Letter from Pan-Macedonian Associations to President Obama

January 25, 2012

Barack Obama President of the United States

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington DC, 20502
Dear Mr. President,

We, the members of the PanMacedonian Association USA (one of the largest Greek organizations in the US), and the World Macedonian Associations – together representing over 3.5 million Greeks worldwide stemming from Macedonia, Greece – are writing to inform you of our concern about events that transpired at last week’s European Handball Championships in Niš, Serbia. In the presence of your Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. Philp T. Reeker, during the January 19, 2012 match between the Czech Republic and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) there were irredentist displays against Greece by the FYROM’s fans. These can be characterized without doubt as insulting to the Greek nation. It can be easily argued that Mr. Reeker’s seeming complacency with the ultranationalistic chanting by these fans was a diplomatic gaffe [1, 2]. In the interview that he gave for the European Handball Federation Network that day, he praised “sports diplomacy”, yet was shown waving appreciatively in the direction of the FYROM’s fans. Perhaps he was unaware of the words these fans were chanting but they certainly were not defined by “sports diplomacy”, which is supposed to overcome political differences between peoples and bring them closer together through sport.

The whole of the FYROM’s fan section was filled with that country’s first flag, which by using a Greek symbol (implying that Skopje is its owner) was deemed inappropriate for its irredentist nature against Greece by the 1995 Interim Accord between Athens and Skopje, and by the decision of the International Court of Justice at The Hague in December 2011. If he may have missed the individual flags then we are certain that he did not miss the gigantic flag that was hoisted and covered half the stadium. Moreover, we would like to inform you and him that the song that was chanted is called “Izlezi Momče” or “Young boy” and the lyrics are:

“Get out young boy, on the terrace and wave at Goče Delčev’s race…raise your hand out high…we are off to conquer Thessaloniki!”

He was also photographed with the FYROM’s national handball team on the front page of Skopje’s “Fokus” newspaper under the title: “Reeker also sang about Goče’s race” [2]. Unfortunately, Mr. Reeker’s tolerance of this is being used by the FYROM’s mass media as an implicit support of the country in…What exactly? Is it perhaps the takeover of northern Greek regions? This chant is needless to say a new phenomenon in the FYROM, and the irredentist stirrings it is supposed to promote have been expressed by fans and national sports teams alike [3]. While we understand and can appreciate that these are mere sporting events, and while we are also aware that the irredentist flag should be avoided by Skopje’s officials only, we nevertheless feel that they express the attitude of a large base of the FYROM’s population and official circles. They are distasteful examples of a society incensed by official Skopje’s irredentist ideas about what are its fatherland, its history, and its rightful place in the Balkans. It is therefore the duty of the international community to put a stop to the slippery slope of nationalism stemming from Skopje, and not to show support for this. The problem is not only the use of the Greek name “Macedonia” by Skopje, and this has been obvious from the beginning. The problem is also the ultranationalism of Skopje’s government.

With this in mind, we are taking this opportunity to note that Skopje’s government and society (both inside and outside their country) have increased their rhetoric against their neighbors in the last few years and we fear that the crescendo has yet to come. From former Foreign Minister Antonio Milošoski claiming there was never any Macedonia in Greece prior to 1988, to Skopje’s official diaspora organizations claiming the same and also questioning Greece’s sovereign territory by calling for a “United Macedonia” [4, 5], to the large banner of a “United Macedonia” during official celebrations in Skopje in the presence of the highest government officials [6], to last week’s “Greece funeral” with flag burning at a state sponsored carnival in the town of Vevčani [7-9], and to current sporting events, Skopje’s society and political establishment is progressing down a dangerous path for the stability and peace in the region. All of Greece’s complaints about these events have been met with disdain, ridicule, and an air of surprise by Skopje’s media. As a result, the government Mr. Reeker cooperated with as Ambassador to the US until 2011, does not reflect a country that is mature enough to enter international organizations as a friendly equal to Greece and other member countries. We do not consider these events as isolated or trivial and we feel it inappropriate for high ranking US officials to remain silent about them let alone be associated with them.

Mr. President, we demand some explanations.

Sincerely,

Kostas Hatzistefanidis Dimitris Chatzis

Supreme President Supreme Secretary

PanMacedonian Association USA PanMacedonian Association USA

Paul Kotrotsios

President of the Hellenic American National Council

(All Greek-American Associations in USA)

Co-signers:
PanMacedonian Association Australia – Dimitris Minas, President

PanMacedonian Association Canada – Haralambos Moutousides, President

PanMacedonian Association Europe – Archimandrite Panteleimon Tsorbatzoglou, President

Macedonian Associations of Africa – Amyntas Papathanasiou, President

THE COORDINATING COMMITTEE OF MACEDONIAN ORGANIZATIONS

Nina Gatzoulis, Coordinator (Representing over 150 Macedonian Organizations)

Philoptohos Brotherhood of Men of Thessaloniki – Theodore Dardavesis, President

E.A.S. SEGAS of Thessaloniki – Demitrios Gakis, President

Association of Pisoderites the World Over “Saint Trinity”- Michael Liakos, President

Thracian Hearth of Thessaloniki-Benjamin Karakostanoglou, President

Federation of Western Macedonian Associations of Thessaloniki-George Tzoulis-President

“Omada 21” (Team 21) Macedonia – Thrace – Antonios Daskopoulos, President

ASSOCIATIONS BELONGING TO MACEDONIANS’ “COMMON”

Florina Chapter of the Descendants of the Macedonian Struggle Fighters

Amyntaio Chapter of the Descendants of the Macedonian Struggle Fighters

Florina Educational Team “Aristotle”

Cultural Chapter of Sitaria Florina

Cultural Chapter “New Horizons” Sitaria, Florina

Cultural Chapter “Alexander the Great” of Polyplatanos, Florina

Alexander the Great Chapter of Ethniko-Kratero-Agia Paraskevi

Cultural Chapter “Elpida “- (Hope) of Meliti, Florina

Carrier of history and Culture “Iera Drys” of Kella, Florina

Cultural-Educational Chapter “Amyntas” of Skopia, Florina

Connection of Letters and Arts of Kozani Prefecture

Cultural Chapter of Kozani “The Macedonians”

Association of Edessa’s citizens “Ion Dragoumis”

Association of Macedonian Veteran Descendants of Edessa and Almopia

Folklore Society of Pella Prefecture

Association of Edessa’s Friends of Antiquities “The Timenides”

Cultural Association “Edessa’s Book Friends”

Association of “Macedonian Cultural Home” of Aridaia

Association of “Friends of Macedonian Cultural Tradition” of Almopia

Educational Association of Ida Eksaplatanos “Ion Dragoumis”

Historical and Folklore Society of Giannitsa “Filippos”

Macedonian Dance and Cultural Association “Amyntas” of Kalyvia

Educational and Environmental Club of Pella “Ancient Pella”

Cultural Association of Kato Grammatiko “Patriarchis Xrysanthos”

Community of Letters and Arts of Kozani Prefecture

Educational Association of Florina “Aristotle”

Cultural Association of Ethniko-Kratero- Agia Paraskevi of Florina “Alexander the Great”.

Cultural Associaton “Elpida Melitis”of Florina.

Pan-Macedonian Association of the Macedonian Struggle – Thessaloniki

Pan- Hellenic Association of Macedonian Veteran Descendants “Pavlos Mellas”

Pan-Hellenic Cultural Society “Makednos” Thessaloniki

Cultural and Educational Society in Arnaia-Chalkidiki

Macedonian Artistic Society of Kilkis “Art”

Society for Study and Research of the History of Serres

Youth Educational Chapter of Arnissa

Educational-Cultural Chapter Lefkadion “St. Paraskevi”

Chapter of Startsovites & Friends “St. Minas” New Petritsi – Serres

Association of people from Monastiri (Bitola) of Thessaloniki “Karteria”

Macedonian & Thracian Association of Papagou and Holargou –Athens

Association of Women from Thessaloniki-Macedonia in Athens

Pan-Macedonian Confederation in Athens

Federation of Western Macedonian Associations in the Prefecture of Attica

Confederation of Macedonians in the area of Attica

Association “Alexander Filippou Greek Macedon”

Cultural Association of Kozani “Oi Makednoi”

Macedonian Association of Volos

Cultural Association Grivas-Kilkis

Cultural Association of Polyplatanos-Naousa

Youth Cultural Association of Polyplatanos-Naousa

Florinian Chapter in Thessaloniki

Friends of the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, Prefecture of Kastoria

References:

1)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4aavnZyuEM

2) http://history-of-macedonia.com/wordpress/2012/01/21/fokus-daily-and-reeker-also-sung-about-the-goces-race/

3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTiVQaKyLTs [the FYROM’s national basketball team during the Euro Basket Championships August 31 - September 18, 2011]

4) http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/11/28/metodija-a-koloski-mark-branov-time-to-let-macedonia-play-with-the-big-boys/

5) http://makpress.blogspot.com/2012/01/3-video.html#axzz1j47XYt6B [UMD president agreeing to a vision of a “United Macedonia” during a 2010 UMD conference in Toronto, Canada]

6) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfTVO4Gg0Jg&feature=player_embedded [large banner of a “United Macedonia” during Skopje’s official celebrations of Independence from Belgrade, September 8, 2011]

7) http://taxalia.blogspot.com/2012/01/fyrom_14.html

8 ) http://taxalia.blogspot.com/2012/01/blog-post_2851.html

9) http://taxalia.blogspot.com/2012/01/blog-post_6850.html

Reeker warns FYROM : “No Name Solution, No Accession to NATO and EU”

Utrinski Vesnik today reported unofficial infos that Philip Reeker warned FYROM’s leaders once more by stating, “No Name Solution, No Accession to NATO and EU.”

Additionally the American diplomat crashed FYROM’s hopes to get something good out the judgement from the Hague. He said that Investing hope in the ICJ’s judgement is a complete waste of time, according to FYROM’s newspaper.

On the other hand, FYROM’s officials requested from the international community to show creativity and flexibility following the judgement of the ICJ, in order the Name Issue to be solved. 

Erol Rizaov wrote in his own Utrinski Vesnik’s column that FYROM should show to the world, there is will to find a solution to the Name Issue. 

Thus FYROM should demonstrate that she wants to meet Greece halfway by accepting a geographic qualifier to their name at the day of the accession. If that doesnt work and FYROM doesnt get support, then they must find their own way.

Source: http://history-of-macedonia.com/wordpress/2012/01/20/reeker-fyrom-no-name-solutin-no-accession/

Macedonia News : Greece Men’s Water Polo Squad humiliates FYROM

Macedonia News : Greece Men’s Water Polo Squad easily crashed FYROM with 10-6. The match took place during the 2nd day of the European Championship Group Matches and the Greek team needs only a win in order to pass to the next round.

Before the match, several FYROM’s Media had predicted a win of their team but the final result was a humiliating defeat for their National team.

The Greek team dominated the first half with a score of 5-1 where we had an impressive show from the Greek players. In the second half the Greek players continued with the same pace and the final score of the match was 10-6 in favor of the Greek Team.

From the Greek National Team, best perfomance had Andreas Miralis and George Doskas who scored from 3 goals each.

Next match for Greece will be on Thursday (19/01) on 15.30 pm against Turkey.

For Greece scored: Miralis 3, Doskas 3, Kokkinakis 1, Fountoulis 1, Mylonakis 1.

For FYROM scored: Misic 2, Milanovic 1, Radsic 1, Benic 1, Dimovski 1

News Section – History-Of-Macedonia.com

Source: http://history-of-macedonia.com/wordpress/2012/01/18/macedonia-news-greece-men-water-polo-squad-humiliates-fyrom/

Vardarska Banovina In Rare Yugoslav Maps

Vardarska Banovina is the official name covering today’s FYROM along with areas of Southern Serbia during 1929 – 1941.

 

Macedonia 1916 – Public Meeting from 30,000 Macedonians in Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki, Macedonia 1916 - A call for the Greek government from to take action against Bulgarians by a massive crowd of 30,000 Macedonians who gathered in Thessaloniki. The Macedonians, Proud of being Greeks had erected a big Greek flag. Similar public meetings against Bulgarians took place in other cities of Macedonia in Greece.

The public meeting of the thousand Macedonians was so massive for the period in question that it was published in the 13th September of  1916, in “The Illustrated War News” along with a photograph from the meeting.

Macedonia News : FYROM Media speak about Fiasco in the upcoming NATO summit

Severe criticism and attacks against Gruevski’s policies by a number of FYROM’s Media and the Opposition Party was the outcome of the Wednesday interview of the FYROM’s PM in Dnevnik.

The PM of the former Yugoslav Republic, more or less, announced a black prognoses on what is awaiting his country at the NATO Summit taking place in Chicago. Gruevski stated that the chances for FYROM to join NATO at the summit in May are very slim.

In order to explain the dead-end that his Nationalistic policies led his country, he tried once more to put the blame elsewhere and conveniently leave out himself. Namely he stated that the great powers are preoccupied with their internal problems and are totally disinterested in resolving the name issue.

The essential admittance by Gruevski of the dead-end caused an uproar between the Opposition and a considerable number of FYROM’s Media. Utrinski Vesnik published on its front page a photograph of Gruevski watching himself in a mirror. The newspaper mentioned that Gruevski finally realized what is really happening and his illusions related to the judgement of the Hague were clobbered.

Fokus also predicted a Fiasco waiting Gruevski’s government in the NATO Summit. In a newspaper’s article it is mentioned that Gruevski has reached a wall in the end of the road he chose. Now instead of blaming himself for the road he chose, he blames the wall.

In the meantime, ELIAMEP organised two days ago a Public Debate regarding The future of relations between Greece and the FYROM. The Speakers who among them were found the former advisor of the Greek MFA, Mr E. Kofos and the ret. Ambassador, Mr A. Mallias emphasized that Greece should denounce the Interim Accord, since its constantly violated by FYROM.

Macedonia History – Famous Jewish Historian admits Alexander was a Great Greek Leader

Macedonia History – Rabbi Berel Wein, a famous scholar and historian – admired through the world over for his lectures on Jewish history, speaks about Alexander the Great. the Great Greek Leader as he calls him and Greek influence.

http://JewishHistory.org
Alexander the Great conquers the Persian Empire and most of the known world, and comes to the land of Israel at about 325 B.C.E.
He meets Simon the righteous, and is so impressed that he spares Jerusalem and the Temple.

The Jewish people remember Alexander and make a commitment that all the first born male children born during that year would be named after him. This is how the name becomes a common name in Jewish families.

In addition, the Jews said were going to revamp our calendar- were going to date not only from the creation of the world, but also from the time of Alexander. This became known is Minyan Shtarot- the official date used on legal documents. Year 1 was 312 B.C.E. which in Jewish tradition was exactly 1000 years after the Exodus from Egypt.

The Jews are now subservient to the Greeks and Greek culture. Greek language and names enter into Jewish life. For example Afikomen, which means desert is originally Greek.

Alexander dies and leaves no successor- so there is a contest for succession. In the South, Ptolemy becomes the emperor, while Seleucus takes control of the North. Both of them were generals over Alexander the great, but now they are competing with eachother.

Israel is lodged between their territories, and so the Jews need to choose between the two generals. The Jews always favored the Egyptian/Ptolemeic Empire, but the North always tried to control Israel and use it as a buffer against the South.
This brings us pretty much to the story of Chanukah.

Source: http://history-of-macedonia.com/famous-jewish-historian-alexander-was-a-great-greek-leader/

Macedonia Name Issue – Agreement that FYROM Has No Territorial Claims proposed by FYROM’s Professor

The Irredentist Map of “Greater Macedonia” published by the FYROM’s Diplomat (Photo @ Proto thema)

 A written agreement in front of Nimetz that FYROM has no Territorial Claims (!), has never (!) broken the Interim Accord and does not insist on holding the exclusive right to the Name (!), proposed to FYROM government, Professor Toni Deskovski according to FYROM’s Media. The proposition took place during the coordination meeting of FYROM’s state leadership arranged by President Ivanov on Sunday.

The Professor from FYROM stated to Kanal 5 that after the judgment in The Hague there is a clear picture that the Greek accusations are “gross lies” when it comes to claiming that FYROM is conducting irredentist politics.

The professor’s false assertions come just 4 days after the Greek Newspaper Proto Thema brought into light a Scandal with a current FYROM’s Consul serving in Canada. From the photos published by Proto Thema, the diplomat from FYROM appears to distribute commemorative medals of FYROM’s MFA with the Greek Symbol of Vergina Sun inscribed on them, in direct breach of the Interim Accord.

Additionaly the Greek newspaper revealed that FYROM’s Diplomat published in his profile in a Social Network, photo showing an Irredentist Map of “Greater Macedonia” coming straight from his “heart”. 

The rest of the photos can be found in the related article of Proto Thema

The Hellenistic Period and the Spread of the Greek Language

Hellenistic Period – Dr. David Neiman, the renowned Jewish scholar in the fields of Biblical Studies and Jewish history follows the conquests of Alexander the great and the subsequent spread of the Greek language through the Greek Ptolemaic and Seleucid empires. Dr Neiman speaks about the Greek Ruler Ptolemy and Alexandria, the “greatest Greek city in the World”. Another undisputable evidence of the ancient Macedonians being Greek by a famous modern historian.

By MacedonianUprising

Macedonia News : Greece and FYROM in a new round of Name Negotiations

Macedonia News – Greece and FYROM are rejoining U.N.-mediated talks over the official name of the latter country, according to an announcement by the United Nations.

The new round of meetings will be hosted by Matthew Nimetz, the U.N. mediator, and representatives from borth parties. Greece will be represented by the Ambassador Adamantios Vassilakis and FYROM by the Ambassador Zoran Jolevski.

Up to now FYROM applied a tactic of postponing the process until the judgement in The Hague was declared. This resulted the Name Negotiations essentially to be “frozen”. After the Hague’s Judgement, FYROM’s PM Nikola Gruevski tried unsuccessfully to create an impression through his statements and actions that the Greek side is to be blamed for not reaching any progress.

Source: http://history-of-macedonia.com/wordpress/2012/01/05/macedonia-news-greece-fyrom-name-negotiations/