Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI)

[Niko777]

Really great, well written article!!! It's simple, clear, and really gets the point out to everyone. I especially like the title. But at the end of the day, as you mention, its not up to the US, NATO, EU, or Greece, its up to Macedonia to put an end to this shame.

[damian]

Would the United States ever entertain the idea of changing its name? Why then, is it asking Macedonia to do so?

Apparently, for the "privilege" of joining NATO. Of course, at the NATO summit in May, Macedonia wasn't even on the agenda.

It should have been painfully obvious that Macedonia wouldn't be invited to join NATO until it solves the so-called "name dispute" with Greece. In 2008, every member-state wanted to extend an invitation to Macedonia, but Greece was permitted to use its veto power to prevent it. To make it "official", point 26 of the Chicago Summit Declaration states,

"We reiterate the agreement at our 2008 Bucharest Summit, as we did at subsequent Summits, to extend an invitation to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to join the Alliance as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue has been reached within the framework of the UN, and strongly urge intensified efforts towards that end."

What's worse, that Macedonia continues to negotiate its own name and identity in order to "play with the big boys" or that NATO and the European Union are allowing Greece to hold the rest of the NATO and EU member-states hostage? Of course, Macedonia has also been shamelessly begging for entry into the European Union but, with Greece as a longtime member, that won't happen.

Why is Macedonia so desperate to join two organizations that offer no obvious benefits?

Not only are NATO and the EU allowing Greece to dictate their membership based on its own racist and xenophobic policies, but the European Union also bailed Greece out after it blatantly lied about its economic situation, which has subsequently wreaked havoc with global markets.

The EU also allows Greece to violate its minorities' rights and ignore European Court of Human Rights rulings against it without fear of retribution. All of this while Greece proclaims, and is celebrated as the "birthplace of democracy".

As if it was proving how far it could go, Greek citizens voted in 21 members of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn in the country's May elections.

Macedonia's desperation to join NATO and the EU can only be described as pathetic. Macedonia is one of the highest per-capita contributors to NATO missions, even though it is not a member. The Macedonian government decided years ago to sacrifice its own citizens for the sake of joining an organization that doesn't have the guts to stand up to Greece and extend it an invitation. How sad that NATO can't even stand up to its weakest member.

After the NATO Summit in Chicago, Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski expressed disgust at the lack of an invitation, criticized the West and ultimately blamed Greece. Makes sense, but he forgot to include Macedonia's involvement in this mess. By negotiating its own name, Macedonia is telling the world that it is willing to change it. The simple, and only, solution is that Macedonia should immediately end the name negotiations and never should have started them in the first place.

Greece claims that it objects to the Republic of Macedonia's name because it creates "confusion” with the province of Macedonia, that it annexed after the partition of Macedonia's entire territory in 1913. However, former Greek Prime Minister Constantine Mitsotakis admitted in 1995 that Greece initiated the nonsensical name dispute to continue to deny the existence of its large, indigenous Macedonian minority.

Ironically, Greece now claims that “Macedonia is Greek”, but it was not until 1988, when Greece realized that independence for the Republic of Macedonia was imminent, that it renamed “Northern Greece” to “Macedonia.” Prior to this, Greece’s policy was that Macedonia did not exist.

Despite the intense Greek propaganda, over 130 countries have recognized Macedonia, including four of the five permanent UN Security Council members. So this begs the question, why are countries that have already recognized Macedonia asking it to compromise with Greece and change its name? The answer, again, is because Macedonia is continuing to negotiate its own name.

If Macedonia is just going through the motions to appear diplomatic, as some politicians have suggested, it has obviously been a huge failure. Instead of showing its flexibility in trying to find a "solution", it has frustrated the United States and other western countries because this dispute has been going on for 21 years, with no end in sight. Of course, it's common sense to see that there is no solution when one country is being asked to change its name to appease another country's racist notion that it has no right to exist. It also doesn't excuse the United States demanding that a country change its name. Is this how the US sees itself as "spreading democracy and human rights" throughout the world?

As the Our Name is Macedonia campaign (which demands that Macedonia end the name negotiations) states "Would any other country negotiate its own name?". To clearly show how ridiculous the name dispute is, it also asks "Should the US state of Georgia demand that the Republic of Georgia change its name?"

If this issue wasn't so serious, it would be laughable.

Bill Nicholov, President
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International

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Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information: www.mhrmi.org, twitter.com/mhrmi, facebook.com/mhrmi, [email protected], 1-416-850-7125.

Maybe because when the most serious destruction and cleansings were taking place in Macedonia grease was a US client state. US doesnt want people looking in its closet.

[George S.]

what's in a name united states whoopi do.Russia is bunch of states doesn't mean anything.So why they don't they change their name to former uof sa??What kind of union is it??You got the eu european union..If macedonia changes her name a country who has then got the monopoly Greece on the name??What right has greece got over the name NIL.

[damian]

what's in a name united states whoopi do.Russia is bunch of states doesn't mean anything.So why they don't they change their name to former uof sa??What kind of union is it??You got the eu european union..If macedonia changes her name a country who has then got the monopoly Greece on the name??What right has greece got over the name NIL.

Who cares what grease thinks? They are in no position for anything.

[Coolski]

The fundamental message of the article is clear. It's our own fault for giving these democratically retarded modern greeks the time of day to air their bullshit.

The cold war is over. Macedonian politicians should play hardball.

[MHRMI]

MHRMI Human Rights Night on September 29 in Toronto

MHRMI Human Rights Night on September 29 in Toronto

Macedonian Human Rights Movement International is pleased to announce MHRMI Human Rights Night on September 29, 2012. We will be honouring the Editor of Nova Zora and member of Vinozhito, Dimitri Jovanov.

Vinozhito has been leading the human rights movement for Macedonians in Aegean Macedonia for over two decades. Nova Zora is a pro-Macedonian newspaper that has distributed hundreds of thousands of copies throughout Aegean Macedonia, despite constant threats and attempts to wipe out the newspaper. The struggles that Macedonian human rights activists endure and overcome on a daily basis throughout the Balkans is truly remarkable.

Macedonian Human Rights Movement International finances and organizes all Macedonian human rights activities in the Balkans. Among our many initiatives are:

* The purchase and financing of a radio station in Lerin and a TV station in Korca, Albania;
* Macedonian language classes in Aegean Macedonia and Albania, including the opening of another kindergarten in Korca;
* The funding of Nova Zora, Narodna Volja and other Macedonian newspapers and publications in Aegean Macedonia, Pirin Macedonia and Mala Prespa/Golo Brdo;
* The crucial Our Name is Macedonia campaign, which demands an immediate end to the "name negotiations";
* The operation of human rights offices for Macedonians in Bulgaria, Greece and Albania;
* Demanding recognition and support for Macedonia and Macedonian human rights in Washington, Ottawa, Brussels and throughout the world.

MHRMI Human Rights Night will take place on September 29, 2012 at St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral and Banquet Centre, 76 Overlea Blvd in Toronto. Cocktails will be at 6:30pm and dinner at 7:30pm. Admission is $60/adult, $30/student and $20/child.

For tickets or more information, please call 416-850-7125, email [email protected] or visit www.mhrmi.org, www.facebook.com/mhrmi, www.twitter.com/mhrmi.

Make a concrete difference for Macedonian human rights and show your support by attending MHRMI Human Rights Night or please donate by visiting www.mhrmi.org/donation.asp.

Thank you in advance for your interest and support.

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Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information: www.mhrmi.org, www.twitter.com/mhrmi, www.facebook.com/mhrmi, [email protected], +1 416-850-7125.

[MHRMI]

MHRMI Met with Foreign Affairs Canada, Called on Canada to Denounce Name Negotiations

MHRMI Met with Canadian Foreign Affairs, Called on Canada to Denounce Name Negotiations

Toronto, Canada (October 10, 2012) - On October 1, 2012, MHRMI President Bill Nicholov, MHRMI member Chris Balkos (Balkovski), and Vinozhito member Dimitri Ioannou (Jovanov) met with senior members of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. Among the topics discussed were human rights abuses against Macedonians in Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, and throughout the Balkans, the denial of entry into Greece to Canadian-Macedonians, Greece's embassy and consulates denying assistance to Canadian-Macedonians, and Canada's position regarding the Republic of Macedonia and the name negotiations.

MHRMI called on Canada to condemn Greece, Bulgaria, Albania and other countries' persecution of Macedonians, and to take concrete steps in ensuring that it ends or force these countries to face repercussions. Specifically, we called for Canada to publicly denounce the name negotiations and support immediate international, not just bilateral, recognition of Macedonia. We expressed our expectation that countries which have recognized Macedonia must fully support its name and we denounced the United States and Western Europe's hypocrisy in calling for a "compromise" or "solution" to the so-called name dispute.

MHRMI pointed out that there is no human right more basic than that of self-identification, and, ironically, that it is Greece's position on the very use of the word Macedonia that has changed in the past 25 years and that Macedonia and Macedonians have always been known as such. Greece initiated the "name dispute" in order to deny the existence and persecution of its large Macedonian minority.

We highlighted Canada's international reputation of leadership in the field of human rights, and called for it to be showcased in Canada's denouncement of the name negotiations and condemnation of those countries that persecute Macedonians.

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Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information: www.mhrmi.org, www.twitter.com/mhrmi, www.facebook.com/mhrmi, [email protected], +1 416-850-7125.

Show your support for Macedonian human rights by joining the MHRMI Human Rights Fund. Your donation will go directly to funding vital Macedonian human rights activities in the Balkans.

[Vangelovski]

Good work MHRMI!! Though, I think criticism of the name negotiations should be primarily directed towards the Macedonian Government.

[George S.]

Isn't it crazy that the rom govt is negotiating our name & they are not asking about the minority of agean macedonia.The macedonian minority is still not getting their minimal human rights,they are as if they don't exist.Here we have gruevski still ready & willing to change our name.Thank goodness for MHRMI! who is representing all macedonians & asserting that name negotiations should stop.

[MHRMI]

MHRMI and AMHRC Increase Funding for Macedonian Language Classes in Solun

MHRMI and AMHRC Increase Funding for Macedonian Language Classes in Solun, Aegean Macedonia

Macedonian version below (Македонската верзија е подолу)

Toronto, Solun and Melbourne (October 20, 2012) - MHRMI and AMHRC are pleased to announce that we have increased funding for Macedonian language classes in Solun, Aegean Macedonia. More classes will also be opened in various cities and villages throughout Aegean Macedonia. The classes are being run by Vinozhito, which is the only organization that is holding Macedonian language classes in Greece.

"Without the help of MHRMI and AMHRC, these Macedonian language classes would not be possible. These two organizations have been directly funding the Macedonian human rights movement for over two decades and have inspired Macedonians throughout the Balkans to demand their human rights", said Dimitri Ioannou (Jovanov), Vinozhito member and editor of Nova Zora.

In order to make a contribution and help ensure the survival, and growth, of the Macedonian language in Greece, please join the MHRMI Human Rights Fund or the AMHRC's Macedonian Minorities Support Fund.

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Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information: www.mhrmi.org, www.twitter.com/mhrmi, www.facebook.com/mhrmi, [email protected], +1 416-850-7125.

Established in 1984, the Australian Macedonian Human Rights Committee (AMHRC) is a non-governmental organisation that informs and advocates before international institutions, governments and broader communities about combating racism and promoting human rights. Our aspiration is to ensure that Macedonian communities and other excluded groups throughout the world, are recognised, respected and afforded equitable treatment. For more information please visit www.macedonianhr.org.au, email [email protected] or via +61 3 9329 8960.

Show your support for Macedonian human rights by joining the MHRMI Human Rights Fund or the AMHRC's Macedonian Minorities Support Fund. Your donation will go directly to funding vital Macedonian human rights activities in the Balkans.


ММДЧП и АМКЧП зголеми финансирањето на македонскиот јазик во Солун, Егејска Македонија

20 октомври, 2012

Торонто, Солун и Мелбурн - ММДЧП и АМКЧП со задоволство информираат дека го зголемуваат фондот од кој што се финансира организирањето на часови за Македонски јазик во Солун, Егејска Македонија. Напоредно со тоа, предвидено е и отворање на повеќе паралелки во различни градови и села низ Егејска Македонија. Часовите се одржуваат во организација на Виножито и таа е единствената организација која организира изучување на македонски јазик во Грција.

"Без помош на ММДЧП и АМКЧП, овие часови на македонскиот јазик не би било можно. Овие две организации повеќе од две децении финансиски го помагаат движењето за човекови права на Македонците и со тоа ги поттикнуваат Македонците во балканските држави да ги бараат своите права", изјави Димитри Иоану (Јованов), член на „Виножито“ и Уредник на „Нова зора“.

Доколку сакате да дадете придонес и да помогнете да се обезбеди опстојување и развој во изучувањето на македонскиот јазик во Грција, ве молиме да се приклучите во Фонд на ММДЧП за човекови права или во Фонд на АМКЧП за поддршка на македонските малцинства.

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Македонското меѓународно движење за човекови права (ММДЧП) активно работи на полето на човекови и национални права на Македонците и другите обесправени народи од своето основање во 1986 година. За повеќе информации: www.mhrmi.org, twitter.com/mhrmi, facebook, [email protected], 1-416-850-7125.

Основан во 1984 година, Австралиско-Македонскиот Комитет за Човекови Права (АМКЧП) е невладина организација која се залага за информирање на влади, меѓународни институции и пошироката јавност / заедници за борбата против дискриминацијата и промовирање на основните човекови права. Нашиот стремеж е да се осигура дека македонските заедници како и другите исклучени групи низ целиот свет се признати, почитувани и уживат во правичен третман. За повеќе информации, посетете ја www.macedonianhr.org.au, или контактирајте со АМКЧП на [email protected] или преку +61 3 93298960.

Дадете ја вашата поддршка за остварување на македонските човекови права со пристапување во Фонд на ММДЧП за човекови права или во Фонд на АМКЧП за поддршка на македонските малцинства. Вашaтa донација директно ќе се употреби за финансирање на значајни активности поврзани со остварување на човековите права на Македонците на Балканот.

[Makedonska_Kafana]

Keep up the good work! Thank you

[Vangelovski]

I missed this one. Good work.

[George S.]

goodnews for a change.

[Peshoshnitsa Lerin]

That is great guys! and thankyou for all your efforts to our people keep it up!

[Makedonska_Kafana]

Macedonian Edition 301 - YouTube