UN Minorities Rights Report on Greece 2008 has been Released

[Rogi]

UN Report of the Independent expert on minority issues. Mission to Greece.

The long awaited report of the independent expert on minorities issues by Gay McDougal is now available.


click the link below:

http://www.macedoniancommunity.com/repository/UN_humanrights_2008.pdf

http://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G09/111/98/pdf/G0911198.pdf?OpenElement

[Soldier of Macedon]

Initial thoughts?

[The LION will ROAR]

Greece should withdraw from dispute over existence of Macedonian minority - UN report

http://www.mia.com.mk/default.aspx?vId=62635049&lId=2

Greece should withdraw from dispute over existence of Macedonian minority - UN report
New York, March 5 (MIA) - Greece should withdraw from the dispute over whether there is a Macedonian or a Turkish minority on its territory and focus on protecting the rights to self-identification, freedom of expression and freedom of association of those communities, reads a recommendation in the report by the UN independent expert on minority issues Gay McDougall, who paid a visit to Greece on September 8-16, 2008.
According to McDougall, the rights of these communities to minority protections must be honoured in accordance with the Declaration on Minorities and the core international human rights treaties. Greece is required to comply fully with the judgements of the European Court of Human Rights, specifically those decisions that associations should be allowed to use the words "Macedonian" and "Turkish" in their names and to express their ethnic identities freely.
A special section in the report refers to the minorities in the Florina region. McDougall says the Greek government does not recognize the existence of a Macedonian ethnic minority living in that part of Greece, nor the existence of the Macedonian language.
"Many consider this a modern day version of Tito's efforts to create a myth of a Macedonian nation giving support to his expansionist claims against that region of Greece. The response of earlier Greek governments was to suppress any use of the Macedonian language and cultural activities. In recent times the harsh tactics have ceased but those identifying as ethnic Macedonian still report discrimination and harassment. They consider it of crucial importance for their continued existence that their ethnic identity and distinctiveness is respected", reads the report.
McDougall notes that in the 1920s and 30s, laws required the replacement of non-Greek names of towns, villages, rivers and mountains with Greek names. The family names of the Macedonian-speaking population were also required to be changed to Greek names. Community representatives note that traditional names continue to be in common usage and call for reinstatement and the official usage of a dual nomenclature.
Macedonian minority representatives claim denial of the right to freedom of association and political activity, and highlight discriminatory laws affecting thousands who fled Greece during the Civil War, who were stripped of their citizenship and property. A 1982 law stated that, "Free to return to Greece are all Greek by Genus who during the civil war of 1946-1949 and because of it have fled abroad as political refugees". This decision excludes those identifying as ethnic Macedonians and is therefore considered discriminatory.
McDougall says in the report that she had met numerous individuals identifying as ethnic Macedonians, who are fluent in Macedonian language. It was acknowledged that the situation had improved from a previous era, however they described a "softer discrimination", manifested in general hostility and pressure on the part of authorities and the media.
The report notes that Greece recognizes only one minority, the Muslim religious minority in Western Thrace, but does not recognize the minority status of other communities. The Government is convinced that the claims of the existence of other minorities are unsubstantiated and politically motivated. Greece recognizes that only a small number of people speak the Slavic dialect similar to the language spoken in the neighboring country on the north.
During the stay in Greece, McDougall travelled to different regions and conducted extensive consultations with senior government representatives and public officials at the national and regional levels, but also consulted civil society organizations, religious leaders, academics and community leaders. The independent expert is concerned with matters solely within the domestic jurisdiction of the Government of Greece relating to its treatment of minorities and disadvantaged groups inside the country. Her concerns focus on the degree to which legislation, policy and practice fulfil obligations under international human rights law, including minority rights, which have precedence over bilateral treaties and agreements.
The UN Report also notes the discrimination towards Roma in Greece. The independent expert visited Roma communities which lacked basic facilities and faced the constant threat of eviction. Many Roma children are either in segregated schools or do not have
access to education owing to their identity. ik/fd/14:38

[osiris]

pissweak still pandering to their little spoilt brats bullshitand including irrelevant biased ancient history, as some kind of crypto justification. who the fuck are the greek makedones, the turkish christian refugees where is a sober analyisis of their origins and rights as macedonians.

this will be as effective as taking an aspirin as a painkiller during surgery.

[Soldier of Macedon]

So what will result from this report, what effect, if any, will it have in terms of our recognition as the sovereign Macedonian nation?

How many more organisations need to tell the racist politicians in Greece to respect their citizens' right to self-determination and self-identification?

Macedonians will never give up their identity to any foreigner, least of all to the Greeks. This will never end until Greece recognizes the Macedonian nation.

[Diabolical]

It's a step in the right direction I guess?

I have a feeling that this will be completely ignored by Greece and quickly forgotten

[Sirma vojvoda]

Many org have pointed the same thing over and over again. We know it, they know it, the world knows it. I'd like to see an org that will make Greece do something, telling it is not enough

[Risto the Great]

It is excellent. Yet another external confirmation. Now it is up the Macedonians to get the necessary mileage out of this.

[Soldier of Macedon]

It is excellent. Yet another external confirmation. Now it is up the Macedonians to get the necessary mileage out of this.

I agree, the Macedonians, in particular the Macedonian government, must make the most of this, bring it to the attention of EVERYBODY.

What else can possibly be required from an external confirmation, that is needed to prove to the 'relevant' people in power that ours is the just cause?

[Daskalot]

when will this farce end???

[Risto the Great]

when will this farce end???

When Macedonia insists (by its actions) that it should end.
And the end is near.

[Rogi]

I won't say that its bad, but I wouldn't say that it's great...

The report is minimal, it could have gone into a lot more depth and it could have a lot more about the Macedonian minority.

But what I can't seem to understand, is what relevance ancient history and mythology has with today's Human Rights, Minority Rights and self-determination? Why would such gibberish be included in a human rights report at all? I cannot find an explanation for that.

[Sopa re]

But what I can't seem to understand, is what relevance ancient history and mythology has with today's Human Rights, Minority Rights and self-determination? Why would such gibberish be included in a human rights report at all? I cannot find an explanation for that.

Interesting to see that the UN has raised these issues as part of their findings. Seems to suggest that the ancient history and mythology is embedded in the Greek and Macedonian consciousness.

[Daskalot]

Of course I shows of your level of brainwashing, please explaine what the 1.5 million Prosfiges in Macedonia has to do with the ancient Macedonians.

[Sopa re]

Apart from speaking the same language and residing on the same geographical location, not much I guess.