"Vasilis Romas, Costas Tasopoulos, Petros Vasiliadis and Pavlos Voskopoulos, all members of the ethnic Macedonian minority Ourania Toxo (Rainbow) party, were acquitted in September (see Amnesty International Reports 1997 and 1998). They had been charged with “causing and inciting mutual hatred among citizens” for displaying a sign bearing the words “Florina Committee” in both Greek and Macedonian in September 1995."
"The trial of Traianos Pasois, another member of the Rainbow party, began in March before the Florina Police Court. He was chacedonia, alexander the great">
On June 13, 1999, the European Union countries are holding elections for the European Parliament. Rainbow - Vinozhito, which represents the Macedonians living in the Aegean part of Macedonia (Greece), will be participating for the second time in these elections.
In the previous European Parliament elections, the Rainbow party officially received 7,300 votes, with a large number of irregularities. Some of these irregularities included the non-opening of polls in certain villages where the Rainbow party had high levels of support, and alleged high number of spoiled ballots for the Rainbow party which highlights an institutional, all-party, discrimination against the Rainbow party. Some Macedonian human rights activists in Aegean Macedonia have estimated the actual number of Rainbow party votes to be as high as 35,000. But even if we take the official 7,300 votes reported by the officials of the Greek electoral system, it was a great victory for the Macedonians in Greece because the Greek government could no longer defend its non-recognition of the Macedonians in Greece by stating that they are only a handful of “Skopje spies”. Even 7,300 votes shows that the Macedonian population in Greece is real and is defending its distinct Macedonian ethnic identity, although great pressure is exerted by all levels of the Greek government, Church, Education System and simple economics to assimilate the Macedonians.
The Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada (MHRMC) is appealing to all Macedonian organizations and individuals to help financially with the election campaign. The Rainbow party needs 25,000 Deutsche Marks for its basic campaign, which includes 6,000 DM for registering the Rainbow party to participate in the election, and the remaining 19,000 DM is for printing leaflets and voting lists of the 25 nominated members of the Rainbow party that are standing for election. Another 25,000 DM are needed if the Rainbow party undertakes radio and television advertising (Note: during the last election the Rainbow party was effectively shut off from access to any newspaper, radio or television advertising).
The leadership of the Rainbow party has said that a large part of these funds has been raised from Macedonians living in the Aegean part of Macedonia, but they are still short on all of the funds required to wage an effective election campaign. The MHRMC and the Association of Refugee Children from the Aegean part of Macedonia have already donated $5,000 Canadian and 5,000DM, respectively. Appeals have been sent to Macedonian organizations and individuals in Western Europe and Australia.
Again we appeal to all Macedonian organizations and individuals in Canada to financially help the Rainbow party. Please contact the MHRMC to give your donation or to arrange to send your donation directly to the Rainbow party. Contact the MHRMC at our 24 hour message centre (416) 202-8866, fax (416) 412-3385, e-mail at mail@mhrmc.on.ca, or visit our web site at www.mhrmc.on.ca
From May 25 - 31, 1999 the Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada (MHRMC) attended a conference sponsored by the United Nations Commission On Human Rights, Sub Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities, Fifth Working Group Session. The conference was held in Geneva, Switzerland, the European headquarters of the United Nations. In addition to the two external delegates of the MHRMC, Spiro Kotsopoulos and Susan Trchaevski, one internal delegate, Father Nikodim Tsarknias, also attended the conference.
Participants at the conference included government delegations from over thirty countries, as well as over fifty Non Governmental Organizations (NGO's) such as the MHRMC. The conference also had a special guest for one of the afternoon sessions, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Mary Robinson. Ms. Robinson gave an oral presentation and responded to questions from the Working Group. The purpose of the conference is to investigate and promote a better understanding between States and minority groups according to the United Nations Declaration on Minority Rights.
The MHRMC was able to voice its concerns, called an intervention, for Macedonian minorities in Greece, Bulgaria and Albania, on two separate occasions for all of the governmental and NGO representatives for the Working Group. Our comments were well received and entered into the official record of the conference. We received congratulations and very positive comments from several of the attending organizations.
In addition to private meetings with representatives of the governmental delegations, we also had numerous meetings with other NGO’s in between sessions, including: Watch Tower, a religious organization which has had great success against Greece at the European Court for Human Rights in Strasbourg; the Turkish Association of Graduate Students of Western Thrace; the Christian Solidarity Worldwide Association, who was particularly interested in speaking with Father Tsarknias; a representative of the European Union; and Dr. Jane Cowan, Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Sussex, England, who is a specialist on the Balkans.
The contacts made at this and other similar conferences are kept up to date on the latest development with regards to the Macedonian minorities by the MHRMC. By attending such conferences and maintaining contact with the governmental and NGO representatives, as well as interested individuals, the MHRMC hopes to further the struggle for attainment of fundamental human and national rights for Macedonians. If anyone would like more information, please contact the Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada at our 24 hour message centre (416) 202-8866, fax (416) 412-3385, e-mail at mail@mhrmc.on.ca, or visit our web site at www.mhrmc.on.ca
From: The Macedonian Human Rights Movement in Greece and
I. Religious Dialogue and Conflict Prevention;
Distinguished Moderator and Representatives:
Thank you for the opportunity to present a number of difficulties as experienced by the Macedonian minority in Greece and Bulgaria due to the lack of tolerance and recognition of the minorities' existence. At the same time we will propose constructive and practical approaches towards their resolution.
With respect to the Macedonian minority in Greece, the restrictions on free association and the right of peaceful assembly are many and varied. The Human Rights Movement in Greece has applied repeatedly for registration as a not-for-profit corporation as required by law but has been refused each time despite that it meets technical requirements and
consequently it operates without legal status. A different approach which is likely best described as "bureaucratic run-around" has stymied the legitimate attempt of the Reverend Nikodim Tsarknias to establish a Macedonian Orthodox Church in Northern Greece to serve the pastoral needs of the local Macedonians.
In April 1997, he made an application to the Greek Prime Minister
Simitis and the Minister of Religion to build a Macedonian Orthodox Church, in a manner consistent with established practice for the founding of religious institutions in Greece. The Prime Minister's response a month later was simply that the matter had been referred to the proper authorities and would be resolved according to the procedures of Greek law - despite the fact that Greek law does not recognize the existence of a Macedonian minority. A second application was sent, but
as of today, no further response from the Greek government has been received by Reverend Tsarknias.
Instead, to this day the Greek government continues its policy to eradicate anything Macedonian. The 300 year old cemetery of Gorno Pozharsko (Greek name - Ano Loutraki) was destroyed in May, 1998. The old Macedonian church has been left in ruins while a new Greek church was built on the site of the old cemetery. This is consistent with the Greek Orthodox Church's
policy of destroying the old Macedonian churches and in their place building new Greek churches.
In the case of the Macedonians in Bulgaria who openly call themselves Macedonians, the government continues to place unlawfull restrictions on the fundamental rights, such as the freedom of religion. Not only that the Macedonians are not permitted to build churches, they are not even allowed to gather for commemoration at the graves of their dead.
Dear Moderator, the solution to this type of intolerance is very simple:
Greece and Bulgaria must recognize the existence of the Macedonian minority within their borders, and the need of the Macedonians to manifest their faith in their own houses of warship and in their own language. Furthermore, the OSCE and the ODIHR should organize a fact-finding mission to Bulgaria and Greece, organize offices in both countries, and advise both governments on legal reforms regarding the Macedonians.
Every year we attend these conferences with the hope that the
Greek and Bulgarian governments will finally respect their own signature on the international human rights documents. That has not happened to this day. It is the obligation of the OSCE and ODIHR to insure that its member states adhere to all the human rights documents that they have signed.
Thank you for your attention.
This news item is courtesy of the Rainbow Party
On Saturday, February 13, 1999, the Board of Directors of the Home of Macedonian Culture convened a meeting and held elections. The following appointments were made:
This news item is courtesy of the Rainbow Party
AN OFFICIAL REQUEST REGARDING THE USE OF THE MACEDONIAN LANGUAGE HAS BEEN RAISED BEFORE THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION
February, 8 1999
RAINBOW was recently in contact with European Union Parliamentarians as well as with representatives of other European institutions. As a result of this cooperation a member of the European Parliament, Madame Nelly Maes of Holland, presented an application before the Commission on January 21, 1999.
The application was in accordance with parliamentary procedure and was in regard to the use of the Macedonian language in Greece. This is the first time since Greece became a member of the European Union that a request relating to the use of the Macedonian language in Greece has been raised at such a high level. A formal response is expected from the Commission.
Translation of the question raised before the Council:
To: The Council of Ministers
Author: Nelly Maes
Subject: Request of the Slav-Macedonian Minority in Greece
Is it possible for the Council of Ministers to agree with the following requests of the Slav-Macedonian minority in Greece? If it does agree, then what will it undertake to ensure that the Greek government will satisfy these just requests? If the Council does not agree then what are the objections?
Signed by Parliamentarian Nelly Maes, Dated: January 21, 1999
January 29, 1999
RAINBOW -- OURANIO TOXO
Florina - Lerin 29/01/1999
In regard to the recent statements made to the media by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Ljupcho Georgievski, the Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Theodoros Pangalos, as well as the Greek Government Spokesman, Mr. Dimitris Reppas, (27th and 28th of January), RAINBOW has responded publicly with the following press release:
In relation to the remarks by Mr. Georgievski that "the Macedonians in Greece, or the Slavomacedonians as the Greeks call them, have never been in such a good position as today" we would like to note that the observance of the rights of the ethnic Macedonians in Greece must be compared in relation to the minority rights of the democratic European societies and not measured by the policy of "ritsinus"* and the brutal assimilatory policies advanced against Macedonians by the Greek state in the past. The situation encompassing minority rights in Greece today is comparable to that of a "third world country" because they are indeed not recognized, in fact the existence of the national minorities in Greece is officially denied. If today the policy of "ritsinus" is not being used against the Macedonian national minority then this is not the result of a positive policy by the Greek government in regard to its minorities (recently four members of RAINBOW were themselves prosecuted) but rather because Greece is a member of the European Union and that it is under severe pressure from international human rights organizations. These organizations, through their publications and reports, regularly expose Greece's human rights violations.
We believe one can objectively establish the condition concerning the observance of minority rights in any given country by considering the positions of the non-governmental organizations that are far removed from the official government interests. Similarly, this can also be established by representatives of minority rights organizations as long as they display by their activities that they are capable of assessing the situation objectively.
We fully agree, at least with the Mr. Pangalos's second point, that "in Greece there does not exist a Slavic minority." In Greece there exist Macedonian and Turkish national minorities. In reference to the first part of Mr. Pangalos's statement, "in Greece there has never existed a Slavic minority," we believe such discussions belong to historians. As for his third point, "there never will exist a Slavic minority," such ideas belong to those with visions of the future.
The existence of the Macedonian and Turkish national minorities in Greece today is expressed by the fact that there are members of these minorities, meaning a part of the Greek citizenry, who are active in the attainment and recognition of their rights. Through their organizations they have made official requests to the Greek government to obtain their proper status as national minorities.
We need to reiterate that the rights and conditions of the national minorities can in no way become a subject of bilateral agreements or disagreements. The thoughts expressed by Mr. Pangalos, and the thinking in some circles in the Republic of Macedonia and in Greece, are politically motivated and are unacceptable as they can be dangerous to peace and stability in the Balkans. Minority concerns must be resolved solely through dialogue between minority representatives and representatives of the government from the country in which they live. Minorities must refrain from becoming instruments of bilateral antagonisms.
Within this framework, and because Mr. Pangalos in his statements mentioned the role of the international institutions surrounding these questions, we call on the Greek government to verify the Framework Convention on Minority Rights which Greece signed in September, 1997, in the Council of Europe. Similarly, we call upon the government to begin a dialogue with representatives of RAINBOW and to apply these obligations and enact full observance of the above-mentioned convention toward the national minorities in Greece.
Regarding the statements of the government spokesman, Mr. Dimitris Reppas, in relation to the Macedonian political refugees who left Greece during the time of the Greek Civil War and whose citizenship was revoked, it is said, "the Greek government determines that it has committed no injustice." Here we would like to point out the following:
Law 106841 (29/12/1982) signed by the then Minister of the Interior, Georgios Genimatas and the Minister of Public Order, Giannis Skoularikis, within the framework of the policy of the government of the day, about the so-called "national reconciliation" of the citizens, which states... "all those that are Greek by genus who left Greece and went abroad as political refugees during the time of the Greek Civil War and whose citizenship was revoked may freely return to Greece..."
Would Mr. Reppas please explain to us who are the citizens that are "Greek by genus" and those that are "not Greek by genus?" Since, evidently, the government agrees with the abovementioned terminology will he explain to the relatives of these people ("not Greeks by genus" according to the government) who today live in Greece "of what genus they are?" Is there not an injustice in the application of a law that discriminates against a segment of the Greek citizenry based on genus? What does the official government spokesman, Mr. Dimitris Reppas, have to say about this?
RAINBOW considers that the application of laws which mention some kind of "genus" are not becoming of Greece which strives to be a modern European country. These concepts and laws are associated with the "anthropological classifications" used by the Nazis to promote some kind of "racial purity." Such totalitarian theories have been discarded by people who know full well what kind of results these have brought.
Policital Secretariat of RAINBOW
Anastasiadis Stavros
*The policy of "ritsinus" [castor oil] -- In the past, ethnic Macedonians, young and old alike, were forced by Greek authorities (including school and police authorities) to drink castor oil if they were caught speaking in Macedonian. Because of the reaction that castor oil has on one's system it was used as a means to publicly humiliate people and prevent them from speaking their mother tongue.
OPEN LETTER
HE Theodore Pangalos
via facsimile +30-1-36 41 469
Vienna, 25 January 1999
Dear Mr. Pangalos,
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF)
represents 36 independent human rights monitoring organizations
in the OSCE territory. We are writing on behalf of the Helsinki
committees to express our deep concern about statements you
reportedly made in your recent trips in the Republic of Macedonia
or "FYROM", and Bulgaria, and also in Greece, in between these
two trips.
According to our information you stated in Skopje (22/12/1998)
inter alia that there is no Macedonian minority in Greece and that persons claiming there is a Macedonian minority are "pervert
intellectuals and pervert journalists."
We have also been informed that, in a subsequent interview in
"Apogevmatini," (28/12/98) you called those in the Republic of
Macedonia claiming there is a Macedonian minority in Greece
"monkeys and animals."
You also firmly denied again the existence of a Macedonian
minority adding that you forbid any discussion about it (Antenna
TV, 11/1/1999).
Then in Sofia (19/1/1999) you stated that "the Greek journalists
are the worst enemies of he Greek government," when one of
them asked you what was perceived by you as an embarrassing
question on Greek-Bulgarian relations.
Sir, our organization, in cooperation with our affiliate Greek
Helsinki Monitor, has worked for years to foster a constructive
dialog with Greek authorities, which we hope will lead to improved compliance with the human rights standards to which Greece is committed. We have worked especially hard to build confidence between the Greek and Macedonian societies. We have also strongly defended the freedom of expression of all, including journalists even when they hold opinions embarrassing to the government.
We must express our profound regret in your words, which are a
step backward from social peace that is in the interests of all
citizens of Greece. No one can accept the degradation of other
persons which, in the case of your alleged statements, sinks to the level of incitement to ethnic hatred and might even result in
physical harm to the citizens you are sworn to represent.
Yours faithfully,
Greek Helsinki Monitor
Following the statements by the Greek Minister of Foreign
Affairs Theodoros Pangalos, during his visit to the Republic of Macedonia, that "there is no Macedonian minority in Greece", that "Vinozhito" won only 1700 votes", that "it is a collection of Slavomacedonians, Stalinists and homosexuals, that "thoughts on existence of a Macedonian minority in Greece are expressed by
pervert intellectuals" etc., Rainbbow -Vinozhito and two Macedonian NGOs from Canada and Australia issued the following statements:
RAINBOW-VINOZHITO
Florina - Lerin
Mr.Pangalos' statements demonstrate once again the
immaturity in certain circles in the Government and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece to understand that
modernization and Europeization of Greek society produce
attitudes on guaranteeing and respecting minority rights
of a portion of the state's citizens different from
attitudes and political positions from the past.
The existence of a nation or national minority does
not depend, to the satisfaction of all, on someone
claiming its existence or non-existence, but it is a
reality that can be accepted or rejected by anyone,
depending on the size and ability of their minds (not the
body...), as well as on the education and messages sent by
society to its citizens.
Topics such as diversity of the citizens, politics
and ideas expressed by politicians or intellectuals of a
society cause the citizens to think and act positively or
negatively. It is precisely these things that determine
the progressive or conservative character of that society.
European societies today reject totalitarian thoughts such
as those of the Greek Foreign Minister, because they know
full well that they lead to fascist and racist ideologies,
resulting in corresponding actions.
We regret that the Greek Foreign Minister offends not
only himself, but also offends a large portion of Greek
society that thinks and acts in a democratic manner.
Knowing that national minorities in the Balkans have
been used in the past and may be used in the future as
factors of destabilization of states, Vinozhito has
declared many times (and acted correspondingly) that
national minorities should refuse becoming a subject of
international antagonisms and interventions in the
internal affairs of the countries of their residence.
Also, minority policies should be such that they appease
the passion and fear of the majority of the people that
the exercise of minority rights has the ultimate goal of
changing international borders.
In this framework, Vinozhito tries to collaborate
(even in elections) with organizations, parties and
individuals who accept and recognize the existence of the
Macedonian minority in Greece, seeking to contribute to
the construction of a common European home and considering
minority issues as having great importance for the
development of political democracy in the country, a
thought the Foreign Minister cannot or would not
understand.
Vinozhito has participated twice in elections in
Greece. According to official results from the Ministry of
Internal Affairs of Greece:
In 1996 in the national Parliamentary elections it
won 3500 votes in an election collaboration with the OAKKE
party. In 1994 it participated in the European Parliament
elections on its own, and won 7300 votes.
Although the existence of an ethnic minority does not
depend on the number of votes won by a party through which
portion of the minority population expresses itself, as
the Minister mentions numbers, we take the liberty to ask
him:
If the Greeks in Turkey, in Istanbul, on Imvros and
Tenedos (small islands in the Aegean sea numbering less
than 2000 people) have the right to be a Greek national
minority in Turkey (just the Vinozhito voters alone
represent a greater number...), then why is it that
thousands of relatives of Macedonian political emigrants,
declared non-Greeks by the Greek state itself and denied
repatriation (is that not an indirect recognition of the
existence of a Macedonian minority in Greece?), are denied
the right to be a Macedonian minority in Greece?
Political Secretariat of Vinozhito
Anastasiadis Stavros
Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada
Press Release - December 30, 1998
http://www.mhrmc.on.ca/news.html#MHRMC
The Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada condemns the statements made by Greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos during an official visit to Skopje, Macedonia on December 22, 1998.
When questioned about the treatment of the Macedonian minority in Greece, Pangalos reacted by saying, "Greece will never recognize a Slavic minority in Western Macedonia." He referred to this minority as "artificial, a product of Titoism and Stalinism." Furthermore, he described the Macedonian minority party, Rainbow, as "a coalition of Slavomacedonians, Stalinists and homosexuals that got 1,700 votes in the last elections."
He continued by saying that Rainbow "took part in the elections forming alliances with the Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece (OAKKE) which is Stalinist, and the Movement for the Liberation of Homosexuals managing throughout Greece only 1,840 votes."
The Macedonian minority in Greece is internationally recognized. The Rainbow party stood alone in the 1994 European elections and received 7,300 votes. They formed a coalition during the 1996 parliamentary elections with OAKKE, not the Movement for the Liberation of Homosexuals, and received 3,500 votes.
The MHRMC finds it unacceptable that a Greek politician would make such erroneous and offensive statements regarding the Macedonian minority in Greece and calls on Minister Pangalos to publicly retract his statements.
Bill Nicholov
Macedonian Human Rights Committee of Melbourne and Victoria Inc ( Australia)
The Chairperson
30 december 1998
Dear Sir/ Madam
I write in relation to the intemperate and offensive statements made by Greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros Pangalos, during his visit last week to the Republic of Macedonia.
Pangalos, at a press conference at the end of his visit, stated that a Macedonian minority did not exist in Greece, which is
unremarkable given the long-standing Greek policy of forced assimilation of its sizeable Macedonian population. However, what is remarkable is that he made this intolerant and racist statement in the Republic of Macedonia while there on an official
visit. Moreover, he added that all persons claiming there is a Macedonian minority in Greece are "pervert intellectuals and
pervert journalists" and argued that the minority is "artificial, a product of Titoism and Stalinism."
He openly slandered the Rainbow Party, the political party of the Macedonians in Greece . He characterized it as "a coalition of Slavomacedonians, Stalinists and homosexuals that got
1,700 votes in the last elections." Despite his later clarification that Rainbow "took part in the
elections forming alliances with the Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece
(OAKKE) which is Stalinist, and the Movement for the Liberation of Homosexuals managing to obtain throughout Greece only 1,840
votes", his pejorative description of the Rainbow party can only be described as an attempt to further isolate the Macedonian minority in Greece and foster a climate of intolerance towards all minorities in that country. Two days ago in an interview in the Athens Newspaper "Apoevmatini", he repeated the
abovementioned views on the Macedonians in Greece and the Rainbow Party, however he added that "monkeys and animals" on both sides of the border who live in the past and lack intelligence were
responsible for bringing up the matter of the "non-existent" minority during his visit to "Skopje".
At the 1994 European elections the Rainbow Party stood alone and obtained 7,300 votes; and in the Greek parliamentary elections of 1996, in coalition with OAKKE, 3,500 votes. The figures presented by the Minister are patently false and are a transparent attempt by him dismiss the Macedonians' just struggle for recognition of their fundamental human rights and ethnic identity by projecting the notion that such a small group of people does not
merit minority status. I point out in this regard that the US State Department Reports on Human Rights Practices have in the last few years placed the number of Macedonians in Greece at around 50,000, whereas Macedonian sources in that country claim that this figure is more than 200,000 persons.
Greece has consistently refused entry to ethnic Macedonians from the USA, Canada, Australia, Western and Eastern Europe who openly identify as such, especially if such persons are former child refugees who fled the Greek Civil War in 1948. Macedonians within Greece are subjected to a state policy of forced assimilation which makes a mockery of Greece's international obligations to protect national minorities. We therefore call on you to condemn Minister Pangalos's statements and voice your strongest
protest to the Greek Government whose policy of continued denial of its Macedonian and other ethnic minorities does nothing to enhance regional security and stability.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Chris Popov
_______________________________________
Greek Helsinki Monitor &
Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada
Press Release - December 30, 1998
The Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada condemns the statements made by Greek Foreign Minister, Theodoros
Pangalos during an official visit to Skopje, Macedonia on December 22, 1998.
When questioned about the treatment of the Macedonian minority in Greece, Pangalos reacted by saying, "Greece will never recognize
a Slavic minority in Western Macedonia." He referred to this minority as "artificial, a product of Titoism and Stalinism." Furthermore, he described the Macedonian minority party,
Rainbow, as "a coalition of Slavomacedonians, Stalinists and homosexuals that got 1,700 votes in the last elections."
He continued by saying that Rainbow "took part in the elections forming alliances with the Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece (OAKKE) which is Stalinist, and the Movement for the Liberation of Homosexuals managing throughout Greece only 1,840 votes."
The Macedonian minority in Greece is internationally recognized. The Rainbow party stood alone in the 1994 European elections
and received 7,300 votes. They formed a coalition during the 1996 parliamentary elections with OAKKE, not the Movement for
the Liberation of Homosexuals, and received 3,500 votes.
The MHRMC finds it unacceptable that a Greek politician would make such erroneous and offensive statements regarding the Macedonian minority in Greece and calls on Minister
Pangalos to publicly retract his statements.
Bill Nicholov
TOPIC: GOVERNMENT, PARTIES & HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS MUST CONDEMN INTOLERANT STATEMENTS BY FOREIGN MINISTER PANGALOS
The cooperating non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Greek Helsinki Monitor and Minority Rights Group-Greece condemn the statements made, yesterday in Skopje, by Minister of Foreign Affairs Theodoros Pangalos, as intolerant if not racist. They call upon the Greek government, political parties and other human rights organizations to unequivocally condemn them because in such cases "silence means complicity."
Mr. Pangalos referred to all persons claiming there is a minority in the Greek region of Western Macedonia as "pervert intellectuals and pervert journalists." He argued that the minority is "artificial, a product of Titoism and Stalinism." He repeatedly used pejorative if not slandering language for the minority party "Rainbow". He characterized it "a coalition
of Slavomacedonians, Stalinists and homosexuals that got 1,700 votes in the last elections." He added, later on, that Rainbow "took part in the elections forming alliances with the Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece (OAKKE) which is Stalinist, and the Movement
for the Liberation of Homosexuals managing to obtain throughout Greece only 1,840 votes."
Given that Rainbow never took part in an election in coalition with an organization representing homosexuals, the above statement by Mr. Pangalos brings to memory similar attacks made by intolerant and nationalist circles towards human rights activists, independently of the clarifications the Minister resorted to later on. Besides, it must be reminded that Rainbow
obtained in the 1994 European elections, in which it stood alone, 7,300 votes; and in the parliamentary elections of 1996, in coalition with OAKKE, 3,500 votes. Therefore, the figures presented by the Minister, who insisted they were official, were false. But, even if only 1,700 persons claimed the right to a minority identity, the argument that they constitute a very
small number in order to be recognized as a minority weakens decisively the demands of the Greeks of Turkey who, with the tolerance of successive Greek governments, have been reduced to 2,500 persons.
We consider these statements unacceptable and condemnable for any Greek politician. More so when the Minister of Foreign Affairs makes them in an official visit to the capital of another country aiming at fellow nationals of the population of that country. How would Greeks feel if, for example, a Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs blasts off with a similar attack against the Greek minority in Turkey during an official visit in Greece?
Greek Helsinki Monitor & Minority Rights Group - Greece
Macedonia for the Macedonians
Amnesty International 1999 Report
Rainbow Party - European Parliament Elections
UN Conference on National Minorities - Report by MHRMC
OSCE Freedom of Religion Conference - Report by MHRMC
Election of New President and Executive for the Home of Macedonian Culture
European Commission Request Regarding Macedonian Language
Rainbow Party Press Release in Regard to Recent Statements Made in the Media
Open Letter To the Greek Foreign Minister - IHF
Vinozhito and Other Macedonian NGOs' Reactions to Pangalos Statements
Condemnation of Pangalos's Statements Regarding Macedonian Minority - MHRMC
Condemnation of Pangalos's Statements Regarding Macedonian Minority - GHM
Amnesty International 1999 Report
The following is an excerpt from Amnesty International's 1999 Report (section on Greece). For the full text please click here.
Culture | Music |
Rainbow Party - European Parliament Elections
Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada
United Nations Conference on National Minorities
Geneva, May 1999
Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada
OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting - Freedom of Religion
Vienna, 22 March 1999
The Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada
II. Religious Pluralism and Limitations on Freedom of Religion
llI. Report on the ODIHR Advisory Panel on Freedom of Religion and Proposals for Future Activities.
Election of New President and Executive for the Home of Macedonian Culture
Elected to the Board of Control were:
Executive Members also include:
All appointments were determined in accordance with the statues and by-laws of the organization. A new Board of Directors will be elected at the Annual General Meeting next year.
European Commission Request Regarding Macedonian Language
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT APPLICATION FOR RAISING A PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION
Rainbow Party Press Release in Regard to Recent Statements Made in the Media
STEFANOU DRAGOUMI 11
PO BOX 51 53100 FLORINA
GREECE tel-fax: 0385 46548, 45O44
E-mail: misirkov@compulink.gr
Web: www.florina.org
Papadimitriou Dimitrios
Sakellarios Nikos
Voskopoulos Pavlos
Open Letter To the Greek Foreign Minister - IHF
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Athens
Ludmilla Alexeyeva Aaron Rhodes
(President) (Executive Director)
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
http://www.ihf-hr.org
Vinozhito and Other Macedonian NGOs' Reactions to Pangalos Statements
Press Release - Jan. 20, 1999
23.12.1998
Papadimitriou Dimitrios
Sakellarios Nikos
Konstantinou Georgios
Voskopoulos Pavlos
Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada
P.O. Box 44532, 2376 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Canada
M1K 5K3
Tel: 416-202-8866
Fax: 416-412-3385
mail@mhrmc.on.ca
http://www.mhrmc.on.ca
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
Rummelhardtgasse 2/18
1090 Vienna, Austria
President
Macedonian Human Rights Committee of Melbourne and Victoria Inc ( Australia)
Minority Rights Group - Greece
P.O. Box 51393
GR-14510 Kifisia
Greece
Tel. +30-1-620.01.20
Fax +30-1-807.57.67
e-mail: office@greekhelsinki.gr
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Condemnation of Pangalos's Statements Regarding
Macedonian Minority in Greece - MHRMC
Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada
P.O. Box 44532, 2376 Eglinton Avenue East
Toronto, Canada
M1K 5K3
Tel: 416-202-8866
Fax: 416-412-3385
mail@mhrmc.on.ca
www.mhrmc.on.ca
Condemnation of Pangalos's Statements Regarding
Macedonian Minority in Greece - GHM
Greek Helsinki Monitor
Press Release - 23/12/1998
P.O. Box 51393
GR-14510 Kifisia, Greece
Tel. +30-1-620.01.20
Fax +30-1-807.57.67
Email: office@greekhelsinki.gr
www.greekhelsinki.gr
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