MHR Review

Issue #15 June 2013 ISSN 1839-8707

Contents

MHR Review no.15 published in June 2013 as a survey of the preceding March - May

3 Reeker Reeks and the Slav Racism of the US State Department by George Vlahov

AMHRC, MHRMI and Vinozhito Condemn the US State Department’s Negation of the 6 Macedonian Minority in Greece

7 Letter to Mr. Thomas Hounslow, The Age – Orthodox Easter by Dr. Chris Popov

9 How Does It Feel? by Jim Thomev

16 The Poetry of Gane Todorovski by Dr. Michael Seraphinoff

20 We Want to Learn our Mother Tongue: Macedonian—Ovchareni 26 March 2013

22 САКАМЕ ДА ГО УЧИМЕ НАШИОТ МАЈЧИН МАКЕДОНСКИ ЈАЗИК—Овчарани - Март 2013

24 MHRMI and AMHRC Call on Nimetz to Resign Post and to Denounce Name Negotiations

25 Irreparable, Pathetic, Ridiculous… by George N. Papadakis

29 Jelko Kacin: Euro MP or Anti-Macedonian Lobbyist? by Dr. Chris Popov

32 NLA War Crimes by Tom Vangelovski

34 The Annual Melnik Gathering in Memory of Yane Sandanski by Stojko Stojkov

36 MHRMI and AMHRC Congratulate Nova Zora on its Third Anniversary

37 The Third Annual Nova Zora Celebration of the Struggle for Rights by Dimitri Jovanov

39 Johnny Tsiglev’s Detsa Begaltsi Multimedia Art Showcase

AMHRC presents an International Scholarly Conference on the Partition of Macedonia and the Balkan 41 Wars of 1912-13

Reeker Reeks and the Slav Racism of the US State Department

by George Vlahov

On the 19th of June it was reported by tinuing. A will is needed for dialogue Balkan Insight that: and progress, not only by the leaders but also by the public,” Reeker said. Deputy Assistant US Secretary of State Philip Reeker told Macedonian At first, we can safely assume that no- officials in Skopje that brave deci- body believed the nonsense about sions need be taken in the “territorial pretensions” least of all Ath- longstanding dispute with Greece ens, but the Greeks have now repeat- over the name of the country. ed the lie so often over the last two decades, that sensible people are be- “A middle ground has to be found ginning to become weary of the neces- that will enable progress in solving sity to continually expose it. We, on the the name dispute,” Reeker added, other hand, make no apology for our after meeting Macedonian President rather unromantic or even rustic, re- Gjorge Ivanov and Prime Minister gard for the truth in this abusive con- Nikola Gruevski on Monday. Greece text; or for our refusal to endorse an insists that Macedonia’s name im- iniquitous tumble into the basement of plies territorial claims to its own north- an edifice, the EU, which, in these cir- ern province, also called Macedonia. cumstances, might deservedly be per- Greece is blocking Macedonia’s en- ceived as having been constructed try to NATO citing the failure to re- upon a foundation made of excrement. solve the issue. The saying that if a person is capable He noted that solving the Macedoni- of expressing his thoughts clearly and an name dispute is crucial because honestly, then he should have nothing its resolution will open the way for the to do with politics, is obviously one that faster integration of Macedonia into Reeker subscribes to; the same, just the EU. “Brave decisions are needed as obviously, cannot be said for his over the 'name', just as they were in present interlocutor. the dispute between Serbia and Ko- sovo,” Reeker said, according to par- Yet another attempt has been made to ty sources. Representatives of the lure the Macedonian political elite into opposition said that the US diplomat an abyss, with a neatly trussed up chi- had highlighted the fact that mera, Reeker has named, apparently “statesmanlike skills are needed”. without blushing, “bravery”. Good old fashioned diplomatic, “statesmanlike” In a statement to the media, Reeker crinoline, based on the precept that noted that the US was satisfied with more flies are caught with honey than the latest compromise proposals of vinegar; designed to disguise as at- the UN mediator on the name dis- tractive, a suggestion to murder certain pute, Matthew Nimetz. intangibles, which are no less precious “The process that we support is con- for being so. Phenomena that cannot

possibly be touched, but which are be as good a gentleman … as Luci- grave diggers, the heads of West- known to exist, like one’s dignity, fer himself, it is necessary … that he ern industry; most definitely an ex- one’s identity, the memory of how keep his vow and his oath” (Henry ample of when it is better to give one’s self came to be, in short, V) as enunciated in the UN Charter. than to receive. Plucky little Mace- one’s rights; all to be abandoned for donians; though we would like them a deal to do what? To join a union, Resistance of a Sort to strive more openly for the princi- the dysfunctional bearing of which is pled victory, known in this context, given exemplary demonstration by Having enough sense to perceive as self-determination, erga omnes. the very conditions of Macedonia’s that it exudes the odor of Hades, membership! Veritably, after signing Macedonian political leaders ap- That said, it should be repeated that such an agreement it might be pear to be refusing to accept Reek- the Republic of Macedonia is not in more fitting for one to reside with the er’s “bravery” award, quite unlike an enviable predicament. David Lord of the Flies himself, Old Nick, those missionaries of old who often only faced one Goliath, but the on the Isle of Almas Perdidas. We accepted gold watches and alike, “progress” of Modernity – modern- also remind ‘neutral’ observers in for their “bravery” in “educating sav- ists all too often, unthinkingly equate the media, regarding Reeker and ages” just enough, so that they quantitative increases with qualita- his cohorts, that: “Though he may would prove to be hospitable to their tive improvements – has pitted

three oversized Philistines against forbids this and the Macedonians ing there is no truth or consolation in tiny Macedonia – Athens, backed aptly reply that their beliefs – legally the reflection that it’s just a name, or up by coryphaeus’s based in two of enshrined universals which should that many peripheral others are ma- the current wannabe Zeus like cen- indeed be governing the actions of terially treated even more disdainful- tres, Brussels and Washington, all all those involved in the so-called ly – how does one measure such three gasconading, in their own pe- dispute, forbid ineffable absurdities. things any way?! If it is so trivial, culiar fashion, yet in a manner, ge- then the opposite argument is even nerically speaking, congruent with It has all been previously said and in more applicable, seeing as it is in the original big bully. the not too distant future, we might fact prescribed by the rules of the again view Washington and or game: just accept the Republic of All the same, little Macedonia still Brussels, with contradictory slip- Macedonia’s choice of nomencla- seems to be clinging to some of its page, offer a rejoinder in which the ture and let’s move on to matters of rights, to some semblance of its re- “bravery” carrot is dispensed with more importance. maining dignity. Athens posits that and replaced by the “it’s just a its beliefs, based on an incongruous name, change it and we’ll let you Maneuvering in a Difficult Posi- combination of deep affinity for both live” stick. Optimistically, one imagi- tion Eastern Orthodoxy and ancient nes the Macedonians again re- Athenian polytheistic paganism, sponding in the negative by assert- It has been related in the treasury of

chess lore, lamentably and probably namically persistent motivator and it home. Thus at bottom, the whole apocryphally, that the Englishman is necessary for Macedonians to notion of denying fundamental legal- Sarratt, well bestowed of skill by shift the weight from their backsides, ly enshrined human rights (spelled Caissa, drew game after game with to their feet. out in the UN Charter) to a particular Bonaparte. The latter, for all his abil- ethnic or national group, is a form of ity on the various grounds of Eu- Racism and the most recent US racist discrimination, whatever has rope, in the ‘management’ of the State Department Report been used as the ‘basis’ for the de- continent’s royalty, clergy and their nial. Moreover, the Greek authorities castles, cavalry and infantry, was in Some scholars have argued that refuse to respect the self-ascription reality no match for Sarratt’s usage racism strictly refers to discrimina- or even the existence of a Macedo- of symbols of the same on the 64 tion in the case when the members nian ethnicity in Greece and be- squares. Apparently, for Sarratt, it of the ethnic/national group discrimi- yond, this again qualifies as racist was a struggle between dignity and nating against another ethnic/ discrimination; not only according to courtesy, the non-results giving just national group, have decided that it the Charter, but also the Copenha- enough to each; thus it is that stale- is not permissible for members of gen human rights criteria, by which mate positions are continually the discriminated against group, to Greece, as an EU member, is sup- reached in the so-called name ne- alleviate the discrimination by joining posed to be bound. Generally, gotiations. A process which the gap- their group or by making some other Greek state policy is to refer to the ing acolytes of tossing veracity aside sort of cultural conversion, because Macedonian minority as Slavo- in favour of simply pummeling the they lack some essential biological phone Greeks – in other words, not line of least resistance, in order to characteristics. For the discrimina- an ethnic minority, just some ‘resolve’ the dispute, are “satisfied” tors, the members of the discrimi- Greeks who happen to speak both with and will even deem to be nated against group are unalterably Greek and Slavic. Others, who fol- “progressive” if the Macedonians undesirable. A primary example of low the Greeks in this regard, are, at decide to become submissive. It this is Germany’s Jews during the best, unconsciously supporting rac- should be needless to say, but it NAZI era, as even converting to ism, and at worst, active racists obviously is not, so: it can only be Christianity and sincere declarations themselves. viewed in such a way, if one ac- of possessing a thoroughly ethno- cepts progress, simply as denoting German identity, made no differ- Some ethnic Greeks have even ex- movement per se, stripped of the ence to the NAZI’s; German nation- pressed a desire to compel Mace- sense it usually possesses, as als with Jewish backgrounds re- donians to forego their right to name steering towards some sort of princi- mained a ‘race’ apart and nothing their ethnicity and their language. pled improvement. It all amounts to but undesirable. They have not succeeded in this a diabolical form of ‘order mainte- ambition and are not likely to, but it nance’ which often tramples on the We realise that in some quarters, is none-the-less, a racist attitude. In rights of those least able to defend the word ‘racism’ is still connected to all this, one can discern at least two them. a division of ethnicities and nations perspectives, from which the dis- into biological groups, supposedly crimination can be described as rac- In other words, Macedonian courte- possessing a combination of sub- ist. There are shades of both cultural sy, as was probably also the case stantially different physical, mental racism and biological racism. If Mac- with Sarratt, is a euphemism for and behavioral attributes – an idea edonians were to decide to resign fearful foreboding on the part of that was scientifically proven to be themselves, forego their human Macedonians, in regard to the pos- worthless, decades ago. Generally, rights, re-name themselves and sible reaction of the gargantuan however, throughout Western soci- their language, i.e. willingly undergo ones, if the Macedonians should ety, racism has basically come to a cultural conversion, the racist dis- decide to more overtly attempt to refer to any kind of negative discrim- crimination might end, because it checkmate them with the simple ination, based on ethno-cultural or had achieved its aim. On the other truth. Thus, no matter how exhaust- national grounds, irrespective of hand, there are grounds for doubt- ing it has been and excruciating it is whether some kind of conversion is ing this, as the ‘reason’ Macedoni- becoming, defending themselves permissible. ans do not qualify to name them- from over two decades of puerile selves, has also been based on the abuse, they feel a need to continue In our context, it is important to note notion of ‘race’ (biological makeup) enduring perpetual check. This is that Greece has not only the right to by some of the Greeks who have more akin to an attempt to out-sit, name itself; it also has been practi- commented on the name dispute. I rather than out-maneuver, their rac- cally given the right to object to the am thinking of claims of the kind that ist opponent. Unfortunately, the form right of another group, the Macedo- Macedonians are by nature, or con- of hate known as racism is a dy- nians, to name the country they call genitally, inferior Slavs, etc.

Whatever the complexion of the abuse and to repeat the main point about the current meaning of rac- ism, Macedonians are discriminated against in a manner which disquali- fies them from access to certain uni- versal human rights, this implies that they are sub-human; that is racism and forms part of the basis for un- derstanding the AMHRC/MHRMI press release which appears on the next page of our Review. The US signing the UN Charter on 26 June 1945

AMHRC, MHRMI and Vinozhito Condemn the US State Department’s Negation of the Macedonian Minority in Greece

Melbourne, Toronto and Lerin/ mately 2.2 million ethnically (and nied their basic human rights since Florina (April 26, 2013) - This week linguistically) Greek citizens also 1913. It is important to point out that the US State Department released use the term “Macedonian” to identi- the US State Department has con- its annual Country Reports on Hu- fy themselves. The government has sistently used such insulting termi- man Rights Practices for 2012. In its long refused to recognize an associ- nology when describing Macedoni- report on Greece, under the sub- ation with the name “Home of Mac- ans in Greece in its Human Rights heading ”National/Racial/ Eth- edonian Culture,” objecting to the Reports for several years. nic Minorities”, the following was use of the term “Macedonian.” The stated about the situation and treat- association took the case to the The Australian Macedonian Human ment of the Macedonian minority: ECHR in 2009. In August the Rights Committee, Macedonian ECHR informed the government Human Rights Movement Interna- “The government did not recognize that it had accepted the case for tional and the European Free Alli- the existence of a Slavic dialect, judgment and requested the gov- ance - Rainbow/Vinozhito condemn called “Macedonian” by its speak- ernment to submit its position by the US State Department for its use ers; nevertheless, a small number January 15, 2013.” of such terminology and calls on it to of its speakers identified themselves respect the inalienable rights of the as “Macedonian,” a designation that The terminology used in this pas- Macedonians in Greece to use the generated strong opposition from sage; namely “Slavic dialect”, term Macedonian in describing their other citizens. These individuals “Slavic groups” and the use ethnicity and language. claimed that the government pur- of quotation marks for the term sued a policy designed to discour- Macedonian, represent nothing oth- We also call on Macedonians age the use of their language. Gov- er than a negation of Macedonian throughout the world to contact ernment officials and the courts de- ethnicity and language in Greece the US State Department at http:// nied requests by Slavic groups to and a perpetuation of Greek racist contact-us.state.gov/app/ask in identify themselves using the term stereotypes which have resulted in order to express their opposition “Macedonian,” stating that approxi- Macedonians in Greece being de- to the use of such degrading ter- minology.

Attention: Mr. Thomas Hounslow, The Age – Orthodox Easter

7/5/2013 Your report would have been more accurate and Dear Mr Hounslow, representative of Melbourne’s heterogeneous Orthodox community had it not focused exclu- sively on Greek Orthodox celebrations and men- I write in reference to your report entitled tioned that many of the aforementioned commu- “Orthodox faithful flock to celebrate Easter”, nities also celebrate Easter at this time. which appeared on The Age’s web site on 5 May 2013. Further on in your report you state that “Orthodox Easter celebrations annually draw massive At the beginning of your report you correctly crowds, as Melbourne is host to the world's sec- state that “For most of Australia, Easter has ond highest Greek population behind Athens”. come and gone. But for the massive Orthodox This statement is factually incorrect. community - especially in Melbourne - the cele- brations have only just begun.” However, in the According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics ensuing lines your description of the midnight (ABS), at the time of the 2011 Census there mass service at a Greek Orthodox Church in were 154,253 persons in the Greater Melbourne Clayton and the comments of a Greek priest Statistical Area claiming Greek ancestry. http:// about the significance of Orthodox Easter, create www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/ the strong impression that Orthodox Easter is getproduct/census/2011/ celebrated exclusively or primarily only by communityprofile/2GMEL? Greeks which is most certainly not the case. opendocument&navpos=230).

Orthodox Easter is precisely that and not “Greek According to the official Hellenic Statistical Au- Easter”, as is often incorrectly reported in the thority, as of 2011, there were five cities in media, in much the same way as the Lunar New Greece itself with a larger Greek population than Year is not “Chinese New Year.” Orthodox East- Melbourne (Athens: 3,074,160; Salonika: er is celebrated not only by Greeks, but also by 790,824; Patras: 214,580; Heraklion: 173,450; Macedonians, Serbians, Russians, Montene- Larissa: 163,380). http://www.tovima.gr/ grins, Ukrainians, Belorussians, Romanians, files/1/2011/07/22/apografh22.pdf Georgians, Bulgarians, Armenians, Ethiopian and Egyptian Copts, some Albanians, Syrian and Additionally, outside of Greece, there are at least Lebanese Orthodox believers and many other three cities with larger Greek-speaking popula- communities in Europe and the Middle East. tions than Melbourne. The population of the Many of these communities have their own thriv- Greek-Cypriot controlled part of the Cypriot capi- ing churches in Melbourne and their churches tal Nicosia/Lefkosia was 206,201 in 2001. In and places of worship were full over the week- 2001, Limassol, the second city in Cyprus, had a end as well. All these different Orthodox commu- population of 161,200 (See: http:// nities have their own national Orthodox churches www.cyprus.gov.cy/portal/portal.nsf/ and hierarchies and do not come under the aegis All/817E9279C04E4480C2257023002B of a single Orthodox Church authority. 858C?OpenDocument.)

(Continued from page 7)

Also, according to the US Census Bureau, as of 2011, New York had a Greek population of 155,425 (See:http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/ tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml? pid=ACS_11_1YR_S0201&prodType=table).

On the basis of the above official statistics, it is apparent that Melbourne does not have the world’s second highest population of Greeks af- ter Athens. Rather, it has the eighth largest popu- lation of Greeks in the world after Athens.

I would request that you bear the above in mind when reporting in future on Orthodox Easter cel- ebrations and the number of Greeks in Mel- bourne and Australia.

I look forward to receiving a response from you at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

Dr. Chris Popov Executive Member of the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Com- mittee

How Does It Feel?

by Jim Thomev

Frederick Douglass

Introduction is disabled by the very irrational na- ture of its basis; it often turns on skin Human rights are rights that people colour, perceived cultural difference, are entitled to by virtue of the fact or just plain “fear of the stranger.” In that they are human beings. They English, it has come to take in a have been a long time in coming to broader semantic field by including centre stage of international politics. the notion of ethnic background not It is generally agreed that the historic just the “racial”. But the boundaries United Nations Universal here are often blurred and a broader Declaration of Human Rights (1948) vocabulary of vilification, discrimina- was the culmination of millennia of tion, violation of rights on an ethnic struggle for rights focussed on social basis etc has been appropriately and political freedom and one of the developed. Indeed the word racist, great leaps forward. The right to like the words, sexist, and fascist, have one’s dignity and humanity have become a little flabby through respected is clearly the very founda- over-use, and the toxicity referred to tion for any worthwhile life. in each instance has to be more pre- cisely defined. In its preamble the UN declaration refers to the ‘human family’ to en- Most of the horrors in the 20th compass all human beings regard- century, like the Second World War less of background. This is a great have been attributed to racist refinement on the notion of ‘race’. aggression as with the German After all, it is a word that has a taint- Nazis, about whose evil deeds the ed history because of its association media in the West doesn’t seem to with very dubious biological and an- think we can get enough. But Euro- thropological claims that were far centred value assumptions about from value-neutral with a cultural bi- what human beings are or should be as asserting the superiority of the have also played a shocking role in “white race”, usually to justify the justifying slavery and prejudices. dominance and colonisation of other Thus many African, Asian and lands by the European imperialists. Indigenous peoples practically everywhere in the world, have been The word “racism” denotes dislike, colonised by imperialistic powers hatred and/or fear of people who assumed the unquestionable belonging to “races” other than one’s superiority of their civilisation and own, often grounded on an assump- their particular reading of their tion of the superiority of the group Christian Bible. the offender belongs to. Rational debate on this type of discrimination The world is still reeling from these

intrusions and annexations. In the The first is a specific instance of this incident became quite a cause post-war period during the last sev- racial slur against an Australian célèbre, because Adam Goodes is en decades, decolonisation and its Aboriginal football player, a celebrity; a very high profile player in the aftermath has created immense the other is a brief note on the life Australian Football League (AFL). havoc as well as humanitarian dis- and work of the incomparable, asters. Apartheid was only Frederick Douglass – writer, anti- Much media coverage and dismantled in 1993. Racism is alive slavery activist in 19th century discussion of racism followed. Why and well all over the world. America. I could have chosen other was the three-letter word so examples for the purpose of this offensive to the Indigenous player? Australia itself has not come to discussion: however, the Australian He was a double Brownlow terms and still has not got a solution example is an obvious choice as I medallist (the highest annual award to the problems created by the bru- have been a citizen of this country in the game for the best and fairest tal British settlement of this for most of my life; the African player in the competition) as well as continent. In the Balkans, as well as American is not a random choice a key player in winning a the world in general, nationalism is either, as it was the literature of the premiership flag for his club, the often a destructive force, based as it African Americans and their Sydney Swans. There was a small often is on notions of superiority. It struggles for civil rights during my but vocal number of detractors who erupted in violent struggles as we early youth that opened my eyes to cried foul about how Goodes should witnessed in 1990’s after the break what it meant to belong to a have been above it all and some up of Communist Yugoslavia. The maligned group and how the even had the nerve to suggest that present Greek nation has been members of it tend to have different he should not have “bullied” a falling apart financially, but there ways of accommodating or thirteen year old girl who had no does not seem to be any internal adapting themselves to the idea that such an insult was so cultural or political mechanism to situation. It was in discussion with serious etc. Once again, the self- break with the prison it has created Jewish friends and the reading of betraying deep-seated dislike of the for itself with its crazy claim to the literature that had a peculiar moral Aboriginal people by some ‘glorious heritage’ of the ancient power and authority as that of the Australians is revealed. Greeks. African Americans that I understood what political oppression meant for Fortunately, the response by However, I think it is important to the psychology of one’s family and Goodes who had spoken to the girl narrow the discussion from such group of origin. The parallels (and by telephone afterwards and generalities to cases that can of course, the differences) were explained to her why he was so illuminate the large issues that easy to perceive and always very upset, was seen as the appropriate cluster round the struggle for basic illuminating. All these gave me and courageous action that it was human rights or freedom from analogies with which to work out by all sensible people. The sports oppression. In an article of this and articulate my understanding of editor Greg Baum at the Melbourne length I want to look at some the Macedonian experience. The Age (28/05/2013) gave one of the specific cases that tie in with my critical task of assessing the best accounts: paramount concern with the problems of discrimination and Macedonian historical experience. vilification become clearer when we From a white person to a black To focus on some basic issues that apply the tools of comparison and person, ''ape'' is more pejorative essentially boil down to trying to analysis. by far. It is freighted with centuries come to grips with the moral insanity of treatment as a sub-species, of of oppressive cultures that display 1. Three cheers for Adam oppression and subjugation, and racist (and sexist) aggression Goodes in this country, of a history that against its victims. began with near genocide, A few weeks ago there was an withheld constitutional recognition I will assume that Macedonian incident at an Australian Rules until 1967 and that leaves readers do not need too much detail football match involving the indigenous Australians still among about their own history and heritage champion Adam Goodes and a the most disadvantaged in the of oppression to see how this young female supporter of the rival nation. discussion is relevant to it. One can team. As she had called him an take it as a given, that any dramatic “ape” when he came within earshot And cases of racism, or outrageous past the boundary line, he quickly violations of human rights will have requested security take the girl into He [Goodes] was protesting the universal points of contact. custody. Of course, racial taunting fact that racism exists at all in goes on at many sports fields but football, and had manifested at the

beginning of a round set aside to like, as they (almost) invariably tend women and those with harmless celebrate the progress football to do – Adam Goodes acted within differences. has made in combating it and to his rights. And in any case, he could reset the vigil against it. hardly be expected to have Adam Goodes deserves praise for guessed the girl’s age given that demonstrating with his courageous she was merely a hostile and loud action the need for all groups who spectator who had shouted a suffer oppression at whatever level horribly racist word at him. never, but never, to habituate themselves to such insults. But while the incident may have appeared to have little in it, 2. A note on the Macedonian especially for those who have never experience in Australia known the stinging scourge of racist vilification, the simple action Goodes In this context, it is important to put had taken was very soon on record that the Macedonian completely vindicated even for the immigrants to Australia have had worst sceptics. some misfortunes, even though in terms of their welfare they have On the night of the incident, it was done very well as a minority. It Adam Goodes would be insulting to the Indigenous well-publicised that Eddie McGuire, the president of the Collingwood Australians to suggest that the There are many issues here; I Football Club, the opposing team problems the Macedonians have would like to focus on some of the on the night, immediately went to experienced in Australia are more salient. speak to Goodes after the game, equivalent in scope and moral and offer his deepest apologies. horror. But there are subtleties – Anyone having the wariest inkling of However, a few days later, McGuire difficult to describe or delineate with what it is like to be the target of himself caused a scandal when he accuracy that suggest more than a racial hatred will immediately made a blatantly racist remark on tenuous parallel if we look at the recognise the aptness of the public radio to the effect that Macedonian experience holistically. footballer’s response to this slur. To ‘Goodsey’ could be used effectively The outcomes for the Australian - suggest that his reaction is over the for promoting the King Kong Macedonians locally are a dramatic top, or that he should be “above it musical that had come to town. contrast to the fate of the all”, as a few of the more “well- Eddie McGuire is a very high-profile Macedonians in the Balkans for the meaning” critics suggested, is to ask television personality, not just the bulk of their modern history. There him to get used to being treated as president of the biggest football are also the countries where they less than a human being with equal club. The disgrace was seen and are still not recognised as a result of rights in our society. It is to ask him, heard by the whole nation. Of the partition of 100 years ago above all, to habituate himself to the course, McGuire has tarnished his (August 10 1913). It is still very idea that within the society in which own reputation and the heavy weather for them in Greece he is an eminent footballer, he consequences of his massive faux and Bulgaria. nevertheless is still really “not up to pas are yet to be seen. much” because he is – of Aboriginal However, there have been origin! What normal person from an McGuire’s racist quip is indicative of violations of the basic human rights oppressed group would not find prejudices and ignorance that are of Macedonians in Australia which galling such assumptions and ever-present in our society. Sexism should not be ignored. And here I attitudes from the director culture? is also appalling in the degree to do not speak just of the constant which it manifests itself. The most name calling and insults from the Of course, there was the highly placed victim of sexist Greek immigrants who should know characteristic imbecility as some viciousness is our first female to better, at least in multicultural men big on being white foamed take the highest office in the land, Australia. about “bullying” a thirteen year old the present Prime Minister Julia girl etc. They ignored that it was Gillard. In our society at least these While the Macedonians have not really the media who did the bullying two serious attacks against people’s done badly due to their hard work by publishing the name and face of rights are widespread and have the and loyalty in their new country, one the girl in question, but their real same source – ignorance, fear and can only lament the particular intention was to belittle Goodes. bad, continuous traditions which insensitivity and opportunism of the The malicious could say what they arbitrarily assume inferiority in former Liberal Premier of Victoria,

Jeff Kennett, who went as far as to Australian courts of Justice to have of its kind in the world – Frederick alter the reference to the Kennett’s directive rescinded. (The Douglass wrote to his former owner Macedonian language throughout Bracks Labor government which or master from England a few years the bureaucracy and the education succeeded Kennett’s was reluctant after he ran away from him1. It is a system at the behest of the Greek to do this even when the court had six page letter and the section of the lobby. The timing could not have ruled against the directive! It again text that most resonates for me is been worse. When relations had nothing to do with fairness or the attempt by Douglass to get his between the Greek and truth – but Greek lobbying.) “old master” to consider the situation Macedonian communities locally from the slave’s point of view. This had fallen to an all-time low, Mr 3. A lesson in imaginative is what he writes: Kennett fuelled the conflict by siding sympathy with the Greek community in the How, let me ask, would you look dispute. Thus he also supported the Thomas Paine, a key early writer on upon me, were I, some dark night, Greek negation of Macedonian self- the issues (The Rights of Man, in company with a band of identification as well as Greek 1791) made his presence felt in hardened villains, to enter the opposition to the newly declared America as soon as he arrived precincts of your elegant dwelling , (1991) independent state of the there in 1774: he wrote an attack on and seize the person of your own Republic of Macedonia. slavery calling it a monstrous lovely daughter, Amanda, and violation, “of every principle of carry her off from your family, The other bad decision by Justice and Humanity…” Much friends, and all the loved ones of Australian politicians that was Greek agitation, legislation and a brutal civil her youth – make her my slave – -influenced was the change in the war (1861-65), followed the great compel her to work, and I take her way Macedonians were to be Englishman’s revolutionary writings. wages –place her name on my referred to in the bureaucracy with But it took till the 1960’s for some ledger as property – disregard her the word “Slav’ placed before serious changes to the institutional personal rights - fetter the powers “Macedonian”. Also appalling is the racism of the remarkable of her immortal soul by denying non-recognition by Australia of the commercially-driven USA. This may her the right and privilege to read Republic of Macedonia, (by this offi- be cause for despair at ‘how long it and write – feed her coarsely – cial name), well after 130 countries takes’ to change such behaviour. clothe her scantily, and whip her in the world have done so, including On the vast issue of how does one on the naked back occasionally; our greatest ally, the USA. teach others to feel? I have some move and still more horrible, leave reflections induced by one of the her unprotected – a degraded In the larger scheme of things, greatest leaders and writers in victim to the brutal lust of fiendish these human rights violations may American history. I speak of a man overseers, who would pollute, not be considered particularly who was born a slave, educated blight and blast her fair soul – rob egregious by an outsider. But it is himself, escaped from an appalling her of her dignity – destroy her like the word “ape” that was hurled slave-master, and wrote anti-slavery virtue, and annihilate in her person at Adam Goodes, seemingly trivial, speeches and pamphlets of aston- all the graces that adorn the but actually opening floodgates of ishing insight, eloquence and character of virtuous the deep-seated nightmares of power. I speak of the wholly womanhood? I ask, how would one’s personal heritage, memories admirable Frederick Douglass you regard me, if such were my of torment and discrimination, terror (1818-1895). conduct? Oh! The vocabulary of and humiliations, dispossession, the damned would not afford word destruction of identity, name sufficiently infernal to express your change, all of which amount to a idea of my God-provoking denial and violation of one’s wickedness. Yet, sir, your humanity. treatment of my beloved sisters is in all essential points precisely like What Jeff Kennett did is especially the case I have now supposed. unpardonable, and should be Damning as such a deed would recorded as it inflicted great pain on be on my part, it would be no the Macedonian community in more so than that which you have Victoria on both young and old. It committed against me and my took gruelling legal action of well sisters. over seven years led by the AM- HRC and dedicated teachers of the In one of the most unusual letters Such words of moral power were in Macedonian language to get the ever written – probably the only one the man, Frederick Douglass. The

former slave, who within a few years disadvantages, are still being perpe- 4. Some sobering and salutary after he broke his chains was trated in America as well as Austral- considerations discussing with President Abraham ia in spite of talk about the enor- Lincoln the way the future might mous progress made in those coun- One of the more unfortunate shape up for the Union just before tries relative to most other nations in aspects of social and political the end of the American civil war. In the world. change is that changing normative this letter, he asks the perpetrator to behaviour is exceptionally difficult, put himself in the shoes, or in the And here is another beautiful painstaking and requires immense place of the victim, i.e. the man and thought from Douglass: persistence. Even a violent his family whom the slave-owner so revolution cannot bring about the grievously outraged. I have often been asked, how I felt necessary changes as attitudes that when first I found myself on free have been ingrained for centuries soil. And my readers may share cannot be changed or just the same curiosity. There is expunged overnight or even within a scarcely anything in my experi- generation. We have seen this to be ence about which I could not give the case with both racism and a more satisfactory answer. A sexism. (At the time of writing Julia new world had opened upon me. Gillard, the Prime Minister of If life is more than breath, and the Australia, has again been the target 'quick round of blood,' I lived more of outrageous sexist viciousness.) in one day than in a year of my slave life. It was a time of joyous It is clear that the most visible excitement which words can but examples of vilifications or attacks tamely describe. In a letter written on people’s rights are publicised to a friend soon after reaching widely when the targets are New York, I said: 'I felt as one “celebrities” or highly visible In 1848, Douglass was the only Afri- might feel upon escape from a politicians. It would be hard to can American to attend the first den of hungry lions.' Anguish and imagine any society where both women's rights convention, the grief, like darkness and rain, may racism and sexism were not rife – Seneca Falls Convention. When be depicted; but gladness and joy, their degree of severity always there was a resolution put forward like the rainbow, defy the skill of dependent on how much public for the granting of the vote to wom- pen or pencil. understanding and therefore en it met with resistance from promi- support there is for action against nent delegates. Frederick Douglas Reading these words one gets a such offences. Clearly legislation argued eloquently in favor of the shock of recognition and an and education are crucial in vote for women; he suggested that authentic explanation as to why the combating the problems but they the world would be a better place if struggle for liberty and rights – for full don’t seem to be enough. Above all, women were involved in politics: emancipation - is one of those facilitating legal enforcement of indestructible, permanent impulses legislation will be crucial in the "In this denial of the right to partici- in human beings. process of change. The pate in government, not merely enforcement of the law is the the degradation of woman and the biggest bugbear for the UN perpetuation of a great injustice declaration throughout the world. happens, but the maiming and And it throws light on why Adam There are powerful states which see repudiation of one-half of the mor- Goodes does not take kindly to the themselves as beyond the legal al and intellectual power of the suggestion that he is a second-rate jurisdiction, leading one to believe government of the world." citizen in the very land his ancestors that they seriously believe that might occupied long before the arrival of after all is right. The USA often Clearly Douglass knew that slavery Europeans. It tells us that the seems to be of this view. People is slavery, and even if (white) wom- Macedonians have every right to be with an interest in the international en by comparison to the African incensed by attacks on their law should consider a career as American slaves were experiencing freedom and identity. And it serves a milder form of it in 19th century human rights lawyers, they are to emphasize what a necessary sorely needed. America, they were nevertheless new beginning and promise for all being subjected to fundamental in- the oppressed of the earth is One explanation for slow progress justices and inequalities. Wrongs enshrined in the UN universal on enforcing human rights and against women, discrimination and declaration… changing prejudices is that negative

views of people on the basis of comparable group in the world. Yet something else that is simple, true ethnicity, language, culture, and we are still witnessing utter and profound – only those who are gender, have become habits. ineptitude from the successive not afraid to live will not be afraid to Something can be completely off Australian governments: given a die. the planet like the basis of most report six or so years ago about the religions (if you will pardon the pun), plight of the Aboriginal communities Jim Thomev yet if enough people agree about it, with nearly a hundred it is not seen as clinically insane. recommendations for bringing Endnotes Even when there are views roundly about improvement, the Coalition 1 declared unacceptable the fact that Federal Government in a bipartisan Letter to his old master, in Au- the prejudices are deep – seated approach with the then Opposition, tobiographies, appendix, page paradoxically lead to some sent the army and the police in for 417-18, Library of America, offenders believing they can get what is known as the Intervention… College edition, 1996. away with expressing them as 2 jokes. This of course is not true, as I am still baffled by this basic Ἐντόπιος, Gr. Native, indige- Eddie McGuire, learnt to his cost. conundrum. In the irrationality nous, local -This was the word And this is also not true with so- stakes it is a bit like the Greek used to describe Macedonians called sexist jokes as well. The approach to its minorities and in Greece in my memory. This abuse of women and the stranger/ especially the Macedonians, the appears anomalous but is an- 2 foreigner and incidents of violence entopyi (natives, indigenous, other way of saying the Mace- against them are still regular locals), - could it be that the moral donians are Greeks who have occurrences in a society as insanity-the lack of compassion, been led astray if they are Sax- peaceful as Australia, proof that disabled empathy, leads to a guilty ophones. Of course the Greeks such hatred and malice is ever- conscience that is corrupted into a have used anything that came present. This is not to mention the self-hatred that can only be to hand to deny the Macedoni- violence of the state against asylum alleviated by perpetual detestation ans their true identity and are seekers, past and present, alas. of the victims? still at it with Fyromians or Skopjani being the most recent. I focused on the Adam Goodes I made brief reference above to the incident, because, I had witnessed extraordinary words and deeds of the episode on television during the one of the greatest (African) direct telecast of the game where Americans. Here was a man who Collingwood my team was being inspires with his autobiographies soundly thrashed. Also it received and speeches. His very much attention in the media and consciousness, or awareness, is a was intrinsically worthy of attention form of action. Articulating his as a pointer to big problems not just experience and reflections on it with with racism but also its very the rapier-like sharpness of his presentation by the media. But prose, he is definitely one of the th beyond this, I have always been best American writers of the 19 deeply unsettled by a fundamental century, the century of Emerson, riddle in my adopted land: this is the Thoreau, Melville, Walt Whitman mystery of why our Australian and the incomparable Mark Twain. society has not been able to treat the Indigenous people with fairness Frederick Douglass demonstrated and justice. My reading of articles that for all the trials on the road to like the one by Greg Baume and emancipation, justice and equality some of the more intelligent and respect for all – the human commentaries were very potential for courage and encouraging that awareness, endurance can be awe-inspiring. discussion and public response His life and work exhibit a man who could be moving in encouraging suffered profoundly, a man who had directions. been there, and who yet had developed insight and powers of The Indigenous of this continent empathy with all who suffer. have probably been more Liberation is not the end. It is the “researched” than any other beginning. Douglass demonstrated Tom Paine

The Poetry of Gane Todorovski

by Dr. Michael Seraphinoff

Gane Todorovski was born in May ideals and the sacrifices of revolu- of 1929 and died in May of 2010. tionaries and poets, the struggle of He had a long and distinguished the Liberation War and the exulta- career as a poet, translator, essay- tions in freedom are remarkable ist, literary critic, historian, publicist pieces in the history of Macedonian and one-time ambassador. He literature." graduated from the Faculty of Phi- losophy, University of Cyril and The literary critic Georgi Stardelov Methodius in Skopje. He received commenting on his poetic works, his Ph.D. for the work, "Slavs Veda said that, "inspired by everyday life, and its mystificators". He once his poetry bears a social, political worked as a journalist with "Tanjug", and intimate - national mark." The "Mlad borec" and "Studentski zbor". English translator of his poetry, Pro- fessor Ljubica Janeshlieva, in a But he was best known as a profes- book simply entitled Poems Gane sor of Croatian and Macedonian Todorovski, University of Bradford, Literature of the 19th century as a 1975, said: "Todorovski's poetry member of the Faculty of Philology speaks for itself." His poetry certain- at Skopje University. He was a for- ly does speak for itself. Here is one mer president of the Macedonian of my favorite poems from that Writers’ Association (1969-1971) work: and (1985-86), and a president of the Board of the Struga Poetry Fes- tival, and editor-in-chief of the jour- nal "Mlada literatura".

He was also a fierce and resolute defender of the rights of the Mace- donian people, and as one eulogist wrote of his poetry: "His patriotic poems that depict the sufferings and the longing for freedom, the (Continued on page 17)

(Continued from page 16)

The Macedonian Language Македонскиот Јазик

You were born in an evil hour, in darkness Се роди ти во слобода, во мрак, To be recognized by us as a radiant rainbow За да те препознаеме ко сјаен божилак In sight after long centuries terror-struck - На повидок по долги векови глувотија You tore yourself off like a war cry Се откорна ти како борбен вик Of our uprisen rebels На востанатиот наш бунтовник Who first despised slavish quietude! Што прв ја презре ропската мирнотија!

Through dirges you unfurled into a sworn word Низ тажачки се раздипли в клет збор, Hardened flint like through harsh submission Закренеме низ корав непокор Like the sacred oath of those who bore us - Ко завет свет ха тие што не родија Did you feel offended and cursed Се осети ли навреден и клет, With the bitter lot of everlasting exile Со судба горчлива на вечно прогенет, That so you became a fighter for freedom? Та, стана војник за слободија?

You stammered in a shaking voice Запелтечи низ тетерав ти глас, Turned into a bitter curse, into misfortune Се престори во врла клетва, в небичас, Like a disease from a stinging gaping wound - Како болештина од рана луто зината You bitter gurgling babbling Ти Бигорлив, ти жуборлив, ти болжлив, Trembling generous ailing Ти возбудлив здив на татковината! Inspiring breath of the motherland. Им остана ли недовршен грев Were you left an unfinished sin На Младиновци, на Џинот и на Прличев? Of the Miladinovs', Dzhinot and Prlichev? Разнежнетост? Достоинство? Добрување? Affection? Dignity? Benevolence? За деда Цепенков виделина низ опак век, For old man Tsepenkov a light in a dark cage, За Мисирков брег нестигнат, грч горкопек For Misirkov a shore unreached, a bitter cramp Во чинот свет на нашето зачнување! In the sacred act of our begetting. Те навредуваа и безочни и зли, Both the impudent and the evil insulted you Ти токму тогаш се развиоре, се раскрили, Just then you spread your wings, became a wind Накај слободата ни стана ти покревање Blowing encouragingly towards freedom - Те псуваа, те одречуваа, не поверуваа They cursed you, denied you, would not believe Дека во рожба најмила ми те зачуваа That long centuries of suffering had cherished Галежно, долгите векови на поревање! You like their own dearest offspring! На Илинден се стори секавична вест, On Ilinden you became a lightning flash report В Крушевскиот се втисна Манифест, You were imprinted in the Krushevo Manifesto За Делчев сплете наниз жални песни And many the songs you wove about Delchev - Во темно време бликна, чунки лач In a dark time you poured forth like a ray На разден што се раѓа, да стане толкувач Of the breaking dawn to become an interpreter На ден полн сонце и чудеснина! Of a day full of sunshine and splendor! Ти, на слободата и стана најскап дар; You became freedom's most precious gift, Громовно гргај низ грлата на Пелистер и Шар, Flow thunderingly through the throats of Pelister and Shar До кај што бијат срца што те жедуваат Wherever hearts beat that thirst after you - Нем Егеј в ширта своја до болка ќе те смири, The mute Aegean in its breadth will calm you quite Ќе ми те засолни ко верен јатак Пирин, Mount Pirin will shelter you like a trusty sworn accomplice да ти се изнаслушаат, да ти се нарадуваат! So as to hear you out, to joy in you to the full. Липај со гурбетчиите што роден кат Sob with the emigrants who leave their native land Напуштаат, барајќи леб низ светот непознат, Seeking their bread throughout an unknown world Од пустине Америки до припекон Австралија From the damned Americas to Australia's burning heat - Биди им жолчна клетва И пцост И благослов Be their bitter oath, both curse and blessing Кога ќе си го задомат кај-годе животот нов, When they set up their new homesteads Низ стара песна душата нивна разжали ја! Sadden their souls with an old song! И биди верен вардач на сиот народ наш, And be a faithful guard of all our folk На молитва татковинска да прилегаш, Be like our motherland's prayer За да се смири правта на сите што те сакале That the ashes of all who loved you be at peace. Ти бакнеж, бркчка, благослов и бол, You - a kiss, a wrinkle, a blessing and a pain, Ти преграб страстен, ти најлуд алкохол, You - passionate embrace, you - the strongest alcohol, Ти воздишко низ која првпат сме заплакале! You - the sigh in which we cried for the first time.

And one more of Gane Todorovski's poems, translated by some lover of the Macedonian word and land and posted on the World Wide Web (Macedonia.eu.mk) for all of us to enjoy:

Map Of Macedonia

Would it be possible with such aloofness, with two or three talkative lines and with two or three conversational colours, to splash on a canvas the idea of one's native land?

Well yes, it would be possible!

Our destiny is framed like something turned upside down, doubled up in pain the horizons of hope, crushed the visions labelled refuge, truth spread out on the palm of the hand and the pictorial perfection of no way out.

But all you see is a compass and a map and many pencils scattered about it, sharpened if not smoothed, so they can prove themselves in a proud role: looking at lines we look at grief, we look at our history -

What we have framed here is not just a sigh preserved in another colour -

That, too, would be possible; Quite possible.

We Want to Learn our Mother Tongue: Macedonian

Ovchareni 26 March 2013 Pando Ashlakov

Dear Mayor/Director of Western member states are obligated to pro- Macedonia/Minister, tect linguistic difference and affirms that discrimination based on such As you are aware, we are passing difference against the speakers of through a very difficult period in the language, is forbidden. Addition- Greece. On one hand there is the ally, a very important organ of the financial crisis and on the other, there EU, the Commission for Peripheries, is a continual growth of social prob- has been proposing to member lems, which have created many ad- states since 2008, protection of mi- ditional difficulties in our everyday nority languages which are spoken lives. within their borders, even if they are This is especially so in regions like not officially recognized. ours, which have always been Permit me to also remind you that deemed peripheral by the state, the Greece has signed, though not rati- citizens are cut off from everything. fied, the Council of Europe’s Frame- Unemployment is galloping, while work Convention in relation to periph- there has been a simultaneous rise eral and minority languages. Among in dangerous phenomena like other things, the Convention stipu- “Golden Dawn”, which makes all of lates recognition of these languages us who are carriers of a different lan- as a manifestation of cultural capital; guage, culture or ethnic identity, feel respect for the geographical region that Greece is rapidly returning to the where the language is spoken and past, which was filled with expul- especially, the promotion of condi- sions/deportations, unknown islands, tions which enhance the ability to use castor oil, bans and fear. the language, in written and spoken Luckily for us, some things have forms, in both public and private. changed. Greece is a member of the On the basis of the above, I believe European Union, a large family of that the time has come to demon- peoples who have imposed strict strate that Greece does indeed be- regulations in defence of its citizens, long to the European family which who, like us, want to maintain our respects the rights of all the country’s different characteristics. More con- citizens, irrespective of their ethnic or cretely, Article 21 of the Charter of linguistic origins. As the President of Basic Rights of the EU, states that Ovchareni, I have received hundreds

(Continued from page 20) and for the country as a whole. On mestically and from abroad, as with one hand it will very clearly show other parts of the EU, like for exam- of requests from the citizens of the that even in periods when democra- ple, South Tyrol, Istria and Transyl- municipality of Ovchareni and other cy is in crisis, Greece has not given vania. places, to have the freedom to use/ in to the pressure from those who I hope to receive a positive re- access their native Macedonian lan- are nostalgic about Nazism/ sponse from you, so that we can guage, without any barriers in all Fascism and is still looking forward. jointly eliminate a historical, social segments of public life. On the other hand, such actions will and financial injustice, which has create conditions in which all those Accordingly, I ask you for the follow- regretfully been endured for dec- who speak the Macedonian lan- ing: ades, by Greek citizens who re- guage, will feel that they are indeed spect the law. 1. For the Macedonian language to and not just on paper, equal citizens be given official recognition and for it in a country governed by the rule of Respectfully, to be taught in all educational institu- law. tions, schools in Ovchareni Taking into account the current diffi- (primary, secondary and post- cult economic situation, promoting Panayotis Anastasiadis secondary). the Municipality of Lerin as the first President of Ovachareni, Lerin. 2. To replace all the current topo- municipality to officially support and This letter was sent to all the rele- graphical and building signs within encourage linguistic diversity, will vant departments of the Greek the bounds of the municipality, with enable, with the appropriate adver- government on the 26th of March signs written in both Greek and tising, the development of a power- 2013. Translated from Macedoni- Macedonian. ful tool in the service of economic an by George Vlahov of the AM- and tourist growth for the whole re- HRC. I think such actions will be beneficial gion as it would attract visitors do- for the citizens of my municipality

САКАМЕ ДА ГО УЧИМЕ НАШИОТ МАЈЧИН МАКЕДОНСКИ ЈАЗИК

Почитуван Градоначалник / Шеф на 2008 на државите – членки заштитата Западна Македонија / Министре и користењето на малцинските јазици Овчарани - Март 2013 кои се зборуваат во нивните граници, Како што знаете минуваме низ еден дури и ако тие не се признаваат период многу тежок за Грција. Од една официјално. страна финансиската криза и од друга страна постојано зголемувани Дозволете ми уште да ве потцетам општествени проблеми, имаат дека Грција ја има потпишано но не и создадено многу дополнителни верификувано Рамковната тешкотии во секојдневието на сите Конвенција на Советот на Европа во нас. врска со периферијалните и малцинските јазици. Меѓу друго, Посебно на територии како нашата, Конвенцијата предвидува која од секогаш наоѓаше на «посебна признавање на овие јазици како гража» од страна на државата, израз на културно богаство, граѓаните се отсечени од се. почитувањето на географската Невработеноста галопира додека територија каде еден таков јазик се истовремено појавата на лоши зборува и – главно – олеснувањето и феномени како што е Златна Зора не потикнувањето на користење на прави сите нас кои сме носители на јазикот во писмен и усмен облик и на посебен јазичен, културен и јавниот и на приватниот живот. национален идентитет, да се чуствуваме дека Грција се враќа брзо Врз основа на погорното, мислам во минатото, едно минато полно со дека дојде времето да докажеме дека истерувања, пусти острови, рицинус, навистина Грција припаѓа на забрани и страв. европското семејство која ги почитува правата на сите нејзини граѓани, Но среќа за нас, времињата се независно од нивното национално и сменија. Грција е член на Европската јазично потекло. Како Претседател на Унија, на оваа голема фамилија на Овчарани имам добиено стотици народите која има поставено строги барања од граѓани на поранешна правила за заштита на нејзините општина Овчарани па и од други граѓани кои – како нас – посакуваат места, кои ми бараат ослободување да ги зачуваат нивните посебни на нивниот мајчин македонски јазик и карактеристики. По конкретно, Членот без пречки нејзино користење во сите 21 на Картата на Основните Права на сегменти на јавниот живот. ЕУ споменува дека државите-членки се обврзани да ја штитаат јазичната Како последица на тоа, од вас различност додека нагласува дека бараам: забранува било каква дискриминација против нив која се 1) Македонскиот јазик да се учи во базира баш на оваа различност. сите образовни институции – Дополнително, еден многу значаен училишта на Овчарани (основно, орган на ЕУ, Комисијата на средно и поссредно) и да се признава Перифериите, ја предложи веќе од официјално и

2) да се заменат сите денешни само на папир се еднакви граѓани Се надевам за ваше позитивен топографски табели како и табелите на една држава каде владее одговор со цел да отстраниме на сите јавни згради во рамките на законот. заедно една историска, социјална општината со други кои ке пишуваат но и финансиска неправда против и на грчки и на македонски јазик. Земајки предвид денешната многу Грчки граѓани кои го почитуваат тешка економска состојба, законот и што трае за жал многу Сметам дека едно такво дело ке извишувањето на Општина Лерин децении. има само корист и за граѓаните на како првата општина која мојата Општина и за целата држава официјално ја подржува и потикнува Со Чест, воопшто. Од една страна ќе покаже јазичната различност, ќе може преку нај јасен начин дека и во преку соодветно презентирање да Панајотис Анастасијадис периоди што демократијата сочини еден извореден алат за Претседател на Овчарани Леринско поминува криза, Грција не економски и туристички развој за потлегнува на притисоци од страна целата територија, привлекувајки (Превод од грчки јазик / Писмо на на носталгичари на нацизмот – многу поголем број на посетители од Панајотис Анастасијадис-Пандо фашизмот и гледа напред. Од друга целата држава и странство, како во Ашлаков, Претседател на Овчарани, страна, ќе создаде услови кои ќе им останатата ЕУ, земајки пример од кое беше испратено до сите дозволат на сите кои го зборуваат Јжен Тирол, Истрија и надлежни органи на грчката држава македонскиот јазик да се Трансилванија. на 26 Март 2013год.) почуствуваат дека навистина а не

MHRMI and AMHRC Call on Nimetz to Resign Post and to Denounce Name Negotiations

Toronto, Canada and current UN mediator, European Union and Melbourne, Australia Matthew Nimetz, to pub- NATO, Macedonia, and (April 16, 2013) licly come to the same the international commu- conclusion as his prede- nity, must put an end to As the first UN mediator cessor, resign his post the name negotiations. for the name dispute, and denounce the non- Despite claims to the Robin O'Neil, has sensical name negotia- contrary, any change to said, "Macedonia must tions. the bilateral name used not and will not change its between Macedonia name in order to appease As MHRMI and AMHRC and Greece would Greece. If Macedonia have stated in the Our change Macedonia`s succumbs to pressures Name is Macedonia cam- name internationally. and changes its name, paign, which calls on such events will only give Macedonia to immediate- Macedonians worldwide more firepower to Greece ly stop the name negotia- are vehemently against until it reaches its final tions, "Would any other the name negotiations goal - Macedonia to van- country negotiate its own and rightly so, as it is ish from the map." name?" common sense to see that there is no "solution" Macedonian Human Instead of entertaining when one country is be- Rights Movement Inter- ridiculous suggestions ing asked to change its national (MHRMI) and the such as the recent "Upper name to appease another Australian Macedonian Republic of Macedonia," country's racist notion that Human Rights Commit- apparently for the it has no right to exist. tee (AMHRC) call on the "privilege" of entering the

Irreparable, Pathetic, Ridiculous…

by George N. Papadakis

George N. Papadakis

Seven years have passed since the just its’ position. I was thoroughly mis- historical demonstration organized taken. Not only did Greece not change jointly by the European Free Alliance any aspect of its policy, if anything, it (EFA) and its Macedonian branch became more hard-line. The ‘black member, Vinozhito, in the main hall of list’ prohibiting Macedonians from en- the European Parliament in Brussels, tering Greece is still maintained and demanding the immediate and uncon- there has been no improvement in the ditional right of return to Greece of treatment of minorities and the dema- Macedonian political refugees from the gogy against the Macedonians in “Greek Civil War”. Greece and the Republic of Macedo- nia, of the various politicians who then The event can be considered signifi- held and still now hold high public posi- cant for a variety of reasons. It was the tions, has become even coarser. The first time that the Macedonian lan- worst part of all this is that a now bank- guage, with simultaneous translation, rupt Greece continues to uncontrolla- was officially utilized in the centre of bly waste large amounts of money and European democracy. Secondly and energy to maintain a fiction about the of equal importance, via the wide tele- “Skopians” [a pejorative term, com- vision coverage of the event, the Eu- monly used by ethnic Greeks in refer- ropean public gained first hand infor- ence to ethnic Macedonians] that is mation about the work of Macedonian untenable and that nobody in their right human rights advocates. These activ- mind believes. ists presented two major issues to a plenary sitting; firstly they demanded I recently read the comments of an immediate end to the racist neo- Greece’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Avram- Greek politicking against Macedonian opoulos (whom, the usually dubious political refugees/exiles (and also the Mr. Pangalos, in a rare demonstration Macedonians still in Greece). Second- of insight, referred to as “Mr. Nothing”) ly, they sought to remind everyone that in the recent European Commission the well known Copenhagen Criteria progress report on the Republic of (a raft of stringent preconditions that Macedonia and I just didn’t know need to be fulfilled by all EU candidate whether to react with anger or horse members) apply to those countries laughter. Avramopoulos shamelessly that are already members of the EU. asserted that omissions in regard to the Copenhagen Criteria are the rea- I sincerely believed that after this im- son for the negative report: pressive display, Greece was going to be compelled, by the accurate and “…via our intervention, we demon- severe condemnation which followed, strated the serious shortcomings of to revisit the matters posed and read- Skopje in relation to questions of

freedom of the press … and politi- less hypocrisy. His face did not turn Terrorise the Terrorists cal pluralism. Shortcomings and red as this is standard behavior in information, in other words, which the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, All those who respect and regularly are tied to the Copenhagen politi- which knows very well that it can act read my column know my opinion cal criteria and with essential con- in this manner with impunity and about the current and earlier neo- ditions for the process of moving exploit the normative inability of the Greek political reality. Truly, it is diffi- forward,” he proudly declared. EU to punish member states which cult for me to find even one sphere transgress the Copenhagen Crite- where I can assert agreement with Let us now survey what is contained ria. The theatrical throwing of stones the “ideas” or words of these worth- in the famous Copenhagen Criteria from glass houses is an apt way to less people, apart from a few excep- and see how well they are fulfilled describe the actions of the ‘glorious’ tions which merely serve to confirm by Avramopoulos’ Greece. Accord- leaders of the neo-Greeks. the rule. I have taught myself to ex- ing to the official EU website, the pect nothing positive when they criteria focus on the stable mainte- Ultimately, Avramopoulos, Sama- open their mouths and I feel lucky nance of norms which sustain dem- ras, Venizelos, Kouvelis, Tsipras on those rare occasions when they ocratic functioning, the rule of law, and the rest of the theatrical troupe, choose to remain silent. rights of the individual and respect require an expression of grief and

Evangelos Venizelos for minorities. And I asked myself: is anger, as their worthlessness, be- However, this worthless herd is ab- there any reasonable person who longs also to us, for we are citizens solutely correct on one issue. We actually believes that Greece is a of Greece. Notably, they recently often hear them use the phrase that modern European democracy? On- even succeeded in disgracing the “whenever Greeks are united, they ly if democracy could be deemed to pitiful Matthew Nimitz, who has be- can do much”. Of course they don’t have been acceptably replaced by come old before his time as a result mean all Greek citizens and not activity in the traditional media and of trying to pander to this irrational even all the ethnic Greeks, rather, on sites like Tweeter and Facebook; troupe. For the first time, after al- they are thinking of themselves. and how can a country claim to be most two decades of uninterrupted Whenever the whole miserable po- governed by the rule of law, when it mediation, Mr. Nimitz came up with litical establishment, post the end of is standard for individuals who take a suggested ‘solution’ to the artificial the dictatorship in 1981, has been legal action, to wait a minimum of 4 name dispute, which is not even united, they have succeeded in to 5 years for a ruling!? We can worthy of discussion. The laughable much. Indeed, on some issues, the leave aside a detailed discussion on “Upper Republic of Macedonia” is whole spectrum, from the extreme the issues of the rights of individuals simply a result of trying to please left to the extreme right, is united and respect for minorities, because Avramopoulos and his paranoid and does much – unfortunately, it is Greece’s horrendous record is well forbears in the troupe; a Catalonian all negative. known. It is enough to mention that colleague of mine, upon reading the the current laws in relation to citizen- proposal, was unable to hide his Taking as our prime and most obvi- ship are hopelessly out of date; the laughter and stated that he had nev- ous example, the Republic of Mace- appalling conditions in which immi- er in his whole life, seen anything as donia, in the style of a child having a grants are held in detention; the re- ridiculous. I am sincerely surprised tantrum over something it can’t fusal to recognize the existence of that Nimitz has yet to hand in his have, these “united Greeks”, utilizing Macedonians and Turks and the resignation to the UN, in order to dubious feints and every unfair complete absence of minority pro- save himself from any further dis- means, have succeeded in halting grams on all government media, to grace at the hands of the wretched the country’s European integration understand the Minister’s shame- Athenians. [whether Macedonia should even

be bothering to pursue EU member- tions and the mediator … we EU membership, Greece is fully ex- ship, is a different question]. They know our red lines very well and ploiting the errors of Brussels and is have also succeeded in turning this we need to declare them. We essentially terrorizing Macedonia: country, which merely wants noth- should prepare for a constructive ‘either you will agree to accept a so- ing more than to be recognized and and mutually acceptable solution.” lution that we want or you will waste to simply exercise its right to exist, away’ is basically the message all toward embracing populist govern- Threats, lies, acting and fascism, all the ‘Avramo-zeloses’ are sending to ance. Equally, these “united in just two sentences. Only a few the Macedonians. Forward into a Greeks” have, to an extent, suc- days prior he was pushing both ditch or backwards into an abyss. If ceeded in deceiving their interna- sides to show discretion in order for the Republic of Macedonia accepts tional partners into believing that Nimitz, he said, to be able to com- a compromise, it would be the same their aims are constructive and plete his work in an orderly fashion. as signing its own death warrant. friendly, in spite of the filthy form of Never-the-less he forgot to mention On the other hand, if they decide to nationalism which motivates them. that it was the Greek government tell the coercive neo-Greeks to go to that began to do the leaking and the devil, then the overwhelming Above, I wrote about Avramopou- complaining immediately after Nim- Macedonian desire to join the EU los, but we also need to give some itz had put his proposal on the table. will be very difficult to achieve. of our attention to Mr. Venizelos The “cultured” neo-Greeks are [former Deputy Prime Minister in the simply not capable of having a sin- Numerous Macedonians have last PASOK government]. I listened gle clear position and they made a asked me: “what do you suggest?” to him answering questions about powerful attempt to encourage the My answer has usually been short: the ‘name dispute’ in Washington Macedonians into publically reject- “it’s time to terrorize the terrorists.” and at first I thought it was Avramo- ing the new proposal, so that Av- By which is meant that it is time for poulos speaking. Apart from some ramopoulos and Venizelos could Macedonian diplomacy to launch deceitful sniveling of the type posit- appear as the “good guys” before some counter-attacks and more ing that Greece is the Republic of the international community. When actively seek to demonstrate the Macedonia’s best friend, Venizelos they succeeded in this, Nimitz was ‘nakedness of the emperor’, the was just as firm in declaring the lat- easily sidelined and they felt free to Greek Foreign Ministry – that is, a est Greek veto against our northern return to the logic of an outright veto. more systematic striving to highlight neighbor at the upcoming EU for- that Greece is not actually inter- eign affairs summit. And this is de- Some might think this is overly ested in a solution. Rather, it is spite the fact that yet another pro- harsh, but the “red lines” Greece is about isolating and blockading Mac- posal for ‘resolving the name dis- trying to impose on the Republic of edonia, with the hope that it will lead pute’ had been put on the table by Macedonia, remind me of the meth- to the collapse of the country and the UN mediator, Nimitz; though as ods utilized by NAZI Germany this way, be in a more favorable po- we indicated earlier, it was the most against its neighbors on the eve of sition to continue depriving the Mac- comical yet. In other words, the WWII. The international community edonians in Greece, the human President of PASOK was telling watched Hitler usurp authority in rights it has been depriving them of, everyone involved (Macedonians, Germany’s smaller neighbors, but for decades. The rights associated the international community and the pretended not to see it and in this with being who they feel to be and mediator himself) that all attempts at manner hoped to avoid war. Noting not what is fascistically imposed up- mediation are useless, because these signs of weakness and by on them. whatever the case turns out to be, inventing some ‘reasons’ – red lines Athens will again block Macedonia’s (defence of ethnic Germans, a fairer George Papadakis is a member integration. It’s worth noting the distribution of resources and other of Vinozhito – a Macedonian polit- manner in which this dubious politi- bits of nonsense), the NAZI’s seized ical party struggling for the hu- cal acrobat, expressed, what of all of the opportunity to occupy Austria man rights of Macedonians in us already know: and Czechoslovakia and thereby Greece – and a journalist who broke a raft of international laws and writes for Nova Zora, a newspa- “Greece is the best road to be implemented a ‘might is right’ policy. per voicing the concerns of Mac- taken by somebody from Skopje If the NAZI’s had been a little more edonians in Greece. to Brussels. However, without our patient and discrete, they might mediation, the neighboring coun- have also succeeded in doing the Translated from Macedonian by try will not succeed in its European same to Poland. George Vlahov of the AMHRC. ambitions … let us avoid an- nouncements and we won’t focus Like a NAZI, utilizing its superiority in on the attempts of the United Na- size and privileges stemming from

Jelko Kacin: Euro MP or Anti- Macedonian Lobbyist? For Sale?

by Dr. Chris Popov

On 4 June 2013 Jelko Kacin, Deputy Greece, Samaras, must learn from the President of the European Parliament’s agreement reached in Brussels be- Delegation to South Eastern Europe, tween Kosovo and Serbia on the nor- stated the following during a parliamen- malising of relations and that Macedo- tary debate in Brussels on Macedo- nia’s leadership must invest more in nia’s accession to the EU: improving relations between different “Macedonia’s leaders must do every- ethnicities in the country. thing possible in order to bring about the removal of the blockages prevent- It is evident from Kacin’s latest remarks, ing the process of the country’s integra- who in 2011 stated that he was proud tion, and if that means acceptance of a to be declared “persona non grata” by compromise on the name involving a both Serbia and Macedonia geographic qualifier, then so be it.” 1 (presumably for meddling in both coun- tries’ internal affairs), that Macedonia is Further on in the debate, the Sloveni- not only involved in a bilateral dispute an Kacin stated that Macedonia’s citi- with Greece, but with the whole of the zens will not be able to progress if they EU which has consistently called in the keep focussing on the ancient past. past few years for a name change in Concretely, he stated: “The claim that order to advance pre-accession talks. the modern Macedonians are de- scendants of the ancient Macedonians However, what is qualitatively different brings up the question of Bulgarian this time is that Kacin has explicitly identity, in view of the fact that Macedo- linked the question of “antiquisation” to nians and Bulgarians have many com- the matter of Macedonian ethnic and mon characteristics in the areas of cul- national identity. In so doing he has ture, language and religious symbols.” intentionally undermined the important He added that this constitutes a political and basic principle of self- and bilateral problem which no one, determination (including self- especially Macedonia, needs. identification) by openly postulating that Macedonian ethnicity and identity is In the interests of fairness it must be tied to or a sub set of Bulgarian national said that Kacin also, rightly I would say, identity which must be acknowledged pointed to problems in the country with to the exclusion of any exploration of freedom of expression as evidenced Macedonia’s ancient past. In other by the jailing of the journalist, Tomislav words, Kacin is not only this time telling Kezarovski, for not revealing sources Macedonia to adopt a name with a ge- that provided him with information for a ographic qualifier, but also embracing story he wrote 5 years ago regarding a the Bulgarian nationalist stance which protected witness. More controversially, posits that Macedonians were he also argued that Prime Minister Ni- “historically Bulgarians” who developed kola Gruevski and the Prime Minister of a Macedonian identity as a result of

“Comintern propaganda” and to meet the nationalist demands of ain, France, Greece, Italy, France, “Titoist indoctrination”. Greece and Bulgaria as a precondi- Spain, Poland and the Czech Re- tion for obtaining a date for opening public. The survey indicated that This is precisely the stance which accession talks, given the parlous support for the EU had shrunk from has been adopted more aggres- state of the EU and the fact that 60 to 45% in a year on average sively by Bulgarian Euro MPs in the many of its member states are ei- across the eight countries. past few years who via various ther bankrupt and burdened by bail- amendments to the EU Rappor- out deals based on continuing aus- According to the pollsters who teur’s reports on Macedonia have terity or teetering on the edge of polled nearly 8000 people: “Positive attempted to force Macedonia to bankruptcy, one has to seriously views of the EU are at or near their accept that Macedonians are question why it is so eager to join low point in most of the countries “essentially Bulgarians” as a condi- what is fast becoming a dysfunc- surveyed, even among the young.” tion for voting in favour of a date for tional organization which does not accession talks to begin. Such even enjoy the support of the major- The findings dovetail with Euroba- amendments, modified versions of ity of the citizens in its member rometer poll results revealed in April which were included in EU Rappor- states. I suspect that this has more in the Guardian that showed a col- teur on Macedonia Richard Howitt’s to do with the Macedonian political lapse in public support for the EU in latest report on Macedonia in May and economic elite’s perception - the union's six biggest countries, 2013, have attempted to force Mac- making up two-thirds of the half- edonia to celebrate important dates billion population. in the history of the Macedonian people such as Ilinden, the birth and The report states explicitly: death of Goce Delchev etc together with Bulgaria in the interests of “The prolonged economic crisis is “good neighbourly relations”; the separating the French from the goal being to advance the national- Germans – threatening the Fran- ist thesis that Macedonians are Bul- co-German axis that has long garians and ultimately to justify the driven European integration. And annexation of Prin Macedonian in it has separated the Germans 1912-13.2 from everyone else. Jelko Kacin Such sentiments were repeated by “No European country is becom- new Bulgarian Foreign Minister ing more dispirited and disillu- Kristijan Vigenin - who immediately sioned faster than France. French prior to his appointment as foreign public opinion has soured on a erroneous as that may be - that number of measures in the last minister was a Bulgarian Euro MP - membership will provide it with ac- who on 6 June 2013 stated on Bul- year … Even more dramatically, cess to a larger internal EU market French public opinion on a range garian TV that Macedonia’s road to and export opportunities which it the EU is via the signing of an of issues is now looking less like believes will lead to the country be- that in Germany and more like agreement on good neighbourly coming more prosperous and influ- relations with Bulgaria.3 that in Spain, Italy and Greece … ential. This perception, however, The French are also beginning to conveniently overlooks the fact that doubt their commitment to the Eu- It is evident that Kacin has now be- Macedonia’s internal market and come a major representative in the ropean project, with 77% believing few export industries will be “ripe for European economic integration European Parliament for Greece the picking” as capital flows in unin- and Bulgaria, which in a pincer has made things worse for hibited from advanced Western Eu- France, an increase of 14 points. movement is seeking the emascu- ropean nations which will rearrange lation and ultimate destruction of Macedonia’s economy to suit their Macedonian identity, language and “Overall, the 2013 survey high- economic, financial and industrial lights more starkly than ever the culture before considering the ques- needs. tion of whether Macedonia de- differences between the views of serves to open accession talks with Germans and other Europeans On 14 May 2013 the UK Newspa- on a range of issues.” 4 the EU. per the Guardian published an arti- cle in which it analysed the results of The European Union? Given the above, any expectation of a survey conducted in March 2013 increased prosperity for Macedonia on the level of support for the EU in Even if Macedonia was not required after it enters the EU are, at best, 8 member countries: Germany, Brit-

misplaced and, at worst, delusional. Endnotes: into force; strongly supports the ef- forts of the UN special envoy to reach Irrespective of whether or not EU 1 Deutsche Welle, “Kacin preporacuva a commonly acceptable solution; wel- membership is being actively prifakjanje ime so geografska odredni- comes the proposal made by the En- sought, an enormous contribution to ca” Deutsche Welle Online, 4 June largement Commissioner regarding a the economic development of Mac- 2013 http://www.dw.de/кацин- trilateral meeting between Skopje, edonia would be to deepen the fight препорачува-прифаќање-име-со- Athens and Brussels; takes the view against corruption, create a profes- географска-одредница/a-16858361 that this initiative could help boost the UN-led negotiations; welcomes the sional, depoliticized civil service, in- 2 momentum generated for a Memoran- crease the productivity of the work- The relevant parts of the 2012 pro- dum of Understanding and the recent force through the inculcation of a gress report on Macedonia which was contacts with the UN mediator; calls adopted by the European Parliament on all parties to seize every opportuni- strong work ethic, while simultane- in Strasbourg on 23 May 2013 clearly ously defending workers’ rights and ty in order to make this action suc- shows that the results of Greek and cessful, to enter into constructive dia- work security, and making sure the Bulgarian lobbying are the following: logue towards finding a solution and power of the oligarchs who came to 14. Strongly encourages the authori- to unblock the situation; takes the own Macedonia’s state enterprises ties and civil society to take appropri- view that the country's leadership and ate measures for historical reconcilia- the European Union should explain to in the 90s is broken. tion in order to overcome the divide the public the benefits of a solution if between and within different ethnic one is agreed ahead of the referen- However, before ending let us get and national groups, including citi- dum on the issue; (European Parlia- ; back to the matter of Jelko Kacin zens of Bulgarian identity restates ment, 2012 Progress report on the and remind him of the findings of its call for positive progress to be former Yugoslav Republic of Macedo- the Arbitration Commission of the made in joint celebrations of com- nia, adopted 23 May 2013, http:// mon events and figures with neigh- www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/get Conference on Yugoslavia bouring EU Member States; en- (commonly known as Badinter Arbi- Doc.do?type=TA&reference=P7-TA- courages the attempts to establish 2013-0226&language=EN&ring=B7- joint expert committees on history tration Committee) which was set 2013-0186 up by the Council of Ministers of the and education, with the aim of con- European Economic Community on tributing to an objective, fact-based 3 V.S, “Patot na Makedonija kon EU interpretation of history, strength- 27 August 1991 to provide the Con- minuva niz dogovorot za do- ening academic cooperation and brososedstvo”, Vecer Online , 6 june ference on Yugoslavia with legal promoting positive attitudes of 2013, http://www.vecer.com.mk/ advice. Between November 1991 young people towards their neigh- default.asp?Item and the middle of 1993, the Arbitra- bours; urges the authorities to in- ID=3424CA80B6FC8D408B2E93606 tion Commission handed down a troduce educational materials free B93B101 of ideological interpretations of series of opinions on “major legal history and aimed at improving mu- questions” raised by the conflict be- tual understanding; notes with con- 4 Ian Traynor, “Poll results underline tween several republics of the So- cern the phenomenon of the sense of estrangement between cialist Federal Republic of Yugosla- ‘antiquisation’; is convinced that cul- Paris and Berlin as the two countries' via (SFRY) and pertaining to the ture and art should be used to bring economic prospects diverge”, Guardi- people closer together rather than fragmentation of Yugoslavia. The an Online, 14 May 2013, http:// divide them; urges the government to www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/ Badinter Commission on two occa- send clear signals to the public and may/14/eurozone-crisis-germany- sions recommended that only Mac- media that discrimination on the basis france edonia and Slovenia satisfied all the of national identity is not tolerated in conditions set out by the EEC for the country, including in relation to the justice system, media, employment recognition as independent, sover- and social opportunities; underlines eign states. Moreover, it recom- the importance of these actions for mended that the EEC recognise the the integration of the various ethnic Republic of Macedonia and did not communities and the stability and Eu- mention anywhere in its report that ropean integration of the country;

Macedonia would be required to Good neighbourly relations and the change its name to satisfy Greece. name issue Mr Kacin would be well advised to follow the sage advice of Monsieur 16. Continues to regret that the inabil- Badinter rather than act as an apol- ity to solve the name dispute has blocked the country's road to EU ogist in the European Parliament for membership; agrees with the Europe- Greek and Bulgarian nationalism. an Council that the name issue needs to be brought to a definitive conclu- Dr. Chris Popov, Executive Mem- sion with no delay on either side and ber of the AMHRC. that the Hague Decision, which is part of international law, needs to come

NLA War Crimes by Tom Vangelovski

During the 2001 conflict in Macedo- beating and torturing them for several nia, numerous war crimes, crimes hours. The torture involved the use of against humanity and terrorist acts knives to carve letters into the victim’s were committed. It is alleged that the backs. The Neprosteno case in- extremist Albanian National Liberation volves a mass grave of 12 Macedoni- Army (NLA) was responsible for an civilians located near the village of many of these. In particular, four cas- Neprosteno. This is by far the most es for which the NLA is suspected of serious case of the four.1 being responsible caught the atten- tion of the International Criminal Tribu- While Macedonian authorities under- nal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). took the initial investigations into these These included the NLA Leadership cases, in 2002 the ICTY requested case, the Lipkovo Water Reserve that these four cases be deferred to case, the Mavrovo Road Workers its jurisdiction. Macedonian authorities case and the Neprosteno case. At agreed to this request, and the Ljubo- least 56 suspects were under investi- ten case that involved Ljube Boskov- gation by Macedonian authorities in ski and Johan Tarculovski, and for- relation to these four cases. These warded the cases to the Tribunal. suspects include a number of Albani- However, by 2008 little progress had an political leaders, including current been made and due to time con- members of the government and par- straints the ICTY referred the four liament. cases back to Macedonia for prose- cution. In the NLA leadership case it is al- leged that 10 senior leaders of the In 2009, the Macedonian authorities NLA, including Ali Ahmeti, were re- reported that an indictment was is- sponsible for abduction, inhuman and sued in one of the four returned cas- degrading treatment of civilians in es, one case was in the investigative Matejce and Lipkovo, destruction of stage and the other two were at the religious and historic monuments and preliminary stage of criminal investi- murder as a war crime. The Lipkovo gation.2 Since then however, these Water Reserve case concerns an cases progressed little and in July individual who is suspected to have 2011 the Macedonian Parliament twice ordered the blocking of the wa- adopted its decision, Authentic Inter- ter supply from Lake Lipkovo resulting pretation of the 2002 Amnesty Law, in 100,000 Kumanovo residents be- stipulating that the Amnesty Law ing left without fresh water for several (2002) applies to all cases relating to weeks. The Mavrovo Road Workers the 2001 conflict, including the four 3 case involves 23 suspects who alleg- returned to Macedonia by the ICTY. edly abducted five road workers near In October 2012, the Constitutional the village of Grupcin and then de- Court rejected a challenge to the con- tained them in the surrounding forest, stitutionality of the parliamentary deci-

sion.4 Gruevski was under considerable that the perpetrators of these crimes pressure from his coalition partners will be brought to justice and the Since the Parliament’s decision to in the Democratic Union for Integra- families of the victims may never amnesty these four cases, the Gov- tion (DUI) and the Democratic Party know the final fate of their loved ernment has come under strong of Albanians to end all legal pro- ones. pressure from the families of the ceedings.9 Albanian opposition to victims, non-government organisa- prosecuting these cases is so Tom Vangelovski tions and most recently, the Council strong that both Menduh Thaci and of Europe. In September 2011, Am- Ali Ahmeti were quoted as willing to Endnotes: nesty International criticised the par- ignore the cases of six Albanians 1 In total, the Council of Europe notes liamentary decision as inconsistent still missing from the 2001 conflict that there were 23 reported cases of with international law and accused it so as to not “increase problems and enforced disappearances during the of leaving the victims and their fami- open Pandora’s Box” in exchange 2001 conflict, of which the remains of nine have been identified and 14 re- lies without access to justice and for amnesty for the four cases re- main unaccounted for, see Council of 10 creating a climate of impunity for turned from the ICTY. Europe Commissioner for Human persons suspected of violations of Rights Report on Macedonia, April international humanitarian law.5 In these cables, US Ambassador 2013, p. 13. The Council of Europe also criti- Philip Reeker also details that the 2 Ibid. cised Macedonian authorities for the Macedonian Chief Prosecutor was 3 continued lack of accountability in of the view that the Amnesty Law Authentic Interpretation of Article 1 relation to these serious human (2002) was not applicable to these of the Law on Amnesty, Official Ga- 6 zette of the Republic of Macedonia rights violations. The Council of four cases and that he intended to No. 99/2011. 11 Europe notes that amnestying the prosecute them. However, Reek- 4 four cases is a serious impediment er notes that the Chief Prosecutor Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Macedonia, No. to the process of achieving justice admitted that he was obligated to 158/2011-0-0, 31 October 2012. and lasting reconciliation between report to the Prime Minister before 5 the two communities.7 The Council taking any action “in order to avoid Amnesty International, Macedonia: 12 Time to deliver justice to the victims of of Europe further urged Macedoni- ethnic destabilisation”. According war crimes, Press Release, an authorities to implement the to Reeker, the Chief Prosecutor al- 1 September 2011.

Committee of Ministers Guidelines so admitted that his office was inten- 6 on eradicating impunity for serious tionally stalling its investigation of the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Report on Macedonia, human rights violations which state Neprosteno case in order to avoid April 2013, p. 14. that amnesties should not be ap- ethnic tensions but does not indi- 7 plied to gross human rights viola- cate whether this was due to in- Ibid. 8 13 tions. structions from Gruevski. Interest- 8 Ibid.

ingly, these cables report the Chief 9 Due to the Council of Europe’s re- See US Embassy Cables 07SKOP- Prosecutor as claiming that in many JE120 (9 February 2007), 08SKOP- cent statements, families of the vic- instances there is insufficient evi- JE59 (24 January 2008), 08SKOP- 14 tims have renewed their calls on the dence to prosecute, though this is JE158 (27 February 2008), 08SKOP- Macedonian Government to reopen very likely due to the fact that little JE607 (6 October 2008), 08SKOP- investigations into the four cases investigation has actually been un- JE619 (9 October 2008), and and, in particular, the Neprosteno dertaken. 09SKOPJE35 (23 January 2009). case. Others have argued that Mac- 10 09SKOPJE35 (23 January 2009). edonia does not have the capacity The current situation with these four 11 Ibid. to prosecute these cases and that war crimes cases is symptomatic of they should be transferred to the the corruption and incompetence 12 Ibid. International Criminal Court, which that plagues both the Macedonian 13 Ibid. is also based in The Hague. political system and the judiciary. 14 More fundamentally, it is an indica- Ibid and 08SKOPJE607 (6 October Considering that numerous high tion of the political immaturity of 2008). profile Albanian leaders have been Macedonian society and a conse- implicated in these four cases, it is quence of Macedonian citizens’ ap- unlikely that the Macedonian Gov- athy towards demanding justice and ernment will reverse its decision to transparency from its state institu- amnesty them. Publicly available tions. Without considerable and cables from the US Embassy in consistent political pressure from Skopje suggest that Prime Minister the Macedonian public it is unlikely

The Annual Melnik Gathering in Memory of Yane Sandanski

On the 21st of April 2013 at the central park of the town of Melnik, in Pirin Macedonia, the traditional all Macedonian gath- ering in memory of the great Macedonian revolutionary, Yane Sandanski, was held. His murder took place 98 years ago in 1915. Sandanski’s murder was carried out people under the leadership of Todor Aleksandrov and Alexander Protogerov and in cooperation with the Bulgarian government. It opened a path toward a tragic killing spree of the pro-independence Mac- edonian Ilinden generation revolutionaries, most of who had been killed by the mid 1930’s. Todor Aleksnadrov himself was killed by the ‘train he set in motion,’ only 9 years after he had organized Sandanski’s murder; ironically, this took place in the vicinity of Sandanski’s grave.

When the gatherings in memory of Sandanski first began, two decades ago, the Bulgarian authorities frequently enforced bans and tried to manipulate Sandanski’s biography. We are still struggling against these tendencies in Bulgarian society, which have failed to destroy our Macedonian consciousness.

The gathering was organized by OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN; the As- sociation of Repressed Macedonians in Bulgaria, TMO (Independent) “Ilinden”, “People’s Will” and “Macedonian Voice”, the latter two are newspapers which voice the concerns of Macedonians in Bulgaria. Special thanks must also go to the AMHRC and MHRMI for aiding in the organization of the gath- ering.

More than a thousand people from Pirin Macedonia and Bul- garia in general, attended the event – all in spite of the financial crisis and the anti-Macedonian campaigns frequently led by the Bulgarian authorities.

Proceedings began with the singing of OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN’s anthem, “Macedonian People”; this was followed by the laying of wreaths next to Sandanski’s statue and then a minute’s si- lence in memory of those who died in the service of Macedo- nia’s liberation. Speeches about Sandanski and the Macedoni-

an human rights struggle in Bulgaria, were made by Boyan Bibishkov, Ivan Singarteyrski and Dimitar Ivanov. Congratulatory messages from Vinozhito, the AMHRC, MHRMI, MAEI (a political party representing Macedonians in Bulgaria) and the Association of Macedonians from Aegean Macedonia (based in Bitola), were read out. Also a message from Dimitar Moskov, a member of PIRIN’s Central Council, was read out, as he was unable attend, due to illness.

Folkloric groups from various parts of Pirin Macedonia, including Bansko, Blagoevgrad, Gorno Draglishte and Razlog, performed Mac- edonian songs. Musical accompaniment was provided by the “Makedonia” orchestra, con- ducted by Georgi Zhbanov. Impressive individ- ual vocal performances were given by Lyuben Radoykov, Zorka Andonova, Angel Topareev and by Stefche Stoykovski – the latter travelling to the event from the Republic of Macedonia.

Unlike the past, the police carried out their du- ties sensibly. A group of four or five people, youthful in appearance and carrying Bulgarian flags, were ‘sent’ to the event by the so-called “VMRO” organization based in Sofia and they attempted to provoke some of our members. Our members ignored them and the police re- moved them. One of the provocateurs later admitted that they were paid for their ‘work’.

The annual Sandanski gathering is very im- portant to the Macedonians of Bulgaria for a variety of reasons. We were inspired by the life of Sandanski to develop and maintain this tra- ditional event as a major symbol of our re- sistance against the Bulgarian state’s attempts to de-Macedonianise us. It gives us a space to meet and energise our struggle by breathing as Macedonians in an atmosphere that is gen- erally very inhospitable to our Macedonian selves. At a time when Bulgarian society is reaching new heights of anti-Macedonianism, our peaceful gathering exposes the lie that we do not exist and it says ‘no’ to hatred and ‘yes’ to liberty.

By Stojko Stojkov, Co-President of OMO “Ilinden” PIRIN, a Macedonian political par- ty struggling for the human rights of Mace- donians in Bulgaria: http:// www.omoilindenpirin.org/

Translated from Macedonian by George Vlahov of the AMHRC.

Support Fund. MHRMI and the Established in 1984, the Australi- AMHRC are the only organiza- an Macedonian Human Rights MHRMI and tions in the Macedonian diaspo- Committee (AMHRC) is a non- AMHRC ra that finance and organize governmental organisation that Macedonian human rights activi- informs and advocates before in- Congratulate ties in the Balkans. Your donation ternational institutions, govern- will go directly to funding vital Mac- ments and broader communities Nova Zora on edonian human rights activities. about combating racism and pro- its Third moting human rights. Our aspira- ### tion is to ensure that Macedonian Anniversary Macedonian Human Rights communities and other excluded Movement International (MHRMI) groups throughout the world, are has been active on human and recognised, respected and afford- Toronto, Canada and Melbourne, national rights issues for Macedoni- ed equitable treatment. For more Australia (April 10, 2013) - Mace- ans and other oppressed peoples information please visit donian Human Rights Movement since 1986. For more information: www.macedonianhr.org.au, email International (MHRMI) and the www.mhrmi.org, www.twitter.com/ [email protected] or via Australian Macedonian Human mhrmi, www.facebook.com/ +61 3 9329 8960. Rights Committee mhrmi, [email protected], +1 416- (AMHRC) congratulate Nova 850-7125. Zora, the largest pro-Macedonian newspaper in Aegean Macedonia, on its third anniversary. To see a video of the celebration, please visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=c8o3GHm3HD0

Nova Zora is funded by MHRMI and the AMHRC, has distribut- ed hundreds of thousands of newspapers throughout Aegean Macedonia, and has been pub- lished every month since its incep- tion, despite constant threats and attempts to wipe it out.

"The editorial board of Nova Zora expresses its gratitude to MHRMI and AMHRC. Without their tremen- dous help, Nova Zora would not be able to carry on its struggle for equal rights for all Macedonians. MHRMI and AMHRC are truly the only organizations in the Macedo- nian diaspora that fund human rights projects for Macedonians in the Balkans", said Dimitri Ioannou (Jovanov), editor of Nova Zora.

Help Macedonians overcome the human rights abuses that they face on a daily basis by joining the MHRMI Human Rights Fund or the AMHRC's Macedonian Minorities

The Third Annual Nova Zora Celebration of the Struggle for Rights

Dimitri Ioannou (Jovanov)

In a climate of various pressures musical accompaniment of the and difficulties, and of hope and group, Tukashen Glas (local dynamic activity, with strong voice). support from Macedonians in Greece and some democratical- It was a Saturday night and the ly minded Greeks, the newspa- hall was full to the brim with per Nova Zora, has completed Macedonians from all corners of 36 months of publishing. It is the Aegean Macedonia and from newspaper that reveals what the places like Athens and Larisa. Greek state has been attempt- An integral part of the euphoric ing to hide for decades. Nova atmosphere was the presence Zora would not have been so of a large number of youthful successful in this had it not supporters – a positive sign for been for the moral and financial the future. I will also highlight support of Macedonian immi- here the presence of Trifo grants, mainly in Australia and Tochev. He originally came from Canada, especially those con- the village of Soter in the vicinity nected to the AMHRC in Aus- of Sorovichevo, but now resides tralia and MHRMI in Canada. in Germany and as was the Many of the members of these case last year, he took time out organizations originally came from his busy schedule to fly in from the regions of Lerin, Kostur on the night of the celebration and Voden, in Aegean Macedo- and then flew back again the nia. We also need to mention next morning. To your health, the contribution of many Mace- Trifo! donian volunteers in relation to writing for the newspaper and its The evening was used to further distribution. our educational programs via the distribution of Macedonian – And with all that, Nova Zora Greek and Greek – Macedonian completed 3 years of life and dictionaries. Special invited this success was celebrated via guests from the Republic of the organization of a dinner Macedonia, included the singer dance on the 6th of April 2013 at Maria Dimkova, with a family the Nihteri hall in the town of background connected to the Sorovichevo with the charming (Continued on page 38)

village of Pozhar in the region of Meglen (Aegean Macedonia) and the university professor, Risto Solunchev, a virtuoso of the bagpipes and Kaval, whose origins lie in Gumendzhe, near Kukush (Aegean Macedonia). A strong impression was made by the re- nowned dance troupe belonging to the village of Ovchareni, in the Lerin re- gion, which performed songs and dances peculiar to various parts of Macedonia.

Great excitement was created by a 90 year old Macedonian who remained at the celebration right to the end; in spite of difficulties with his old legs, he found the strength to stand at length in the centre of the dance circle and at times even jigged and sang along to the Macedonian songs from the depths of his soul.

The economic crisis, threats, the de- struction of posters advertising the event, a large contingent of police lo- cated at all the entry/exit points in So- rovichevo and messages that “Golden Dawn” would come to disrupt the event etc, failed to prevent a wonderful cele- bration, which carried on until 5 am!

The message is clear, the work of the advocates in Vinozhito and Nova Zora is of value and the struggle for the hu- man rights of Macedonians in Greece must continue. Macedonians forever!

Some of the celebration’s highlights can be viewed here: http:// www.youtube.com/watch? v=5ywKbSQqHng

Dimitri Jovanov, editor of Nova Zora http://novazora.gr/ a monthly news- paper distributed throughout Aege- an Macedonia and Greece in gen- eral and a member of Vinozhito, a political party struggling for the hu- man rights of Macedonians in Greece. Translated from Macedoni- an by George Vlahov of the AMHRC.

RELATED ORGANIZATIONS

ABOUT The AMHRC and MHRMI are part of an international Macedonian network that spans Australia, North America and Europe, including: AUSTRALIAN MACEDONIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

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

Address 157 Adelaide St. West, Suite 434 Toronto, Canada M5H 4E7 Macedonian Telephone 1 416 850 7125 Email [email protected] Human Rights Website www.mhrmi.org MACEDONIAN ALLIANCE FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION Movement The political party of the Macedonians in Albania

International Website www.macedoniansinalbania.org EUROPEAN FREE ALLIANCE—RAINBOW (MHRMI) has Address Stephanou Dragoumi 11 PO Box 51, 53100 Florina/Lerin, been active since Greece Telephone +30 23850 46548 1986. The Email [email protected] or [email protected] Australian Website www.vinozito.gr OMO ILINDEN PIRIN

Macedonian Address Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad 2700 Zk ‘Elenovo’ bl 6 v. Bar. 6 Human Rights p.k. Mechkaroovi Email [email protected] Committee Website www.omoilindenpirin.org (AMHRC) has MACEDONIAN SOCIETY “ILINDEN” TIRANA A Macedonian cultural association in Tirana, Albania

been active since Website www.ilinden-tirana.com 1984. NOVA ZORA A pro-Macedoniannewspaper based in Aegean Macedonia, Greece, edited by Dimitri Jovanov and with a printed circulation of 20,000 copies per month

Both MHRMI and Website novazora.gr AMHRC are non- NARODNA VOLJA A Pro-Macedonian newspaper based in Pirin Macedonia, Bulgaria, edited by Jan Pirinski and Stojko Stojkov. The first edition was published in 1980 governmental organisations that Website www.narodnavolja.com inform and advocate about TEAM MEMBERS combating racism and promoting MHRMI AMHRC human rights. Our Jovan Drenoski, Treasurer Chris Angelkov, Perth Representative Michael Georgiev, Marketing Gligor Apoleski, Sydney Representative Ljubica Durlovska, Review Production Designer/Assistant Editor Donna Gulcev joint aspiration is to Tase Filipov, Treasurer ensure that Tomislav Jakovleski Ivan Hristovski, New York Correspondent/Representative Velibor Jakovleski Jason Kambovski, Communications Advisor/Executive Member Macedonian Slavko Mangovski, International Coordinator Diane Kitanoski, MHR Review Photographer Jimmy Mihajlov Sasha Nackovski, Political Liaison Officer communities and Tonia Miovska, International Coordinator Dr. Vasko Nastevski, Secretary/Executive Member Bill Nicholov, President Daniel Nikoloski , Adelaide Representative/Online Management other excluded Lisa Penova, Adelaide Representative/Online Management Lazo Ognenov Steven Petkovski, Canberra Representative groups throughout Andy Plukov Dr Chris Popov, Media Liaison/Executive Member the world, are Mark Opashinov, Secretary Michael Radin, Adelaide Representative Bill Pavlovski, Public Relations Peter Sarbinov, Deputy Secretary recognised, Liljana Ristova Vasko Tanevski, Adelaide Representative Silvana Talevska Chris Terpos, Marketing Manager respected and Jim Thomev, Columnist for MHR Review Luby Vidinovski, Vice President John Tsiglev, Members’ Representative afforded equitable David Vitkov, International Co-Ordinator/Executive Member treatment. George Vlahov, Editor MHR Review/Executive Member

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