Australian position on Macedonia

[machorot]

Well done AMHRC, and thank you... I urge anyone who is not already a member of the AMHRC, to become so

It would be nice if we could see what was redacted from the FOI documents and their reasoning behind this....

Is it possible to scan some of the documents?

[Soldier of Macedon]

Well done AMHRC, excellent news.

[Stojacanec]

Thank you AMHRC for your great work. Without your persistance this would not be possible.

[Makedonska_Kafana]

Great news AMHRC!!

[George S.]

that's good news but my advice is be carefull with the greeks.They have a plan to bring back the slav prefix in nsw throgh the ethnic ministerial advisory council??Have a look at one of our threads.

http://www.macedoniantruth.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6202&highlight=ministe

This is the charter of the hellenic council:



This is what the hellenic council of australia thinks of us using macedonia as aword.
Australian Hellenic Council (NSW) Inc
A coordinating body for the Australian Hellenic community
PO Box 433 Earlwood NSW 2206
Position Paper
Support for the Federal Government’s position
regarding diplomatic recognition of the FYROM.
This paper outlines the arguments of the Australian Hellenic community
in support of the Australian Federal Government’s position regarding
recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Since 1994,
this position has been recognition of the FYROM under that name until
Athens and Skopje achieve a mutually acceptable agreement.
Diplomatic Recognition
In 1994, the Federal Government announced official recognition of the
independence of the southernmost republic of Yugoslavia. The Australian
ambassador to Belgrade was given non-resident accreditation to Skopje.
Shortly afterwards, Skopje opened a diplomatic office in Sydney, followed
by the opening of an embassy in Canberra in 2004, and a ConsulateGeneral in Melbourne in 2008. There are also Honorary ConsulatesGeneral in Perth and Sydney.
United Nations’ nomenclature
In 1993, the new state acceded to the United Nations’ Organisation as the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The following year, Australia
formally recognised Skopje’s independence from Belgrade. In 1995 the
United Nations’ brokered an interim agreement between Athens and
Skopje. According to the terms of this agreement, the United Nations’
Organisation and its member-states would use the nomenclature Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
This name was, and remains, an INTERIM measure, designed to
soothe tensions and open the way to a permanent agreement.
According to a statement by then-Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon.
Senator Gareth Evans, the 1995 interim agreement was “developed under
United Nations auspices and puts to one side for the time being the issue
of the future name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.
In addition to the Hellenic Republic (Greece), Australia, and Cyprus
almost 100 United Nations’ member states use the name FYROM,
including:
- EU and NATO members Belgium, the Czech Republic, France,
Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, as well as; - Chile, India, Ireland, Israel, South Africa and the Holy See (Vatican), and; international
organisations such as the International Olympic Committee, FIFA and UEFA.
The Australian Hellenic community looks forward to a final resolution being reached by
Athens and Skopje, a resolution that is acceptable to both sides. This has been the position
of the Australian federal government and federal opposition since 1994. The Australian
Hellenic community believes in the maintenance of this principled position.
Former Yugoslav Republic
During the existence of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (1944-1991), the
territory around Skopje was administered as one of the constituent republics of the Yugoslav
Federation. This is why the United Nations’ mediators opted for the compromise name
FYROM to enable the newly independent state to join the world’s international organisation.
The Evidence of History
Historical evidence from antiquity to the present indicates that the Macedonians of antiquity
considered themselves Hellenes. There is an unbroken chain of archaeological and literary
evidence identifying the inhabitants of Macedonia since at least Homeric times with
Hellenic civilisation. The names of ancient Macedonians, as well as ancient Macedonian texts
such as the Pella Curse Tablet and the Derveni Papyrus (both of which date to the late
third century BC) all testify to the fact that the ancient Macedonians spoke a Hellenic dialect
and considered themselves Hellenes.
Above: A coin issued by King Alexander III of Macedon (the Great; 330s BC), bearing the
Hellenic inscription AΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ (of Alexander).
In his Epistles to the Thessalonians (the people of Thessaloniki, Macedonia’s largest city),
St Paul used the Hellenic language. It was Hellenic that the first European Christians used
to worship and to spread the ‘Good Word’ in Roman-ruled Macedonia. The medieval
Christian churches and cathedrals that adorn Macedonia bear dedicatory and religious
inscriptions in Hellenic.
2With the Ottoman Turkish invasion and conquest in the 1300s, came a wave of Muslim
converts and settlers. Even after five centuries of Muslim Turkish rule, the majority of
Macedonians (speaking different languages) identified as Hellenes. The Balkan Wars
(October 1912-February 1913) brought about the expulsion of the Ottoman Empire and
independence to Macedonia. The 1913 Treaty of Bucharest set the boundaries between the
Hellenic, Yugoslav and Bulgarian states. Greece’s province of Macedonia was formed and
today has a population of some 2.6 million people. It remains an integral part of the
Hellenic Republic and of Hellenic civilisation.
Personal and National Identity
The Slavomacedonian community in Australia claims to have an exclusive right to the use of
the names Macedonia and Macedonian. This is an effort to exclude Hellene Macedonians (who
number some 200,000 in Australia) from identifying themselves as Australian Macedonians.
This despite the fact that they have identified themselves as Macedonians and formed
Macedonian organisations in Australia since the 1920s.
The Australian Hellenic community supports the right to self-determination and
self-identification for all Australians. It must always be kept in mind that identity is
multi-dimensional. People who originate from the geographic region of Macedonia have the
right to use the name Macedonian.
The geographic region of Macedonia has always been home to a diverse range of languages
and cultures, with Hellenic the dominant one. The only way to distinguish between the
different Macedonian groups is through the addition of prefixes such as the federal
government introduced in 1994. For those Macedonians who identify with Athens, Hellenic
Macedonians; for those who identify with Skopje, Slavomacedonians.
Racism and Expansionism
A regular feature of Slavomacedonian protests, publications and presence in Australia are
additional claims of an expansionist and anti-Greek nature. For example, illustrations of their
version of maps of “Makedonija” include parts of northern Greece, refuting a number of
international treaties. On 24 May 2008, the Slavomacedonian community in Australia held a
demonstration (in Melbourne) to pressure the Australian federal government to formally
recognise the FYROM by its “constitutional name”.
Particularly prominent at the rally were Hellenic flags with the Christian cross replaced
by a Nazi swastika. The identification of Hellenes with the genocidal Nazi regime is highly
offensive, calculated to be provocative. The offence is heightened when it is remembered
that Australians and Hellenes fought side-by-side against the Nazis and that Greece suffered
the highest loss of life per capita of any country involved in World War Two.
Large banners declaring “Solun Will Be the Capital of Macedonia Again!”
accompanied by numerous depictions of a “Macedonian” state incorporating the
whole of northern Greece are also calculated to be provocative. “Solun” is the Slavic name
for the city of Thessaloniki, Greece’s second largest city.
3Melbourne, Saturday 24 May 2008
The Slavomacedonian community, with the active support of the government in Skopje,
does not seek “human rights to self identity and [a] democratically voted for constitutional
name”. (Media Release of the organising committee of the 24 May 2008 demonstration) The
Slavomacedonian state and its diaspora are seeking the abrogation of international
treaties and the redrawing of borders in southeastern Europe.
The images displayed at public demonstrations, in publications and in Slavomacedonian
community centres around Australia illustrate the aggressive stance of elements of the
Slavomacedonian community towards the Australian Hellenic community and the Hellenic
Republic. Such claims and images only serve to deepen divisions in Australian society,
through the use of racially vilifying material.
Within a culturally diverse Australia, respect for national symbols and multiple identities has
been a crucial part of the relative social cohesion all Australians enjoy. Political protest is
acceptable. Racial vilification is not.
Conclusion
As stated in the introduction, this paper outlines the political, historical and cultural
arguments of the Australian Hellenic community in support of the Australian Federal
Government’s position regarding diplomatic recognition of the Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia. It is the firm belief of the Australian Hellenic community that this policy
should not change until Athens and Skopje have arrived at a final agreement.
Prepared by Dr Panayiotis Diamadis, AHC (NSW) Secretary, June 2009

SAo long term plan for these morons is to go back to slvomacedonian

[makedonche]

I would like to suggest to the admins that membership of AMHRC should be compulsory for all MTO members, in fact no membership of AMHRC should mean no MTO membership.......IMHO

[United MKD]

Well done guys, great news!

[AMHRC]

I would like to suggest to the admins that membership of AMHRC should be compulsory for all MTO members, in fact no membership of AMHRC should mean no MTO membership.......IMHO

Thanks everyone - Lol Makedonche....while that sounds good, it is perhaps a little too demanding

Though while we are volunteers, much of what we do requires fiscal support and new members are always welcome. Here is a link to our membership page, it offers a variety of payment options: http://www.macedonianhr.org.au/wip/i...=109&Itemid=95

Pozdrav.

[Phoenix]

Great work AMHRC, congratulations and many thanks to the entire team at the AMHRC.
The journey is long and tiresome but you guys just keep chipping away.

Like many previous posters I would like to encourage everyone to get on board and help out with any donation or membership so that this very important Macedonian organization can continue to represent us in the most professional and respectful manner possible.

Thanks again to everyone at the AMHRC.

[Brian]

Looks like momentum building.

German Newspapers don't use the acronym
Friday, 10 February 2012

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/20297/45/

[Zarni]

I have to say with embarissing ignorance I thought this outragous Human Right denial was defeated years ago so essesntially the Australian Govt has been the ONLY State and Terrotory outside of Athens wich has made this a practice

I have never celebrated this Countrys National Day or it its Flag and NEVER vote in any State or Federal election and certainly will contune to be Macedonian First and Foremost until the Federal Govt publically appolgizes I will never forgive this act by the Australian Political elite

[Vangelovski]

I have to say with embarissing ignorance I thought this outragous Human Right denial was defeated years ago so essesntially the Australian Govt has been the ONLY State and Terrotory outside of Athens wich has made this a practice

I have never celebrated this Countrys National Day or it its Flag and NEVER vote in any State or Federal election and certainly will contune to be Macedonian First and Foremost until the Federal Govt publically appolgizes I will never forgive this act by the Australian Political elite

It was my understanding that while it was still officially 'on the books', it has not been implemented in practice from at least 1995. I have not seen it used anywhere in any Federal, State or Local Government material. A good outcome by the AMHRC nonetheless!

[AMHRC]

It was my understanding that while it was still officially 'on the books', it has not been implemented in practice from at least 1995. I have not seen it used anywhere in any Federal, State or Local Government material. A good outcome by the AMHRC nonetheless!

Thanks Tom - though that's not strictly correct. Certainly after 2000 (the most disgusting examples in the late 90's were a couple of individuals who were given Commonwealth identity cards in lieu of passports and labelled as "Slav-Macedonians" on those cards) it came to be used less and less, though there was some occasional usage (especially at the state level, where some departments stated they were 'merely following federal policy').

Basically, around 2002-2004, they stopped implementing it, but all of them, until January this year, insisted that it remained the official position.

It was a way of keeping racist elements within the Greek community happy and at the same time avoiding legal action from us.

Pozdrav,

AMHRC.

[Vangelovski]

Thanks Tom - though that's not strictly correct. Certainly after 2000 (the most disgusting examples in the late 90's were a couple of individuals who were given Commonwealth identity cards in lieu of passports and labelled as "Slav-Macedonians" on those cards) it came to be used less and less, though there was some occasional usage (especially at the state level, where some departments stated they were 'merely following federal policy').

Basically, around 2002-2004, they stopped implementing it, but all of them, until January this year, insisted that it remained the official position.

It was a way of keeping racist elements within the Greek community happy and at the same time avoiding legal action from us.

Pozdrav,

AMHRC.

I stand corrected

[ProMKD]

Not just Australian-Macedonians, all Macedonians should be thankful!