United Macedonia Diaspora

[UMDiaspora.org]

The international community is using scare-tactics to put pressure on Macedonia to change its name. However, in our opinion, we believe Macedonia's leaders will not succumb to such pressure. We hope they will not succumb to such pressure!

A 12-member UMD delegation had a meeting with the State Department yesterday and reiterated our position that we firmly reject any changes to Macedonia's ancestral and rightful name. UMD also met with 2 senators, and 7 congressmen and stated the same. Yesterday was UMD's 2nd Annual Macedonian-American Day in Congress.

[UMDiaspora.org]

On June 6, UMD will release its annual resolution on the name, similiar to last year's June 13th resolution following the conclusion of the 1st Annual UMD Global Conference.

UMD encourages you to attend this year's conference in Toronto and hear distinguished speakers and engage with them on Macedonia's role in the world, the United Nations, Council of Europe, EU, NATO, preservation of Macedonian identity and language, and human rights in Southeast Europe. The conference will be documented and all speeches will be posted on YouTube.

At the moment, we need unity among Macedonian individuals and groups to stand up to the pressure of the international community, and raise the morale of Macedonian people in and outside of Macedonia.

[Vangelovski]

On June 6, UMD will release its annual resolution on the name.

I wonder what name UMD will opt for this year?

[Soldier of Macedon]

What's the matter Meto, did you miss my previous post?

[UMDiaspora.org]

Join Mike S. Zafirovski at the 2nd Annual UMD Global Conference and hear him speak on the topic Doing Business in Macedonia - A Unique Business Gateway to Southeast Europe!

Mike Zafirovski is a 35-year business veteran who served as President and CEO of Nortel, a global communications technology company; President and COO of Motorola and its six separate multi-billion dollar technology and communications businesses; and within a 25 year career at GE, he served as the President and CEO of five GE businesses in the consumer, industrial and financial services arenas. He is known for his operational execution, vision, and passionate, principled leadership of companies renowned for game-changing innovation, intense customer focus and leadership development.

In 2007, President George W. Bush appointed Zafirovski to the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC). NSTAC provides analytics and recommendations to the President on a wide range of policy and technical issues related to telecommunications, information systems, information assurance, infrastructure protection, and other national security and emergency preparedness concerns.

Zafirovski holds a B.A. in mathematics from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania where he also captained the intercollegiate soccer and swimming teams. In 2002, Edinboro University awarded him an honorary doctorate degree. A native of Macedonia, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2004.

Zafirovski serves on the board of directors of Boeing. He is involved in civic and business communities and is active in several professional, educational and non-profit business organizations, including The Economic Club of Chicago and Macedonia 2025. He and his wife Robin are co-chairs and past national chairs for Duke University's Parents' Committee. They have three sons.

[UMDiaspora.org]

16-year-old Violinist Ema Nikolovska will perform at aLIVE - A Macedonian Cultural Celebration!

16-year-old Ema Nikolovska was born in Skopje, Macedonia and started playing the violin at the age of 4. She has been awarded numerous scholarships and music awards, and has been runner-up in the Canadian Music Competition National Finals for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Ema has performed with Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Sinfonietta, and NYCO Symphony Orchestra, Academy Symphony Orchestra and Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra as a winner of their concerto competitions. In the coming 2010/2011 season, Ema will be performing as a soloist with the NYCO Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Ema is an active chamber musician and a member of the Academy Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra. She has performed in a number of master classes for renowned artists such as: Paul Kantor, Mauricio Fuks, Andres Cardenes, Federico Agostini, Miriam Fried, Jacques Israelievitch, James Ehnes, Mimi Zweig, Christian Tetzlaff.

Ema is a scholarship student at the Young Artists Performance Academy of the Glenn Gould School and has been studying violin with Kelly Parkins-Lindstrom for the last six years, and with Paul Kantor for the last year. She is currently preparing for the ARCT Performance Exam, and looking forward to spend the summer in the renowned music camps in Orford, Quebec, and Aspen, Colorado, as a recipient of a considerable scholarship.

Click here to hear Ema play: YouTube - Vivaldi Winter (part 1)

[Mikail]

Thanks for all the announcements. Do you think you could answer the questions put to you?

[Soldier of Macedon]

That's right UMD, worm your way out of this one also, sram da vie.

[Rogi]

I would like to know why UMD will be honoring Ohio Senator George Voinovich with the UMD International Freedom Award?

What is his relevance to the Macedonian people? Senator Voinovich has been quoted, as recently as yesterday, urging for a 'compromise' on the name, as well as a referendum for the same.

This is a statement and position which in effect provides room for and, by logical consqeuence, condones the Greek oppression and bullying of the Macedonian people and their state, the denigration and appropriation of the Macedonian identity and the utter disrespect of the Rights of the Macedonian people.

How does such a person warrant an "International Freedom" award by any Macedonian organisation?

I am infuriated by this kowtowing (read: ass-kissing) attempt and find it disrespectful both to the Macedonian people, and to the many people who actually do trully support Macedonia and the Macedonian people and their International Freedom.


It is among the most fatal flaws to accept a submissive position; you will never gain the ability nor opportunity to assert yourself.

[Prolet]

Gee Rogi i cant think of anybody who hasnt told us not to reach for a compromise, even our closest allies have been saying this. How is George Vojnovic any different to the others?? I certainly dont believe he is our friend and these awards should be given to those who support our country and do something for it.

[julie]

UMD - do you agree with negotations? do you agree with compromise on our name?
I dont.
This is becoming a tad insulting

[Rogi]

It is a bit like rewarding a dog with a bone because he's only growling and barking at you but hasn't bitten you yet. It is the complete opposite of what we need to be doing.

[Prolet]

Rogi, Can you think of him actually doing something for our country? I cant, not off the top of my head at least.

[julie]

Prolet, but this is something that is becoming more and more apparent - the "disapora" is condoning negotations and rewarding that behaviour

there appears to be a hidden agenda somewhere....

[DIMO]

meto koloski leader of united macedonian diaspora, SERBOMAN