se countries should immediately de- mer Greek Prime Minister Constan- nounce the name negotiations and tine Mitsotakis admitted in 1995 that stop allowing Greece to hold the rest Greece initiated the nonsensical of the world hostage because of its "name dispute" to continue to deny xenophobic policies. the existence of its large, indigenous Macedonian minority. Before parti- Furthermore, Greece must be penal- sans from the FOCOG go into an up- ized for persecuting its ethnic minori- roar, I clearly meant to say ties and for blatantly lying about its "indigenous". It is a fact that Macedo- economic situation and begging, and nia was divided in 1913 and Greece getting, huge bailout money from the annexed 51% of its territory. They like European Union. But since the EU is to say "liberated" but one does not intent on handing out this money, how slaughter and expel people after a about doing so after Greece starts be- "liberation". having like a democracy?

By the way, FOCOG stands for "Former Bill Nicholov, President Ottoman Colony of Greece" but, my Macedonian Human Rights Movement International www.macedonianhr.org.au 9 www.mhrmi.org www.macedonianhr.org.au 10 www.mhrmi.org Australian Government Announces Policy Shift and Recognises the Macedonian Community

he Australian Macedonian acknowledge the concerns of Human Rights Committee the Macedonian Australian 13 February 2012 (AMHRC) is pleased to an- community in relation to this T nounce that after a sus- matter.” tained lobbying campaign, the Australian Government has finally This victory marks the end of a withdrawn its discriminatory and significant and long-running cam- racist “Slav Macedonian” Di- paign by the AMHRC to gain gov- rective which renamed the Mace- ernmental acceptance of the donian community in 1994. Macedonian community’s right to self-identification. The campaign In a letter dated 9 January 2012, began in 1994, and saw hearings the Acting Chief of Staff to the before the , Minister for Foreign Affairs wrote: the Human Rights & Equal Oppor- tunity Commission and the Parlia- “I can reaffirm that the ‘Slav mentary Committee on Foreign Macedonian’ Administrative Cir- Affairs and Trade. Its culmination cular is no longer operative in was recently reached after an in- the Department of Foreign Af- tensive series of exchanges, in- fairs and Trade (DFAT). As is volving meetings and correspond- standard practice with inopera- ence, with senior Cabinet Min- tive Administrative Circulars, it sters (including the Prime Minis- has been cancelled and the ter), members of parliament from document archived. Similarly, all political parties and various DFAT has advised me that the Government Departments. ‘Slav Macedonian Directive’ is not in use in other agencies, in- The Australian Government’s an- cluding the Department of Immi- nouncement of the official end to gration and Citizenship and the its offensive nomenclature policy Australian Bureau of Statistics.” marks a return to the long suc- cessful policy of Multiculturalism, The Department of Immigration a position the AMHRC has long and Citizenship also confirmed advocated. This is a victory that this position in a subsequent let- will be beneficial to the mainte- ter to the AMHRC on 11 January nance of the human rights of all 2012: Australians.

“As stated by...[the] acting Chief Whilst the AMHRC is pleased with of Staff to the Minister of For- the Australian Government’s cur- eign Affairs, I can confirm that rent shift in policy toward the Mac- this department does not active- edonian Community, it now reiter- ly use the term ‘Slav- ates its call upon the Government Macedonian’. For example, the to take the next logical step and Translating and Interpreting Ser- recognise the Republic of Mace- vice National now only uses the donia under its official and demo- term ‘Macedonian’. We cratically chosen name. www.macedonianhr.org.au 11 www.mhrmi.org www.macedonianhr.org.au 12 www.mhrmi.org Chronology: How the “Slav Macedonian” Policy Came to an End Compiled by David Vitkov

Left to right from the Executive of the AMHRC: Dr. Chris Popov, Jason Kambovski, Vasko Nastevski and David Vitkov at the AMHRC Press Conference Announcing the end of the offensive Re-naming Policy

In February 1994, Australia recognised the Republic of Macedonia under the provisional 1994 reference “the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”. Macedonian Commu- nity in Australia In March 1994 the Australian Federal Government issued a Directive officially requiring all Officially Renamed government agencies to re-name Macedonians residing in Australia, to “Slav Macedonians”. This applied to all those people whose ancestry was linked to the Republic of Macedonia. While all other members of the Macedonian ethnic community of Australia who had come to this country from the parts of Macedonia located outside the borders of the Republic of Mac- edonia (e.g.: in Greece) were required by the Directive to be referred to as “individuals associ- ated with Slav-Macedonians”. The Australian government had effectively taken away their right to possess an ethnic identity.

In July 1994 sighting the Federal Government’s renaming of the Macedonian Community, a 1994-2000 Directive was issued by the former Premier of Victoria, Mr . The “Language Di- Victorian Government rective” as it became known, required any official Victorian State Government reference to Officially Renames the to take the form of “Macedonian (Slavonic)”. Macedonian Language to “Macedonian (Slavonic)” In response to the language directive, the AMHRC lodged a claim with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) which challenged the Victorian Government's di- rective on the grounds that it was discriminatory and racially based. After subsequent hear- ings before the Federal Court, Full Federal Court and High Court of Australia, the matter re- turned to HREOC.

Commissioner Street of HREOC handed down his decision on 8 September 2000 declaring that the Victorian Government had engaged in conduct rendered unlawful by section 9 (1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) by the act of issuing the directive in the terms of the memorandum dated 21 July 1994 which involved a distinction based on ethnic origin in re- naming the language Macedonian and had the effect of impairing the recognition on an equal footing of a human right in the cultural life of users of the Macedonian language and I declare that the Victorian Government not continue such unlawful conduct.

Despite repeated protests and objections by the AMHRC and other members of the Mace- 1995-2010 donian community, successive federal governments maintain the “Slav Macedonian” policy. Implementation of Policy

The Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) writes to the Minister for February 2011 Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship seeking a formal withdrawal AMHRC Reiterates of the discriminatory and offensive “Slav Macedonian” policy. Demand for Official Withdrawal

www.macedonianhr.org.au 13 www.mhrmi.org 11 May 2011 In return correspondence to the AMHRC, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Minister Shifts claimed that, the Directive “is a matter that falls within the portfolio responsibilities of the Responsibility Minister for Foreign Affairs”.

6 June 2011 In correspondence to the AMHRC on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Director Foreign Affairs of the Southern Europe branch of the Department of Foreign Affairs affirms the mainte- Department Avoids nance of the Government’s “Slav Macedonian” policy, but claims that he is “unaware of Answering Questions the extent and nature of its use across Commonwealth agencies.” on Policy

23 June 2011 Frustrated by the lack of government transparency on this issue, the AMHRC submits a AMHRC Makes Freedom of Information Request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to demand Freedom of documents evidencing the implementation of the “Slav Macedonian” Directive. Upon ob- Information (FOI) taining such documentation the intention of the AMHRC was to launch a legal racial dis- Request for Documents crimination claim against the government, as it had already successfully done against the Victorian government for renaming the Macedonian language.

10 July 2011 In response to previous correspondence from a fellow government Minister, the Minister Foreign Affairs for Foreign Affairs claims that, “the 1994 “Slav Macedonian directive” was issued by then Minister Shifts then -Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and that accordingly, we may wish to Responsibility contact his colleague, the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, on this matter.

12 July 2011 A Government Minister receives correspondence from the Parliamentary Secretary for Im- Immigration migration and Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs shifting responsibility for the Directive Department Shifts back to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by claiming that, “The 1994 Directive Responsibility...Again in relation to the term ‘Slav-Macedonian’ cannot be rescinded, as it is subordinate to the Australian Government’s foreign policy relating to the country name.”

18 August 2011 Representatives of the AMHRC appear before the Joint Parliamentary Sub-Committee on AMHRC Appears Human Rights in Parliament House Canberra, discussing a range of human rights issues Before Parliamentary including the “Slav Macedonian” Directive. Sub-Committee

www.macedonianhr.org.au 14 www.mhrmi.org Under the Freedom of Information Act, dozens of documents are released to the 22 September 2011 AMHRC. While parts of the released documents were redacted, what was disclosed was FOI Request Outcome quite revealing. For example, according to the Department’s own advice, “[a]though the Exposes Government’s 1994 directive has not been suspended, in practice Commonwealth agencies have Policy moved away from using the term “Slav-Macedonian” (Ministerial Submission 09-1054, 26/05/2009).

The Department noted that “[because] it is not being implemented consistently and be- cause it causes offence to the Macedonian community there is a case for reviewing the directive” (Ministerial Submission 09-1054, 26/05/2009). DFAT officials also concede that “Slav Macedonian” is a “horrible piece of terminology” and that it “could easily be incorrect (and consequently considered offensive)” (email from Southern Europe Section 10/01/2006).

Furthermore the documents revealed that in addition to the Macedonian ethnic group, the directive is also offensive to other ethnic groups from the Republic of Macedonia. In fact the advice noted that “[b]eyond taking offence, these other groups would consider it inaccurate to be called ‘Slav-Macedonian’ for nationality purposes” (Ministerial Submission 09-1054, 26/05/2009).

On several occasions the Government has claimed that “the term ‘Slav Macedonian’ is in no way meant to be considered an ethnic identifier”. However in 2006, a DFAT official from the Southern Europe Section admitted that the “term ‘Slav Macedonian’ is essentially an ethnic indicator” (Attachment B – Email from Southern Europe Section 10/01/2006).

The AMHRC writes to the Prime Minister, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the 6 October 2011 Minister for Immigration and Citizenship presenting the evidence from the Freedom of AMHRC Demands Information Request and demands a formal withdrawal of the “Slav Macedonian” Official Withdrawal of Directive and an acceptance of the right to self-identification of the Macedonian Policy Community in Australia.

Representatives of the AMHRC continue their lobbying efforts and meet with the Prime 9 November 2011 Minister of Australia and other government Ministers in the context of the Community AMHRC Meets With Prime Cabinet day held in Werribee, Melbourne. Minister and Government Ministers

On behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Acting Chief of Staff to the Minister for 9 January 2012 Foreign Affairs wrote to the AMHRC: Australian Government Finally Announces “I can reaffirm that the ‘Slav Macedonian’ Administrative Circular is no longer Withdrawal “Slav Macedonian Policy” operative in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). As is standard practice with inoperative Administrative Circulars, it has been cancelled and the document archived. Similarly, DFAT has advised me that the ‘Slav Macedonian Directive’ is not in use in other agencies, including the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.”

The Department of Immigration of Immigration and Citizenship also confirmed the above 11 January 2012 position in a subsequent letter to the AMHRC: Government Confirms Official Use of “Macedonian” for the “As stated by...[the] acting Chief of Staff to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, I can Macedonian Community in confirm that this department does not actively use the term ‘Slav-Macedonian’. For Australia example, the Translating and Interpreting Service National now only uses the term ‘Macedonian’. We acknowledge the concerns of the Macedonian Australian community in relation to this matter.”

www.macedonianhr.org.au 15 www.mhrmi.org

Letters

Политичка партија на Македонското малцинство во Грција Член на Европската Слободна Алијанса – Европска Политичка Партија (EFA-EPP) Член на Федералната Унија на Европските Националности (FUEN) Ст. Драгуми 11 Флорина/Лерин - П.Κ. 53100 П.С. 51 - Тел/fax: +30 23850 46548 Www.vinozito.gr e-mail: @vinozito.org

Почитувани членови на Австралискиот Македонскиот Комитет за Човекови Права – AMHRC,

Со голема радост и гордост ја добивме веста околу вашата победа, во обидот да ја натерате Австралиската Влада да ги признае повторно Македонците во Австралија како Македонци, без придавки или додавки. Секоја Ви чест.

Тоа покажа дека ако траеме на нашите обиди и цели, ќе дојде време што ќе имаме позитивни резултати. Потребно е секогаш тоа што вие го применивте. Соработка, координираност и трпение.

Се надеваме дека за такви успеси ќе слушаме и во иднина.

Оваа значајна вест ќе биде презентирана како една од главните вести во нашиот весник Нова Зора, во мартовскиот број.

Од името на Претседателството на Виножито Од сите негови членови И од моето име Ве поздравуваме срдечно

Димитри Иоанну (Јованов)

Претседателот Иванов му честита на Австралиско-македонски комитет за човекови права за бришењето на „славо-македонци“

13. февруари 2012

Претседателот на Република Македонија Ѓорге Иванов денеска упати писмо до Австралиско-македонски комитет за човекови права по донесената одлука од Австралиската влада за повлекување на т.н. славо-македонска директива со која македонската заедница беше преименувана во 1994 година.

www.macedonianhr.org.au 17 www.mhrmi.org Letters

www.macedonianhr.org.au 18 www.mhrmi.org Letters

February 15, 2012

To Editor, RE: EUROFILE News Vol 28 issue5 2011, pg e4

In reference to your EuroFile News article titled EU funds for Slovenia road study, in the 2nd last para- graph it was stated that “the motorway section is part of the Graz-Zagreb-Belgrade-Skopje-Saloniki axis on the TEN-T network and connects Central Europe and Croatia with Slovenia, and, further to the south, with Greece, Serbia and Montenegro.”

Is not Skopje the capital city of the Republic of Macedonia? I’m very surprised that a high quality engi- neering magazine would omit such a beautiful country AND especially when mentioning all the countries along the TEN-N network.

As a civil road designer in Australia, I look forward to a copy of your magazine but am disappointed that you could make such a mistake especially with the ludicrous politics of bankrupt Greece against the Re- public of Macedonia.

I hope this was just an oversight by your Euro reporter

Regards Peter Sarbinov

February 17, 2012

Peter

It was an oversight that Macedonia was missed from the article. I’m sure you’ll be rather more im- pressed with the Jan/Feb issue of the magazine, which is at the printer at the moment. This has a key project report on Macedonia’s neighbour, Kosovo, and the new Route 7 highway being built to connect its capital Pristina with the Albanian border. The article makes multiple references to Mace- donia, particularly the Route 6 highway planned to connect Pristina to its border with Macedonia. While I haven’t been to Macedonia, I did visit Kosovo and also Albania while gathering information for this report and both countries are very scenic.

Yours Mike Woof Editor World Highways www.macedonianhr.org.au 19 www.mhrmi.org

In Review: Cilevics on Minority Protection in Europe Vasko Nastevski By Vasko Nastevski

Introduction edgement of the falsehood that homoge- of national minorities. As Cilevics states: nous states exist given how ethnicities n 20 January 2010, Boriss overlap and interweave through state “the Framework Convention is not Cilevics, the Rapporteur as- boundaries. The policy logic behind the without relevance for these states signed by the Council of Europe Framework Convention is therefore both since they participate, within the O Committee on Legal Affairs and obvious and explicit, it is there to protect Committee of Ministers, in the Human Rights issued a Report titled and respect national minorities as a contri- convention's monitoring mecha- ‘Minority protection in Europe: best prac- bution to peace, stability and democratic nism. Furthermore, the relevance tices and deficiencies in implementation security. of the Framework Convention for of common standards’. As Cilevics himself these states is discernible in that articulates, the aim of the Report is to de- Moreover, the intention behind the Frame- they are also bound by political termine, through particular case studies, work Convention goes beyond just rhetori- commitments on minority stand- “the most crucial and potentially contro- cal promises, it is meant to formulate spe- ards of the OSCE, notably the Co- versial areas of political decision-making cific legal standards relating to the protec- penhagen Document of 1990. It is affecting the implementation of the stand- tion of national minorities and to be legally important because the latter con- ards of minority protection” (Borris Cilevics, binding on States party to it. Indeed, stituted the basis for drafting the Minority protection in Europe: best practic- Cilevics asserts that the Framework Con- Framework Convention” (Cilevics, es and deficiencies in implementation of vention is the “main legal yardstick in Eu- paras. 76). common standards, Council of Europe, rope” when it comes to minority rights and Committee on Legal Affairs and Human that most countries “recognise the positive But given Greece’s non-ratification, one Rights, Doc. 12109, 20 January 2010, contribution of national minorities to their must immediately question what aspects para. 11). One such case study involves societies and the value of the Framework of the Framework Convention Greece Greece and is cast against the minority Convention as an objective legal standard finds objectionable enough to remain a rights standards contained in the Frame- and a tool for countering extremist posi- recalcitrant in the field of minority rights. work Convention for the Protection of Na- tions” Cilevics, paras. 8). Of course, most The starting point is the often repeated tional Minorities (Framework Convention). states does not mean all states. Some assertion that there are no minorities in States have chosen not to ratify the Greece, especially a Macedonian minority The Report seems to have gone largely Framework Convention, the corollary be- and that the only obligation that Greece unnoticed. This is perhaps due to the fact ing that they can remain comfortably out- has in this area relates to a non-defined that Greece is now regularly excoriated by side its ambit. The essence of this ambit is Muslim religious minority stemming from a a range of human rights monitoring bodies made clear in Convention’s Preamble: 1920’s Peace Treaty between Greece and for its consistent violation of international Turkey. However, this is a spurious and and European human rights standards. “a pluralist and genuinely demo- absurd position that has been consistently Nevertheless, the Cilevics Report is an cratic society should not only re- refuted and derided by various internation- important document in the context of the spect the ethnic, cultural, linguis- al human rights organisations and by a human rights struggle for Macedonians in tic and religious identity of each number of anthropological studies. But Greece. It delivers quite a clinical expose person belonging to a national let’s try to identify what Greece is so afraid of the failings of the Greek state to protect minority, but also create appropri- of. and respect its Macedonian minority and ate conditions enabling them to will undoubtedly form the basis upon express, preserve and develop Firstly, there is no generally recognised which future scrutiny (and hopefully en- this identity.” (Framework Con- legally defined term relating to what consti- forcement efforts) will be launched against vention for the Protection of Na- tutes a ‘national minority’ under interna- a known human rights violator. tional Minorities and Explanatory tional law, however, there is an abun- Report, H(195)010, Doc. 12109, dance of literature that addresses the con- The Framework Convention and Minorities Strasbourg, February 1995). cept. One of the more widely accepted definitions comes from a United Nations The Framework Convention was adopted Notably, Greece is one of the states that Report by Francesco Capotorti, which in- by the Committee of Ministers of the Coun- have refused to ratify the Framework Con- cludes the following: cil of Europe on 10 November 1994. It is a vention. Nevertheless, this in itself does document borne of the many upheavals of not excuse them completely from their “a group numerically inferior to the European history and a clear acknowl- responsibility in the protection and respect rest of the population of a state, in

www.macedonianhr.org.au 21 www.mhrmi.org a non-dominant position, whose an; that is, people that possess character- that it effectively provides minorities with members – being nationals of the istics that are different from those of the the right to self-identification. It does so by state – possess ethnic, religious or majority Greek population and quite open- outlining the four essential elements of the linguistic characteristics different ly proclaim a sense of solidarity directed identity of a national minority – religion, from those of the rest of the popu- towards preserving their culture, traditions, language, tradition and cultural heritage lation and show, if only implicitly, a religion and language, otherwise to be and obligates States to promote the nec- sense of solidarity directed to- recognised as being a Macedonian minori- essary conditions in this respect. The se- wards preserving their culture, ty, it is worth detailing a couple of the provi- cond paragraph is further aimed at the traditions, religion or lan- sions within the Framework Convention protection of a national minority’s identity guage.” (Francesco Capotorti, that Greece does its best to escape scruti- by forewarning States from pursuing Study on the Rights of Persons ny from. Notably, the provisions that are forced assimilation of minorities. Whilst Belonging to Ethnic, Religious and dealt with in the Cilevics Report are repre- the Framework Convention does not pre- Linguistic Minorities, UN, New sentative of a wider set of human rights clude States from pursuing general inte- York, 1991, UN Sales No. E. 91, standards to be found in a range of other gration policy measures, it categorically XIV.2, para 568). European and international instruments. rejects practices that would seek to assim- ilate minorities against their will. In doing Indeed, Article 3 of the Framework Con- so, it acknowledges both the importance vention provides that “every person be- Right to Self-Identification of social cohesion but also views “cultural longing to a national minority shall have diversity a source and a factor, not of divi- the right freely to choose to be treated or The main body of the Framework Conven- sion, but of enrichment to each socie- not to be treated as such and no disad- tion is a catalogue of specific principles ty” (Framework Convention for the Protec- vantage shall result from this choice or that impose obligations on the State par- tion of National Minorities and Explanatory from the exercise of the rights which are ties, such as an undertaking to recognise Report, p.17). connected to that choice”. As the Explana- that every person belonging to a national tory Report to the Framework Convention minority has the right to use freely and Indeed, Cilevics himself makes clear in his elaborates, it is up to every such person to without interference his or her minority report that “cultural diversity should be decide themselves whether or not they language (Article 10); the right to use his or perceived not as a threat but as a source wish to “come under the protection flow- her surname (Article 11); the right to learn of enrichment, and any attempt to impose ing from the principles of the Framework his or her minority language (Article 14); an identity on a person or group of per- Convention” (Framework Convention for and an undertaking not to interfere with sons is unacceptable” (Borris Cilevics, pa- the Protection of National Minorities and the right of persons belonging to national ra. 97). Moreover, in relation to Greece, Explanatory Report, p.15). Indeed, Cilevics minorities to establish and maintain free Cilevics reminds us that this is not a new himself makes clear that this question is and peaceful contacts across frontiers issue and that other human rights bodies one that “must be exercised in accord- (Article 17). All of which have direct rele- such as the Council of Europe Commis- ance with ... the fundamental principles vance to the Macedonian minority living sioner for Human Rights, the European set out in Article 3 of the Framework Con- within the Greek state borders. But for the Commission against Racism and Intoler- vention ... [and] that the implementation of purposes of this paper, let us subject only ance, the United Nations Committee on the Framework Convention should not be two of the main principles to closer scruti- Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and a source of arbitrary or unjustified distinc- ny, the first example being Article 5, which the United Nations Human Rights Commit- tions” (Borris Cilevics, para. 62). Moreover, requires that: tee have previously expressed their own State parties do not have “an uncondition- concerns about Greece’s failure to recog- al right to decide which groups within their “1 ... Parties undertake to promote nise the right of self-identification of minori- territory qualify as national minorities in the conditions necessary for per- ties living within Greek state borders. In the sense of the Framework Conven- sons belonging to national minori- doing so, Cilevics emphatically agrees with tion” (Borris Cilevics, para. 63). ties to maintain and develop their the position that “freedom of ethnic self- culture, and to preserve the essen- identification is a major principle in which Is Greece afraid that by ratifying the tial elements of their identity, name- democratic pluralistic societies should be Framework Convention it would constitute ly their religion, language, traditions grounded and should be effectively ap- tacit acceptance that national minorities and cultural heritage. plied to all minority groups, be they nation- do in fact exist in Greece?, or more specifi- al, religious or linguistic” (Borris Cilevics, cally, that such a decision would then be 2 Without prejudice to measures para. 98). This statement also forms part taken out of its hands? One can see the taken in pursuance of their general of the formal conclusions in the Cilevics’ perverted logic in this proposition. The atti- integration policy, the Parties shall Report (Borris Cilevics, para. 122). tude in Greece that denies the existence refrain from policies or practices of national minorities is deeply en- aimed at assimilation of persons To make sure that there is no doubt where trenched. Therefore Greece’s obstinacy on belonging to national minorities his statements are targeted, Cilevics re- this issue has been both persistent and against their will and shall protect calls injustices perpetrated against the callous. these persons from any action Macedonian minority in Greece by propos- aimed at such assimilation.” ing that the “Greek authorities should also Given that there is a significant population closely examine allegations of discrimina- within Greece that identifies as Macedoni- A major facet of this particular Article is tion and intolerant acts against those who

www.macedonianhr.org.au 22 www.mhrmi.org national minority, the very existence of cle 11 of the European Convention which may be seen as a threat to the (Sidiropoulos and others Greece, para. States’ narrative of its own ‘national’ inter- 47). Cilevics’ assessment is as piercing as est. Article 7 of the Framework Convention it is obvious: “Greece should comply fully corresponds closely to Article 9 (Freedom with the judgment of the Court” (Borris of thought, conscience and religion), Article Cilevics, para. 87). An attempt to have ‘The 10 (Freedom of expression) and Article 11 Home of Macedonian Civilisation’ recog- (Freedom of assembly and association) of nised in the aftermath of the ECHR judge- the European Convention on Human ment was again rejected by the Greek Rights (European Convention). These are Courts in a decision dated 11 June 2009, also subject to judicial scrutiny by the Euro- an outcome that Cilevics condemns direct- pean Court of Human Rights (ECHR). ly and asserts it “should be de- plored” (Borris Cilevics, para. 90). Unfortu- This is important to note as Cilevics him- nately, this appears to exhaust the legal self raises the ECHR case of Sidiropoulos avenues of redress in Greece itself, mean- and others v Greece, in which Greece was ing that the matter will have to return to found to have violated the right of freedom the ECHR for any further orders. of association to a number of Greek citi- zens who identify themselves as belonging But why is the right to freedom of associa- to an ethnic Macedonian minority. In this tion for individuals, who belong to a nation- Boriss Cilevičs case, the group of Macedonian individuals al minority important? A consistent expla- wanted to register a cultural-specific entity nation provided by the ECHR and one that known as ‘The Home of Macedonian Civili- has been adopted by various human claim to have a Macedonian identity and sation’. The Greek authorities refused to rights advocates includes the following: take appropriate measures to punish any register such an entity claiming that “the such acts” (Borris Cilevics, para. 100). promotion of the idea that there is a Mac- “... the right to freedom of associa- Again, this is not a statement that is made edonian minority in Greece … is contrary tion is one of the fundamental pre- in a vacuum, but is one based on years of to the country’s national interest and con- requisites for the harmonious func- evidence and findings by various interna- sequently contrary to law” (Sidiropoulos tioning of European democratic tional human rights monitors that con- and others Greece, 10 July 1998, Applica- societies which are characterised demn Greece for violating the right of self- tion No. 26695/95, para. 41). In one sen- by inherent pluralism that, in turn, identification of its Macedonian minority. tence denying the right to self- should always be accompanied by identification, with the consequence that tolerance and broadminded- Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, Associa- the right to freedom of association is also ness” (Commissioner for Human tion and Expression denied. Rights, REPORT by Thomas Ham- marberg, Commissioner for Human The second principle within the Frame- It is worth quoting here from the judgment Rights of the Council of Europe Fol- work Convention to be briefly considered of the ECHR in this matter: lowing his visit to Greece on 8-10 is Article 7, which provides that: December 2008, Strasbourg, 19 “... territorial integrity, national se- February 2009, para. 53). “The Parties shall ensure respect curity and public order were not for the right of every person be- threatened by the activities of an Given the abject failure of Greece to en- longing to a national minority to association whose aim was to pro- sure that such rights and freedoms are freedom of peaceful assembly, mote a region’s culture, even sup- available in that State, puts into serious freedom of association, freedom posing that it also aimed partly to question what sort of functioning Europe- of expression, and freedom of promote the culture of a minority; an democratic society it actually accom- thought, conscience and religion.” the existence of minorities and modates? On the evidence available to different cultures in a country was date, it would be a straightforward exer- The right to the freedoms enunciated with- a historical fact that a ‘democratic cise to demonstrate that Greece neither in this Article are freedoms of a universal society’ had to tolerate and even embraces such democratic credentials nature, in that they apply to all persons, protect and support according to nor shows any signs of respecting them. whether they belong to a minority or not. the principles of international However, they do have particular reso- law” (Sidiropoulos and others Conclusion nance for national minorities (Framework Greece, para. 41). Convention for the Protection of National The Cilevics Report on minority protection Minorities and Explanatory Report, p.18). It The ECHR concludes that the refusal to in Europe seems to have attracted little is of course States themselves that usually register ‘The Home of Macedonian Civilisa- attention upon its initial release. But con- deny persons these freedoms, as it is they tion’ was an act that was clearly dispropor- tained within it is quite a devastating expo- that are perhaps the most capable of such tionate to the objective of the mainte- sition of one country’s deficiencies in the transgression. The persons they seek to nance of national security and the preven- implementation of common human rights deny these freedoms usually belong to a tion of disorder as to be in violation of Arti- standards. The Reports’ case study on

www.macedonianhr.org.au 23 www.mhrmi.org Greece firstly provides an illustration of Weller, The Rights of Minorities in Europe: implementation of common standards, that country’s inability to come to terms A Commentary on the European Frame- Council of Europe, Committee on Legal with the human rights values that inhabit work Convention for the Protection of Na- Affairs and Human Rights, Doc. 12109, the contemporary democratic world and tional Minorities, Oxford University Press, 20 January 2010. secondly, entrenches Greece’s record as a Oxford, 2005, p.vii), itself being an inher- human rights violator. Whilst the Greek ently politicised group, given that it con- Commissioner for Human Rights, REPORT States’ persistence in denying people that sists of the foreign ministers of the coun- by Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner live within its borders the right to self iden- tries that make up the Council of Europe. for Human Rights of the Council of Europe tification and the right to freedom of asso- Following his visit to Greece on 8-10 De- ciation is increasingly embarrassing, un- For the Macedonian minority in Greece, cember 2008, Strasbourg, 19 February happily it seems that any prospects for whilst the Cilevics Report is yet another 2009. enforcement under the Framework Con- clear articulation of their plight, it seems vention are remote, not least of all be- that for any effective enforcement of the Framework Convention for the Protection cause Greece has refused to ratify the many human rights standards that Greece of National Minorities and Explanatory instrument. violates may have to wait. This raises the Report, H(195)010, Doc. 12109, Stras- obvious question as to when Europe, bourg, February 1995. Even so, it should also be recognised that which is unmatched in its declamatory the Framework Convention was not made style espousing its admiration for human Francesco Capotorti, Study on the Rights subject to any judicial oversight, such as rights standards and values, will take of Persons Belonging to Ethnic, Religious the ECHR, meaning that there is no ‘hard’ more seriously the practical step of com- and Linguistic Minorities, UN, New York, enforcement mechanism in place where- pelling States to abide by such norms. As 1991, UN Sales No. E. 91, XIV.2. by individuals are able to seek recourse the case study on Greece demonstrates, against member States that breach the the need for a new and more effective Marc Weller, The Rights of Minorities in standards contained within the Frame- mechanism to deal with human rights Europe: A Commentary on the European work Convention in a judicial setting. In the violators is manifest. Framework Convention for the Protection alternative, the Framework Convention of National Minorities, Oxford University operates on a system where cyclical re- Vasko Nastevski – Executive member of Press, Oxford, 2005. porting of a country’s commitment to, and the AMHRC observance of, the rights within the Frame- Sidiropoulos and others Greecea, 10 July work Convention are assessed by an Advi- Bibliography 1998, Application No. 26695/95. sory Committee, which seems to “function under the political control of the Council of Borris Cilevics, Minority protection in Eu- Europe Committee of Ministers” (Marc rope: best practices and deficiencies in

www.macedonianhr.org.au 24 www.mhrmi.org

HRMI and AMHRC call  The operation of human rights on Macedonians offices for Macedonians in Bul- Show throughout the world to garia, Greece and Albania; show their support for M  The crucial Our Name is Macedo- human rights for Macedonians nia campaign, which demands Your throughout the Balkans. that Macedonia end all negotia- tions over its name; and MHRMI and AMHRC finance and  Funding successful election cam- Support organize all Macedonian human paigns for Macedonian candi- rights activities and work directly with dates in Bulgaria, Greece and every Macedonian human rights or- ganization including Vinozhito, OMO Albania. For Ilinden PIRIN, MAEI, Nova Zora, Narodna Volja, Ilinden Tirana, the We also lobby strongly for recognition Home of Macedonian Culture, and of Macedonia and Macedonian hu- Macedonian all others. man rights in Washington, Ottawa, Canberra, Brussels and throughout

the world, specifically: By supporting us, you are directly Human supporting the cause of human  Meetings with Canadian, Ameri- rights for all Macedonians. can, Australian and European heads of state and parliamentari-

ans; Rights Among our many initiatives are:  Meetings with Foreign Affairs offi- cials from Canada, Australia, the  Macedonian language classes in US State Department, Council of Aegean Macedonia and Albania, Europe, among many others; including the opening of another  Attendance at United Nations, new kindergarten class in Korca, OSCE and other international Albania; human rights conferences and  In addition to the MHRMI/  Meetings with UN Ambassador AMHRC-purchased and financed Nimetz to reiterate our demand radio station in Lerin, we recently that the international community opened a TV station in Korca; support the end to the "name  The historic Detsa Begaltsi law- negotiations". suit against Greece for the return

of confiscated property, citizen- ship and financial compensation; Macedonians are organized, ener- gized and determined to pursue their  The funding of pro-Macedonian struggle for universal human newspapers and publications in rights. The biggest challenge we face Aegean Macedonia, Pirin Mace- is a financial one. Please show your donia and Mala Prespa; support by joining the MHRMI Hu-  The landmark European Court of man Rights Fund or the AMHRC's Human Rights judgments Macedonian Minorities Support against Bulgaria and Greece for Fund. violating Macedonian human Thank you in advance. rights; www.macedonianhr.org.au 25 www.mhrmi.org Interview with Johnny Tsiglev It’s an inside job, as our own Review Production Designer/Assistant Editor Ljubica Durlovska puts another AMHRC resident in the hot seat. The tables are turned on Johnny Tsiglev, as he gets his very own interview treatment!

Ljubica Hello Johnny. How are you? sic Toronto kid thing to do; saying ‘puck’ (as in ice-hockey puck) while stretching the sides of your mouth with your fingers! Johnny Hey Lou-Jou-Bi-Ka! Long time no speak! Ljubica Yeah, I sure miss the warm winters of Australia. Ljubica (Johnny makes fun of my name pronouncing it as So you haven’t been back since? non-Macedonians do). Yes, it’s been a while. Johnny I revisited in ’99 on my honeymoon and retraced Johnny Haven’t heard your accent for some time…. Cana- the steps I took there as a kid. I came close to going last year dian eyy? while I was in New York with my family, but ran out of time.

Ljubica Ha ha ha. Ljubica I’ve realized that even though we were in the com- mittee together when I was living in Melbourne, I don’t actually Johnny I still have a soft spot for Toronto. know much about you! Tell me a little more info about your- self?eYes, it’s been a while.

Ljubica Why is that? What would you like to hear? Johnny

Johnny Well, back in 1980 (you probably weren’t even Whatever you feel like sharing with our readers. born?) at the end of a 6-7 month world family holiday, we spent Ljubica two and half months in Toronto. My parents thought it would be a good idea for my brother and I to go to school with our Johnny Gee, where do I start? cousins so that we can familiarize ourselves with the English language again. We were mainly speaking Macedonian for the Ljubica How about at the very beginning. past 4 months, so we were slotted into the local primary school. They put me a year level up because I was so intelligent! Ha ha Johnny The beginning of what? I’m constantly re-inventing ha….. Nah not really. It was to be in the same class as my myself! cousin Angelo... Ljubica Don’t be smart. This can go on forever… How Ljubica Wow! So you’re part Canadian! about I make it a little easier for you: when did you realize you wanted to be an artist? Johnny What people in Australia (who haven’t spent a winter in the northern hemisphere) don’t realize is dealing with Johnny I don’t think I realized I wanted to ‘become’ an art- the snowy, icy winters as you go about in your normal day. You ist, I realized one day that I ‘was’ an artist. Deep down I believe know, the stuff like running and sliding on the ice in the school I felt it at a young age, I just didn’t have the means to express yard, tobogganing down hills at the local parks after school and what I felt. Not in the monetary sense. Just that I didn’t know licking icy steel poles and getting your tongue stuck because any other artists and I didn’t think it was possible. The outer your cousins tell you it’s a cool thing to do! All that and the clas- northern suburbs of Melbourne weren’t exactly a thriving arts

www.macedonianhr.org.au 26 www.mhrmi.org

Aleš Aleš www.mhrmi.org

(a prayer for the dead) and it was in in was it and dead) the for prayer (a

realistic brilliance. But I just knew that I I that knew just I But brilliance. realistic - I can probably best describe my work as a a as work my describe best probably can I struck a chord with me when I was in art art in was I when me with a chord struck ‘ Kaddish’ Kaddish’ ‘ Have you sold any of your art and if so, did you you did so, if and art your of any sold you Have It’s a good question because it’s something an an something it’s because question a good It’s Do you have any favorite artists or inspirational inspirational or artists favorite any have you Do Not really a favorite painter at the moment. There There moment. the at painter favorite a really Not

shirt designs. designs. shirt -

‘my style’. style’. ‘my

. When I was in Prague in 2006 I was in absolute awe of of awe absolute in was I 2006 in Prague in was I When .

“gee, why can’t I draw anatomy like that?”,or, “why can’t I draw draw I think, and can’t “why artists different at look that?”,or, you style art in out like my where starting anatomy and me for draw I point a can’t to why got replicating It was I “gee, it. that?”..etc. fighting like was I and animals transpiring seri- it take naturally to was was I photo if to style prints own and my art develop and change did. to I had what that’s and ously, it? with Ljubica depart to hard it find away giving tried ever you Have with. Johnny deal to has always artist cross between Street Art, Pop Art, Surrealism and Futurism all all Futurism and Surrealism that; Art, young Pop just Art, you’re When Street style. between cross dreamscape swirling a in combined 27 As far as inspirational artists from the past, I can definitely say say definitely can I past, the from artists inspirational as far As Boccioni’ Umberto his hauntingly dark, towering sculpture in the middle of a piaz- a of middle the in sculpture Veselý’ towering dark, hauntingly his behind pro- in death called to was inspiration It the themselves za. was burnt It who students armies. two of honor Soviet invading the of test t my of one ‘ ly painted an original piece titled “The Secret Wish of The Big Big The of Wish Secret “The titled amazing! piece was to scale original an result a large in end painted ly The reproduced walls. artwork my had and blank Fish” Fat existing the fit exactly Ljubica paintings? per- I’m everywhere. styles all favorite of my Johnny artists ‘myself’ great of a making on just It’s thousands energies not. are my it’s all but focusing audacious, I’m sonally do I like sound having style. might without It other be can I any artist. to artist best the referring ‘ of become to me named for way influence or sculptor Czech A interference though. the sculptor favorite a have

realistic painting for what was at the the at was what for painting realistic -

?

Hmmm, I won’t go there! How would you de- you would How there! go I won’t Hmmm, It’s difficult to answer that properly because it is is it because properly that answer to difficult It’s That’s awesome. Not something that happens happens that something Not awesome. That’s I recently (just before Christmas) finished an amaz- an finished Christmas) before (just recently I

Johnny Tsigliev in front of his

‘your style’ style’ ‘your

art piece “Detsa Begaltsi”

www.macedonianhr.org.au

Johnny scribe scribe Ljubica never my thing :) :) thing my never spare time rubbing up with sweaty blokes in a locker room was my was room Spending locker mentality. a in blokes group/sports that of mold sweaty the with fitted up rubbing time spare should pursue it further. That and the fact that I never really really I never that fact the and That further. it pursue should crowd around a painting I’d just completed telling me that I me that telling completed just I’d a painting around crowd The point that I had a small epiphany, in the artistic sense, was was sense, artistic the in epiphany, small a had I that would class point the in The girls the All class. art 12 year in probably

I was seven had a profound effect on the way I looked at the the at looked I way the on effect profound a had reality. seven was I this perceived and world precinct in the late 80’s! Also the fact that I lost my father when when father my lost I that fact the Also 80’s! late the in precinct pool in their rear garden. It would have been a nightmare to set set to nightmare a been have digital- I so would It walls, the garden. on rear directly their in pool painting me and scaffolding up They wanted 3 murals, each 4 meters long, to sit above their their above sit to long, meters 4 each murals, 3 wanted They ing commissioned piece for a lovely couple for their new home. home. new their for couple lovely a for Johnny piece commissioned ing

every day. What have you been working on lately? on working been you Ljubica have What day. every

something I loved, but it was a great moment. moment. away me. I gave great thanking a me, was fiving high it. it was He loved but loved, I something signed”… but I thought nah, I’ll just give it to him instead. He He instead. him to it give just I’ll nah, thought I but signed”… (from U2). I managed to meet him (another story in itself!) in in itself!) in story it “get (another him signed, meet to it “get managed I U2). saying, (from was me around Everyone 2006. glad I didn’t because I personally gave one of them to Bono Bono to them of one gave I personally because I didn’t glad had offers for most of my pieces but refused to sell them. I’m I’m them. sell to refused but pieces my of most for offers had years later! Fortunately for me I had it digitally replicated. I also also I replicated. 20 some back, it to buy digitally it buyer the up had I looking me for contemplated Fortunately later! years young and inexperienced. I still miss the piece and I have even even have I and piece the miss still I inexperienced. and young time a great price. But it was difficult to part with as I was very very was I as with part to hyper difficult a tiny was I sold tion. it But price. great a time The first sale was at my Graduation/end of Art School Exhibi- School Art of Graduation/end my at was sale first The something you truly love? It’s not easy. Yes, I have sold my art. art. my sold have I Yes, easy. not It’s love? truly you something college. His futurist style really opened my eyes to captur- ing energy in paint and realizing that you don’t have to conform to norm to make it. My art history teacher was going through all these slides of various Masters when, bam!, there they were, ‘La Città Che Sale’, ‘The Street Enters The House’, ‘Visioni Simultanee’.

Ljubica So how did you make a professional career out of it all?

Johnny After a couple of years of Art school, I was in a sense ‘poached’ to come in for an interview with a com- puter games company. A fellow student set me up for an interview with (at that time) a glamorous and exciting games company. They loved my folio and use of colour, so I was in. I learnt the technical side of it on the job. In 1992 it was pretty damn rare to be working in the games industry. It was cool back then. Half the staff were either punks, edgy artists or temperamental programmers. There was no defined ‘gamer’ like we have now. It was irreverent to be working there. No set hours. Lots of cof- fee breaks. Lots of pub crawls, pub lunches, lots of good times in general, and that was when the bosses were around! These days, it’s all game nerd graduates who come straight out of game based schooling. The industry has become very corporate and PC. As an artist, I believe that environment chokes you. You suffocate being a full- time commercial art monkey. It’s all at the detriment of personal development. I was dishonest with myself. Only took me 15 years and over 30 titles (games) to realize I needed to get out!

Ljubica I recall in our meetings you were always scribbling all sorts of swirly little things. Can you explain why?

Johnny Sure. I find it hard to just sit in a meeting and not do some sort of sketch or doodle. Many of my best designs come from those situations. I used to do it at school, I used to do it at work, and I still do it now. An idea will just intrinsically evolve from a little swirl. It’s something I never suppress if I feel it coming on. I’ve de- signed prints for t-shirts, paintings, architecture, future transport, products etc all from simple little doodles! It’s amazing how a few simple lines can lead to a beautiful finished artwork.

Ljubica When I was in Melbourne, I remember see- ing you wear a different cool t-shirt to every meeting we had. How is your label going?

Johnny Good good. Still going. We’ve intentionally put the brakes on a little just to survive the market down- turn. Literally, over 30 stores we used to supply have closed their doors! So it’s a bit difficult trying to find new independent boutiques all the time. We still get a lot of calls and emails from people asking to see our new stuff. It’s all designed and ready to go, we just have to play a bit

www.macedonianhr.org.au 28 www.mhrmi.org of a calculated waiting game. Club Nights.

Ljubica Can you buy online? Johnny Yeah, the friendly female hired help in a male dom- inated environment. Definitely breaks the monotony of seeing Johnny Yeah, we have certain pieces, excess stock, how- just ‘fat-headed Maco blokes’… he he (Johnny struggles to con- ever, we don’t have an online store yet as the cost associated tain his laughter!). She’s well. Holding up the business, holding with ‘pre-making’ all our ranges to send out immediately is up our lives, making sure things run smoothly….. it was a Eu- huge. So we just sell what’s left over. Guys can just visit our rhythmics song wasn’t it? “Behind every ‘mediocre’ man, there website (gratuitous plug time) www.tsig.com.au, see what they has to be a great woman”J. The beauty of Meri is her appear- like and just forward us an email. ance…. He he…. Nah, it’s not just skin deep. She understands my art, she understands me, and without that support, I’d strug- Ljubica Great! I’ll see if there’s anything my partner would gle to get things going. I believe it’s true of all people in the Arts. like. So how and why did you get into fashion? If you don’t have that support of family, partners, etc., it’s a con- stant uphill battle of self-doubt, questioning, waiting for the next Johnny Being an avid (or maybe even compulsive) doodler (paid!) art job to come along. It’s not easy being an artist, espe- as you know, I also used to draw on my t-shirts and jumpers in cially in a sport-centric society. I’ve probably repeated this in some other interview, but if you’re not digging holes or wearing the aim of wearing original clothing. Even from early high school I would dye my own jackets and I also took advantage of a tie to work, you’re perceived as not doing anything. So I truly my mother-in-law’s seamstress skills to alter all my clothing. I feel for my fellow artists who don’t have that support. just hated looking like everybody else. I took it one step further when I starting printing designs and doing iron-on transfers of Ljubica And how is your son, Limche? Did having a child my designs onto my tops. I was so concerned that the washing change your art in any way? machine was going to strip the tops of their prints that I refused to wash them! It got to a point where Meri (my wife) just sabo- Johnny Yes, definitely changed my art. Limi, Limche, La- taged them and threatened to wash them if didn’t do it proper- zoguss, Liam. He’s fantastic. Growing, becoming his own little ly! Ha ha ha… I remember all the times she would say “You’re a man. I think you can go either way after you have a kid. You smrden (stinky person in Macedonian), if you don’t do some- can either become egocentric or altruistic to the outside world. thing with the designs, I’m chucking the whole lot in the wash”! Personally, I felt a heightened sense of zeal to create, not only Not a bad motivator I’d say. That and all the years of Baba art, but to create a better existence for the world around us in Vana’s alteration skills, many of which Meri herself naturally general. There was a real fear of the unknown before he was inherited, were the ingredients which formed our label ‘TSIG’… born, a false perception created by some negative attitudes which in reverse is ‘GIST’….hence our tagline “DO YOU GET THE around me at the time. The old bullshit “now you’ll know how GIST”. ‘hard’ life is” type of thing. Couldn’t be further from the truth. Now I know how ‘beautiful’ life is! Ljubica So how is Meri? The last time I saw her was when we collected names of guests at the entry to our Advocates Ljubica Unlike myself being born in Macedonia, you were

www.macedonianhr.org.au 29 www.mhrmi.org born in an English speaking country. When did you realize you were ‘Macedonian’?

Johnny Well I think you get a fairly strong clarification of identity when you see your ‘tate’ (dad in Macedonian) being held back by 10 dudes at a Macedonian picnic because someone started playing Greek songs! Can you believe that was in the late 70’s! Le le maiko!

Also, I remember these pro-Multicultural Australian television commercials at the time (still late 70’s I believe?) with a jingle; “I’m as Greek as a souvlaki, I’m as Irish as a stew, I’m Italian as spaghetti”….etc..etc... where my dad would get upset every time it came on TV and yell in Macedonian; “Hey, why don’t they sing I’m as Macedonian as a piperka?”

Ljubica Ha ha….. yeah I guess that’ll do it. I’ve used your amazing artwork of the Detsa Begaltsi as the header of our review, tell me more about it.

Johnny Well many Macedonians know about the Be- galtsi, however, hardly any non-Macedonians have heard of them. It all started when I sat down one day with Andy (Tase Filipov, the AMHRC’s treasurer, but I’ll get to the Andy thing later) and he personally told me his story. I tell you honestly, I was struggling to hold back the tears. My God what these peo- ple went through as kids. I have a young son myself and I couldn’t fathom him being taken away. It’s heartbreaking. So as Tase was reflecting back, I immediately painted a picture of his story in my mind and sketched it as soon as I got home. The finished result is what you see.

Ljubica So why Andy?

Johnny Many people would know Tase, and Tase knows many people! Growing up in Melbourne’s North, as an outlet from the mundane banality of suburbia, groups of us kids would ‘wag’ (skip for Canadians?) school and visit ‘Top Rooms’. A pinball arcade/billiards hall above a set of shops in Lalor (Melbourne suburb). The first time I went was daunting as you walked up a set of concrete stairs to a mysterious place of flashing lights and a jumble of sounds (bleeps, music, pin- ball machines, billiard balls clonking, the sounds of 1942, Dou- ble Dragon). It almost became a safe haven. An escape from the norm where the owner of this place was open minded and welcomed all. There were kids, bodgies, sharpies, bikers, wogs, yobs and a fat nosed ex war vet regular who would tell the kids his stories of survival. Only later did I remember the place was called ‘Andy’s Top Room’…. Who would’ve thought, 25 years later, I’d be painting the story of Andy..and all the oth- er Begaltsi!

Ljubica What are you planning to do with the artwork? I recall some talk of an exciting exhibition.

Johnny Oh no, you’re not going to get me started. Yep big plans. I’ve already exhibited the painting, along with some oth- er artworks at an exhibition organized by the MCC. It was all www.macedonianhr.org.au 30 www.mhrmi.org last minute and under the radar, but I can’t blame them for Johnny Just that I don’t want it to be a staid, boring old art trying. However, my plans are for a large scale exhibition solely exhibition. I want it to be a celebration, to have music, to be a focused on and dedicated to the 30,000 Detsa Begaltsi, with 8 visual and aural feast with some Begaltsi there telling their sto- -10 large scale artworks to fill a room. I hope to exhibit it in vari- ry and then to carry on to the wee hours. Not just about Art, but ous countries/cities throughout this little bubble of air we live about who they are and who we are as a people and highlight- in. ing what these people went through. Most of the world knows of the ‘Stolen Generation’ of Australian Aboriginal children, why Ljubica Oh, wonderful, are you planning to take it to To- doesn’t anyone know about our stolen generation? ronto? Ljubica It sounds like you have a large task on your Johnny was planning cities like Berlin, San Francisco, New hands, how do you plan to get it off the ground? York, and initially I said no to cities with large Macedonian pop- ulations like Toronto and Melbourne. I didn’t want to be Johnny Yes it is a massive task, although I have every con- preaching to the choir, however, of late I’ve changed my tune fidence in myself to get it done. I visited the above mentioned and would like to make a real event of it….. choir and all! cities last year and established great contacts in each city. As far as the art side is concerned, no problem. I have already Ljubica Great to hear. I’ll be there, that’s for certain! You sketched out the continuous journey which I hope to exhibit, so said you want to make an event of it all. What do you mean by all I need to do is render the final artwork. The sticky point is that? support. Not from family or friends, but from organizations. I’m

www.macedonianhr.org.au 31 www.mhrmi.org sure the AMHRC would love to support it if had we had the Ljubica So what parting wisdom can you leave with our funding….. Let me digress for a second… Do you know how readers? many super rich Macedonian business people and individuals there are out there, yet we (AMHRC) struggle to get a few mea- Johnny Don’t know if I’d call it wisdom, but I can just ex- sly bucks out of them. You know, I’m in awe of the work the plain my story from my experiences. I don’t want to sound pi- AMHRC does. Not what I do, I’m just an observer, an artist sit- ous, bias or any other ius! We all (as humans) have our own ting in a classroom full of professors. It’s the tireless (unpaid) opinions, thoughts, feelings, hurt, etc. I’m thankful for being work of George, Jason, Vasko, Chris and David (to name a few) alive, being here in this time and place. I think we all should that I refer to. make the most of where we are. I have certain personal beliefs based on experiences which are a little esoteric, but I won’t Ljubica Yeah. We have the similar struggles with funding impart them on our poor readers. Every choice we make can here in Canada too either have an adverse or positive effect on our lives. So I’ll just say (still keeping it a little cryptic), if you feel it’s right, it usually is. Johnny Life is not all about the money. It’s about commu- If something is NQR (not quite right), most times it is. Many of nity. In Lerin, my cousins have a bar. The three brothers and us have become ultra conservative and scared of everything. one sister all work together and are close-nit as a family. In That to me is not living. It’s all based on fear, most times unjus- Australia (and I’m guessing in Canada too?) all we talk about is tified. So come on all ye people, live a little. Rock ‘n’ Roll till we how big our houses are, how new our SUV’s are and how we physically can’t rock or roll ;) can’t go out because we have to work the next day. It irks me! Ljubica Thanks Johnny. See you in Toronto. Ljubica So what would you suggest to a young artist to- day? Johnny No probs. See you there!

Johnny If it’s what you love doing and you’re any good, go for it. Go with your heart. Go with your gut instinct, visceral in- stead of cerebral and do what you love. Don’t wait too long to do it or build a career in something safe just to fall back on be- cause as an artist, if you do have an alternative to fall back on, you’ll end up doing it for the money, and then you end up just doing it full stop. It will define you, and it will also own you.

www.macedonianhr.org.au 32 www.mhrmi.org

The Editors of MHR Review are proud to present the latest creations of one of our very own: Intimate Nostalgias: Nine Poems by Jim Thomev

Wheat fields

Through late summer leaves of green gold-tinged elms, I recall elegant white clouds, drifting yet purposive like skeins of wild geese across the azure arc gateway of vastness.

My childhood valley suffused in dreams, the wind swaying over the wheat field Sweet were conjured the figures of young Macedonian women, the shadows…. keening suppliants to the melody A toddler in the time of civil war of a solitary clarinet.

I knew the terror of uncertainty. Poignant as any trauma or revel of manhood, the sensations were the tears of joy Yet sweet to my mind were the shadows I rubbed and washed with glistening dew cast by bold suns with their promises, that fell from wheat heads, as sweet as the rich russet on the necks the enchanting rainbow never far away, of glossy blue-black summer swallows. the spring rain, fallen, cleansing.

Origins Orthodox The story of my origins funerals Was a tale more terrible than any final farewell. How polished in their pain and crisp in their coldness My folk granny* in the village had said: seem modern coffins, "You came with the rapid flood of waters, and how excruciating spring rain was cutting off the winter snows**; the ordeals of an Orthodox funeral. I nabbed you as you floated in your little cradle, in this gully by our house. The pungent smoke of incense, The great hand of God delivered you." the smell of the burning wax candles, (amber for the dead, angel white for the living), Looking at that gully in my mind's eye induce the morbid agony of the crucifix. I remember thinking of the impossible, All-pervasive odour of basil, of what life might have been that sprinkles holy water in other times and places, amidst a chorus of medieval chants, if my Grandmother had not snatched me from that flood. intensifies the farewell kiss in the open coffin.

Visual myths on walls preside over the *The word Baba (Баба) for both grandmother, mother-in-law and a respectful most ancient drama, mode of address to any elderly woman is a strongly emotive word rich in associa- and shatter the simple pattern of the visible, tions. Before modernisation of the Macedonian village, the Baba used to have an where birth, growth, decay and death, important role as midwife, healer i.e. traditional medicine practitioner, keeper of the close in the graveyard mysteries and in most parts of Macedonia sat alongside the priest and the godfa- ther at the ceremonial table for all sacraments. I, too, a product of a scientific cen- with the eating of boiled wheat by the mourners*. tury, have invoked the powers of sorcery of a grandmother in order to foil an enemy who had repeatedly slandered me, but the details of that story will have to wait for the comic stage… (JTh) *I suspect this folk custom is a pre-Christian remnant, a throwback **Macedonian folk name for February, Sechko (Сечко) -sechi, verb, to cut in Mace- to pagan fertility rituals that were to ensure successful grain har- donian, hence the cut off point between winter and spring. There is no record of my vests. Also to give strength to the mourners as wheat was often the actual date of birth-my mother always told me I was born in Sechko. (JTh) basic cereal of subsistence.(JTh)

www.macedonianhr.org.au 34 www.mhrmi.org An only child

He did not over-lament the crudities of the age. With calm good grace he received the dispensation that all delight would emerge out of a yearning for personal happiness and a just earth.

Neither indignant nor resigned, he stood before the world a stranger, an only child, an orphan who had been surrendered by evanescent parents, amidst limitless wonders of land sea and heaven, his mind forming the fourth dimension in ever-expanding explorations The daily illumined by the sun. Memories hailstorm in red

I remember a spring storm in March*: That was the time my sister, an adolescent, and I a child, I clasped each of the three hundred beauties caught in a hailstorm to my heart. the tender tufts of corn fields to our side the red roofed village behind. The glistening, moist cherries I wore as earrings As the chickpea hail fell, in parody of my sisters my sister caught it in her palm still revive the sweet memory of their girlish laughter. and placed it in my mouth believing it would stop the storm destroying The vivid crimson gash the grain seedlings and plum blossoms, left on my forehead and the orchard in full bloom, from the fall on a stone where we hoped to pick apples that autumn. when the donkey lurched, smarts again as my life’s favourite wound. Along the beaten dirt road, a priest, phantom-like, The wild strawberries cantered along the dirt path my uncle brought back from the mountains on a saddled black donkey; larger than the tender fist of an infant Like my oldest nightmare still smell of the radiant summer. he sat aslant, like some highborn lady Of by-gone times on her milk-white steed, These memories vie stove-pipe hat on his head with the fragrance of red roses ostentatious gold cross on his breast and the warmth of dyed smug and lurid in his smiles, eggs in the resurrected spring. crossing himself and taking all credit for the ceasing of the storm It was the time when blessings -God's hailstorm, were like the blood-red dawns my sister and I had stopped with Granny wisdom. vast as human tenderness *The month of March, was traditionally referred to as Tsutar (Цутар) by the Mace- the miracle of miracles. donians i.e. the month of blossoms. (JTh)

www.macedonianhr.org.au 35 www.mhrmi.org

Jim Thomev

www.mhrmi.org

recreation, -

giving gleams gleams giving - The idée fixe fixe idée The poet the of he found solace found he dictators, war, fascism, war, dictators, f he remained a prisoner a remained he of childhood memories: childhood of denied and disparaged, and denied Encumbered by ethnicity by Encumbered like the sublime phoenix, sublime the like o from the sweet birthplace sweet the from and the beautiful butterfly. beautiful the and in constant self constant in an inhospitable, drab land, drab inhospitable, an and the truth the and aromas of rich spring roses, spring rich of aromas of nettle stings, mingled with mingled stings, nettle of but he could not free himself free not could he but of vast and exuberant dawns. exuberant and vast of and richness of lilac in bloom, in lilac of richness and An outcast from a land of hunger of land a from outcast An with balm from the subtle depths depths subtle the from balm with where he first knew the freshness the knew first he where in the new land of ageless dreams, ageless of land new the in He tried to lose the permanent ache permanent the lose to tried He rudely usurped by callous white men; white callous by usurped rudely and the gunfire of frenzied Orthodox resurrections. Orthodox frenzied of gunfire the and

36

(German); one who sweats and and sweats who one (German);

Gastarbeiter originally a word rich in connotations meaning meaning connotations in rich a word originally

nearly over, nearly Pechalbarot* печал) печал)

of the anonymous grave, anonymous the of

Loneliness, illness, failure, illness, Loneliness, made him seek compassion compassion seek him made (if that is the word), of justice, justice, of word), the is that (if of a fratricidal war at its height height its at war fratricidal a of of life pulsing throbbing aching throbbing pulsing life of Hunger and four small children small four and Hunger the gracious faces of dear ones dear of faces gracious the Enveloped him; the searing fear searing the him; Enveloped from employers in foreign lands. foreign in employers from At a time of youth and freshness and youth of time a At

with the three hundred calamities hundred three the with He sought solace in urban wastes urban in solace sought He In memory of my father, Tome Paterov**, Paterov**, Tome father, my of memory In the dreams of home, not always bad, always not home, of dreams the about the fate of many of his kindred. his of many of fate the about locked in the prison of his uncertainty; his of prison the in locked “stood on my head” as he used to say to used he as head” my on “stood the former soldier in the Albanian alps Albanian the in soldier former the born Kabasnica 1918, died Melbourne 1980. 1980. Melbourne died 1918, Kabasnica born yearning for peace, balm for his nerves; nerves; his for balm peace, for yearning With the taste of salt sweat in his mouth, his in sweat salt of taste the With

when he never questioned the sacrifices, the questioned never he when of lethargic afternoons in the summer sun, sun, summer the in afternoons lethargic of With the decade of unimaginable carnage, unimaginable of decade the With or even wondered why life was worth living. living. worth was life why wondered even or

crowded the darkness of interminable nights interminable of darkness the crowded or feared the inescapable pain of all purpose, purpose, all of pain inescapable the feared or brought familiar village smells of earth and air, and earth of smells village familiar brought itinerary economic migrant, migrant, economic itinerary -

made his departure to the other end of the world. the of end other the to departure his made he exalted in manly vigour; It was a time of freedom, freedom, of time a was It vigour; manly in exalted he the silence torn by the maddening cries of jackdaws. of cries maddening the by torn silence the

Таткоми Томе, единствен син на Дедо Диме од Кабасница и Бабами Лена од од Лена и Бабами Кабасница од Диме Дедо на син единствен Томе, Таткоми www.macedonianhr.org.au Pechalbarot на Првата светска воијна. Далеку од дома умрел, близу до турската граница каде каде граница турската до близу умрел, дома од Далеку воијна. светска Првата на коњица. грчката во служеше Атанас, загина во големата епидемија на грипот што ја потресе Европа кон крајот крајот кон Европа потресе ја што грипот на епидемија големата во загина Атанас, Битуша, леринско, се роди шест недели по смртта на неговиот татко. Митре, син на на син Митре, татко. неговиот на смртта по недели шест ** роди се леринско, Битуша, the family left behind. (pechal,( behind. left family the misery.) and longing sorrow, suffers to eke out a living as a hired hand in a foreign land. There is a strong implication implication strong a is There land. feed to foreign a in substance hand seek to hired a land as native living a the out leave eke to to had one suffers that disgrace of sense a of * he Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) is appalled by the biased and offensive articles that appeared in various editions of the Greek-Australian T newspaper, Neos Kosmos. The articles represent a new low in journalistic standards of this Melbourne-based newspaper and as such the AMHRC feels an obligation to expose the misin- formation and omissions contained in the articles.

On 13 February 2012, the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) announced that after a sustained lobbying campaign, the Australian Government confirmed the cancella- tion of the discriminatory and racist “Slav Macedonian Directive” which renamed the Macedonian community in 1994.

The Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) made the announcement at a press conference in Melbourne which was attended by members of the Macedonian community, the Macedonian media and a representative of Neos Kosmos. On the day, all those present were provided with a media release and a chronology of events which led to the government’s decla- ration of the end of its “Slav Macedonian” policy. Therefore given that Neos Kosmos had all of the relevant information in its pos- session, it is indeed difficult to fathom how the newspaper could misrepresent the issue to the extent that it failed to get the most basic of facts right.

On 16 February 2012, the Greek language edition of Neos Kos- mos thought it proper to rename the Australian Macedonian Hu- man Rights Committee, an organisation registered in Australia Morally under this name, as the “Australian Slav-Macedonian Human Rights Committee” (“Σλαβομακεδονική Επιτροπή Ανθρωπίνων Δικαιωμάτων Αυστραλίας”). The article also referred to members and of the Macedonian community in Australia as “Slav Macedoni- ans” (“Σλαβομακεδόνες”). The Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee has on numerous occasions warned Neos Ethically Kosmos to cease and desist using such racist terminology. Fol- lowing this latest example, the AMHRC has once again written to Bankrupt the newspaper demanding the publication issue a correction and apology. If one is not forthcoming, a complaint will be lodged with the Australian Press Council. Journalistic Following the initial article, two days later, on 18 February 2012, the English language edition of Neos Kosmos decided to ‘trump’ Standards their Greek language colleagues, by publishing a completely dis- torted article on the announcement. The article, conspicuously written by an anonymous person (perhaps nobody wanted to put By David Vitkov their name to the shameful claims made in the text) was titled, “Claims on policy shift on FYROM [sic]: DFAT confirms business as usual”. The basis for the erroneous headline was a statement provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which allegedly told Neos Kosmos that the government is “mindful of the ensitivity and the depth of feeling in the community regarding the issue of name, but there has been no change in policy.” As such the announcement by the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) was described as nothing more than a “publicity stunt”.

Firstly, it should be made clear (as if it was not already) to any- body with a basic understanding of English, that the AMHRC’s announcement was in relation to the way in which the Australian Government refers to the MACEDONIAN COMMUNITY IN AUS- TRALIA. It was not in relation to the way in which Australia recog- nises the Republic of Macedonia. Therefore to make reference two different issues (an international one i.e. the Republic of www.macedonianhr.org.au 37 www.mhrmi.org Macedonia in the headline vs. a domestic one i.e. the name tions of Australian society to self-identification. This includes of the Macedonian community in Australia in the body of the the right of Hellene or Greek Macedonians - those from the article) is a total misrepresentation of the AMHRC’s an- geographic region of Macedonia - to be identified distinctly nouncement. from Slavomacedonians [sic]". This statement is a contradic- tion in itself as it declares the right of self-identification, yet it The substance of the article itself was no different, containing contains the term “Slavomacedonian” – which is NOT a term factual errors and biased reporting. It is claimed that the “Slav of self-identification and is completely REJECTED by the Mace- Macedonian” Directive was about renaming “the language donian community! spoken in the Former Yugolslavian [sic] Republic of Macedo- nia as 'Slav Macedonian'[sic].” Of course, the Directive had Members of the Macedonian ethnic community, whether they nothing to do with the Macedonian language, but rather with originate from the Republic of Macedonia or from other parts the name of the Macedonian community. The Directive offi- of the “geographic region of Macedonia” i.e. from Greece or cially required all government agencies to re-name Macedoni- Bulgaria, identify simply as Macedonians. In accordance with ans residing in Australia, to “Slav Macedonians”. This applied the principle of self-identification if others from this region to all those people whose ancestry was linked to the Republic wish to identify as “Hellene or Greek Macedonians” then they of Macedonia, while all other members of the Macedonian are at liberty to do so. In fact, such persons are not denied ethnic community of Australia who had come to this country (and have never been denied) the right to identify as they from the parts of Macedonia located outside the borders of wish. However what they cannot do is impose a name on an- the Republic of Macedonia (e.g.: in Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, other community i.e. the Macedonian community. This is the etc) were required by the Directive to be referred to as fundamental lesson that should be taken from the govern- “individuals associated with Slav-Macedonians”. The Directive ment’s announcement that it will respect the right of self- also actually declared that the term Macedonian would con- identification of the Macedonian community in Australia. tinue to be used for the Macedonian language. The distortion of facts by Neos Kosmos and the fundamental- The article then claimed that “…DFAT confirmed with Neos ly undemocratic nature of policies and positions advocated by Kosmos that "the 'Slav Macedonian Administrative Circular' certain Greek organisations is nothing new to the Australian has not been operative in the Department of Foreign Affairs Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) or the Mac- and Trade for several years. As is standard practice for inoper- edonian community in general. However ultimately, such big- ative Administrative Circulars, the document was made non- ots will fail in their attempts to permanently impose their views current and archived on 28 October 2008.” However, the on Australian society and beyond. Much like when a formal article failed to mention that even after the 28 October 2008 audit comes back to haunt the ‘creativity’ of a corrupt ac- the Government was still confirming (and defending) the exist- countant, lies and misinformation of this nature will eventually ence of the Directive. It was only after an intense lobbying catch up with those who propagate them. Therefore certain campaign including a freedom of information request that the organisations and media outlets which purport to represent government finally admitted and declared FOR THE FIRST the interests of the Greek community in Australia would be TIME to our organisation that indeed it had withdrawn the better off speaking the truth rather than advocating the funda- Directive. Therefore the claims that the AMHRC press release mentally racist policies of a morally (and now financially) bank- was merely a “publicity stunt” do not correspond with the rupt regime. Perhaps then, true self-identification and mutual facts. respect may be achieved for all.

The Neos Kosmos article also quoted several Greek commu- David Vitkov nity organisations which reacted to the issue in a typically mis- leading manner. A local organisation calling itself the Since this article was written, the AMHRC has sent letters of “Australian Hellenic Council” (AHC) accused Macedonian and complaint to the Australian Press Council, the Ethnic Commu- Turkish diplomats in Canberra of “open interference” in an nities Council of Victoria and to the Editor of Neos Kosmos. Australian policy matter. The AHC claimed that “it is unac- ceptable for the representatives of foreign governments to actively guide and participate in efforts to determine Australi- an domestic and foreign policy”. Interestingly, Freedom of Information documents released to the Australian Macedoni- an Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) reveal that in relation to Australian policy on the name issue, on 8 October 2008, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Stephen Smith MP wrote to then Minister for Immigration, the Hon. Chris Evans MP, noting that, “the Department of Foreign Af- fairs and Trade frequently receives representations from the Embassy of the Republic of Greece asking that the Australian Government maintain its present approach”. The Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) wonders whether the AHC and other Greek community organisations also condemn this “open interference” in Australia’s domestic and foreign policy? David Vitkov

The AHC also asserted that it “…respects the right of all sec-

www.macedonianhr.org.au 38 www.mhrmi.org

МДЧП и АМКЧП ги  Ф у н к ц и о н и р а њ е н а повикуваат канцеларии за човековите Дајте и' Македонците од целиот права на Македонците во М свет да и’ дадат Бугарија, Грција и Албанија; поддршка на борбата за човекови  Организација на кампањата права на Македонците во „Нашето име е Македонија“, со балканските земји. која се бара Македонија да ги поддршка на прекине сите преговори околу ММДЧП и АМКЧП ги финансираат името и и ги организираат сите активности  Финансирање на успешните за остварување на човековите изборни кампањи на права на Македонците и директно македонските кандидати во борбата за соработуваат со секоја Бугарија, Грција и Албанија. македонска организација за човекови права, вклучувајќи ги: Исто така, силно лобираме за Виножито, ОМО „Илинден“ - признавање на Македонија и ПИРИН, МАЕИ, Нова Зора, македонските човекови права во човекови Народна Волја, Илинден Тирана, Вашингтон, Отава, Канбера, Домот на македонската култура и Брисел и целиот свет, а особено: сите останати.  Средби со шефови на држави и права на Подржувајќи не’ нас, вие директно пратеници од Канада, ја подржувате борбата за Америка, Австралија и остварување на човекови права европските држави; за сите Македонци.  Средби со официјални лица за надворешни работи од Канада, Македонците Ова се само неколку од многуте Австралија, американскиот наши активности: Стејт департмент, Советот на Европа и многу други;  Часови за Македонски јазик во  Присуство на конференции за Егејска Македонија и Албанија, меѓународни човекови права вклучувајќи го и отворањето на во организација на нова градинка во Корча, Обединетите нации, ОБСЕ и Албанија; други и  Покрај финансирањето на  Средби со амбасадорот во ОН, радио станицата во Лерин, Нимиц со истакнување на неодамна се отвори и нашето барање за подршка од македонска телевизија во меѓународната заедница за Корча; прекин на "преговорите за  Поднесување на тужба против името". Грција за случајот „Деца бегалци“, за враќање на Македонците се организирани, конфискуваните имоти, полни со енергија и решени да ја државјанства и финансиски продолжат нивната борба за надоместоци; универзалните човекови права.  Финансирање на про - Најголемиот предизвик со кој се македонските весници и соочуваме се финансиските изданија во Егејска проблеми. Ве молиме дајте ни ја Македонија, Пиринска вашата поддршка со донација во Македонија и Мала Преспа; MHRMI Human Rights Fund или во  Претставка до Европскиот суд AMHRC's Macedonian Minorities за човекови права пресуди Support Fund. против Бугарија и Грција за кршење на човековите права на Македонците; Однапред ви благодариме. www.macedonianhr.org.au 39 www.mhrmi.org A Retrospective on the Fight to (Re) Register OMO “Ilinden” Pirin and the Plight of the Macedonians in Bulgaria: Entering a Second Decade on the Eve of a Second Century of Struggle

By David Vitkov

For example, parallels can be drawn Similarly, the Advisory Committee of between the short period of registra- the Framework Convention for the tion the party enjoyed and the brief Protection of National Minorities time under communist rule when the urged Bulgaria to: Macedonians were recognised by the Bulgarian state. The persecution and “… remove all the existing obsta- interrogation of OMO party activists cles preventing the interested are a continuation of the repressive groups from exercising their right to policies towards ethnic Macedonians peaceful assembly and associa- in general over many decades. Also, tion, guaranteed by the Framework the ‘illegal’ nature of the political party Convention. Such obstacles arein- Ms. Rita Iszak UN Independent is reminiscent of past (and present) compatible with the principles of Expert on Minoity Issues prohibitions on expressions of Mace- Article 7 of the Framework Conven- donian culture, the recognition of the tion” (Recommendation No. 132, n a remarkable three week period Macedonian language and identity. p. 29). in January 2012, no less than three reputable human rights bod- The Bulgarian government has clearly Meanwhile, Human Rights Commis- ies condemned Bulgaria for the understood the connection between sioner, Hammarberg was more spe- I the (re)registration of the political par- cific in his observations, noting that: treatment of its minorities, including the Macedonian ethnic minority resid- ty OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN and the possi- ing in Bulgaria’s Pirin region. This ble future ramifications on the recog- “…the Commissioner remains con- ‘troika’ comprised of the report of the nition of the Macedonian minority in cerned about the difficulties associ- United Nations Independent Expert on Bulgaria. Indeed, this point was not ations of Macedonians continue to Minority Issues, Ms. Rita Izsák overlooked by the ‘troika’ who made face when trying to register.” (published 3 January 2012), the se- direct and explicit references to the cond cycle Opinion of the Council of relationship between freedom of as- In order to understand and appreciate Europe’sAdvisory Committee on the sociation and the recognition of the the nature of these “obstacles” and Framework Convention for the Protec- right to freedom of expression as it “difficulties” facing OMO “Ilinden” PI- tion of National Minorities (released relates to one’s ethnic identity. RIN, one must go back more than a 23 January 2012) and a report sent to decade ago and examine the period the Bulgarian government by the For example, the UN Independent following the establishment of the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Expert noted that: party. Human Rights, Mr Thomas Hammar- berg (dated 24 January 2012). “Bulgaria should comply fully with The founding of OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN the judgements of the European and subsequent dissolution An ever present issue in relation to the Court of Human Rights (ECHR) re- Macedonian minority over the years lating to persons belonging to such The United Macedonian Organisation and indeed again in the reports of the communities and implement its “Ilinden” PIRIN (also referred to as ‘troika’ concerns Bulgaria’s refusal to rulings without further delay. Asso- OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN)was a political re-register the political party struggling ciations should be allowed to regis- party founded on 28 February 1998 for the rights of the Macedonians in ter and function without impedi- and based in south-west Bulgaria, in country: OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN. In many ment, use their chosen names and the Pirin region. The political party ways the difficulties that OMO express their ethnic identities OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN should not be “Ilinden” PIRIN has faced over the last freely. Associations that have been confused with OMO Ilinden – a cultur- decade is representative of the gen- denied in the past should promptly al association initially registered but eral struggle of the Macedonians of be given official registra- then also banned. Pirin over the last one hundred years. tion” (Appendix, paragraph 23). Following the registration of the politi- www.macedonianhr.org.au 40 www.mhrmi.org cal party OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN, the par- the applicant party’s dissolution and City Court. The applicants presented ty participated in local elections, with that the dissolution was therefore all documents necessary to establish some degree of success when one not necessary in a democratic socie- the constitution of the party, such as considers the short time it had been in ty.” its bylaws, declaration for constitution, existence. The party won several coun- record of the constitutional assembly, cilor positions in various municipalities Despite the apparent success in the certificate of uniqueness of its name, in the Pirin region.However, soon after European court, an even bigger strug- declarations of membership in the these elections, a group of MPs from gle was about to begin in Bulgaria as party by 530 founders of the party, the the Bulgarian Parliament referred the party struggled to re-register itself list of 5778 party members, and dec- OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN to the Constitu- following the judgement. larations by the leaders of the party, tional Court of Bulgaria requesting that certified by a notary, confirming the the party be dissolved due to its al- The first application (2006) for re- authenticity of the lists. leged separatist ideology and activi- registration ties. On 30 October 2006 the Sofia City Following the ECtHR judgment, the Court delivered its judgment on the On 29 February 2000 the Bulgarian followers of the party took steps to applicants’ request for registration of Constitutional Court found that the have their rights to freedom of associ- OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN. The court found party and the organisations which pre- ation fully restored and have their par- a number of alleged “irregularities” in ceded it (in particular OMO Ilinden) ty registered. For this reason, they be- the registration documents submitted had advocated separatist ideas and gan a new procedure for registering by the applicants. It accepted and “imperil[ed] national security”. The the party, with the same name and credited as evidence, “expert opinion” party was consequently declared un- explicitly indicating that this is proce- provided by a prosecutor. It was al- constitutional and dissolved. dure is an implementation of the judg- leged that some of the declarations of ment of the European Court of Human the founders were not handwritten by The judgment of the European Court Rights. Reopening the old registration the persons who signed them. The of Human Rights in 2005 of the political party OMO “Ilinden” court failed to accept the fact that PIRIN, banned by the Constitutional even if the so-called "invalid" declara- In 2000 the party filed a complaint Court, was not possible for a number tions were excluded from the total with the European Court of Human of legal and technical reasons. number of members, that number Rights (ECtHR) arguing that OMO would still be above the required mini- “Ilinden” – PIRIN’s dissolution by the Under Bulgarian law it is not possible mum. It was also claimed that the list Constitutional Court was not pre- to re-open a case before the Constitu- of party members was incomplete and scribed by law or necessary in a demo- tional Court and have it reconsider its incorrect. In essence what the prose- cratic society. They relied on Article 11 judgment in light of the judgment of cution was alleging was fraud, which (freedom of association) of the Euro- the European Court of Human Rights. of course is a serious crime. However, pean Convention on Human Rights. And although under Bulgarian proce- to date, after more than five years, not dural laws, it is possible to request the a single member of OMO “Ilinden” On 20 October 2005, the ECtHR reopening of a case with the regular PIRIN has been charged with having found that Bulgaria had violated Article courts on the basis of a judgment of committed such an offence. 11 (freedom of association) of the the European Court of Human Rights, Convention. The Court observed that: in the present case this was not an On 13 November 2006 the applicants option. filed an appeal against the judgment “…the Bulgarian Constitutional of the Sofia City Court, however on 14 Court, in ordering the applicant par- Under the Bulgarian Constitution, the February 2007 the Supreme Court of ty’s dissolution, did not find that any Constitution has precedence over Cassation delivered its judgment, up- of the party’s leaders or members norms of international law. Thus, holding the judgment of the lower had made any calls for the use of faced with a case of conflict of interna- court. violence or for the rejection of demo- tional law and Bulgarian constitutional cratic principles. Indeed, it conceded law, as in the present case, the Sofia An application was then lodged with that the applicant party had not en- City Court would be bound to follow ECtHR claiming a violation of Article gaged in any concrete action which the judgment of the Constitutional 11 (freedom of association). could effectively endanger the coun- Court and not the judgment of the Eu- try’s territorial integrity. It therefore ropean Court of Human Rights. In ad- The second application (2007) for re- appeared that the Constitutional dition, the party was banned in 2000, registration following the ECtHR deci- Court’s holding that the applicant and case files are archived for a five sion party’s activity truly “imperil[ed] year time period. This period had al- [Bulgaria’s] national security” was ready expired. Not surprisingly, the denial of the right not based on an acceptable assess- to re-registration attracted much atten- ment of the relevant On 20 September 2006 the appli- tion in the Council of Europe.In exam- facts.Considering that there did not cants filed a request for the (re) ining the execution of case of the Unit- exist a pressing social need to order registration of the party with the Sofia ed Macedonian Organisation Ilinden –

www.macedonianhr.org.au 41 www.mhrmi.org PIRIN and others v. Bulgaria the previous application to the court), (application No. 59489/00) – judg- a declaration by the leaders of the ment of 20/10/2005, final on party certified by a notary, confirming 20/01/2006, the Committee of the authenticity of the lists. Ministers adopted a decision on 5-6 June 2007, in which it “invited the On 21 August 2007 a session was Secretariat, in view of these particu- held at the Sofia City Court regarding lar problems, rapidly to examine, in the new application for registration. co-operation with the Bulgarian au- The Court claimed that there is no thorities and the applicants, the ave- evidence that the meeting of the nues at the applicants’ disposal with “Initiative Committee” ever took a view to obtaining the registration of place and that the required deci- UMO Ilinden – Pirin.” sions at such a meeting according to the Law on Political Parties were not The Department for the Execution of taken. However, the Law on Political Judgements of the European Court Parties does not require “evidence” of Human Rights proceeded to con- of such a meeting taking place; the sult with Bulgarian authorities on the “Founding Declarations” signed by best avenue available. On 26 June all 76 individuals contained each 2007, in Strasbourg, representatives individual name in full and their per- of OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN met with rep- sonal identification number is evi- resentatives of the Department. At dence that they made the necessary this meeting the Department pro- declaration; the declarations for indi- posed that OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN re- vidual membership were filled in per- peat certain aspects of the registra- sonally by each individual with his/ tion process and resubmit an appli- her own handwriting. In those decla- cation for registration to the Sofia rations, the place and date where City Court. The list of almost 6,000 the declaration was made is clearly members which was submitted in stated; as evidence of the meeting the previous registration application taking place, a photograph was tak- would be resubmitted to the court. en on the day of all members gath- The Bulgarian government agreed ered together. with this proposal and this is reflect- ed in an official letter from the De- The Sofia City Court denied registra- partment to the Bulgarian represen- tion and this decision was upheld by tation in Strasbourg. This proposal the Supreme Court of Cassation. was acceptable to OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN and the party began to repeat Another application was lodged with the registration process. the ECtHR citing article 11 again.

On Sunday 15 July 2007 theparty The third application (2008) for re- held a meeting on the grounds of the registration following the ECtHR deci- park “Popovi Livadi” located in the sion mountains in the Municipality of . The meeting was In order to exhaust possible options attended by 685 persons who per- under the law, the Presidency of sonally filled in and signed a declara- OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN examined a tion form to join the party. On 27 July number of avenues. In their opinion, 2007 the applicants filed a request the best and most rapid solution Thomas Hammarberg—Council of Europe for formal re-registration with the So- available to achieve (re) registration Human Rights Commissioner fia City Court. The applicants present- was by applying Article 4(1) of the ed all documents necessary to es- Bulgarian Law on Political Parties, tablish the constitution of the party, which states that “Registered politi- such as its bylaws, declaration for cal parties at the time of entry into constitution, record of the constitu- force of this law have until 30 June tional assembly, certificate of unique- 2006 to bring their statutes in line ness of its name, declarations of with the requirements of this law.” To membership in the party by 685 explain, if OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN had founders of the party, list of the 685 not been deregistered by the Consti- founders, list of 5,778 members of tutional Court in 2000 (a decision the party (the same one submitted in subsequently found to be in violation

www.macedonianhr.org.au 42 www.mhrmi.org of the ECHR) it would have relied on However, in late 2011, the ECtHR state in the previous attempts for (re) Article 4 to continue to be a registered found that Bulgaria did not violate the registration, any future attempt by party. In such a situation, the new and ECHR in subsequent cases – a deci- OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN (or any other pro- more severe criteria to establish a sion which OMO strongly disagreed Macedonian group wanting to form a new party, including the requirement with and which might be the subject political party) will have to overcome to have 5,000 members, would not of a separate analysis. the same “obstacles” and have been applicable to OMO “difficulties” imposed by an uncom- “Ilinden” PIRIN. An appeal to the Grand Chamber (a promising Bulgarian state apparatus. larger body of ECtHR judges) was im- This will require a great deal of work Therefore it was proposed that OMO mediately lodged by the party; howev- and organisation from the party activ- “Ilinden” PIRIN make a submission to er on 12 March 2012 the court de- ists and the active support and partici- the Sofia City Court relying on Article 4 nied the application. pation on the ground from the Mace- of the Law on Political Parties. A new donians of Pirin will be essential. assembly of 500 members was held Therefore OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN is back and at this assembly, new elections to square one and the road to (re) On a positive note, we should be were held to fill the positions within registration could well be a long one. heartened by the fact that conditions the various structures of the party. Despite the previous positive judg- in Bulgaria are different in 2012 than This would satisfy the Sofia City Court ment of the ECtHR in 2005, re- they were in 1912. The ‘troika’, along that a properly functioning legal entity registration, as we have come to with many others in the international is being established in which party know, is by no means ‘automatic’. It community, will be closely watching to officials are assuming legal responsi- will now require a new registration see real tangible movement by Bul- bility. procedure from start to finish i.e. from garian governments in relation to their preparation of the statutes, to the col- recommendations. On 23 October 2008 the documents lection of signatures (originally 50, were submitted to the Sofia City Court, then 5,000 and now ‘reduced’ to Therefore, for OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN however on 30 December 2008 the 2,500 following significant pressure and the Macedonian population in court rejected the application ruling on Bulgaria). Pirin, the next decade or indeed next that the requirements of the Law on century need not be like previous one. Political Parties have not been fulfilled. As OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN drags itself Watch this space… The decision was subsequently up- though a second decade of struggles, held by the Supreme Court of Cassa- the Macedonians of Pirin Macedonia David Vitkov – International Coordina- tion. are about to enter a second century in tor of the AMHRC a state which implements policies that Current status repress and punish those who dare to express their distinctiveness and de- Having exhausted all options domesti- mand nothing more than rights and cally, OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN’s only freedoms enjoyed by their fellow citi- chance again rested abroad i.e. with zens. If one takes into account the the European Court of Human Rights. tactics employed by the Bulgarian

www.macedonianhr.org.au 43 www.mhrmi.org

Over and Above Carnivals By George Papadakis

magine the scene. At a carnival in of carnivals – I believe such a scene is a and Paris. It goes without saying, both Patras (if one can refer to it as a carni- strong possibility, as in recent times, the- the French and the German Foreign val), as part of the procession, there is se two politicians have been seen as the Affairs departments through their media I a vehicle on which there is an enact- very focus of evil in our country. outlets would condemn the revellers, ment of a wild sexual orgy where Angela carnivals in general, the Greeks and Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy go at it ham- Hypothetically, the very next day after Greece itself and openly threaten if mer and tongs. Without knowing what such an exhibition there will be air- Athens does not suppress the people the organisers are actually planning this brushed pictures of the carnival in Patras from Patras, that proceedings will begin year – I have never been much of a fan with lots of commentary arriving in Berlin to throw us out of not only the Eurozone,

but the EU itself. carnivals, when they did not even make main concern is to bring ruin to the a murmur of complaint when we neighbouring Republic of Macedonia, its What do you think? That such things are bombarded their embassy? inhabitants, and their fellow Macedoni- not done? Of course, as a rule, not one ans who live near the borders of Greece. German or French government would Indeed, all this is absolutely logical and In order to succeed in that goal, they use ever fall so low as to send an official pro- appropriate for normal nations and nor- the most incredible diversionary tactics test to the Greek Government about mal people. Not so for the theatre of irra- and use all possible resources to the something that was part of a carnival, no tionality known as Greece. In this nation maximum. Yet they had never gone to matter how outrageous and insulting it which has been bankrupt for some time the laughable and absurd lengths of had been. How many letters of protest now, all its governments have never had complaining and protesting officially to have there been from the Americans as an aim the improvement of the living the Macedonian government about any- who are ridiculed at every carnival held in standards of their citizens, regardless of thing that had occurred at any carnival! Greece? Would they give a damn about their background and ideology. Their

www.macedonianhr.org.au 44 www.mhrmi.org For those who know what happened a the people responsible, and an under- time… few days ago in Vevchani in the Republic taking given to ensure that similar things of Macedonia, as part of the biggest will not take place in the future." PS: Ordinarily, I would not have been in carnival in that country in the presence of the least bothered about the latest public many European visitors, it was evident Quite extraordinary, isn’t it? A Greek gov- pronouncement from the metropolitan that the carnival organisers had ernment for national salvation that has [orthodox archbishop] of Salonika who ceremoniously put the boots into supposedly been formed with a techno- has brought to mind all that the Serbian bankrupt Greece. They could not possibly crat [banker] at its head to salvage all dictator Milosevic had said about the ever imagine that a day later, the that it is possible to salvage of the neo- Republic of Macedonia. We cannot be “redoubtable” Delavekuras from the Hellenic nation, is one that surpasses all angry with a man like Antimos because it Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs, would previous governments in courage and is obvious we have a personality who is a “inform them”, (i.e. the amazed diplo- protests about something that was done real basket case and who has totally lost matic circles), in the following outrageous at…a carnival! They even demand from the plot for some time. However, until manner: the Macedonian political leaders a con- such time as he is officially declared psy- demnation of the carnival and all that chiatrically ill and mentally incompetent, “The ambassador of the Greek Office of took place in it. Incredible! If I were Minis- charges need to be brought against him Public Relations in Skopje will immedi- ter of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of before the law. State officials, should ately lodge a formal written complaint Macedonia, I would publicise it far and have already done this after he made with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of wide so that the whole planet would be the threats against the radio station in FYROM regarding the regrettable matter able to see how horribly decadent the Ovcharani, in the County of Lerin at the Carnival of Vevchani. This carnival situation in Greece has become. (). He gives us material for the which receives government funding and need for such an action virtually on a was officially opened by the Minister for At this critical juncture, when Greece is a weekly basis. He has repeatedly called Culture of FYROM, had as its theme the hair’s breadth away from an official dec- for violent action against the neighbour- “Burial of Greece” where costumes were laration of bankruptcy and Dimas, ing country, in statements that recall worn and a map presented with irreden- Delavekuras and all the well-paid gang of those of a bloodthirsty dictator. In the tist claims showing the sunburst of Vergi- the Greek Foreign Affairs ministry should “Greece of Western Europe”, meaning na and where the Greek flag was burnt be focusing all their efforts in the interna- France, just these statements would be as well. The Ministry of Foreign of Affairs tional arena to at least salvage some sufficient to have him brought before the of FYROM, was not only told that it had credibility as it is some time since we prosecutors. So why is he still being pro- not officially condemned these manifes- have failed to save the economy. In- tected locally? tations of the carnival, but on the contra- stead, they are wasting time and energy ry, the carnival was described by the on protests about clownish revels at car- By George N. Papadakis of EFA Rainbow Minister of Culture as “a diamond of our nivals and the display of the Macedonian – Vinozhito, a Macedonian political party Macedonian tradition”… We are expect- phalanx at the monument in the central struggling for the human rights of Mace- ing a strong and immediate condemna- square of Skopje. This is the absolute donians in Greece. Thanks to Jim tion from the political leadership of Greek carnival, or charade, if you will. The Thomev of the AMHRC, for translating FYROM of the unacceptable actions that only remaining question is whether we this article from Macedonian to English. were aimed at our nation and its nation- will totally eradicate carnivals or let them al symbols as well as a response from continue to disgrace us till the end of

www.macedonianhr.org.au 45 www.mhrmi.org UN Expert Recommends Bulgaria Recognise its Macedonian Minority

Blagoevgrad/Gorna Dzumaja (Bulgaria), Melbourne (Australia) and Toronto (Canada)

15 February 2012

MO “Ilinden” PIRIN, the political The post-visit report made a number of guage is not recognized or taught in party of the Macedonian minori- observations in relation to the situation of schools and Macedonians are not repre- ty in Bulgaria, together with the minorities in Bulgaria. In paragraphs 66- sented on the National Council for Coop- O Australian Macedonian Human 67, devoted to the Macedonian minority, eration on Ethnic and Integration Issues. Rights Committee (AMHRC) and Macedo- the Independent Expert noted that: nian Human Rights Movement Interna- Most significantly though, the Independ- tional (MHRMI) welcome the recent re- “66. Article 54 of the Bulgarian Constitu- ent Expert made a number of important lease of the report of the United Nations tion states that “everyone shall have the recommendations in relation to the recog- Independent Expert on Minority Issues on right to avail himself of the national and nition of the Macedonian minority in Bul- the situation in Bulgaria. universal human cultural values and to garia. develop his own culture in accordance The report was made public on 3 January with his ethnic self-identification, which In relation to respect for self-identification 2012 by the newly appointed UN Inde- shall be recognized and guaranteed by the Independent Expert recommended pendent Expert, Ms. Rita Izsák and follows the law.” However, the Government de- that: the visit to Bulgaria in July 2011 of her nies the existence of an ethnic Macedoni- predecessor, Ms Gay McDougall. During an minority, and does not recognize the “93. In accordance with its Constitutional the visit to Bulgaria, the Independent Ex- Pomaks (considered as Bulgarian- provisions to respect the right to ethnic pert met with representatives of the Mac- speaking Muslims by the Government) as self-identification, the Government should edonian minority in the country. The dele- a distinct minority – claiming that both ensure and protect this right, as well as gation comprised of: Stojko Stojkov, Co- groups are in fact ethnic . Rep- the rights to freedom of expression and President of OMO "Ilinden" PIRIN and Sta- resentatives of those who self-identify as freedom of association of members of the hil Tupalski, Central Council Member of ethnic Macedonians and as Pomaks Macedonian and Pomak minorities. OMO "Ilinden" PIRIN; Stojan Gerasimov claim that their minority rights are conse- from the Society of Repressed Macedoni- quently violated. 94. Policies relating to the recognition and ans; and Georgi Hristov, the Chief Editor of rights of minority groups must be as- the pro-Macedonian newspaper, Narodna 67. Ethnic Macedonians consider it of sessed in relation to the State’s obliga- Volja. The meeting gave the Macedonian crucial importance that their ethnic identi- tions under international human rights organisations the opportunity to provide ty and distinctiveness be officially recog- law. Article 27 of the International Cove- the Independent Expert with a first hand, nized. Community representatives strong- nant on Civil and Political Rights states documented account of the problems ly dispute census findings reflecting very that “in those States in which ethnic, reli- facing the Macedonian population in Bul- low and declining numbers of Macedoni- gious or linguistic minorities exist, persons garia. ans, and claim that the true population is belonging to such minorities shall not be many times higher. The Macedonian lan- denied the right, in community with the

www.macedonianhr.org.au 46 www.mhrmi.org other members of their group, to enjoy and function without impediment, use their own culture, to profess and practise their chosen names and express their http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/ their own religion, or to use their own lan- ethnic identities freely. Associations that hrcouncil/docs/19session/ guage.” The question of the existence of have been denied in the past should A.HRC.19.56.Add.2_en.pdf minorities is addressed by the Human promptly be given official registration. Rights Committee in its general comment ______No. 23 (1994) on the rights of minorities. The Independent Expert also recommend- Article 5.2 states that “the existence of an ed the introduction of the Macedonian ethnic, religious or linguistic minority in a language to the Bulgarian education sys- OMO "Ilinden" PIRIN is a political party given State party does not depend upon a tem: supporting the rights of the Macedonian decision by that State party but requires minority in Bulgaria. It has been banned to be established by objective criteria.” “97. The Government’s position not to since 2000, despite a 2005 European allow the use of mother tongue languages Court of Human Rights Judgement ruling 95. With regard to identification with a as the language of instruction in schools, that the decision was a violation of the particular racial or ethnic group, the Com- particularly in regions where minorities European Convention on Human Rights. mittee on the Elimination of Racial Dis- are a majority or constitute a large per- For more information please visit crimination has established in its general centage of the population, is a concern for www.omoilindenpirin.org. recommendation No. 8 (1990) on article minorities, including the Roma, Turkish 1 of the Convention that “such identifica- Muslims and Macedonians. Bilingual edu- Established in 1984 the Australian Mace- tion shall, if no justification exists to the cation commencing in the early years of donian Human Rights Committee contrary, be based upon self-identification schooling would enable children to be- (AMHRC) is a non governmental organisa- by the individual concerned.” The right of come proficient in their mother tongue as tion that advocates before governments, individuals to freely identify as belonging well as in Bulgarian. Furthermore, it would international institutions and broader to an ethnic, religious or linguistic group is enable them to maintain their ethnic and communities about combating discrimina- therefore established in international law. linguistic identity and help minority pupils tion and promoting basic human rights. Domestic law should recognize such to achieve positive educational outcomes. Our aspiration is to ensure that Macedoni- rights and ensure that no individual or The Government is urged to consider in- an communities and other excluded group suffers from any disadvantage or troducing bilingual education and to ratify groups throughout the world are recog- discriminatory treatment on the basis of the European Charter for Regional and nised, respected and afforded equitable their freely chosen identity as belonging Minority Languages” treatment. For more information please (or not) to an ethnic, religious, linguistic or visit www.macedonianhr.org.au , or con- any other group. OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN, the political party of tact AMHRC by email i n- the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, to- [email protected] or on +61 3 On Bulgaria’s refusal to abide by judge- gether with the Australian Macedonian 93298960. ments of the European Court of Human Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) and Rights, the views of the Independent Ex- Macedonian Human Rights Movement Macedonian Human Rights Movement pert were quite explicit: International (MHRMI) demand that the International (MHRMI) has been active on Bulgarian Government takes note of the human and national rights issues for Mac- 96. Bulgaria should comply fully with the report of the UN Independent Expert on edonians and other oppressed peoples judgements of the European Court of Hu- Minority Issues and implements, in full since 1986. For more information: man Rights (ECHR) relating to persons and without delay, each of the recommen- www.mhrmi.org, twitter.com/mhrmi, face- belonging to such communities and im- dations contained in the report. book.com/mhrmi, [email protected],+1 plement its rulings without further delay. 416-850-7125. Associations should be allowed to register The full report can be downloaded here:

www.macedonianhr.org.au 47 www.mhrmi.org American Students Meet Macedonians in Greece By Dimitri Jovanov

Students at the Offices of Vinozhito

very pleasant and productive the project - more visits are planned such ethnic diversity. And when these meeting took place on the 13th and these will also include the Republic minorities manage every now and then of January 2012, in the Lerin of Macedonia and Pirin Macedonia in to demonstrate their existence, they A (Aegean Macedonia in Bulgaria. are attacked with Medieval slander – Greece) offices of Rainbow/Vinozhito – “foreigners, foreign agents, propagan- a Macedonian political party struggling In Lerin (Florina in Greek), a University dists” etc. This is the exact opposite of for the rights of Macedonians in of Balkan Studies was established what one expects from a modern dem- Greece. This was part of a tour through- many years ago. Yet it is strange that ocratic society. out the regions of Lerin and Prespa in not one academic and not even one Aegean Macedonia by a group of 15 student from this institution has dared Dimitri Jovanov – Editor of the monthly students who study social anthropolo- to visit or request a meeting with mem- pro-Macedonian newspaper, Nova gy and politics at the University of Bos- bers of Vinozhito, to at least hear their Zora: http://novazora.gr/ ton (USA). They met with many individu- thoughts on the serious issues that als and relevant groups and were led affect the region as a whole. Reputable Translated from Macedonian to Eng- by the renowned anthropologist, Ana- and serious people from all over the lish by George Vlahov of the AMHRC. stasia Karakasidou. The meeting be- world – academics, politicians, stu- tween the students and members of dents, journalists etc have come to Vinozhito was very constructive and Lerin to meet with Vinozhito...to listen, many issues were discussed, especial- to question, to debate and compare ly in connection with the problem of etc, but Greek intellectuals seem to human rights in Greece. Specific focus choose to remain blind. As with the was given to Macedonian matters in Greek economic catastrophe, they fool- general and particularly, the situation ishly ignore realities in relation to other of Macedonians in Greece. serious matters concerning the Greek state. This educational tour began on January 5 and was completed on January 22. While intellectuals based on the other The students took the opportunity to side of the world recognise the social visit many places in northern Greece value and importance for example, of inhabited by ethnic Macedonians. The learning about the impact of the purpose of the tour was to study the “Greek Civil War” on the conscious- impact of social changes in recent his- ness of the various ethnic groups in tory as reflected in the lives of inhabit- Greece at present, Greek authorities Anastasia Karakasidou ants today. Dr. Karakasidou informed continue to pretend that there are no Nova Zora that this is not the end of problems and indeed that there is no

www.macedonianhr.org.au 48 www.mhrmi.org дна многу убава и корисна средба се случи на 13 Јануари 2012, во канцелариите на партијата Виножито во Лерин. Група од 15 студенти од Универзитетот на Е Бостон, САД, чии предмет на студии е поврзано со социјална антропологија и политика, го посетија Леринскиот регион и села на Преспа, каде што разговараа со луѓе и со надлежни органи, заедно со нивната позната извонредна професорка Анастасија Каракасиду. Се оствари една многу конструктивна средба, каде што беа разговарани многу теми, главно околу состојбата во Грција и нивото на човековите права. Dimitri Jovanov Членовите на Претседателството на Виножито имаа прилика да одговораат на прашањата на студентите во врска со СРЕДБА НА Македонското Прашање и посебно во врска со етнички Македонци во Грција.

Оваа образовна посета траеше од 5 до 22 Јануари и групата на АМЕРИКАНСКИ студентите имаше прилика да посети повеќе места на северна Грција каде што живеат етнички Македонци. Имајќи го Солун како појдовна точка, организираа дневни екскурзии и посетуваа СТУДЕНТИ СО места и надлежни органи со цел да простудираат и да се информираат во врска со историските и социол- антрополошките промени кои се случија во минатото и како тоа МАКЕДОНЦИ ВО денес се рефлектира во животот на жителите. Професорката Каракасиду изјави за Нова Зора дека овој проект не завршува тука и дека ќе продолжи и во следните години, со посети и во ГРЦИЈА други места на географската Македонија, како во Република Македонија така и во регионот Пирин во Бугарија.

Чудното на целиот случај? Во Лерин функционира веќе со години Универзитет за Балкански Студии. Замислете се, ниту еден професор, дури ниту еден студент не ,,се осмели,, да го посети Виножито или да побара средба за да го слушне барем мислењето на еден носител на сериозно прашање на поширокиот регион. Доаѓаат сериозни луѓе, професори, студенти, политичари, новинари, истражувачи итн. од ,,крајот на светот,, слушаат, прашуваат, споредуваат... Грците интелектуалци како и секогаш ,,слепи,, сакајќи или не. Како со години ,,јадеа глупава трева,, околу економијата и денес се наоѓаат во ,,кома,, така функционираат и во врска со сите останати сериозни прашања на државата, потурнувајќи ги во оваа катастрофа и незнаење и сите неинформирани граѓани на државата.

Со два збора, интелектуалци од другата страна на светот, доаѓаат и се интересираат за состојбата на регионот, последиците на Граѓанската војна кои сеуште се активни, свестата на граѓаните, етничката, јазичната, културната различност... Како и во сите развиени земји, овој факт го сметаат за богаство, извор на знаење и студии, постоечка човечка состојба. Спротивно од тоа, земјата на која граѓани се носителите на различноста, прави се за да ги скрие од очите на останатите и кога тие ќе успеат малку да се појават, ги презентира како агенти, дојденци од странство, пропагандисти... Со други зборови, Среден Век !

Димитри Јованов – уредникот на месечниот про- македонски весник во егејска македонија, Нова Зора: http:// novazora.gr/

www.macedonianhr.org.au 49 www.mhrmi.org Австралиските власти го користат терминот „Македонци“

Дојче Веле Интервју со Крис Попов, портпарол на „Австралиско- македонскиот комитет за човекови права Датум 13.02.2012

дека реакциите би го промениле ставот на владата.

„Се’ уште нема, ама очекуваме реакции од нив, бидејќи тие оваа одлука ќе ја гледаат како голема загуба за нив. Очекуваме да има реакции, ама не очекуваме владата да го преиспита својот став во однос на ова прашање и очекуваме владата да продолжи да не‘ именува како ’македонска заедница’ и да не се враќа на стариот термин, кој беше многу навредлив“, забележува Попов.

До промената преку лобирање

Македонците во Австралија околу три години работеле на промена на одлуката на австралиските власти преку средби со владини министри и пратеници на владејачката партија. Постепено го зголемувале притисокот врз федералната Dr. Chris Popov влада со цел да ја принудат под „силата на аргументите да го преиспита ставот и Австралиските власти преку два дописа биле на одмор. Следна активност ќе биде да го врати терминот македонски“. до македонската заедница во земјата „да се стави крај на еден период на известиле дека се менува одлуката во македонската заедница во Австралија, кој „Оваа победа покажува дека ако во една однос на именувањето на Македонците останува мрачен, додека Македонија се организација има координираност, во Австралија. Се напушта праксата за нарекува Поранешна југословенска посветеност, фокусираност на задачата и користење на „Славомакедонци“. Република Македонија“, вели Попов. целта, ако се истрае во борбата и се користат сите расположливи правни, Портпаролот на „Австралиско- Македонците очекуваат реакција на политички и лобирачки средства, а ние ги македонскиот комитет за човекови Грците во Австралија, но не и менување искоритивме до максимум, тогаш ќе се права“ Крис Попов за Дојче веле на одлуката на австралиските власти постигне посакуваниот резултат“, вели објаснува дека шефот на кабинетот на портпаролот Попов. министерот за надворешни работи, како „Ние очекуваме дека австралиската влада Официјалните податоци покажуваат дека и Министерството за имиграција и ќе постапува логично и ќе ја признае во Австралија има околу 83.000 државјанство, на 9-ти и 11-ти јануари Република Македонија под нејзиното Македонци, но од Комитетот сметаат годинава испратиле писма до Комитетот официјално и демократски избрано име. дека ги има повеќе. Резултатите од со кои ставаат на знаење сека Мислам дека ако се признава оти минатогодишниот попис треба да се „славомакедонската директива не се заедницата е македонска, тогаш објават кон средината на оваа година. Во употребува и во други служби, Македонци доаѓаат од Република Комитетот очекуваат бројот на вклучувајќи го и Австралискиот завод за Македонија, како и од другите делови на Македонци да се зголеми, бидејќи статистика“. Македонија, кои се во соседните држави. многумина послободно го изразувале Логично е Австралија да го смени ставот својот етнички идентитет, а исчезнала и „Според нас, одлуката важи, односно во однос на името на Република појавата многумина да се попишуваат стапи на сила на 9-ти јануари годинава. Македонија и конечно да се исфрли од како Југословени. Со таа одлука се означува крајот на една употреба срамната референца – долгогодишна борба што се водеше од Поранешна југословенска Република „Очекуваме официјалната статистика да страна на нашиот Комитет за промена на Македонија. Тоа ни е следната задача и покаже од 100.000 до 110.000“, вели ставот на австралиската влада кон ние сега со полна пареа ќе работиме на портпаролот на „Австралиско- македонската заедница“, вели Попов за тоа – да ја убедиме австралиската влада македонскиот комитет за човекови Дојче веле. дека треба да се смени ставот во врска со права“ Крис Попов за Дојче веле. името на Република Македонија“, вели http://www.time.mk/read/ Следно – признавање на уставното име Попов. e2585d94bb/948b33b6ee/index.html

Објавата на одлуката доаѓа по еден Реакции од грчката заедница засега Автор: Александар Методијев месец, бидејќи членовите на одборот нема, но од македонската не очекуваат Редактор: Александра Трајковска

www.macedonianhr.org.au 50 www.mhrmi.org RELATED ORGANISATIONS

The AMHRC and MHRMI are part of an international Macedonian network that spans Australia, North America and Europe, including:

AUSTRALIAN MACEDONIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ABOUT Address Suite 106, Level 1 55 Flemington Rd North Melbourne, 3051 MHRMI Telephone +61 3 9329 8960 Email [email protected] Website www.macedonianhr.org.au & AMHRC MACEDONIAN HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT INTERNATIONAL

Address 157 Adelaide St. West, Suite 434 Toronto, Canada M5H 4E7 Telephone 1 416 850 7125 Macedonian Email [email protected] Human Rights Website www.mhrmi.org MACEDONIAN ALLIANCE FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION M o v e m e n t The political party of the

International Website www.macedoniansinalbania.org EUROPEAN FREE ALLIANCE—RAINBOW (MHRMI) has been Address Stephanou Dragoumi 11 active since 1986. PO Box 51, 53100 Florina/Lerin, Greece Telephone +30 23850 46548 The Australian Email [email protected] or [email protected] Macedonian Website www.vinozito.gr OMO ILINDEN PIRIN Human Rights Address Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad 2700 C o m m i t t e e Zk ‘Elenovo’ bl 6 v. Bar. 6 p.k. Mechkaroovi (AMHRC) has been Email [email protected] active since 1984. Website www.omoilindenpirin.org MACEDONIAN SOCIETY “ILINDEN” TIRANA A Macedonian cultural association in Tirana, Albania

Both MHRMI and Website www.ilinden-tirana.com

AMHRC are non- NOVA ZORA A pro-Macedoniannewspaper based in Aegean Macedonia, Greece, edited by Dimitri Jovanov governmental and with a printed circulation of 20,000 copies per month

organisations that Website novazora.gr inform and 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 advocate about combating racism Website www.narodnavolja.com and promoting human rights. Our joint aspiration is to TEAM MEMBERS ensure that Macedonian MHRMI AMHRC Jovan Drenoski, Treasurer Chris Angelkov, Representative Gligor Apoleski, Sydney Representative communities and Michael Georgiev, Marketing Ljubica Durlovska, Review Production Designer/Assistant Editor other excluded Donna Gulcev Tase Filipov, Treasurer Tomislav Jakovleski Ivan Hristovski, New York Correspondent/Representative groups throughout Velibor Jakovleski Jason Kambovski, Communications Advisor/Executive Member the world, are Slavko Mangovski, International Coordinator Sasha Nackovski, Political Liaison Officer Jimmy Mihajlov Vasko Nastevski, Secretary/Executive Member Daniel Nikoloski , Adelaide Representative/Online Management recognised, Tonia Miovska, International Coordinator Lisa Penova, Adelaide Representative/Online Management respected and Bill Nicholov, President Dr Chris Popov, Media Liaison/Executive Member afforded equitable Lazo Ognenov Michael Radin, Adelaide Representative Mark Opashinov, Secretary Peter Sarbinov, Deputy Secretary treatment. Bill Pavlovski, Public Relations Vasko Tanevski, Adelaide Representative Liljana Ristova Chris Terpos, Marketing Manager Silvana Talevska Jim Thomev, Columnist for MHR Review John Tsiglev, Members’ Representative Luby Vidinovski, Vice President David Vitkov, International Co-Ordinator/Executive Member George Vlahov, Editor MHR Review/Executive Member

Special Thanks to Con Christov for his technical assistance www.macedonianhr.org.au 51 www.mhrmi.org