MHRMI and AMHRC Launch Ad Campaign Demanding End to Name Negotiations

The situation in which Macedonia finds itself today can be traced back to the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. As a result of the Treaty of Bucharest, Macedonia was partitioned among Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria. These regions are known as the Republic of Macedonia (independent since 1991), Aegean Macedonia (presently within the borders of Greece), and Pirin Macedonia (within the borders of Bulgaria). A small part of Macedonia was given to Albania in 1919 (known as Mala Prespa and Golo Brdo).

Upon annexation of Macedonia's territory, each country began terrorist campaigns aimed at expelling or forcibly assimilating the indigenous Macedonian population. Greece, in particular, began an intense campaign in order to eradicate the existence of Macedonia through a horrific policy of cultural genocide and ethnic cleansing. They outlawed the term Macedonia and proceeded to rename this region "Northern Greece". They changed the names of Macedonian people, villages, and landmarks from Macedonian to Greek. Bulgaria and Greece continue to deny the existence of their large Macedonian minorities to this day and refuse to grant them human rights. The human rights violations have been well-documented. Albania offers its Macedonian minority limited human rights but the situation does not compare to the human rights and freedoms enjoyed by the Albanian minority in the Republic of Macedonia.

Before 1988, and the Republic of Macedonia's imminent independence in 1991, the official Greek policy was to deny the very existence of the name Macedonia. In fear of losing valuable territory, Greece's position has changed dramatically. Now, propaganda that "Macedonia is 4000 years of Greek history" is the official Greek position. It is ironic that the very country that tried to eradicate Macedonia's existence now claims it as its own. Furthermore, if Macedonia has always been Greek, why did the Greek government deny its existence until 1988? This website will outline the various aspects of Macedonia, including it's long history, culture and the continued human rights violations that the Macedonians face in Greece, Bulgaria and Albania.