United Macedonia Diaspora

[Onur]

Onur, hi,

Turkey was great! We went to Istanbul, Ankara, Cannakkale (Gallipolli and Troy). We met with several businesses, NGO sector people, Jewish community, Ecumenical Patriachate, Turkish Foreign Ministry, etc..

We have a matching grant, and a scholarship program with TCA.

Thats great to hear. It`s also wise decision for both UMD and TCA to work together because in Turkey, we know the power of Greco-Armenian diaspora. I am counting Armenians too because we all know that Greeks and Armenian diaspora always acts together and Armenians always supports Greek thesis without an exception. Armenian diaspora is even more powerful than Armenian state herself. They got numerous senators in USA and the situation is same in France too. Most of French media are under strong Armenian influence and i believe if ROM starts EU membership negotiations one day in the future, French Armenians will probably cause major headache to you because at least 1-2 ministers are always Armenians in French governments. So, your collaborative work should be useful for both you guys(UMD and TCA) as well as ROM and Turkey.


I also wondered how was your Istanbul patriarchy visit. I saw posts in this forum about patriarchy`s policy towards Macedonian Ohrid church and i think they don't recognize it, right? Did you guys entered a conversation about this issue or it was just a goodwill meeting?

P.S: Btw, Turkey doesn't officially recognize their ecumenical status because of Greek policy towards their minorities. Istanbul patriarchy was in ecumenical status at Ottoman era but after the republic, we don't recognize this anymore. According to our official policy, Istanbul patriarchy doesn't have any superiority over Bulgarian, Russian or Macedonian church. Currently this issue is tied up to the minority issue in Greece. We declared that unless Greece treats her minorities properly by giving their democratic rights, we wont recognize Istanbul patriarchy as an ecumenical.

In short, we don't wanna give them a status like Pope in Vatican because of equality issue. For example, Greek citizen Turks(Greek muslims according to them) cant even select their own religious leaders. Greek governments appoints whoever they want and Greek citizen Turks doesn't recognize them as their religious leader but Greek governments never allowed them to select their own clerics even once either. So, it`s a dead end. On the other hand, Istanbul patriarchy elects whoever they want(only among Turkey citizens) cuz no one interferes to them but Mr. Bartholomeo claims that he feels like he is being "crucified" by the Turks cuz we don't let him transfer Greek citizen clerics directly from Athens to Istanbul!!!

If Mr. Bartholomeo feels like he is being crucified then the minorities in Greece should feel like impaled for a century.

[Makedonska_Kafana]

In their resolution they CALL on the Macedonian government to end name negotiations.

Do you think that if UMD wrote "we demand the Macedonian government to end name negotiations" would make the difference so much that the Macedonian government ends the name talks?

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Yes, you use that word DEMAND and let the Macedonian government sink or swim. It sends a strong message to Greece, Bulgaria. Albania. USA, UN, NATO and the EU that we really do matter in diaspora.

We may get something from the MOC this weekend after the convention.

[Risto the Great]

If Mr. Bartholomeo feels like he is being crucified then the minorities in Greece should feel like impaled for a century.

Very true.

[George S.]

I hope we are united.i'm not really agains't them except they should have some sort of active role.Rather than watching on the sides & be passive.

[Currency Trader]

Yes, you use that word DEMAND and let the Macedonian government sink or swim. It sends a strong message to Greece, Bulgaria. Albania. USA, UN, NATO and the EU that we really do matter in diaspora.
.

I believe you're thinking too simplistic over an issue that is far greater than changing a single word. Politics is hardly decided over a single word.

The important thing here is that almost all Macedonian organizations support the end of name negotiation.


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[Currency Trader]

I hope we are united.i'm not really agains't them except they should have some sort of active role.Rather than watching on the sides & be passive.

Reading from their answer, and the trend of protecting this very human rights issue, they (UMD) may/could actually do something on their own.
Let's see what happens.



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[Makedonska_Kafana]

Reading from their answer, and the trend of protecting this very human rights issue, they (UMD) may/could actually do something on their own.
Let's see what happens.

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Well, it would help if this was done yesterday and if they wanted to really do something positive for the diaspora they hold a major press conference and invite every Washington newspaper and television station to attend.

World attention on CNN

[Mikail]

Well Said Onur. Greece in fact does not have a head of the GOC.

Keep up the lobbying Meto, you have failed your lobbying attempts here.

[Prolet]

Greece in fact does not have a head of the GOC.

Do you mean they dont have an ArchBishop like Gospodin Gospodin Stefan? Its very interesting actually.

[Mikail]

yes it is true

They are a power unto themselves

[UMDiaspora.org]

Onur - thank you for your post.

The Ecumenical Patriarch in 2007 visited Lerin (Florina) and declared "Macedonia is Greek" and there is no such thing as a Macedonian. This is the what a religious leader of millions of Orthodox folk should be stating.

For those that are not aware, churches in Aegean Macedonia are under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch and not under the jurisdiction of the Church of Athens and All Greece. Similiarly, the churches in North America are also under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarch.

UMD is monitoring closely the religious rights of Macedonians and Turks in Greece, and is working with TCA to bring awareness about this. A document is being prepared.

[UMDiaspora.org]

UMD Membership Month has kicked off very nicely, with several new members, and several renewals. We encourage you to renew, become a member, or donate.

Thank you for your support! Without it, UMD would not be where it is today!

Visit: http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/495/1/

[Makedonska_Kafana]

What advantage is becoming a member - right to vote, expect that the rights and wishes of the Macedonian diaspora come before anything else, discounts, UMD pen?

Can someone from Australia or Canada be a president or vice president? How often are your elections held - every 10 years?

Pozdrav,

World Macedonian Diaspora
Toronto, Ontario Canada

http://macedoniandiaspora.phpbb3now.com/viewforum.php?f=2

One people, one destiny - Macedonians

[UMDiaspora.org]

Thank you for your question.

Elections are in 2011. Anyone can become President or Vice President.

All of those are membership benefits, except the UMD pen...we have not produced one of these yet. Members partake in regular surveys, and attend various events and conferences UMD puts on. UMD then decides its policies based on monitoring of these surveys, events, conferences.

[Jimmy Myka]

The Ecumenical Patriarch in 2007 visited Florina and declared "Macedonia is Greek" and there is no such thing as a Macedonian.

Don't you mean LERIN?