United Macedonia Diaspora

[Makedonska_Kafana]

UMD will not allow a name change and has called for an end to UN talks to find a new name for the country calling on the UN to recognize Macedonia as Republic of Macedonia.

BS

Where have you EVER called for an END (forever) of the UN ethnic cleansing talks and walk away?

[UMDiaspora.org]

End of talks

BS

Where have you EVER called for an END (forever) of the UN ethnic cleansing talks and walk away?

MK - see the following link: http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/488/1/

The text in particular is as follows:

RESOLVED, that UMD, reiterates its unwavering support for retention of the one and only constitutional and rightful name of the Republic of Macedonia, rejects all attempts to change or impose any other name upon the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian people, and calls upon the Macedonian government to cease the ongoing UN negotiations and to submit a resolution before the UN General Assembly and Security Council to be re-admitted to the UN under its one and only constitutional and rightful name of the Republic of Macedonia;

[Makedonska_Kafana]

MK - see the following link: http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/488/1/

The text in particular is as follows:

RESOLVED, that UMD, reiterates its unwavering support for retention of the one and only constitutional and rightful name of the Republic of Macedonia, rejects all attempts to change or impose any other name upon the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian people, and calls upon the Macedonian government to cease the ongoing UN negotiations and to submit a resolution before the UN General Assembly and Security Council to be re-admitted to the UN under its one and only constitutional and rightful name of the Republic of Macedonia;

When was the last time you spoke to anyone at the UN offices? The last time you formally met with Matthew Nimitz a member of MHRMI was with you. What changed after that meeting?

[UMDiaspora.org]

Nimetz

When was the last time you spoke to anyone at the UN offices? The last time you formally met with Matthew Nimitz a member of MHRMI was with you. What changed after that meeting?

The last time UMD communicated with anyone at the UN was last week.

The last time UMD met with Ambassador Nimetz was in February 2009. See: http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/393/51/

The last time UMD met with Ambassador Nimetz together with MHRMI was in November 2007. See: http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/278/51/

[Vangelovski]

Meto,

By not voicing opposition to the contents of this letter, which call on NATO to accept Macedonia by the FYROM terminology and call on Macedonia to continue negotiations, you are in fact "jeopardizing" Macedonia's name for the sake of membership.

[Makedonska_Kafana]

you are in fact "jeopardizing" Macedonia's name for the sake of membership.

Macedonia will NEVER be accepted into NATO, UN or EU under the name Republic of Macedonia and ANY group that thinks they will doesn't deserve to be supported after what we've seen (racists) the past 20 years.

OUR NAME IS OUR NAME - MACEDONIA

[Pelister]

MK - see the following link: http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/488/1/

The text in particular is as follows:

RESOLVED, that UMD, reiterates its unwavering support for retention of the one and only constitutional and rightful name of the Republic of Macedonia, rejects all attempts to change or impose any other name upon the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian people, and calls upon the Macedonian government to cease the ongoing UN negotiations and to submit a resolution before the UN General Assembly and Security Council to be re-admitted to the UN under its one and only constitutional and rightful name of the Republic of Macedonia;

Why then, would You Meto accept our admission to NATO under the shameful acronym, FYROM?

[Rogi]

UMDiaspora.org, you've made more of a fuss about the use of an upper-case or lower-case letter 't' than you have about the actual interim name. If it matters so much to you that the interim name is used properly, please complain to the UN for listing Macedonia as 'The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia' on its' website (http://www.un.org/en/members/#t).


However, let's get back to the point of my questions to UMDiaspora.org

Here is what UMDiaspora.org said:

The letter does not say FYROM once...Macedonia NEVER STARTED THEIR MEMBERSHIP ACTION PLAN AS FYROM!

FYROM is repulsive! And no Macedonian should ever even say the acronym!

I see some very strong language here against the acronym 'FYROM'.

However, Macedonia entered into the Membership Action Plan as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". The acronym is based on that name, much like the United States of America is commonly referred to as the USA.

By arguing against the use of the acronym itself, whilst not arguing against the term from which the acronym is derived, is indeed a case of not seeing the forest for the tree's.

By arguing so staunchly against the use of the acronym, in a manner that asks for the full interim name to be used, you are in fact lobbying (we can get to the definition of this term later if you like, since you touched on it) FOR the interim name, which is doing a great disservice to the greater Macedonian goal of getting rid of that interim name.

[Rogi]

This is a quote from UMDiaspora.org over at Maknews and the same post exists here also. Here is the link to the post: http://www.maknews.com/forum/post274...e04d1f86012f14

Consider joining the largest & fastest growing Macedonian membership advocacy organization

This is a quote from the UMD Website, on the formation of the Macedonian friendship group in Congress, available here: http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/230/106/

За успешно остварување на целта да се формира група во Конгресот која ќе расправа и лобира за македонските интереси

Now let's look at some definitions:

"Lobbying (also Lobby) is a form of advocacy with the intention of influencing decisions made by legislators and officials in the government by individuals, other legislators, constituents, or Advocacy groups."

"lobbyist - someone who is employed to persuade legislators to vote for legislation that favors the lobbyist's employer"

"Communication with elected officials or their staff, which expresses a position on a pending piece of legislation."

"lobbyist - A person, usually acting as an agent for an organized group, who seeks to bring about the passage or defeat of legislative bills or to influence their content."

"lobbyist - An individual who seeks to influence the outcome of legislation or administrative decisions."


Does UMD not do any of the above? If not, then what does UMD do exactly? Besides boat cruises and conferences, of course.

Every single NGO is a lobby group, whether it's to lobby for legislation, for policy, or for funding. You might want to avoid using the term because of your 'charitable' status, but don't try to correct the rest for calling a spade a spade.


Unless it is the reverse - you advocate the interests of certain bodies, institutions or Governments, to the Macedonian people?

[Vangelovski]

Unless it is the reverse - you advocate the interests of certain bodies, institutions or Governments, to the Macedonian people?

I think we have a bingo!

[Mikail]

Yes we do, but let's not hold our breath waiting for a response from the UMD Online Team.

They would prefer to argue the use of a "t" over a "T" than have some meaningful discussion.

[Makedonska_Kafana]

Does UMD not do any of the above? If not, then what does UMD do exactly? Besides boat cruises and conferences, of course.

UMD has entered to win two $1,000 prize give-aways for charities. We need 200 people to join our UMD BloomSpot Circle Boston and Washington, D.C. by Thursday, October 7, 2010. Please join today and help us win $2,000 from BloomSpot! It is free to join and all you need is your e-mail.

Lacking direction and priorities the past 5 years. Game shows next?

[Piperka]

Rogi, thank you for your questions/comments.

Allow us to first clarify that UMD does not lobby. UMD is a charitable educational advocacy organization.

Did they mean to say, "UMD does not lobby anymore." When did they stop lobbying? According to their 2008 tax returns, they engaged in lobbying that year. Their lobbying efforts were the bare minimum allowed to maintain 501(c)(3) status, but still considered to be lobbying.

http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2008/205/182/2008-205182996-052268ec-Z.pdf

[Vangelovski]

Did they mean to say, "UMD does not lobby anymore." When did they stop lobbying? According to their 2008 tax returns, they engaged in lobbying that year. Their lobbying efforts were the bare minimum allowed to maintain 501(c)(3) status, but still considered to be lobbying.

http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocument...052268ec-Z.pdf

Honesty, transperancy, accountability...these are some principles that UMD may want to think about before they pretend to work for the cause. After centuries of oppression, these three principles form a core part of the cause that all Macedonians should be working towards. They are a fundamental component of a free and democratic society - the type of society that Macedonians should have already built by now. Yet our "leading" organisation is still grappling with these basic principles.

[Mikail]

Well done Piperka

Expose of more UMD lies!