Risto Stefov - Articles, Translations & Collaborations

[George S.]

Macedonian Struggle for Independence
Part 33 – The First Balkan War
By Risto Stefov
[email protected]
Ater the various alliances between Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria and Montenegro were made the Balkan countries began preparations for war. Then on September 20th, 1912 the allies sent an ultimatum to the Ottoman authorities asking them to reform the administration and establish local assemblies, local police, free schools, etc. The Ottoman response came on September 23rd, 1912 with the mobilization of part of the Ottoman military forces in the European part of the Ottoman Empire. The allied response to that was a general mobilization which took place on September 30th, 1912. A day later the Ottomans also ordered a general mobilization prompting Serbia to do the same on October 17th and Greece on October 19th, 1912 and thus initiating the First Balkan War.
The Ottoman mobilization, which lasted almost a month, did not go as well as expected because the Macedonians and other Christians refused to join the Ottoman army thus allowing it to recruit only half of the planned forces.
The very low turnout on the Christian part was mainly due to the escalation of anti-Ottoman propaganda conducted by the Allies leading the populations to believe that liberation was imminent. Many Macedonian emigrants in Bulgaria anticipated this war with great hope. During its preparations for war, Bulgaria used propaganda to fool the Macedonians that because of the Bulgarian-Serbian Treaty, Bulgaria was committing to giving up the San Stefano Treaty and to recognizing Macedonian autonomy. Knowing nothing about the “secret agreements” to “partition” Macedonia, the people in Macedonia, Serbia and Bulgaria considered Macedonia to be just another ally. Only Yane Sandanski was suspicious of the Serbian-Bulgarian Treaty and believed it to be an agreement to divide Macedonia. As soon as Sandanski found out about the Serbian-Bulgarian Treaty he was sure and made his opinion clear to his followers, that no such agreement was possible if it would not result in the division of Macedonia. Sandanski was a believer of Gotse Delchev’s philosophy that it was better for Macedonia to remain under Ottoman rule than to be partitioned and annexed by its neighbours. Sandanski was against the Balkan Wars unless of course they led to the creation of a Balkan Federation where Macedonia was to be an autonomous country. Sandanski always believed that “those who will come to liberate us will occupy us”. Sandanski and others supported regional autonomy for Macedonia within a democratic Ottoman Federation, or, a liberated and independent Macedonia within a democratic community of Balkan nations.
On August 15th, 1912, just before the First Balkan War started, a number of Macedonians in Bitola sent a letter to Russia warning the Russian leadership that the Balkan Alliance was not created to liberate Macedonia but to divide it among Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece. “Those nations do not recognize a Macedonian national identity and all this time have tried to turn Macedonians into Serbians, Bulgarians and Greeks, so why would they now want to liberate Macedonia if not to divide it among themselves. Only Russia could save Macedonia by giving it its support and forcing Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria to cease their propaganda activities in Macedonia. Russia can help Macedonia by supporting the Macedonian people to restore their church independence and self rule and allow the natural course of the Macedonian national consciousness to take its place in a single undivided Macedonia. Russia can help by assisting the Macedonian people to open Macedonian schools and teach in the Macedonian language.”
The letter was concluded with the words “Macedonia reeks of death! We place our hopes on Russian interference to give us our independence not as a ‘Slavic alliance’ against the Ottoman Empire, but as moral support and some pressure on the Ottomans to grant us these rights. If Russia continues to support the Balkan alliance, there will be a Balkan War and Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria will divide Macedonia.”
On March 23rd, 1913 the Bulgarians attacked Odrin. By the early morning hours of March 25th Odrin was occupied by the 4th Bulgarian Army and by Macedonian units which were inducted into the Bulgarian army. After that the Macedonians were sent to the Gallipoli front where a severe battle against newly arrived Ottoman force from Anatolia was taking place during which the Macedonians showed great courage and combat readiness. They pursued the Ottoman forces all the way to the Marmora Sea.
When the First Balkan War was finished the Macedonian units fighting in the Bulgarian army were sent to Kratovo, Macedonia to fight against Serbian forces. Serbia, having also recruited Macedonians in its army, such as the Osogovo Detachment, also had Macedonians fighting on the Serbian side. So here we have Macedonians fighting Macedonians for Serbian and Bulgarian interests.
Outside of the Macedonian Partisan Chetas that fought under Bulgarian command, there were also 34 other Macedonian Chetas and village militia units organized by the Macedonian population which also fought against the Ottomans and liberated their own cities and villages. But after the war was over these independent Macedonian Chetas were disarmed and disbanded by the Greek, Serbian and Bulgarian armies. Some surrendered but many fled to the mountains. According to estimates, more than 13,000 Macedonians in total were engaged in the Balkan Wars.
Besides the help the Macedonians offered the Allies towards the liberation of Macedonia there were also independent actions taking place. The Strumeshnitsa River valley population, for example, formed their own village Cheta numbering 700 fighters who on October 19th, 1912 fought the Ottomans and liberated the villages Ilovitsa and Sushitsa.
The following day Lefterov and Smolarski arrived with their Chetas and, together with the Strumeshnitsa River valley Cheta, subdued a local Ottoman detachment. In Prilep Region, meanwhile, Krsto Germov with his “Prilep Flying Detachment” joined forces with Vojvoda Milan Gjurlukov’s Cheta giving incentive for others to join the fight. Vojvodas Mirche and Argir mobilized more than 1,000 fighters and fought and won a battle against an Ottoman cavalry detachment.
Macedonian independent Chetas from Prilep also coordinated their activities with the Serbian armed forces. They, for example, helped the Serbian army breach Ottoman positions near Prisad, gaining Prince Alexander’s personal gratitude for their assistance. But despite the Princely gratitude received, it did not take the Serbian authorities too long before they labeled the very Macedonian Chetas who assisted them, Bulgarian, and arrested Vojvoda Gjurlukov for allegedly working against Serbian interests.
Even before the First Balkan War began, a number of “all Macedonian” volunteer village and Macedonian Revolutionary Organization Chetas had assembled at Plachkovitsa Mountain. Among the Vojvodas leading these Chetas were Gorgi Pop Hristov, Marko Ivanov, Pavel Hristov, Vasil Chakalarov, Ivan Popov and Hristo Siljanov. During the war they too took independent actions in Tikvesh, Gevgelija and Kostur Regions where they were joined by the local population and liberated many villages.
On October 20th, 1912 Macedonian Chetas liberated the City Voden and gave the local population their support in establishing local authority. Vojvodas Vasil Chakalarov, Ivan Popov and Hristo Siljanov, who were known from the Ilinden Uprising and carried some authority, attracted the population and encouraged many to join the fight. As a result they succeeded in liberating large territories in Kostur, Lerin and Voden Regions in a relatively short time.
In November 1912 the Ottoman army carried out a counter-offensive against the Macedonian liberated territory but the Macedonians, in a joint operation with the allied Serbian and Greek forces, repulsed the Ottomans. Unfortunately when the First Balkan War was over, on December 12, 1912, the local Macedonian Chetas were disbanded and their leaders arrested by the Greek and Serbian authorities who at the time were negotiating Macedonia’s division.
Kumanovo was another Region of significance during the First Balkan War where almost every village had its own Cheta. Numbering several thousand fighters in total, the Kumanovo Region militias were on the move, constantly attacking Ottoman positions. On October 10th and 11th, 1912 they attacked an Ottoman military installation near the village Orashets and captured a number of heavy artillery pieces and other weapons.
In Skopje Region Chetas cooperated with the village militias and coordinated their activities with the Serbian army.
There were also independent Chetas operating in Shtip and Kochani Regions led by Vojvodas Efrem Chuchkov, Simeon Gjorgjiev, Orovchanov and others. The largest independent Cheta was that of Solun Region led by Vojvoda Ichko Dimitrov.
The best actions however, to illustrate events during the First Balkan War in Macedonia, were those that took place in Krushevo. Led by Vojvodas Vancho Delev-Dzhoneto, Vancho Beluvcheto and Metodi Stojchev, the Krushevo Chetas, along with the Serbian army, fought in the battles of Obednik, Oblakovo, Snegovo and Bitola. Then on October 24th, 1912, the village militia occupied Krushevo and immediately established authority by applying the principles of the Ilinden Krushevo Republic. Prominent citizens such as Todor Spasev, Velko Kjurchijata and others were appointed to administer the local government, which lasted twenty days before it was disbanded by the Serbians.
Upon establishing authority, the people of Krushevo were the first to provide the Serbian army with food and other supplies and to welcome the Serbians as liberators and heroes. But as more and more Serbian units arrived in the city, Serbian authority was established and the Macedonian Chetas were ordered to surrender their weapons. As for the fighters themselves, they were told that they could stay in Krushevo or leave for Bulgaria. Given the situation, Vancho Dzhoneto and his Cheta delivered their weapons while Stavre Dimitrovski, Vancho Beluvcheto and their Chetas refused and fled to the mountains. The Serbian army went after them and after several days of pursuit Beluvcheto was killed. The Serbians then cut off his head and paraded it in the city streets to frighten the people, which showed their real intent towards the Macedonian population. This act, in the eyes of the Macedonian people, certainly unmasked the role of the so-called Serbian liberators.
After this the Krushevo Revolutionary Organization met and decided that everything that could be done had been done and there was nothing more to do. “We established a Republic and have gone from one slavery to another. Now there is nothing to do except wait for the war to end and hope that peace will bring something better”. Borjar, the cherry tree gun craftsman, went on to say “So we now had the first and the last meeting under our new occupation and have walked away with our heads down, as if we were about to face death”. After this the Krushevo Revolutionary Organization, even though it had led the Macedonian people in the fight for their liberation for more than a decade, ceased to exist.
In Bitola Region meanwhile, local Chetas, believing the Serbians were there to liberate Macedonia, combined forces with the Serbian Chetas in the region and carried out joint missions to oust the Ottoman army. The Macedonians interacted superbly with the Serbians in the liberation battles of Gopesh and Gjavato. Local Chetas also supported the battles in Pribiltsi, Smilevo and especially in Bitola. But after the Serbian army gained control of Bitola all local Chetas were disbanded and Serbian authority established.
In Ohrid Region, Petar Chaulev’s Cheta joined forces with Dejan Dimitrov and Stefan Atanasov’s Cheti and together fought the Ottomans in Debartsa, Kichevo, Malesija and Demir Hisar Regions. On October 14th, 1912 Macedonian local Chetas captured 300 Ottoman soldiers near the village Slivovo and on October 15th, 1912 Atanasov's Cheta ambushed and captured 250 Ottoman soldiers.
Then on October 23rd, 1912 Chaulev discovered from the Serbians that there was a “disputed zone in Macedonia” and a “secret treaty” between the Serbian and Bulgarian governments which was of enormous significance for the Macedonian people. But, despite his disappointment, Chaulev continued to fight the Ottomans.
On November 4th and 5th, 1912 Chaulev attacked Pribiltsi and Brezhani and captured 600 Ottoman soldiers. The following day his Chetas fought Xhavit Pasha near Bukovik and captured another 300 Ottomans.
On November 10th, 1912 Chaulev captured Ohrid and established a short lived local authority, which three days later was abolished by the Serbian army.
Of all the Ilinden Revolutionary Districts that fought in the 1903 Macedonian National Uprising however, the Seres group, with Yane Sandanski as the top leader, remained active.
Given the current situation, the Seres group held a meeting in Solun in June 1912 and decided to participate in the war. If having no other choice Sandanski believed that Macedonians should help Bulgaria annex all of Macedonia in order to prevent it from being dismembered.
By end of September 1912 all preparations and logistics were in place and a second consultation meeting took place in Melnik where rules of engagement and other military matters were discussed. It was decided that Melnik would be the Military District’s new headquarters and Sandanski would lead the group with Gjorgi Kazepov as his assistant.
A number of people in the villages were mobilized and assigned to acquire weapons, equipment, food and other supplies. Armed units were trained to carry out intelligence and reconnaissance activities, conduct ambushes, cut telephone and telegraph poles, destroy bridges and railroads and attack the enemy, causing as much damage as possible.
Sandanski was well respected by the Macedonian people because he was a principled man and because he refused to cooperate with those who had interests outside of the Macedonian cause. He and his Chetas were considered to be the protectors of the Macedonian people. But as war was inevitable, Sandanski had no choice but to cooperate even with those he considered his enemies. Before the Balkan War began, Sandanski had managed to mobilize about 2,000 Macedonian fighters and on October 5th, 1912, 13 days before the allies had declared war on Ottomans, he began a campaign to oust the occupier. Sandanski’s forces fought in Pirin Region near Nevrokop (today’s Gotse Delchev), in Drama Region, in Melnik Region and in St. Vrach (today’s Sandanski).
Sandanski’s forces, consisting of about 2,700 fighters in total, were organized in a number of Chetas that included his own detachment as well as a number of village militias and other independently created Chetas. Even though these forces were independently led by Macedonians, they were all subordinated to Bulgarian Command because the Bulgarians had agreed to support the Macedonians and contribute to the future of the Macedonian cause.
Sandanski’s units initially were responsible for providing the Bulgarians with logistics support on Ottoman positions and strength. There were reports that Sandanski’s people also provided the Bulgarian army with 5,000 loaves of bread, food and medical care for wounded Bulgarian soldiers. Later Sandanski’s armed units carried out diversionary missions against the Ottoman army’s rear and on October 14th, 1912 liberated the city Melnik and established local authority.
During its retreat the Ottoman army killed 26 Macedonians, prompting the Macedonian civilian population to rebel and forcing Sandanski to deploy his forces to protect the Ottoman civilian population.
With the situation in Melnik calmed down, Sandanski’s forces went on to liberate surrounding villages including Tsrvishte, where the Ottoman garrison that guarded the Rupel Gorge was stationed. With the Ottoman garrison destroyed the entire Struma Valley from Melnik to the Rupel Gorge was also liberated.
After establishing local control in the region Sandanski took 300 of his best Macedonian fighters and began his trek towards Solun, acting as the advance guard for the Bulgarian army. On his way there other Macedonian units joined in, including those led by Vojvodas Stoju Hadzhiev, Dimitar Arnaudov, Gjorgi Kazepov, Krsto Chaprashikov, Ivan Chontev and A. Bujnov.
Sandanski’s 300 Macedonians, along with a Bulgarian Cavalry group, were the first to enter Solun on October 28th, 1912. Following immediately after them was a Greek column led by Constantine, the Greek King.
Bulgarian princes Boris and Cyril arrived with the main Bulgarian force for whom the Macedonians provided security.
Sandanski, because of his reputation acquired during the Young Turk Uprising for his struggle for liberty and equality, was well known in Solun and was greeted with honours when he arrived. He was also respected by the Bulgarian army because of the assistance he provided to the Bulgarian troops.
All that being said, however, when General Georgi Todorov, Chief of Staff of the Bulgarian 7th Rila Division, proposed a toast on the occasion of “liberating” Macedonia and annexing it to Bulgaria, Sandanski stood up and said “I will drink to a free and autonomous Macedonia, for which the united Balkan nations fought and suffered so much”. Sandanski’s toast infuriated and shocked the Bulgarian officers who stormed him, cursing and threatening, ready to cut him into small pieces with their swords.
Aandanski remained calm during the brawl as he walked away fully convinced now that he had been right all along that ousting the Ottomans out of Macedonian did not mean the liberation of Macedonia but quite the contrary, it meant that the Macedonian people were deceived and an occupation and partition of Macedonia would follow. Therefore he concluded that the Macedonian peoples’ struggle for liberation and independence had to continue.
At the conclusion of the First Balkan War a Russian journalist, V. Vodovozov, came to Macedonia to investigate the situation and learn more about the Macedonian Question. Late in July 1913 he attended a meeting in Sofia where Macedonia was the main subject of discussion. In attendance also were Macedonians including Nejchev, Ljapchev, Todorov, Kiril Popov and others who voiced their opinions. But only Petko Todorov spoke of autonomy for Macedonia and called the Treaty of March 13th, 1912, offensive. The others also spoke of autonomy but as a last resort and even asked the foreign journalist to prepare the ground work for it. Sandanski too was in attendance and when Vodovozov asked him why he did not speak in favour of an independent Macedonia, Sandanski said “You can see how these gentlemen treat the issue of autonomy; it would be distasteful to speak of independence for Macedonia in their presence in such circumstances. When the 'liberators' declared war on the Ottomans, not many Macedonians had realized that the destiny of their fatherland had already been decided without their knowledge or consent. Macedonians assumed the war would be fought to liberate and create an independent Macedonian state. It was forbidden to speak and write about Macedonia in Bulgaria, especially about its independence and today's situation is a result of such politics. When Albania became independent and began to establish its statehood, Macedonia was condemned to be divided and destroyed which of course is beginning to happen.”
Sandanski’s idea to continue the Macedonian peoples’ struggle for liberation and independence was too late for at least a couple of reasons. For one, the neighbouring countries had already invaded and occupied Macedonia and had driven out the Ottomans so they were not about to leave Macedonia and give up what they had gained. Also the Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (MRO), which managed the preparations and led the Macedonian National Uprising in 1903, was now in shambles and there was not a single political body to lead a renewed Macedonian struggle.

To be continued.

[George S.]

On the Road of Time - Intro

9:31 PM
Reply ▼
risto stefov
To ;
Dear readers and friends,

I hope you enjoyed the last 25 chapters of the translated version of Petre Nakovski's book "The Great Lie".

I am now happy to introduce you to another (his latest) of Petre Nakovski's books, this one is entitled "On the Road of Time".

I hope you also find it enjoyable.

Regards, Risto...





On the Road of Time

By Petre Nakovski

Translated and edited by Risto Stefov

June 3, 2012



PETRE NAKOVSKI - ON THE ROAD OF TIME



(Following the traces of memories)



“Η μνημη οπου την αγγιζεις ποναει” Γ. Σεφερης (“The memory wherever you touch it hurts” G. Seferis)



Any similarity is by chance


Our journey through Albania was realized with financial support from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia, for which the author expresses his special gratitude.





On the Road of Time – Forward


Who will testify to the times
in which we have been immersed
and imprinted with countless targets
and bound with bloody strands?


Who will write that we live
a deeply rooted life
on our great grandfather’s and grandfather’s land
to which we are very much faithful?


They wrong us by their testimonies and colourless they wrote, spreading a dark cloud over us,
a divide they dug between us,
and with lies and false promises they embraced us,
and at all times,
a bloody cover they laid under us.


Who will testify and record that for us
freedom has always had the colour red?


Who will testify if not we,
about our pain and suffering, crying and lamenting,
prayers and tears, waiting without end,
about the fire, the shout and cry, the horrible defeat,
about our uprooting and exile
that lead us so far away from home;


And hopefully the prophesy will come true
that after years and the passing of time
everything will be ours again?

For this great hope
and for everything, and for everyone who was lost to time,
may the glimmer of candlelight shine,
may animated and living ambers for eternity glow,
may God will, that in all of us shine
the enlightenment we possess today
so that we will be smarter and wiser tomorrow.


Amen!



Other articles by Risto Stefov:

http://www.maknews.com/html/articles.html#stefov

http://www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3446

Free electronic books by Risto Stefov available at:

http://makedonskakafana.com/ebooks.html

Our Name is Macedonia

https://www.mhrmi.org/our_name_is_macedonia

You can contact the author at [email protected]



Macedonia, Macedonian, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, Stefov

[George S.]

On the Road of Time – Chapter 1 - Part 1



By Petre Nakovski

Translated and edited by Risto Stefov

[email protected]

June 10, 2012


There was a whole pile of books and folders, full of magazine and newspaper clippings, on my desk. They were excerpts from archival documents and published memoirs of political and military leaders from both warring sides of the Greek Civil War. There were selected notes from boastful people who brandished invented lies and testimonies from collaborators. In separate envelopes there were notes from the plain, simple and vivid narratives of the war participants and witnesses who preserved their experiences authentically. All these documents were like bad dreams sealed in distant memories.



While leafing through the piles of papers, reading and re-reading them, there was a constant thought turning in my mind; in what literary form should I publish them: a novel, a travelogue, a report, a memoir? If I had one more choice then let it be a bit of everything but with a single desire; to preserve the entire experience. With a little bit of effort I was ready to brush off and clean the dust resting on the papers and allow the memories to flow regardless of how grievous and painful they might be.



Driven by the thought that these memories would be forgotten over time, I, together with my wife Ditta, on the eve of the Greek Civil War marked by the terrible defeat of the Democratic Forces, decided to take our notes, a living testament of the war participants, and once again bravely revisit the road of our uprooting and eviction from our homeland.



We went back to this time because it reminded us of who we were and of our existence - rooted in our great grandfather and grandfather’s land, blessed with our own rituals and religion, devoted to goodness and filled with faith, but cheated and left with lost hopes.


Ever since then it has been our wish to dust off, at least part of the experiences, and document them with “written” words so that they might forever remain engraved on paper and in the collective and individual memories of our people.



Many years have passed. The generations that experienced and survived the evil are slowly diminishing. The multiple layered wish to return to our native homes has turned into a life long struggle. The few wooden crosses with no names written on them, placed over hastily dug graves in which those who had died in the battles were buried, in that three-year uneven, bloody war – are lost. They were levelled along with the soil placed over them, where today one can find it easier to trip over the scattered pieces of bombs, grenades and bullets than to trip over the broken tombstones, crosses and the remnants of what once used to be our homes.



These remnants are now the only reminders of the evil that once took place in these Macedonian villages and mountains. For us it is a terrible evil which must never be forgotten. We must remember who did this and for whom the worst is over.



In following the traces of these experiences we endeavoured to save the pieces of a larger whole of human suffering from the darkness of oblivion.


Harnessed under the yoke of a great desire to document this past, we set off and took the road of time, following the footsteps of memories which are now part of our survival and existence, which, as some wise men would say, are a large component of our past and a small component of our present...

* * *


In the café at the end of the road in Kato Kaliniki (Macedonian name Dolno Kleshteni), the endopi (natives) – this is what the Asia Minor colonists and those south of Mount Olympus call the original people (the Macedonians) here and in all of Northern Greece – told us that the road to Kostur over Bigla is nicer and more pleasant to drive. You can, they said, go over Lehovo and Vicho but if you want to see a panoramic view of the Lerin valley then it would be best to take the road over Bigla. They also advised us to drive carefully because the fines for traffic infractions were hefty. We took their advice and set off for Lerin, the city which, short of one hundred years ago, was renamed Florina, as the large traffic sign outside the entrance indicated.



Upon our entry into the city we were surprised by the large church and immediately after that we were amazed at the charming new town square which filled the city with beauty, making it attractive with its well thought out décor.



We drove around in a circle looking for parking but all the parking spaces were taken. We kept looking and eventually we were lucky to spot a narrow slot, if one could call that luck, in which our little SAHO just barely fit, making the exit out of it very difficult. From there we went to the nearest café to catch our breath and for a little rest. The place was clean and well-lit and music was pouring out of the well-positioned speakers in the corners. The melody was familiar and reassuring. We listened to the lyrics for a moment, which warned us not to trust the swindlers from Bitola who promise things but never deliver. At that moment it seemed like we were back home in a Bitola café, where only yesterday we had heard the same song being played. Our musing was interrupted by the waiter, a smiling young man who greeted us in Greek and who, with a wide sweep of his arm, showed us to our table.



“Oriste, parakalo, kathiste…” (Please sit down…) he invited us in Greek.



“What are we going to order?” I asked my wife.



“Are you from there?” the waiter asked in Macedonian while pointing to the north.



“Yes,” I replied, “but with roots behind those mountains…”



“Ah, that’s what I thought,” replied the waiter.



“And you?” I asked.



“I am from a village in Kostur Region… I found a job here…” replied the waiter.



“Do you speak Macedonian?” I asked.



“I do speak, but not very loud because there are still rofiani (scoundrels) around…” replied the waiter in a quiet voice, while looking at a table on the other side of the café. “We speak a bit more here in Lerin Region… we also sing… in Macedonian… What can I bring you?”



“Coffee and water,” I replied.



“Greek or cappuccino?” asked the waiter.



“It doesn’t matter,” I said, “as long as it’s good.”



After drinking our “Greek” coffee and paying for it, we went outside and walked down the road towards the market. The closer we got to the market the more we heard people speaking in the Macedonian language. It seemed to us as if the Lerin market was very similar to the Bitola market and so were the café’s and small restaurants. The only difference was the Macedonian language in Bitola was freely spoken whereas the Macedonian language in Lerin was spoken quietly, carefully and only in the company of friends.



Today is market day in Lerin and, from the language spoken, there is very little to distinguish Lerin from Bitola. On every corner travelers would be surprised by how often they would hear people speaking Macedonian. They would even be more surprised to see a sign on the wall of a multi-story building with the word “VINOZHITO” written in large letters in the Macedonian, Greek and English languages. This is the headquarters of the European Free Alliance - Rainbow POLITICAL PARTY OF THE MACEDONIAN MINORITY IN GREECE.



I read and re-read the writing and I asked myself, “Are there new winds blowing?” I asked myself this because I knew and remembered from my childhood years that here and in the wider region, no good, gentle, tame and generous winds ever blew from the south. It has always been my experience that only restless, hurricane-like, harsh, foggy, and merciless, the kind of winds that silence voices and spoken words, sow fear and drive and blow away all hopes, usually blow from the south.



I looked at the sign again; I listened and again heard quiet voices speaking words of greeting and farewell on the streets in the marketplace, in the restaurants, in the café’s and eagerly, very eagerly I asked the wind from the south to blow generous and warm air nonstop and allow people to freely and peacefully sleep with the hope that the next morning they would face a cleared dawn…



Our greatest desire was to visit the burial place of the dead, those killed during the great battle for Lerin, towards the end of the Greek Civil War. It was not easy for us to ask where to find it because we were hesitant about who to ask…



We sat on a bench on this side of the bridge. To the right of us was a marble pedestal with a statue of Kote, a supposed legendary Greek hero – a strong man, who, for a few Judaic gold coins, a payoff from Karavangelis the Greek Bishop of Kostur, beheaded Lazo Pop Traikov, a Macedonian freedom fighter and revolutionary. “Kotas” was written on the monument. The “s” after Kota is there to affirm that he was a Greek. But “Kota” without the “s” means “chicken” in Greek. His dress and coat were stylized to agree with the time of his collaboration and spying but his moccasins were made of cow hide. The sculptor did not remove them because he wanted to preserve the symbolism of his external and internal poverty which together with his insatiable greed led him to fall from grace with his own people.



Incidentally, it is not just in Lerin that one would find monuments of such scoundrels, collaborators, spies and enemies of the Macedonian people, there are plenty of this kind of monument erected by the Greek state in a number of villages in both Lerin and Kostur Regions. The Church glorified them because it alone created them and fed them with Judean silver from its own treasury. The state shamelessly showed pride in their work of collaborating and spying on their own people. As an example, this kind of pride exhibited by the Greek state is how it educates the new generations of Macedonians. The moment these very young children begin kindergarten, the Greek educational system, drop by drop poisons their pure and innocent souls with the poison of alienation about their own birthright as it is written in the books with a Greek fountain pen. (Author’s note: “as it is written in the books with a Greek fountain pen” denotes the Greek laws with which the Greek state changed the personal names of the Macedonian people, the public place names in all of Greek occupied Macedonia and made the use of the Macedonian language illegal, punishable by hefty fines, imprisonment and death.)



* * *



“It is here,” the man said quietly and carefully so as not to draw attention and risk being discovered and insulted and cursed. We begged him to take us to the place of the mass grave in which are resting, according to some, 704 and, according to others, 1000 DAG (Democratic Army of Greece) fighters.



“It is here,” the man said with a heavy heart and tears in his eyes. He said nothing after that. He removed his hat, crossed himself three times and left without saying a word. We could see pain in the man’s eyes and a deep fear in his silence…



We parked at the side of the road and silently made our way to the barbed wire. The place was once a beautiful meadow, a field, now it was overgrown with tall grass and weeds. There was no other sign to indicate that it was anything different. We stood there motionless, petrified, suspended and overwhelmed by the deafening silence, sickness and depression that lay underneath the soil before us. My heart felt tight and my thoughts went back to a bloody time when the young men and women, lying forgotten behind this rusted barbed wire, the only monument of their existence, were alive and fought for what they believed. Then one by one we lay down fresh carnations through the fence and after that we dug a bit of soil, collected it into a pile and placed some candles in it. While kneeling we lit the candles… to give the souls of those thrown into the abyss of oblivion some light…



The Lerin church bells do not ring here and do not call for prayers of remembrance and tribute; no fire burns here in the memory of those whose dreams were filled with hope… there was only burning pain… there was only silence here, no one dared break the seal of silence…



The candle flames quivered in the gentle breeze of the wind, spreading light over darkness. Once in a while the everlasting silence was stirred by passers by, people who knew the deep secret and who offered silent payers in the memory of those lying in the abyss…



This day there are only a few living witnesses who remember that distant, fatal act of hatred, treachery and unforgettable shame, but powerless to act from fear, they walk the path before the barbed wire in silence… Their memory of it is dark, sick, tortured and very much hidden and greater than that is their shame… The ongoing hatred and attempts to forget the past and to erase traces of that great pain still exist here...



The voice of time is a constant reminder of that fateful February 11 & 12, 1949 winter night when the order to attack Lerin was given. It has been said that a great snowstorm took place that night. The wind was strong and cold and a lot of snow fell. Nevertheless, the DAG fighters did their best and followed orders to attack from the steep mountains and thick forests only to be blown up by mines and cut down by machine gun and automatic rifle fire at the approaches of the city. The adversary knew in advance of DAG’s intentions to attack the city and was well prepared for its defence. The next day the attack ended in the afternoon. Three hundred and sixty women were mobilized from the Prespa villages to remove the wounded from the bloody battlefield. The open fields in front of Psoderi were set up to accommodate 1,500 wounded. They were carried here uphill by hand on stretchers through the deep snow and under constant attacks from artillery and machine gun fire. Then from here the wounded were loaded onto trucks and taken to the hospitals in Albania. And down at the approaches of the city, in the minefields and in front of the gun holes and bunkers, everyone was left where they fell, both wounded and dead. There they were tied by the neck with barbed wire and dragged behind the lines where soldiers waited with trucks to pick them up. The snow on the road was red from their spilled blood which led straight to a meadow where bulldozers were digging a mass grave.



The horrible news travelled at lightening speed throughout the villages and a loud, inconsolable and great cry was heard like it had never been heard before. And that day and the days after, all the villages and mountains became walls of tears…



There was a report written and submitted to the highest political and military leadership about the 360 women, which in part read:



“It is recognized that in the fulfilment of their most noble task – transport of the wounded, they demonstrated affection, devotion, self-sacrifice and resolve. In some cases even under very difficult field conditions, under enemy fire, they transported our wounded. As a reward for fulfilling the task they were given a pair of army boots.”



Unfortunately they did not write why they had not given the women such warm army boots to wear before the battle.



NOTE:



Dear readers,



Petre Nakovski, the author of the books “The Great Lie” and “On the Road of Time” has asked me to write to you and solicit your analysis/opinion of his books. Please write us and let us know what you think.

[George S.]

Ancient Macedonian Words Found in the Modern Macedonian Language

Interview with Professor Tome Boshevski

Courtesy, Liljana Ristova
Editor, Canadian Macedonian News

(Translated from Macedonian to English and edited by Risto Stefov)

Did the Slavs come to the Balkans from behind the Carpathians or did they cross the Carpathians fleeing north to avoid the Roman invasions? This is a problem that can be easily and logically remedied.

After five Macedonian-Roman wars fought in the second century BC with Philip V and his son Perseus, a large number of Macedonians including most of the elite and ruling class, fled Macedonia and headed north away from the conflict. Fearing a slaughter from the Roman armies descending on Macedonia from the south, from Peloponnesus, they fled the Balkans and resettled north as far as Siberia. No people leave their homes voluntarily on masse unless they are coerced. This massive evacuation was certainly coerced by the violent Roman invasion which accounted for about half of Macedonia's population leaving Macedonia. The other half still remained and lived on Macedonian territory.

We cannot accept the notion that the Macedonian-Roman wars "cleansed out" the entire Ancient Macedonian population as much as we cannot accept the notion that the Ancient Macedonians who fled the conflict disappeared altogether. There are well documented historic facts that prove that Ancient Macedonians not only survived the Roman invasion but many who fled north in fact, over time, returned to their ancestral lands in the Balkans.

Professor Boshevski, you and your colleague Professor Aristotel Tentov, a while ago, made a sensational discovery of great importance to the Macedonian people and to world history. You were able to successfully decipher the center text on the Rosetta Stone, which for over two hundred years, no one was able to decipher. Even though you are not a linguist by profession you are obviously very much interested in the subject. What compelled you to take on such a great task?

Professor Boshevski: With regards to the decipherment, we were not the first to attempt the center text translation. There were other translations made before us but we were not content with their results. I worked for forty years in the field of nuclear energy and I am no stranger to the types of methods necessary to solve complex problems. I investigated other's attempts at the translation but their analysis fell short of meeting our expectations.

The idea that drove us to the assumption that this indeed may be the writing of the Ancient Macedonians is that we refused to believe the notion of mainstream science that the Ancient Macedonians were illiterate and had no writing system or language of their own. To us it was illogical to assume that two-thousand years ago a people capable of creating an empire with all the elements of a complex civilization could not read and write in their own language! It would be impossible for such people to build grand libraries like never before and populate them with such great knowledge if they were not able to read and write.

It is illogical to assume that if we have no knowledge of something that it doesn't exist! Many things from that period for various reasons are still not known and have not been identified. The center text on the Rosetta Stone is a good example where something discovered over two hundred years ago is still an enigma to this very day for many scientists, including the world authorities on ancient languages.

Having said that however, it is well accepted that the center text on the Rosetta Stone is a distinct language with distinct writing. Since it was found in Egypt it is assumed to be an Egyptian language and because it appeared to be rare, it was assumed to be an official Egyptian language. Regarding the language's use, the academic world seems to be divided with some believing it is an Egyptian demotic or a peoples' language yet others believing it is an official Egyptian language.

If this language was indeed an Egyptian official language then it must have been used by the then Egyptian rulers and the Pharaoh himself to write his decrees. Interestingly, the Egyptian rulers of the time were the Ptolemaic dynasty which lasted for about three hundred years. It is well known, especially in the academic world, that the Ptolemaic dynasty was a Macedonian dynasty that originated inside the Balkans or more precisely inside Macedonia in a town today called "Ptolemaida". The name of the dynasty comes from Ptolemy Soter, the first Ptolemy. Ptolemy Soter was one of Alexander the Greats' generals. He inherited Egypt, a part of Alexander's empire, after Alexander's death. Ptolemy Soter's family name comes from his town of origin located about fifty kilometers south of present day Bitola, Republic of Macedonia.

The language Ptolemy Soter spoke was the language of the Pelagonian plain. The Pelagonian plain is located in the triangle between Lerin, Voden and Bitola. So it is not unusual to assume that some words or linguistic elements from Ptolemy Soter's time, survived the two-thousand years and may be present in the Macedonian language of today. If our assumption was correct that Ptolemy Soter's descendents ordered the center text to be inscribed in the Ancient Macedonian language which he brought with him from the Pelagonian plain, then we should be able to find clues of it in the modern Macedonian language or at least in the Macedonian dialectal language of the Pelagonian plain. If indeed this was the language of the Ancient Macedonians than its roots are not Egyptian but Balkan. Ptolemais, from Ptolemy Soter to Cleopatra VII the last Macedonian ruler of Egypt may have used this language for as long as they ruled Egypt. These were our first assumptions.

It is understandable that as in science or in mathematics, the first step to solving a complex problem is to devise a sound theory and then look for evidence to support it. Our theory was based on the above premises which we believed were sound, logical and would lead us to the right solution.

We cannot say that the problem was not complex. It was quite the opposite. Besides being faced with deciphering the meaning of each symbol, we also had to identify sounds and figure out how they would fit into constructing a language. It was a puzzle with many undefined elements but luckily we found that today's science does have knowledge of this kind of writing which exists in the larger territory of Europe. Almost all ancient European writing comes from the Pelasgians, the Etruscans, the old Dannans and other ancient northern people who had syllabic writing similar to that identified on the Rosetta Stone. Our latest findings have indicated that the Canadian Eskimos too had a writing system with markings which in large part are similar to the ones on the Rosetta Stone. This kind of information is widely available even in encyclopedias. All you have to do is look up any title or literature with references to the writing of the Canadian Eskimos and other American indigenous people or to the writing of the ancient European people.

There is no need to dispute the syllabic nature of this writing system. It has been in official use for long periods of time in Europe before the Roman period and before the arrival of the Latin script on the European continent.

On account that you have established that the writing is syllabic, what is the most appropriate name to call it?

Professor Boshevski: We have not given it any particular name; we call it by its characteristics "syllabic writing" or "the center text on the Rosetta Stone". This is a script of a very old civilization spanning the territory of Europe and Asia Minor which at some point in time was brought to the North American continent and was widely used by many nations. The Ptolemais used a downscaled sophisticated version of it with a reduced number of symbols. This way its keepers would have had an easier time remembering its rules and keeping track of them.

Our job was to unravel this language's mystery which meant that we needed to identify its grammatical rules. After some investigation and by using today's Macedonian language as reference, a certain number of grammatical rules began to surface such as the formation of the superlative adjective with the prefix "na" (on, upon, to, up to, at, against) or its plural "nai". More about this can be found in our publication "Po Tragite na pismoto i jaziko na antichkite Makedontsi" (Tracing the Ancient Macedonian Writing and Language). Interestingly we found the term "na" in use three times.

This discovery gave us some confidence that we were on the right track and that this may be the language of the Ancient Macedonians. This may indeed be the syllabic writing of the Ancient Macedonian language whose roots place it in the center of the Balkans on the Pelagonian plain. If so then this would be a script of European origins, older than the Roman civilization and from an aspect of writing, preceding the Glagolic and Cyrillic scripts of Kiril and Metodi which by the way, also originated in the same region.

According to one of our most recognized cultural activists, Chernorizets Hrabar who by the way also was one of our motivators for starting this project, the people of the Balkans, before the brother saints Kiril and Methodi gave us our current writing, wrote in "cherti i retski" (lines and incisions). Interestingly we also found this term in the Pharaoh's decree. The actual term was "nareitsi" which by just looking closely is similar to the term "narestsi" and "cherti" and "retski".

Russian literature describes the "cherti i retski" (lines and incisions) as a form of pre-Slav writing but does not tell of its time or how widely it was used. However in view of our discovery we know for certain that the inscription on the Rosetta Stone was made in 196 BC. From this we can conclude that this type of writing existed before the second century BC.

Professor Boshevski, you made reference to this language as being older than the Roman civilization as in "pre-Roman". But we know that before Rome there was Macedonia, a state with all the components of a civilization which lasted a long time. Why has no one used the term "Macedonian Civilization"?

Professor Boshevski: This is a question for which I have no logical answer. Our contemporary educators tell us that there are verifiable Egyptian and Persian civilizations. It is well known that the Macedonian Empire followed the Persian Empire just like the Roman Empire followed the Macedonian Empire. We also know that the Persian Empire to a large degree existed within the Egyptian Civilization. So if we line them up we have the Egyptian, Persian, Macedonian and Roman Empires which in part or in whole, ruled the European continent for long periods of historic time.

It is sad that our contemporary educators have shown little or no respect for the Macedonian Civilization. This is another reason which motivated us to pursue this project.

All prior and subsequent empires carried the ethnic name of the people who initiated them, however, only the Macedonian Empire is called "Alexander the Greats' Empire". Doesn't this negate the Macedonian identity?

Professor Boshevski: I can't say I fully agree with all of this. No one can challenge the name of the Ancient Macedonians like they question their ethnic identity. The name by itself "Ancient Macedonians" no one dares to dispute. When we began to solve this problem, we thought that we would provide a great contribution to science and build a database of knowledge with which one can learn to read the texts written by the Ancient Macedonians and find out for themselves who these people were, how they spoke and naturally use this knowledge to write Macedonia's history. Thinking along those lines, our initial aim was to identify the actual writing with which the text was written, to become familiar with its meaning and then create a methodology for reading and writing in that language.

As most people know by now, there are three different texts written on the Rosetta Stone; the top text is written in Egyptian hieroglyphs, the bottom text is written in the language of the Dannans, a writing closely resembling that of today's Greek alphabet, and the center text, which was deemed by some scholars to be the "Demotic" or "peoples" language of the Egyptians. I just want to mention here that the name "Dannans" was what the Ancient Macedonians called the people who understood the bottom language on the Rosetta Stone.

We know in essence this is syllabic writing, which some analysts referred to as "a writing with which the laws were written". In today's terms that means it was the "official writing" of the authorities who at the time were the Ptolemaic dynasty. In other words, the Ancient Macedonians.

As it is in nuclear physics where the construction of matter consists of protons and neutrons where protons are the carriers of individual characteristics of each chemical element, and neutrons serve as their binds, so is the construction of a language where we have the consonants and vowels. Consonants are the carriers of the contents of the word, and vowels serve as their binds constructing the flow of pronunciation. In some of our trials we deciphered ordered letters with only consonants and assumed the vowels. We were successful in deciphering 26 different symbols which turned out to be consonants. Then by rotating each consonant 90 degrees on its plane, we were able to connect it with 4 vowels. And then by mirroring it we were able to connect it with 4 more vowels for a total of 8. For example let's say an asymmetrical symbol represents the consonant "r". In its vertical position it may assume the vowel "a" for "ra". By rotating it clockwise 90 degrees it assumes another vowel say "o" for "ro", Rotating it again 90 degrees clockwise it assumes a their vowel say "i" for "ri". Rotating it one more time by 90 degrees will assume a fourth vowel, say "u" for "ru". Above these four rotations we can now mirror each image of the rotated consonant and assume four more vowels.

By using this technique we were able to define a method for writing where a single symbol by being rotated and mirrored on its plane could assume up to 8 vowels thus creating up to 8 syllables.

Of the 26 symbols we identified as consonants, 13 are asymmetrical, with the dominant position being on the vertical line. Symmetrical symbols can be rotated but cannot be mirrored thus giving us only 4 vowels. Once we developed the above method, we were ready to start wiring for sounds.

We were hoping to have connected all the consonants in the Cyrillic alphabet, which to this day have been used in the Balkans and wider. We have defined the most characteristic consonants in the Macedonian language, including "?", "?", "?" and others but not "?". We have identified some letters from the Cyrillic alphabet, which are in use today by the Macedonian language, like the symbol "??" (sht) which is predominant in Macedonian dialects, especially in those of the Ohrid region. "??" is also found in other Slavic languages such as the Slovenian, Bulgarian and others.

In today's Slovenian literary language for example, there are 8 consonants from which 5 are found in the Macedonian literary language and the other 3 are present, to a large degree, in the dialects (such as the "Mijachkian", "Rechanskian" and others) of the Macedonian language.

In other words, I can say that we created a syllabic alphabet consisting of 26 consonants and 8 vowels and ordered it in a regular fashion of writing and then we were ready to turn our attention to reading parts of the text.

I also want to mention that this text was written in a contiguous line from right to left with no spaces between words, no capital letters and no start or end marks to signify beginning or end of sentences. In order for us to identify words we had to identify re-occurring groups of symbols. We were hoping to identify about a couple of hundred of these, enough to be able to adequately test their meaning against today's Macedonian language.

I am happy to say that we identified more than enough and when we wired them for sound we were able to reconstruct 160 words. The meaning of most of which has been preserved in our contemporary Macedonian dialects.

We were always of the opinion that we did not need much to reconstruct the language of the Ancient Macedonians.

Were you successful in uncovering the entire meaning of the text?

Professor Boshevski: As you know the uncovering of the meaning of the text was done some time ago as a result of our decipherment but I must tell you it does not have the identical message as the other two texts. There are assumptions out there that all three texts have the same meaning but here we are talking about a Pharaoh's decree. If you consider the Pharaoh was Macedonian he could not have possibly given the same message to the rulers, the Macedonians, as he gave to the ruled, the Egyptians. Among the Egyptians were the Dannans who were also ruled by the Macedonians. The message for the Egyptians written in hieroglyphs and the message for the Dannans written in what we call "Greek" today were written for the people the Pharaoh ruled. The center text was directed to the rulers that is why the messages are different. Had we assumed the texts to be identical or similar, we would have not been able to appropriately translate the center text. The pharaoh had addressed his compatriots, the Ancient Macedonians, in a different manner than he had addressed the Egyptians he ruled. We could see that the order of the sentences like the order of the words within the sentences were not the same. The order of the address to the king was not the same either. For example, after the designation of the pharaoh, in the Dannan text there is a last name, whereas in the center (Macedonian) text there was one more epitaph and after that was a name. The dynasty or family name was at the end. It would have been very risky and we would have made fundamental errors had we assumed the meaning in the texts to be same.

What was most interesting is that we found an expression in the Pharaoh's text which has a similar meaning in Macedonian today. For example when the Pharaoh ordered the text to be scribed on the stone he used the expression "da se naveze" meaning "to embroider". Interestingly this expression is still in use in some parts of Macedonia today to refer to "well written" letters.

Can you mention some words you found on the stone that are similar to today's Macedonian language?

Professor Boshevski: The three upright dashes, or vertical lines as we call them, refer to "God". We recognized this designation because we had seen it before in a Russian publication called "Slavianska Pismenost" (Slavian Literacy). Here Russian scientist Grinevich talks about the existence of old writing found in Russia, the Ukraine and Poland and in this writing he eludes that the three vertical lines are a reference to "God". We found over one-hundred occurrences of this in our text so we were pretty convinced we were on the right track. We also found evidence in a Vincha stone artifact from 7,000 BC where the three vertical dashes were prominent and possibly meant "God".

All in all we had three different sources from three different regions which was sufficient evidence to lead us to believe that we were on the right track. Not being one-hundred percent certain though, since the Vincha writing and the Russian texts were not proven, we set out to find our proof on the Egyptian text. There we found an adjective written with the symbols which we identified to mean "Bozhen" (devine). Similarly in front of Alexander the Great's name we found "Bozhenstveniot" (devine). By then we were convinced we were on the right track.

I just want to add that this writing which we found in Egypt, and no doubt was brought there by the Macedonians, we believe has its beginnings in the Balkans. It lasted a long time until it was replaced by Kiril and Metody's Cyrillic script. In the words of Chernorizets Hrabar this was the language in which "the Slavs wrote and foretold".

I believe this writing system began to decline first as a result of Roman intervention and later as a result of the interference of the Catholic Church. Roman authorities forbade use of this writing fearing that the Macedonian State may rise again. Romans used every opportunity to make sure that the name of its preceding empire was never mentioned. That's why Rome divided Macedonia into four pieces and that's why it forbade communication and travel between those four pieces. The Romans even forbade marriages between Macedonians separated by their artificially imposed borders. Along with forbidding the writing, the Romans also destroyed artifacts written in this language.

In this Ancient Macedonian text there are many words which are used in today's Macedonian language. Is the ancient Macedonian language a precursor to our modern Macedonian language?

Professor Boshevski: We believe that the Ancient Macedonian language is a precursor not only to most modern Balkan languages but also to all of today's Slavic languages. We believe, and time will prove this, that all these languages have descended from the Ancient Macedonian language. Let's say that the Ancient Macedonian language is a proto-Slav language.

Until now we were led to believe that the Slavic speaking populations arrived in the Balkans around the seventh century AD speaking a "Slavic language". With your discovery we now have a basis to establish a new idea, the idea that the so-called "Slavic languages" have their roots in the ancient Macedonian language. Are we now faced with a great contradiction?

Professor Boshevski: It appears that we have come to the same conclusion. In the beginning of the interview I said that we wanted to identify the writing on this stone and if possible reconstruct its language which we naturally assumed would be the language of the Ancient Macedonians. We wanted to know what the Ancient Macedonians themselves had to say, in their own writing, in their own language, not to learn about them from other sources. Based on our discovery, on the evidence we found, we have to come to our own conclusions even if they don't agree with mainstream science. We must apply the facts as we see them even if we need to push aside the mistakes of history with regards to certain migrations of people, origins of people and origins of languages.

Here is a text left by the ancients which is satisfactorily long and rich, which gave us the opportunity to reconstruct and bring to light an alphabet and the rules for reading and writing and to reconstruct what was thought to be a lost language.

All discoveries up to now tell us that this is the text of the Ptolemais who ruled Egypt for about 300 years. We know the Ptolemaic dynasty was Macedonian. We know their origins are from the Balkans, more precisely, from the Pelagonian valley.

The next step for us is to have these facts acknowledged by world science. We need our world contemporaries to verify our work and what we have found and then to appropriately revise science as required.

There are remarks made by some who believe it's impossible to have two thousand year old words survive in a language when speaking about our current Macedonian language. In other words they say two thousand years is far too long for Ancient Macedonian words to have survived in the modern Macedonian language. If that were so then I pose this question to them: "How can some words, such as those from the third text on the Rosetta Stone, survive two thousand years and be present in today's modern Greek language?" Why is no one disputing that fact and better yet why are they not making remarks about it? Why does it bother people that in today's Macedonian language there are words the Ancient Macedonians spoke?

No one can now deny or destroy the writing on the Rosetta Stone. Once our methodology is verified and proven, then no one will be able to contest it.

With regards to your discovery what kind of reaction did you get from the Macedonian intellectuals and from corresponding world institutions?

Professor Boshevski: Up no now there has been no significant reaction. The publication we printed was well accepted and is receiving attention in creating interest locally as well as in some European circles. We sent an electronic version to various world centers, including the Institute of Eastern Languages in Chicago, to Oxford, to London and to Germany. We can't expect immediate reactions; it takes time to interpret our results before people can truly understand our discovery. What we found will shake the foundations of our contemporary understanding. Everything up to now that has been written about the Ancient Macedonians can't easily change. A great deal has been invested in the creation of our current understanding and now we appear with our findings out of nowhere telling everyone they were wrong. A lot of time will pass before people are comfortable with the idea, before it sinks in and before we see any reactions. In the meantime we will stand by our convictions and be at everyone's disposal to conduct dialog and eventually solve this problem.

This article appeared in the newspaper "Canadian-Macedonian News" in Toronto in January 2007

[George S.]

Ancient Macedonian Words Found in the Modern Macedonian Language

Interview with Professor Tome Boshevski

Courtesy, Liljana Ristova
Editor, Canadian Macedonian News

(Translated from Macedonian to English and edited by Risto Stefov)

Did the Slavs come to the Balkans from behind the Carpathians or did they cross the Carpathians fleeing north to avoid the Roman invasions? This is a problem that can be easily and logically remedied.

After five Macedonian-Roman wars fought in the second century BC with Philip V and his son Perseus, a large number of Macedonians including most of the elite and ruling class, fled Macedonia and headed north away from the conflict. Fearing a slaughter from the Roman armies descending on Macedonia from the south, from Peloponnesus, they fled the Balkans and resettled north as far as Siberia. No people leave their homes voluntarily on masse unless they are coerced. This massive evacuation was certainly coerced by the violent Roman invasion which accounted for about half of Macedonia's population leaving Macedonia. The other half still remained and lived on Macedonian territory.

We cannot accept the notion that the Macedonian-Roman wars "cleansed out" the entire Ancient Macedonian population as much as we cannot accept the notion that the Ancient Macedonians who fled the conflict disappeared altogether. There are well documented historic facts that prove that Ancient Macedonians not only survived the Roman invasion but many who fled north in fact, over time, returned to their ancestral lands in the Balkans.

Professor Boshevski, you and your colleague Professor Aristotel Tentov, a while ago, made a sensational discovery of great importance to the Macedonian people and to world history. You were able to successfully decipher the center text on the Rosetta Stone, which for over two hundred years, no one was able to decipher. Even though you are not a linguist by profession you are obviously very much interested in the subject. What compelled you to take on such a great task?

Professor Boshevski: With regards to the decipherment, we were not the first to attempt the center text translation. There were other translations made before us but we were not content with their results. I worked for forty years in the field of nuclear energy and I am no stranger to the types of methods necessary to solve complex problems. I investigated other's attempts at the translation but their analysis fell short of meeting our expectations.

The idea that drove us to the assumption that this indeed may be the writing of the Ancient Macedonians is that we refused to believe the notion of mainstream science that the Ancient Macedonians were illiterate and had no writing system or language of their own. To us it was illogical to assume that two-thousand years ago a people capable of creating an empire with all the elements of a complex civilization could not read and write in their own language! It would be impossible for such people to build grand libraries like never before and populate them with such great knowledge if they were not able to read and write.

It is illogical to assume that if we have no knowledge of something that it doesn't exist! Many things from that period for various reasons are still not known and have not been identified. The center text on the Rosetta Stone is a good example where something discovered over two hundred years ago is still an enigma to this very day for many scientists, including the world authorities on ancient languages.

Having said that however, it is well accepted that the center text on the Rosetta Stone is a distinct language with distinct writing. Since it was found in Egypt it is assumed to be an Egyptian language and because it appeared to be rare, it was assumed to be an official Egyptian language. Regarding the language's use, the academic world seems to be divided with some believing it is an Egyptian demotic or a peoples' language yet others believing it is an official Egyptian language.

If this language was indeed an Egyptian official language then it must have been used by the then Egyptian rulers and the Pharaoh himself to write his decrees. Interestingly, the Egyptian rulers of the time were the Ptolemaic dynasty which lasted for about three hundred years. It is well known, especially in the academic world, that the Ptolemaic dynasty was a Macedonian dynasty that originated inside the Balkans or more precisely inside Macedonia in a town today called "Ptolemaida". The name of the dynasty comes from Ptolemy Soter, the first Ptolemy. Ptolemy Soter was one of Alexander the Greats' generals. He inherited Egypt, a part of Alexander's empire, after Alexander's death. Ptolemy Soter's family name comes from his town of origin located about fifty kilometers south of present day Bitola, Republic of Macedonia.

The language Ptolemy Soter spoke was the language of the Pelagonian plain. The Pelagonian plain is located in the triangle between Lerin, Voden and Bitola. So it is not unusual to assume that some words or linguistic elements from Ptolemy Soter's time, survived the two-thousand years and may be present in the Macedonian language of today. If our assumption was correct that Ptolemy Soter's descendents ordered the center text to be inscribed in the Ancient Macedonian language which he brought with him from the Pelagonian plain, then we should be able to find clues of it in the modern Macedonian language or at least in the Macedonian dialectal language of the Pelagonian plain. If indeed this was the language of the Ancient Macedonians than its roots are not Egyptian but Balkan. Ptolemais, from Ptolemy Soter to Cleopatra VII the last Macedonian ruler of Egypt may have used this language for as long as they ruled Egypt. These were our first assumptions.

It is understandable that as in science or in mathematics, the first step to solving a complex problem is to devise a sound theory and then look for evidence to support it. Our theory was based on the above premises which we believed were sound, logical and would lead us to the right solution.

We cannot say that the problem was not complex. It was quite the opposite. Besides being faced with deciphering the meaning of each symbol, we also had to identify sounds and figure out how they would fit into constructing a language. It was a puzzle with many undefined elements but luckily we found that today's science does have knowledge of this kind of writing which exists in the larger territory of Europe. Almost all ancient European writing comes from the Pelasgians, the Etruscans, the old Dannans and other ancient northern people who had syllabic writing similar to that identified on the Rosetta Stone. Our latest findings have indicated that the Canadian Eskimos too had a writing system with markings which in large part are similar to the ones on the Rosetta Stone. This kind of information is widely available even in encyclopedias. All you have to do is look up any title or literature with references to the writing of the Canadian Eskimos and other American indigenous people or to the writing of the ancient European people.

There is no need to dispute the syllabic nature of this writing system. It has been in official use for long periods of time in Europe before the Roman period and before the arrival of the Latin script on the European continent.

On account that you have established that the writing is syllabic, what is the most appropriate name to call it?

Professor Boshevski: We have not given it any particular name; we call it by its characteristics "syllabic writing" or "the center text on the Rosetta Stone". This is a script of a very old civilization spanning the territory of Europe and Asia Minor which at some point in time was brought to the North American continent and was widely used by many nations. The Ptolemais used a downscaled sophisticated version of it with a reduced number of symbols. This way its keepers would have had an easier time remembering its rules and keeping track of them.

Our job was to unravel this language's mystery which meant that we needed to identify its grammatical rules. After some investigation and by using today's Macedonian language as reference, a certain number of grammatical rules began to surface such as the formation of the superlative adjective with the prefix "na" (on, upon, to, up to, at, against) or its plural "nai". More about this can be found in our publication "Po Tragite na pismoto i jaziko na antichkite Makedontsi" (Tracing the Ancient Macedonian Writing and Language). Interestingly we found the term "na" in use three times.

This discovery gave us some confidence that we were on the right track and that this may be the language of the Ancient Macedonians. This may indeed be the syllabic writing of the Ancient Macedonian language whose roots place it in the center of the Balkans on the Pelagonian plain. If so then this would be a script of European origins, older than the Roman civilization and from an aspect of writing, preceding the Glagolic and Cyrillic scripts of Kiril and Metodi which by the way, also originated in the same region.

According to one of our most recognized cultural activists, Chernorizets Hrabar who by the way also was one of our motivators for starting this project, the people of the Balkans, before the brother saints Kiril and Methodi gave us our current writing, wrote in "cherti i retski" (lines and incisions). Interestingly we also found this term in the Pharaoh's decree. The actual term was "nareitsi" which by just looking closely is similar to the term "narestsi" and "cherti" and "retski".

Russian literature describes the "cherti i retski" (lines and incisions) as a form of pre-Slav writing but does not tell of its time or how widely it was used. However in view of our discovery we know for certain that the inscription on the Rosetta Stone was made in 196 BC. From this we can conclude that this type of writing existed before the second century BC.

Professor Boshevski, you made reference to this language as being older than the Roman civilization as in "pre-Roman". But we know that before Rome there was Macedonia, a state with all the components of a civilization which lasted a long time. Why has no one used the term "Macedonian Civilization"?

Professor Boshevski: This is a question for which I have no logical answer. Our contemporary educators tell us that there are verifiable Egyptian and Persian civilizations. It is well known that the Macedonian Empire followed the Persian Empire just like the Roman Empire followed the Macedonian Empire. We also know that the Persian Empire to a large degree existed within the Egyptian Civilization. So if we line them up we have the Egyptian, Persian, Macedonian and Roman Empires which in part or in whole, ruled the European continent for long periods of historic time.

It is sad that our contemporary educators have shown little or no respect for the Macedonian Civilization. This is another reason which motivated us to pursue this project.

All prior and subsequent empires carried the ethnic name of the people who initiated them, however, only the Macedonian Empire is called "Alexander the Greats' Empire". Doesn't this negate the Macedonian identity?

Professor Boshevski: I can't say I fully agree with all of this. No one can challenge the name of the Ancient Macedonians like they question their ethnic identity. The name by itself "Ancient Macedonians" no one dares to dispute. When we began to solve this problem, we thought that we would provide a great contribution to science and build a database of knowledge with which one can learn to read the texts written by the Ancient Macedonians and find out for themselves who these people were, how they spoke and naturally use this knowledge to write Macedonia's history. Thinking along those lines, our initial aim was to identify the actual writing with which the text was written, to become familiar with its meaning and then create a methodology for reading and writing in that language.

As most people know by now, there are three different texts written on the Rosetta Stone; the top text is written in Egyptian hieroglyphs, the bottom text is written in the language of the Dannans, a writing closely resembling that of today's Greek alphabet, and the center text, which was deemed by some scholars to be the "Demotic" or "peoples" language of the Egyptians. I just want to mention here that the name "Dannans" was what the Ancient Macedonians called the people who understood the bottom language on the Rosetta Stone.

We know in essence this is syllabic writing, which some analysts referred to as "a writing with which the laws were written". In today's terms that means it was the "official writing" of the authorities who at the time were the Ptolemaic dynasty. In other words, the Ancient Macedonians.

As it is in nuclear physics where the construction of matter consists of protons and neutrons where protons are the carriers of individual characteristics of each chemical element, and neutrons serve as their binds, so is the construction of a language where we have the consonants and vowels. Consonants are the carriers of the contents of the word, and vowels serve as their binds constructing the flow of pronunciation. In some of our trials we deciphered ordered letters with only consonants and assumed the vowels. We were successful in deciphering 26 different symbols which turned out to be consonants. Then by rotating each consonant 90 degrees on its plane, we were able to connect it with 4 vowels. And then by mirroring it we were able to connect it with 4 more vowels for a total of 8. For example let's say an asymmetrical symbol represents the consonant "r". In its vertical position it may assume the vowel "a" for "ra". By rotating it clockwise 90 degrees it assumes another vowel say "o" for "ro", Rotating it again 90 degrees clockwise it assumes a their vowel say "i" for "ri". Rotating it one more time by 90 degrees will assume a fourth vowel, say "u" for "ru". Above these four rotations we can now mirror each image of the rotated consonant and assume four more vowels.

By using this technique we were able to define a method for writing where a single symbol by being rotated and mirrored on its plane could assume up to 8 vowels thus creating up to 8 syllables.

Of the 26 symbols we identified as consonants, 13 are asymmetrical, with the dominant position being on the vertical line. Symmetrical symbols can be rotated but cannot be mirrored thus giving us only 4 vowels. Once we developed the above method, we were ready to start wiring for sounds.

We were hoping to have connected all the consonants in the Cyrillic alphabet, which to this day have been used in the Balkans and wider. We have defined the most characteristic consonants in the Macedonian language, including "?", "?", "?" and others but not "?". We have identified some letters from the Cyrillic alphabet, which are in use today by the Macedonian language, like the symbol "??" (sht) which is predominant in Macedonian dialects, especially in those of the Ohrid region. "??" is also found in other Slavic languages such as the Slovenian, Bulgarian and others.

In today's Slovenian literary language for example, there are 8 consonants from which 5 are found in the Macedonian literary language and the other 3 are present, to a large degree, in the dialects (such as the "Mijachkian", "Rechanskian" and others) of the Macedonian language.

In other words, I can say that we created a syllabic alphabet consisting of 26 consonants and 8 vowels and ordered it in a regular fashion of writing and then we were ready to turn our attention to reading parts of the text.

I also want to mention that this text was written in a contiguous line from right to left with no spaces between words, no capital letters and no start or end marks to signify beginning or end of sentences. In order for us to identify words we had to identify re-occurring groups of symbols. We were hoping to identify about a couple of hundred of these, enough to be able to adequately test their meaning against today's Macedonian language.

I am happy to say that we identified more than enough and when we wired them for sound we were able to reconstruct 160 words. The meaning of most of which has been preserved in our contemporary Macedonian dialects.

We were always of the opinion that we did not need much to reconstruct the language of the Ancient Macedonians.

Were you successful in uncovering the entire meaning of the text?

Professor Boshevski: As you know the uncovering of the meaning of the text was done some time ago as a result of our decipherment but I must tell you it does not have the identical message as the other two texts. There are assumptions out there that all three texts have the same meaning but here we are talking about a Pharaoh's decree. If you consider the Pharaoh was Macedonian he could not have possibly given the same message to the rulers, the Macedonians, as he gave to the ruled, the Egyptians. Among the Egyptians were the Dannans who were also ruled by the Macedonians. The message for the Egyptians written in hieroglyphs and the message for the Dannans written in what we call "Greek" today were written for the people the Pharaoh ruled. The center text was directed to the rulers that is why the messages are different. Had we assumed the texts to be identical or similar, we would have not been able to appropriately translate the center text. The pharaoh had addressed his compatriots, the Ancient Macedonians, in a different manner than he had addressed the Egyptians he ruled. We could see that the order of the sentences like the order of the words within the sentences were not the same. The order of the address to the king was not the same either. For example, after the designation of the pharaoh, in the Dannan text there is a last name, whereas in the center (Macedonian) text there was one more epitaph and after that was a name. The dynasty or family name was at the end. It would have been very risky and we would have made fundamental errors had we assumed the meaning in the texts to be same.

What was most interesting is that we found an expression in the Pharaoh's text which has a similar meaning in Macedonian today. For example when the Pharaoh ordered the text to be scribed on the stone he used the expression "da se naveze" meaning "to embroider". Interestingly this expression is still in use in some parts of Macedonia today to refer to "well written" letters.

Can you mention some words you found on the stone that are similar to today's Macedonian language?

Professor Boshevski: The three upright dashes, or vertical lines as we call them, refer to "God". We recognized this designation because we had seen it before in a Russian publication called "Slavianska Pismenost" (Slavian Literacy). Here Russian scientist Grinevich talks about the existence of old writing found in Russia, the Ukraine and Poland and in this writing he eludes that the three vertical lines are a reference to "God". We found over one-hundred occurrences of this in our text so we were pretty convinced we were on the right track. We also found evidence in a Vincha stone artifact from 7,000 BC where the three vertical dashes were prominent and possibly meant "God".

All in all we had three different sources from three different regions which was sufficient evidence to lead us to believe that we were on the right track. Not being one-hundred percent certain though, since the Vincha writing and the Russian texts were not proven, we set out to find our proof on the Egyptian text. There we found an adjective written with the symbols which we identified to mean "Bozhen" (devine). Similarly in front of Alexander the Great's name we found "Bozhenstveniot" (devine). By then we were convinced we were on the right track.

I just want to add that this writing which we found in Egypt, and no doubt was brought there by the Macedonians, we believe has its beginnings in the Balkans. It lasted a long time until it was replaced by Kiril and Metody's Cyrillic script. In the words of Chernorizets Hrabar this was the language in which "the Slavs wrote and foretold".

I believe this writing system began to decline first as a result of Roman intervention and later as a result of the interference of the Catholic Church. Roman authorities forbade use of this writing fearing that the Macedonian State may rise again. Romans used every opportunity to make sure that the name of its preceding empire was never mentioned. That's why Rome divided Macedonia into four pieces and that's why it forbade communication and travel between those four pieces. The Romans even forbade marriages between Macedonians separated by their artificially imposed borders. Along with forbidding the writing, the Romans also destroyed artifacts written in this language.

In this Ancient Macedonian text there are many words which are used in today's Macedonian language. Is the ancient Macedonian language a precursor to our modern Macedonian language?

Professor Boshevski: We believe that the Ancient Macedonian language is a precursor not only to most modern Balkan languages but also to all of today's Slavic languages. We believe, and time will prove this, that all these languages have descended from the Ancient Macedonian language. Let's say that the Ancient Macedonian language is a proto-Slav language.

Until now we were led to believe that the Slavic speaking populations arrived in the Balkans around the seventh century AD speaking a "Slavic language". With your discovery we now have a basis to establish a new idea, the idea that the so-called "Slavic languages" have their roots in the ancient Macedonian language. Are we now faced with a great contradiction?

Professor Boshevski: It appears that we have come to the same conclusion. In the beginning of the interview I said that we wanted to identify the writing on this stone and if possible reconstruct its language which we naturally assumed would be the language of the Ancient Macedonians. We wanted to know what the Ancient Macedonians themselves had to say, in their own writing, in their own language, not to learn about them from other sources. Based on our discovery, on the evidence we found, we have to come to our own conclusions even if they don't agree with mainstream science. We must apply the facts as we see them even if we need to push aside the mistakes of history with regards to certain migrations of people, origins of people and origins of languages.

Here is a text left by the ancients which is satisfactorily long and rich, which gave us the opportunity to reconstruct and bring to light an alphabet and the rules for reading and writing and to reconstruct what was thought to be a lost language.

All discoveries up to now tell us that this is the text of the Ptolemais who ruled Egypt for about 300 years. We know the Ptolemaic dynasty was Macedonian. We know their origins are from the Balkans, more precisely, from the Pelagonian valley.

The next step for us is to have these facts acknowledged by world science. We need our world contemporaries to verify our work and what we have found and then to appropriately revise science as required.

There are remarks made by some who believe it's impossible to have two thousand year old words survive in a language when speaking about our current Macedonian language. In other words they say two thousand years is far too long for Ancient Macedonian words to have survived in the modern Macedonian language. If that were so then I pose this question to them: "How can some words, such as those from the third text on the Rosetta Stone, survive two thousand years and be present in today's modern Greek language?" Why is no one disputing that fact and better yet why are they not making remarks about it? Why does it bother people that in today's Macedonian language there are words the Ancient Macedonians spoke?

No one can now deny or destroy the writing on the Rosetta Stone. Once our methodology is verified and proven, then no one will be able to contest it.

With regards to your discovery what kind of reaction did you get from the Macedonian intellectuals and from corresponding world institutions?

Professor Boshevski: Up no now there has been no significant reaction. The publication we printed was well accepted and is receiving attention in creating interest locally as well as in some European circles. We sent an electronic version to various world centers, including the Institute of Eastern Languages in Chicago, to Oxford, to London and to Germany. We can't expect immediate reactions; it takes time to interpret our results before people can truly understand our discovery. What we found will shake the foundations of our contemporary understanding. Everything up to now that has been written about the Ancient Macedonians can't easily change. A great deal has been invested in the creation of our current understanding and now we appear with our findings out of nowhere telling everyone they were wrong. A lot of time will pass before people are comfortable with the idea, before it sinks in and before we see any reactions. In the meantime we will stand by our convictions and be at everyone's disposal to conduct dialog and eventually solve this problem.

This article appeared in the newspaper "Canadian-Macedonian News" in Toronto in January 2007

[George S.]

What's Up With FYROM?

Chris M. Purdef

June, 2003

get a printable version

I don’t know what it is with this “term,” more or less, plastered on the Republic of Macedonia’s head like a cheap toupee, but it seems to attract “international visitors” to Macedonia like flies swarming around freshly laid horse feces on Bitola’s city walkway.

At first glance, this abbreviation reminds me of one of those Japanese designed robots that can do aerobics and laundry, while humming Ozzy Osbourne’s “Bark At the Moon.” After further scrutiny, I must concede that pronunciation by some of Macedonia’s recent “visitors” embellishes a whole new universe of meanings and associations, for instance:

“Fai-ROM”: CD ROM’s sister, or “FA-RUM” an exotic liquor named after the gentleman who couldn’t reach the fourth note in the musical scale after drinking his concoction, and finally “Fa-RAM,” the end result of drinking a whole bottle of “FA-RUM.”

What still remains a mini-mystery-series to me, however, is that Macedonia’s “international visitors” have no problem pronouncing words like “transparency”, “beleaguered and besieged,” “democracy in transition,” my favorite, “proportional response,” and of course, “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, yet they have trouble uttering, “Macedonia” from their finely tuned and polished lips. Yes, what’s up with FYROM?

For those of use not aware of the name issue, we must go back about ten years ago and review what happened in the United Nations on April 1993. This was just about the time Macedonia was beginning to receive it’s first “visitors.”

I should warn you my friends; the following contents are down right stale. Furthermore, by attempting to fathom why there wasn’t any outcry by the “ international visitors” who supposedly devote their time and government funds (taxes) flying across the globe, stamping out injustice, and crusading for harmony, we may stumble across some shaky ground, I mean, dissent is a faux pas these days. However, being the splintered personality that I am, why the hell not? So here’s my skinny on it:

On April 1993, under immense political and economic pressure from Greece, the tiny nation, then known as the Republic of Macedonian, was coerced into joining the United Nations under the improvised name of Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia.

The obvious question to ask here is why would the Greeks open up this can of fishing goop? To be quite honest, I don’t truly understand the reasoning behind it myself. It has something to do with Greeks believing that the name Macedonia and everything that is understood to be Macedonian is exclusively of Greek Origin.

Interesting enough, but then, what do we do with those 2 million “misinformed souls” who have been living in Macedonia proper forever, and the hundreds of thousands of Ethnic Macedonians who live in Northern Greece and Bulgaria, and what about the other million or so who are living outside of region all together? Should we be timid and follow the official line and answer as the world has: Who Gives a Rats Ass?

GREEK KNOW IT ALLS

Alas, this historical debate we shall not get into. I mean who cares, right?

What non-academics profess to know and completely understand ancient history anyways? Oh, I know: The “Pan Macedonian” Association does.

The Pan Macedonian Organization claims to be made up of descendants of the “original Macedonians,” when in all reality they are a bunch of people from Asia Minor who have been transplanted into Northern Greece by the Greek Government to play the role of Ancient Macedonian leftovers. The charming fellows and gals have such historical prowess that in some of their commentary and writings have managed to reduced Harvard and Princeton professors, such as Dr. Eugene Borza, into nothing more than beer slugging, girl-chasing blokes who dwell at local bowling allies turning about the place, with their toothpicks as radars, looking to pick up the “pre-froshes” and drive them around in their cherry red, all terrain vehicles.

This same group just recently attempted to challenge US National Policy by secretly pushing Anti- Macedonian resolutions through state governments that claimed that Ancient Macedonians were Greek and that Macedonia was Greek. They were successful in getting resolutions passed in a handful of local legislatures before efforts by the Macedonian Ambassador and Macedonian American Friendship Association, an organization representing the voice of Ethnic Macedonians in the US, quelled attempts in the Texas State Legislature.

Interesting reading these days is that this same group of “Pan Macedonian geniuses” have decided to take up an international petition, collecting signatures in order to “present and prove” to US and EU government officials that they are the “true Macedonians.” Even more worrisome is that Greece has even enlisted the ranks of the Serbian Orthodox Church, a traditional foe of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, by issuing an ultimatum to the Macedonian Archbishop to give up the name of the Macedonian Church and resume function under the chauvinistic wing of the Serbian Church. This obvious Greek tactic has received malicious remarks by Ethnic Macedonians throughout the world, and ironically, has resulted in only uniting Macedonia’s largest two opposing political parties. But has there been any reaction by Macedonia’s “international visitors,” possibly to show some sort of solidarity with Ethnic Macedonians in light of everything that they have given up in the past two years to prove their loyalty to Europe and America? Are you kidding me?

Forget facts, forget history, forget that Ethnic Macedonians have been living on that disputed Macedonian territory for thousands of years, were subject to fierce Serbian, Bulgarian, and Greek international policy (including ethnic cleansing), and forget that harsh remnants of these policies still exist and are continuously being pursued by the said countries! For the Ethnic Macedonians, there is no getting around this huge piece of Baklava (Which by the way is a Turkish dessert, not Greek). Unfortunately for them, they no longer possess the strategic geographical position of Bulgaria, the resources and landmass of Serbia and Montenegro, or the economic might of the Greeks. Yes, Ethnic Macedonians are once again forced to prove their very existence without much political influence, their land still divided, all by themselves. But worry not it has done this before!

LONG DIVISIONS

But if truth be told, no one actually denies that Macedonia was divided up almost one hundred years ago by Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece each claiming their ethnocentric right. Are you kidding me? I’m the fool still waiting for all those Civil Rights Activist, the movie stars to come and speak for the Ethnic Macedonians. Come on Richard Gere, are you telling me you fell for that Albanian nonsense in Kosovo and Macedonia, yet you can’t recognize a people who have been literally, and historically “high-jacked” by Greek claims of Hellenic homogeneity all most as vehement as that of the Nazi campaign fifty years back?

And where the hell is Michael Moore now, ranting and raving about Dubya Bush’s “unholy” war against Iraq, yet claiming that what happened in Kosovo and Macedonia was justifiable? Why, because liberals introduced us to “humanitarian wars” and this type of war is ok?

Where are the mentions of the Ethnic Macedonian genocide in Greece and Bulgaria? Where is Steven Spielberg’s beautiful epic, and Oliver Stone’s film on this conspiracy? Can even the justice seeking movie makers deny that there may actually be Ethnic Macedonians living within those divided territories wondering when someone will recognize them and give them the same opportunities of Federalized land like the Ethnic Albanians received in Kosovo and Macedonia proper? Isn’t this the purpose of “international visitors?”

Screech! You know, historically speaking, “gun-slinging diplomacy” was never a Macedonian forte. This means of communication has always been reserved for the US and their Albanian Compatriots. It’s funny though, I know for a fact that Macedonians used to watch Cary Grant, John Wayne, and Clint Eastwood movies in the former Yugoslavia, but I guess they also understood it was only fantasy.

But my sarcastic digression serves only to aggravate my karma, and it really doesn’t do the readers any good. Like I said before, who the hell cares, right? As long as we can see the “sexy” in war, injustice, and genocide, right? As long as news reporting is nothing more than a sound bite, a two-minute organism, then we can get on with our soda pop day, and American universities can continue pumping out fresh grads with their Master’s Degree in “compromise and imposition.” Newly manufactured “international visitors.”

LAWS (Remember them?)

Let’s focus on the legality of this issue for a spell, and ponder the reasons why “international visitors” seem to awkwardly understand that something is wrong with the UN decision to impose this name on the Republic of Macedonia, yet still insist on using FYROM-- Even when they’re trying to con everyone.

What are all these “international visitors” really doing in Macedonia? They are well received, make lots of money working for their respective organizations, live in some of Skopje’s (Macedonia’s Capital City) most luxurious apartments, feast with locals, and enjoy weekend trips to neighboring Greece (Aegean Macedonia) when they get sick of Lake Ohrid. Heck, they get two Macedonia’s for the price of one! How appropriate. For the most part I understand that they are in Macedonia as representatives of their government’s humanitarian sector, therefore, they should be considered promoters of peace, but a peace that should and will benefit their nation’s interest first, and everyone else only if convenient.

Don’t get me wrong; there is no such thing as altruistic foreign policy, but US representatives are promising a lot of “mullah” for Macedonia, most of which may in fact do the country some good. Yet what the hell is with all of these attached conditions that even the average everyday American wouldn’t stand for? It’s ok to expect a nation receiving tax fed foreign donations to be frugal, but come on boys; you don’t have to extort this tiny nation into changing it constitution or to accept that US soldiers will be exempt from international law. And IMF standards are preposterous, we all understand that Macedonia already doesn’t stand a chance with the economic giants who are just waiting to consume the Macedonian market for an appetizer, shouldn’t the IMF be a somewhat of a shield against these economic sharks? Yes, even the banking “international visitors” are in question.

‘MERIKANS DON’T LIKE “FA RUM” ANY LONGER

However, when it comes to name issue, I must give credit where credit is due, US officials are more consistently referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name these days, I guess there is some benefit in joining the “Coalition of The willing.” If Macedonians are lucky, this will last through Bush’s second term assuming he gets re-elected. If not, I don’t foresee a Democratic President going against Greek interests, a lobby that strongly supports and finances the National Democratic Party. Oh boy, I can see the bumper stickers now, “Kiss Me, I’m a FYROMian!”

The European Union’s “international visitors” on the other hand, OH MY GOD, what a bunch of purse carrying ignoramuses. Not to belittle, but if this hoard of weirdoes had a conceptual idea of how to run a union of modernized nations, let alone understand the stabilizing factor behind referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, then maybe US redneck Congressmen wouldn’t be renaming French fries! The only thing the European Union has done right is Universal Health Care and some instances of liberalized marijuana usage laws. Hey, at least they’re mellow.

KICK IT UP A KNOTCH, BAM!

The important question to ask here is, what would happen if these “international visitors,” regardless from what “progressive and democratic” nation they come from, dared to call Macedonia, Macedonia? Probably nothing, except bring new vigor and a positive attitude to the Macedonian State, Help boost Economic Confidence, Draw a definite line in the sand against those who would seek to destabilize Macedonia. In essence, officially recognizing the Republic of Macedonia by its’ constitutional name will help ensure everything that the EU and the US have already promised they would help Macedonia achieve. Sovereignty.

What is even more ironic, all that money that the EU and US are promising Macedonia wouldn’t do as much good as official name recognition by President Bush. So then what are they all waiting for? What is keeping them from probably the easiest act since breast-feeding? Why aren’t all these “international visitors,” who have been living in Macedonia for the past five years, who are aware of how much this issue means to Macedonians, not pressuring their bosses into recognition of Ethnic Macedonians?

AFTER ALL THE QUESTIONS, THE ANSWER: COWARDICE- THE OFFICIAL LINE IN INTERNATIONAL POLICY

Is it that the EU and the US truly do not want to see Macedonia as a stable nation, prosperous, harmonious, and economically strong? Or, is it possible that these “international visitors” do not truly understand what it means to stand up and do the right thing? I don’t buy it.

I believe that even though Macedonia’s “international visitors” truly and wholehearted understand that by addressing Macedonia as FYROM they are causing this nation internal and external damage, and that they really don’t like the arrogant Greeks that much anyhow, they are just too scared to break the official line.

International policy is based on cowardice. After witnessing these same “international visitors” “shuttle” their way into Macedonia two years ago, imposing their “solution,” insisting that this tiny nation be “Brave,” to show “Resilience” and to break away from the “Cowardice of War,” I have no trouble labeling their double standard as nothing more than the very thing they, at one time, spoke out against, and that is cowardice.

A CIVICS REFRESHER: SELF DETERMINATION

According to Dr. Igor Janev, a Scientific Researcher at the University of Belgrade, The Republic of Macedonia was discriminated against by the United Nations (under Greek pressure) in two ways, the first of which was:

I. Self Determination:

“The inherent right for any state to have a name can be derived from the necessity that a juridical personality must have a legal identity. In absence of such an identity, the juridical person, such as a state, could to a large extent (or even completely) loose its capacity to interact with other such juridical persons…this right is not alienable, divisible or transferable, and is part of the right to “self-determination” (determination of one’s own legal identity) External interference with this basic right is inadmissible.”

The Second instance of Macedonia being discriminated against goes as following:

II. Imposition

“According to the interpretation of Article 4(1) of the Charter given in 1948 18 and accepted by the General Assembly, 19 the conditions laid down in that article are exhaustive (and not merely stated by way of guidance or example), they must be fulfilled before admission is effected, and, once they are recognized as having been fulfilled by the Security Council, the applicant state acquires an unconditional right to UN membership. This right is enshrined in Article 4 itself and comports with the universal character of the UN Organization. At the same time, and for the same reasons, the Organization has a duty to unconditionally admit such a state to UN membership.” By now you are probably saying to yourself, what’s the problem? Well, this is my problem, “The Security Council in the preamble of its resolution 21 recognizes that the applicant state (Macedonia) fulfills the required criteria for admission and yet, contrary to the accepted interpretation of Article 4(1) of the Charter, recommends that the applicant be admitted to membership with a temporary reference label (to be used for all purposed within the UN), and imposes an obligation on the future UN member to negotiate with a neighboring state about its own name.” What is even more, “The fact that the Security Council has ignored the strong objection 22 of Macedonian Government to such formulation of its resolution indicates that it considered that added conditions as necessary for giving the recommendation.”

ACTION, REACTION, AND THE “IMPOSITION”

International law has been broken, and the reactionaries of the world have not reacted.

Are not these globe prancing souls, seeking justice, freedom, and “Self-Determination” for all supposed to be calling up Amnesty International and the UN complaining and pursuing rights for the discriminated Macedonian? Or have the Ethnic Macedonians not played their cards correctly having, yet again, fallen victim to new super power crusade created by US liberals, and perfected by the current US administration: Imposing new governments and leaders, or “The Imposition.”

Thus far, actions that have been taken by “international visitors” in Macedonia have resulted in dire change in the structure of that tiny nation, ranging from an imposed peace agreement to stop a Kosovar Albanian attack on Macedonia for control of the sex and drug trade routes in Northwest Macedonia, to imposed change of the Macedonia constitution, to change of the Macedonian government, to finally, inaction when it comes to recognition of Macedonia’s name, culture, and language from blatant attacks by Greece in the United Nations or indirectly through the Serbian Church and extreme Bulgarian elements. And even though I must mention that there has been some positive change in Macedonia as a result of the Macedonian relationship with these very same “international visitors,” it is still a far cry from what they lobbied for Kosovar Albanians, or what their silence is providing Greek interest.

Plain and simple, the international community is cowardly. They know right from wrong, therefore should be the first in line to persuade their leaders to officially recognize Macedonia.

Instead of following the timid “official line” and pursuit of compromise at all costs, as they were taught in Grad School and Diplomatic Training, “international visitors” should realize that sometimes “disputes” should result in Principled Diplomatic Consequences, and that some “conflicts” deserve Decisive Response.

Seeing for myself how “international visitors” have “lived and died” with Ethnic Macedonians in the Republic of Macedonia, if you ask me, recognition of Ethnic Macedonians should be their sole purpose in life. Period!

I should know, I used to be one of those “visitors,” and recognition of “my people” is one of my top priorities.

Chris M. Purdef

Macedonia American Friendship Association

[George S.]

What's Up With FYROM?

Chris M. Purdef

June, 2003

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I don’t know what it is with this “term,” more or less, plastered on the Republic of Macedonia’s head like a cheap toupee, but it seems to attract “international visitors” to Macedonia like flies swarming around freshly laid horse feces on Bitola’s city walkway.

At first glance, this abbreviation reminds me of one of those Japanese designed robots that can do aerobics and laundry, while humming Ozzy Osbourne’s “Bark At the Moon.” After further scrutiny, I must concede that pronunciation by some of Macedonia’s recent “visitors” embellishes a whole new universe of meanings and associations, for instance:

“Fai-ROM”: CD ROM’s sister, or “FA-RUM” an exotic liquor named after the gentleman who couldn’t reach the fourth note in the musical scale after drinking his concoction, and finally “Fa-RAM,” the end result of drinking a whole bottle of “FA-RUM.”

What still remains a mini-mystery-series to me, however, is that Macedonia’s “international visitors” have no problem pronouncing words like “transparency”, “beleaguered and besieged,” “democracy in transition,” my favorite, “proportional response,” and of course, “The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, yet they have trouble uttering, “Macedonia” from their finely tuned and polished lips. Yes, what’s up with FYROM?

For those of use not aware of the name issue, we must go back about ten years ago and review what happened in the United Nations on April 1993. This was just about the time Macedonia was beginning to receive it’s first “visitors.”

I should warn you my friends; the following contents are down right stale. Furthermore, by attempting to fathom why there wasn’t any outcry by the “ international visitors” who supposedly devote their time and government funds (taxes) flying across the globe, stamping out injustice, and crusading for harmony, we may stumble across some shaky ground, I mean, dissent is a faux pas these days. However, being the splintered personality that I am, why the hell not? So here’s my skinny on it:

On April 1993, under immense political and economic pressure from Greece, the tiny nation, then known as the Republic of Macedonian, was coerced into joining the United Nations under the improvised name of Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia.

The obvious question to ask here is why would the Greeks open up this can of fishing goop? To be quite honest, I don’t truly understand the reasoning behind it myself. It has something to do with Greeks believing that the name Macedonia and everything that is understood to be Macedonian is exclusively of Greek Origin.

Interesting enough, but then, what do we do with those 2 million “misinformed souls” who have been living in Macedonia proper forever, and the hundreds of thousands of Ethnic Macedonians who live in Northern Greece and Bulgaria, and what about the other million or so who are living outside of region all together? Should we be timid and follow the official line and answer as the world has: Who Gives a Rats Ass?

GREEK KNOW IT ALLS

Alas, this historical debate we shall not get into. I mean who cares, right?

What non-academics profess to know and completely understand ancient history anyways? Oh, I know: The “Pan Macedonian” Association does.

The Pan Macedonian Organization claims to be made up of descendants of the “original Macedonians,” when in all reality they are a bunch of people from Asia Minor who have been transplanted into Northern Greece by the Greek Government to play the role of Ancient Macedonian leftovers. The charming fellows and gals have such historical prowess that in some of their commentary and writings have managed to reduced Harvard and Princeton professors, such as Dr. Eugene Borza, into nothing more than beer slugging, girl-chasing blokes who dwell at local bowling allies turning about the place, with their toothpicks as radars, looking to pick up the “pre-froshes” and drive them around in their cherry red, all terrain vehicles.

This same group just recently attempted to challenge US National Policy by secretly pushing Anti- Macedonian resolutions through state governments that claimed that Ancient Macedonians were Greek and that Macedonia was Greek. They were successful in getting resolutions passed in a handful of local legislatures before efforts by the Macedonian Ambassador and Macedonian American Friendship Association, an organization representing the voice of Ethnic Macedonians in the US, quelled attempts in the Texas State Legislature.

Interesting reading these days is that this same group of “Pan Macedonian geniuses” have decided to take up an international petition, collecting signatures in order to “present and prove” to US and EU government officials that they are the “true Macedonians.” Even more worrisome is that Greece has even enlisted the ranks of the Serbian Orthodox Church, a traditional foe of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, by issuing an ultimatum to the Macedonian Archbishop to give up the name of the Macedonian Church and resume function under the chauvinistic wing of the Serbian Church. This obvious Greek tactic has received malicious remarks by Ethnic Macedonians throughout the world, and ironically, has resulted in only uniting Macedonia’s largest two opposing political parties. But has there been any reaction by Macedonia’s “international visitors,” possibly to show some sort of solidarity with Ethnic Macedonians in light of everything that they have given up in the past two years to prove their loyalty to Europe and America? Are you kidding me?

Forget facts, forget history, forget that Ethnic Macedonians have been living on that disputed Macedonian territory for thousands of years, were subject to fierce Serbian, Bulgarian, and Greek international policy (including ethnic cleansing), and forget that harsh remnants of these policies still exist and are continuously being pursued by the said countries! For the Ethnic Macedonians, there is no getting around this huge piece of Baklava (Which by the way is a Turkish dessert, not Greek). Unfortunately for them, they no longer possess the strategic geographical position of Bulgaria, the resources and landmass of Serbia and Montenegro, or the economic might of the Greeks. Yes, Ethnic Macedonians are once again forced to prove their very existence without much political influence, their land still divided, all by themselves. But worry not it has done this before!

LONG DIVISIONS

But if truth be told, no one actually denies that Macedonia was divided up almost one hundred years ago by Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece each claiming their ethnocentric right. Are you kidding me? I’m the fool still waiting for all those Civil Rights Activist, the movie stars to come and speak for the Ethnic Macedonians. Come on Richard Gere, are you telling me you fell for that Albanian nonsense in Kosovo and Macedonia, yet you can’t recognize a people who have been literally, and historically “high-jacked” by Greek claims of Hellenic homogeneity all most as vehement as that of the Nazi campaign fifty years back?

And where the hell is Michael Moore now, ranting and raving about Dubya Bush’s “unholy” war against Iraq, yet claiming that what happened in Kosovo and Macedonia was justifiable? Why, because liberals introduced us to “humanitarian wars” and this type of war is ok?

Where are the mentions of the Ethnic Macedonian genocide in Greece and Bulgaria? Where is Steven Spielberg’s beautiful epic, and Oliver Stone’s film on this conspiracy? Can even the justice seeking movie makers deny that there may actually be Ethnic Macedonians living within those divided territories wondering when someone will recognize them and give them the same opportunities of Federalized land like the Ethnic Albanians received in Kosovo and Macedonia proper? Isn’t this the purpose of “international visitors?”

Screech! You know, historically speaking, “gun-slinging diplomacy” was never a Macedonian forte. This means of communication has always been reserved for the US and their Albanian Compatriots. It’s funny though, I know for a fact that Macedonians used to watch Cary Grant, John Wayne, and Clint Eastwood movies in the former Yugoslavia, but I guess they also understood it was only fantasy.

But my sarcastic digression serves only to aggravate my karma, and it really doesn’t do the readers any good. Like I said before, who the hell cares, right? As long as we can see the “sexy” in war, injustice, and genocide, right? As long as news reporting is nothing more than a sound bite, a two-minute organism, then we can get on with our soda pop day, and American universities can continue pumping out fresh grads with their Master’s Degree in “compromise and imposition.” Newly manufactured “international visitors.”

LAWS (Remember them?)

Let’s focus on the legality of this issue for a spell, and ponder the reasons why “international visitors” seem to awkwardly understand that something is wrong with the UN decision to impose this name on the Republic of Macedonia, yet still insist on using FYROM-- Even when they’re trying to con everyone.

What are all these “international visitors” really doing in Macedonia? They are well received, make lots of money working for their respective organizations, live in some of Skopje’s (Macedonia’s Capital City) most luxurious apartments, feast with locals, and enjoy weekend trips to neighboring Greece (Aegean Macedonia) when they get sick of Lake Ohrid. Heck, they get two Macedonia’s for the price of one! How appropriate. For the most part I understand that they are in Macedonia as representatives of their government’s humanitarian sector, therefore, they should be considered promoters of peace, but a peace that should and will benefit their nation’s interest first, and everyone else only if convenient.

Don’t get me wrong; there is no such thing as altruistic foreign policy, but US representatives are promising a lot of “mullah” for Macedonia, most of which may in fact do the country some good. Yet what the hell is with all of these attached conditions that even the average everyday American wouldn’t stand for? It’s ok to expect a nation receiving tax fed foreign donations to be frugal, but come on boys; you don’t have to extort this tiny nation into changing it constitution or to accept that US soldiers will be exempt from international law. And IMF standards are preposterous, we all understand that Macedonia already doesn’t stand a chance with the economic giants who are just waiting to consume the Macedonian market for an appetizer, shouldn’t the IMF be a somewhat of a shield against these economic sharks? Yes, even the banking “international visitors” are in question.

‘MERIKANS DON’T LIKE “FA RUM” ANY LONGER

However, when it comes to name issue, I must give credit where credit is due, US officials are more consistently referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name these days, I guess there is some benefit in joining the “Coalition of The willing.” If Macedonians are lucky, this will last through Bush’s second term assuming he gets re-elected. If not, I don’t foresee a Democratic President going against Greek interests, a lobby that strongly supports and finances the National Democratic Party. Oh boy, I can see the bumper stickers now, “Kiss Me, I’m a FYROMian!”

The European Union’s “international visitors” on the other hand, OH MY GOD, what a bunch of purse carrying ignoramuses. Not to belittle, but if this hoard of weirdoes had a conceptual idea of how to run a union of modernized nations, let alone understand the stabilizing factor behind referring to Macedonia by its constitutional name, then maybe US redneck Congressmen wouldn’t be renaming French fries! The only thing the European Union has done right is Universal Health Care and some instances of liberalized marijuana usage laws. Hey, at least they’re mellow.

KICK IT UP A KNOTCH, BAM!

The important question to ask here is, what would happen if these “international visitors,” regardless from what “progressive and democratic” nation they come from, dared to call Macedonia, Macedonia? Probably nothing, except bring new vigor and a positive attitude to the Macedonian State, Help boost Economic Confidence, Draw a definite line in the sand against those who would seek to destabilize Macedonia. In essence, officially recognizing the Republic of Macedonia by its’ constitutional name will help ensure everything that the EU and the US have already promised they would help Macedonia achieve. Sovereignty.

What is even more ironic, all that money that the EU and US are promising Macedonia wouldn’t do as much good as official name recognition by President Bush. So then what are they all waiting for? What is keeping them from probably the easiest act since breast-feeding? Why aren’t all these “international visitors,” who have been living in Macedonia for the past five years, who are aware of how much this issue means to Macedonians, not pressuring their bosses into recognition of Ethnic Macedonians?

AFTER ALL THE QUESTIONS, THE ANSWER: COWARDICE- THE OFFICIAL LINE IN INTERNATIONAL POLICY

Is it that the EU and the US truly do not want to see Macedonia as a stable nation, prosperous, harmonious, and economically strong? Or, is it possible that these “international visitors” do not truly understand what it means to stand up and do the right thing? I don’t buy it.

I believe that even though Macedonia’s “international visitors” truly and wholehearted understand that by addressing Macedonia as FYROM they are causing this nation internal and external damage, and that they really don’t like the arrogant Greeks that much anyhow, they are just too scared to break the official line.

International policy is based on cowardice. After witnessing these same “international visitors” “shuttle” their way into Macedonia two years ago, imposing their “solution,” insisting that this tiny nation be “Brave,” to show “Resilience” and to break away from the “Cowardice of War,” I have no trouble labeling their double standard as nothing more than the very thing they, at one time, spoke out against, and that is cowardice.

A CIVICS REFRESHER: SELF DETERMINATION

According to Dr. Igor Janev, a Scientific Researcher at the University of Belgrade, The Republic of Macedonia was discriminated against by the United Nations (under Greek pressure) in two ways, the first of which was:

I. Self Determination:

“The inherent right for any state to have a name can be derived from the necessity that a juridical personality must have a legal identity. In absence of such an identity, the juridical person, such as a state, could to a large extent (or even completely) loose its capacity to interact with other such juridical persons…this right is not alienable, divisible or transferable, and is part of the right to “self-determination” (determination of one’s own legal identity) External interference with this basic right is inadmissible.”

The Second instance of Macedonia being discriminated against goes as following:

II. Imposition

“According to the interpretation of Article 4(1) of the Charter given in 1948 18 and accepted by the General Assembly, 19 the conditions laid down in that article are exhaustive (and not merely stated by way of guidance or example), they must be fulfilled before admission is effected, and, once they are recognized as having been fulfilled by the Security Council, the applicant state acquires an unconditional right to UN membership. This right is enshrined in Article 4 itself and comports with the universal character of the UN Organization. At the same time, and for the same reasons, the Organization has a duty to unconditionally admit such a state to UN membership.” By now you are probably saying to yourself, what’s the problem? Well, this is my problem, “The Security Council in the preamble of its resolution 21 recognizes that the applicant state (Macedonia) fulfills the required criteria for admission and yet, contrary to the accepted interpretation of Article 4(1) of the Charter, recommends that the applicant be admitted to membership with a temporary reference label (to be used for all purposed within the UN), and imposes an obligation on the future UN member to negotiate with a neighboring state about its own name.” What is even more, “The fact that the Security Council has ignored the strong objection 22 of Macedonian Government to such formulation of its resolution indicates that it considered that added conditions as necessary for giving the recommendation.”

ACTION, REACTION, AND THE “IMPOSITION”

International law has been broken, and the reactionaries of the world have not reacted.

Are not these globe prancing souls, seeking justice, freedom, and “Self-Determination” for all supposed to be calling up Amnesty International and the UN complaining and pursuing rights for the discriminated Macedonian? Or have the Ethnic Macedonians not played their cards correctly having, yet again, fallen victim to new super power crusade created by US liberals, and perfected by the current US administration: Imposing new governments and leaders, or “The Imposition.”

Thus far, actions that have been taken by “international visitors” in Macedonia have resulted in dire change in the structure of that tiny nation, ranging from an imposed peace agreement to stop a Kosovar Albanian attack on Macedonia for control of the sex and drug trade routes in Northwest Macedonia, to imposed change of the Macedonia constitution, to change of the Macedonian government, to finally, inaction when it comes to recognition of Macedonia’s name, culture, and language from blatant attacks by Greece in the United Nations or indirectly through the Serbian Church and extreme Bulgarian elements. And even though I must mention that there has been some positive change in Macedonia as a result of the Macedonian relationship with these very same “international visitors,” it is still a far cry from what they lobbied for Kosovar Albanians, or what their silence is providing Greek interest.

Plain and simple, the international community is cowardly. They know right from wrong, therefore should be the first in line to persuade their leaders to officially recognize Macedonia.

Instead of following the timid “official line” and pursuit of compromise at all costs, as they were taught in Grad School and Diplomatic Training, “international visitors” should realize that sometimes “disputes” should result in Principled Diplomatic Consequences, and that some “conflicts” deserve Decisive Response.

Seeing for myself how “international visitors” have “lived and died” with Ethnic Macedonians in the Republic of Macedonia, if you ask me, recognition of Ethnic Macedonians should be their sole purpose in life. Period!

I should know, I used to be one of those “visitors,” and recognition of “my people” is one of my top priorities.

Chris M. Purdef

Macedonia American Friendship Association

[George S.]

On the Road of Time – Chapter 1 - Part 2



By Petre Nakovski

Translated and edited by Risto Stefov

[email protected]

June 17, 2012





Years later a witness wrote the following about that day:



“A great tragedy played out in Lerin after our withdrawal. At dawn the Royal Army collected all prisoners who were still alive and called on the Lerin city residents to come out to see them. Afterwards they dug a massive hole in the ground and tossed all the dead bodies into it. Those alive they shot in front of the crowd, making sure that the people witnessed the executions and then tossed their bodies into the hole among the dead. The wounded they did not execute but tossed in the same hole with the dead and then covered them with the bulldozers while they were still alive. These were the kinds of horrors perpetrated and experienced in that damn battle.”



And about that horror, the DAG Headquarters and Military Council, only a day later, met in the cave above the village Vineni in Prespa Region and in their final analysis could not conclude who was responsible for the Lerin defeat. They could not find who was liable for the fiasco! And why?!



After many years had passed one of them wrote the following in his memoirs:



“No one led the battle. All day we heard gunshots, but we did not know what was going on. It was difficult to establish a connection on the phone. Radio links were only established after the event. The only thing we could do was wait for darkness to fall and then give the order to withdraw, but even then the order did not reach all the brigades. The world has never seen such a disgraceful act of leading combat.”



And while looking for similar mass graves everywhere, the world, to this day, has yet to find this one.



There is only silence. And does he who remains silent approve of this atrocity? Who was he who threw the curse of silence over this atrocity and over this mass grave?



The bloody footprints and puddles of blood were covered up by the snow and washed away by torrents of rain destroying all evidence. The dead along with the wounded have disappeared, buried in the same ground, covered by the same soil in the same common mass grave that no one wants to think or talk about.



And the guilt? Who and what covered up the guilt?



* * *



Burdened by our recollection of the bloody Lerin battle we left Lerin and headed for Kostur. At the city’s exit, on the steep slope above the road, there was a construction site. In it there was a high concrete support wall and written on it, in black graphite letters were the words: “11-12 February 1949”. Was this put here to commemorate this black day in our history? Or was it put here as a warning to remind us of the ferocious, cruel, wild and raw episode that took place here that fateful day and that the same wild, blind, deaf and mute hatred exists to this day and is baked under those large black graphite letters?



The road, which still carries a stench of the past, is now paved with asphalt and its sharp curves have been rounded off as it snakes its way uphill. There are tall beechwood trees to the left and to the right of the road in whose tree trunks one can still see deep scars, remnants of the shrapnel from the exploding cannon and mortar shells that wounded them.



At the exit of the thick beechwood forest the road ended and beyond it was a large parking lot with clearly marked parking spaces for cars and buses. Ahead was Bigla and at its base, immediately where the forest ended, was a café-restaurant with a spacious terrace. From here one could view the beautiful panorama of Lerin and the Lerin valley and further back in what seemed like the end of the world, was Mount Kajmakchalan, whose peak was covered with snow. To the left there were the bare peaks of Bela Voda and to the right was Lundzer, a difficult fortress to breach during the Greek Civil War, built by the hands of the Macedonian men and women villagers. At the end of the parking lot, at the very edge of the cliff leading to a deep brook, there were wooden benches. This is the best place where one could sit and watch Lerin nestled between the mountains Bazdrovitsa and Giupkata and to the east one could view the wide open Lerin valley. We took pictures of the valley below and of the surrounding mountains all covered in thick beechwood trees, which portrayed a certain beauty with their green foliage. And while we both sat there admiring the sights, we did not notice that two old men, distinguished by the wrinkles on their faces, had sat down beside us on a bench next to us. They were staring ahead in silence. I was amazed by how long they sat there staring into the distance, saying nothing. Then I noticed the moustache of one of the men moving and his cheeks quivering, a moment later, I heard a long, difficult, sad and quiet sigh.



“Yes…” said one of the men quietly and stood up.



“That’s how it was…” answered the second man in confirmation, and then followed the first.



I gathered from the long stare into the distance and from the silence that they were remembering their common past – the road of big dreams and hopes, the road of youth lost in the difficult, uneven and bloody battles, in the long night marches, in the cold bunkers and trenches, in the hospitals and under the sky of distant countries; a long road which had now turned into a swarm of memories like beads on a silk string. They walked away in silence, one beside the other, stepping softly with one leg and hard with the other. Their prostheses’ swishing quietly like fluttering leaves in a gentle summer breeze.



They entered the café-restaurant. The waiter kindly took them to the table prepared for lunch. We sat beside them at an adjacent table, pretending we did not understand the language they spoke and listened to their conversation. One of them spoke at length.



“Down there,” he pointed with his hand, “where the parking lot ends, two women carried me in a blanket. I remember the whole place was filled with wounded lying all over the place. I could hear some were in extreme pain, some were yelling and others were swearing. At nightfall the trucks came and we were quickly loaded on board. That’s all I remember. I don’t know how many days I was out and which day I came to but I could not feel my right leg, it was missing. I yelled, cried and swore… They gave me something and put me to sleep. When I woke up I thought – that is that, here is where my road ends… But, as it turned out, my road had not ended, I still had time. I spent a long time in hospitals, sanatoriums and on courses where they pushed me to learn a trade. I learned to cut dog hair… The benefits were bigger than the pension I was getting as I spent my days with the ladies, the owners of my spoiled four-legged friends, filled with joy and satisfaction because I remained an old bachelor… No obligations, no worries.



That was my life in Brno, Czechoslovakia, from where I moved to Skopje. I had a two room apartment in Brno, not as good as the one in Skopje but always full of guests. And here I found it very boring. Every day I went to the same café, met with my friends and until noon we reminisced about the good old days when we were young and talked about the nonsense we had watched on television the day before. Then I went home for lunch, napped sitting with the newspaper in my lap and spent the rest of the evening yelling at the television, arguing with people who thought the world revolved around them. There was no end to their drivel.



Brother, life was good in Brno. I didn’t have a colour television and I didn’t need one. It was impolite to watch television when you had guests. My most frequent guests were students from the socialist countries who managed to gnaw away at my pension money from paycheque to paycheque. And believe me brother, once you allowed them to massage your back they would gnaw away at your pension and your hands would become numb from caressing them. But I am not one of those whacked on the head that would constantly whine and complain. There was always give and take with me. I had a passport and frequently travelled to Poland and democratic Germany. In Poland I crossed the border on foot pushing an old bicycle in and pushing a new bicycle out. My gain was three to five times. And when pantyhose and other delicate things worn by women under the dress were in style, I took the road to Dojche Demokratishe with permission to go and have my prosthesis repaired. I would fill the hollow part of my wooden leg with these items and from there go straight to Brno, where I personally and with my own hands dressed my dear female students from the socialist countries. And to those dunce customs people, it never occurred to them to notice the new bicycle or to check the hollow part of my wooden leg. My friends like me, some with a single leg and others with a single arm, but married, always gave me advice:



“You fool why don’t you get married, find someone and live like a person and not like this…”



“You are the fools,” I used to tell them, “I too am with a woman every day and I am not bored…”



“Okay, but,” he continued with a tone of great injustice in his voice, “my neighbours got tired of me and reported me to the police. One day I heard a knock on my door. I opened it and what did I see, two policemen.



“Dobre otpoledne,” (good afternoon) one of them said and asked if I was so and so.



“Aho,” (yes) I said and with a wide sweep of my arm I invited them in. I then politely asked them to sit down, like a good host should, and offered them something to drink. I placed crystal glasses on the table in front of them and then asked: “Would you like some schnapps or something more western?” They said either would do but with some appetizers. I cut a couple of thick slices of ham and asked: “What is the purpose of your visit?”



“Do you know, comrade Pavel, your neighbours have been complaining that it’s been noisy here at your place and have asked us to tell you to be a bit quieter…” They said nothing about having to stop receiving guests with whom the neighbours may have thought that I might be spreading some sort of immorality and breaking the law, but all around, quietly and politely they made their point as educated people should.



“I, comrades,” I said in a meek tone of voice while filling their glasses, “am a friendly, honest and hospitable citizen and would like to help all those who need help. If you want I can help you as well…”



“There is no need,” said one of them, “but please do tell us what do you do with those young ladies who come here?”



“Oh, that? Nothing bad, I just help them with their studies. For example, those who were here today have a test tomorrow and came to have their knowledge tested.”



“In which subject?” asked one of them.



“In Marxism…” I replied.



“The men broke out in loud laughter and drank my entire supply of Dojche Demokratishe schnapps and all of my more western booze. And if you want to know, that was quite a hefty punishment for me.”



There was silence at the table as the man put sugar in his cup, mixed it and began to tap his wooden leg with his spoon. There was a dull echo coming out of the dry wood.



“Do you hear that?” said the man while tapping his wooden leg loudly then quietly then, but only for a moment, waiting for the echo to die out. “They injured it badly at that damn battle in Lerin then they cut it off at the Elbasan hospital in Albania and then they brought me to Budapest… But, it serves me well so that I can travel the road that remains to be traveled…” He then slammed the wooden leg hard with the palm of his hand sending cold shivers down my spine, making me feel as if I had been hit by a volley of machine gun fire, gun shots and strong thundering grenades, from the distance…



Leaning on their elbows with their chins tightly packed into their crossed palms, deep in their thoughts, I wondered if now, overwhelmed by the silence, their thoughts were gone back to the trodden road of their past. Was the reel of their young life unwinding and passing through time? Were they re-experiencing the storm that had taken place down this great hill and across on the other side where their great hopes and aspirations ended? Could they see, with their blurred eyes, the great and swift defeat that took place in front of them?



The man, who until now listened, straightened himself and tapping on the table with the fingers of his left hand, asked: “Do you know what I thought about?” looking our way and without waiting for an answer, he asked again: “Why is it that only in the winter, during the deepest snow, cold and frosts, after long and exhausting marches, frozen and hungry did we attack the cities? We attacked Konitsa in Epirus on Christmas Eve in 1947 and we ended with many casualties. In Macedonia we attacked Voden, Sobotsko and Negush late in December 1948 and came out with even more casualties. Then we attacked Lerin in February 1949 and experienced an unprecedented defeat...”


The question sank in their eyes, nailed their lips and then there was silence. Watching them there sitting in silence, deep in their thoughts, I wondered: “Will anyone break the silence and give us an answer?”



The strangers, who in a short span of time had become close to us, paid their bill and went outside. They stopped at the edge of the hill which had a view of Lerin. Their eyes became focused on the bare peaks of Bela Voda and on the rocky hill on top of Lundzer. They stared at the great mountains for a long time and then, with their hands, they pointed at them. Then they turned around and one of them spread his arms, pointed at the slopes of Bigla and Plochata and made a circle. The space occupied by the café-restaurant, the parking lot and the wide part of the road in the close vicinity was in the centre of the circle.



“Here,” we heard him quietly say, “was the key to the door that led to Prespa and Albania. Here the residents of the surrounding villages, together with the Partisans, were digging trenches and bunkers for nearly a year, but only during the night because the airplanes and cannons were bombing the area during the day. Their primary tools were the handsaw, the axe, the shovel and the pick. The cut beechwood tree trunks, cut from the nearby forests, measuring several metres in length, were carried uphill on the shoulders of older men and women. They were placed on top of the bunker one log beside another in parallel and more rows were added, each running perpendicular to the one below. Stones and soil were added on top of every row.



These bunkers were the necessary key to defending the road from government forces attacks and to block the tanks from entering the region behind our backs. I told you the key was built with the sweat and blood that ran from the bleeding shoulders and hands of the Macedonian villagers. This place was the key – a fortress to stop the enemy at Vicho, like the slogan said. After that they brought a unit, consisting exclusively of invalid veterans and called it ‘ταγμα θεσεον’ (positional battalion). In other words they brought in men who lacked the physical ability to abandon their position and gave them orders to defend the place to the last one. I don’t know if any of them survived this place and remained alive… What I do know is that they fought hard to hold the key, but in different places, before the massive government push came into effect, the keys and the strong doors were penetrated. Some say that others also helped...”



According to tourist maps, Bigla is now one of the best and well known winter sports centres in the region. There are three cable cars in operation and a fourth is currently being built. The cable cars, hanging from a thick cable, stand by until the first snow arrives and then carry people to the summit.



The remnants of the “positional battalion” are now covered with a thick layer of concrete on which now cars, buses, bars, cafés, restaurants, cable cars and parking lots rest… There is no monument or symbol to mark their existence… Even though they were once dedicated, powerful in spirit, faith and determination, today the fighters still remain nameless!

[George S.]

Gioko Lazarevski - A Modern Macedonian Hero

Translated and edited by Risto Stefov



Ten years ago, he defended his village from the NLA. Ten years ago he bravely fought for freedom, for Leshok and to preserve Macedonia’s freedom. Ten years ago, Gioko Lazarevski gave his life for the Macedonian people, for Leshok and for Macedonia.



Not forgotten by those who know that there is no greater virtue and no greater worth than to love those near you and to love your country more than yourself. And that’s exactly how our young hero Gioko Lazarevski was.



Lazarevski is a modern Macedonian hero who in recent history showed loyalty and gave his life for his homeland, Macedonia.



As a reservist, Gioko under his own initiative, without being asked, reported for duty and together with four of his companions fought for his country and for a few days repelled NLA attacks against his village. Even after he was ordered to leave, Lazarevski felt responsible for the people and remained, bravely facing attack after attack. His persistence kept the NLA back and gave the villagers a chance to safely evacuate the village.



After a few days of fighting, Lazarevski came to the realization that he and his companions could no longer withstand the pressure or push back the attacks. At that time he called on the villagers to evacuate the entire village as quickly as possible. Lazarevski remained behind and fought bravely to the end. A shot to the head ended his life in his battle for Macedonia.



Being unable to bury his body in his native Leshok, due to NLA’s occupation, Lazarevski was laid to rest in the cemetery, Gorce Petrov.



After killing Gioko and capturing Leshok the NLA victors then took their revenge on the Leshok Monastery.


Being unable to bury Gioko in his native village was very disappointing for his mother, who today, with tears and pain, once again lit a candle on the grave of her son where they held a 10-year memorial service.



Lazarevski’s last words were “Gioko is not leaving you”, words that left a lasting impression not only on his comrades who knew him and those who were with him in the last moments before he died, but also on those who were not aware of his heroic deed.



“Rest in peace great man, you have not died in vain, we will always remember you.” On the occasion of the 10th anniversary after his death the Association of Disabled Veterans of Macedonia will organize the raising of a monument at his place of birth, as well as build a cover and provide inscriptions for his grave. A street will also be named after him.



Many people equate Lazarevski’s deeds with those of the hero in Grigor Prlichev’s poem “Serdarot” (The Brigand), “Be brave, dishonesty will not scare you. Remember those who offend your country and let your hearts be brave.”



Lazarevski’s deeds and sacrifice and those of all the others will be remembered forever. The Heroism of the Macedonian sons and their sacrifices will remain forever written in Macedonia’s history.



Source: Kurir, 2011.





Ѓоко Лазаревски – Голем херој во независна Македонија

Пред десет години, тој го бранеше своето село од припадниците на ОНА. Пред 10 години храбро војуваше за слобода на Лешок и зачувување на слободата на Македонија. Пред десет години, Ѓоко Лазаревски го даде својот живот за селаните, за Лешок, за Македонија.

Незаборавен, од оние што знаат дека нема поголема доблест и нема поголема вредност од тоа да се сака ближниот и да се сака татковината повеќе од самиот себе.Токму такво е делото на херојот Ѓоко Лазаревски.

Лазаревски е еден од македонските херои на поновата историја кој со својот живот ја покажа лојалноста кон неговата татковина.

Како резервист Ѓоко сам се пријавува и оди да се бори за својата татковина.

Тој и четворица негови другари неколку дена активно го бранат селото од нападите. Иако добива наредба да го напушти селото, Лазаревски останува на своја одговорност , храбро соочувајќи се со нападите. Успева да ги задржи припадниците на ОНА, за да може селаните да се евакуираат и останува последен.

По неколкудневната борба, Лазаревски е свесен дека повеќе неможат да го издржат притисокот и да возвратат на нападите. Тој им јавува на селаните и неговите најблиски да се евакуираат што е можно побрзо.

Овој голем човек, останува храбро да се бори до крај. Погоден во главата, Ѓоко ја завршува својата битка за Македонија.

Поради неможноста да биде погребан во родниот Лешок, кој во тоа време е освоен од припадниците на ОНА, вечното почивалиште на Лазаревски се наоѓа на гробиштата во Ѓорче Петров.

По убиството на Ѓоко и освојувањето на Лешок припадниците на ОНА ќе го срушат и Лешочкиот Манастир.

Неможноста да биде погребан во своето родно село тешко ја погоди неговата мајка, која и денес со солзи и болка уште еднаш запали свеќа на гробот на нејзиниот син каде се одржа 10-годишниот помен.

Последните зборови на Лазаревски „Не Ве остава Ѓоко Вас“, оставија траен белег кај неговите другари кои и во последните моменти беа со него, кај сите кои го познаваа, но и кај оние кои се свесни за неговото херојско дело.

-Почивај во мир голем човеку, ти не загина залудно, ќе се сеќаваме секогаш на тебе. Затоа Сојузот на воени инвалиди на Македонија, по повод 10 години од загинувањето ќе покрене иницијатива за подигнување на спомен обележје во неговото родно место, како и покривање и уредување на неговиот гроб, а исто така и улица со неговото имe, истакнуваат со Сојузот на воени инвалиди.

Многумина неговото дело го препознаваат во стиховите од поемата „Сердарот“, „Бидете смели, нечесноста не ќе не плаши. Спомнете си кој ви навредувал земја и нека срцата охрабрат Ваши“.

Делата на Лазаревски, како и на сите останати вечно ќе се паметат. Херојството на македонските синови и нивната жртва ќе остане засекогаш запишана во македонската историја.

[George S.]

On the Road of Time – Chapter 2 - Part 1



By Petre Nakovski

Translated and edited by Risto Stefov

[email protected]

June 24, 2012



About two kilometres from the foot of Bigla, at an elevation of 1,700 metres above sea level, is the Vlach village Pisoderion (Psoderi in Macedonian). The houses there are built with carved stone and above each door are placards which, in the winter when cable cars carry thousands of skiers from all over Greece, offer rooms for rent with various domestic village food specialties consisting mainly of beans and a variety of pastries. The languages spoken here are Vlach, Greek and the older people speak the local Macedonian dialect. There is a hotel being built above the road on the slope of Mount Bela Voda. The old road has been widened and paved with asphalt. During Ottoman rule this road was, then as it is now, a link between Lerin, Korcha and from there, via Durres by ship, to Italy and the rest of the world.



The road snaked down the hill. I had to drive slowly and very carefully because I couldn’t get the story of the tragedy that had taken place in Lerin about sixty years ago out of my mind. Then I was distracted by a road sign that read “Holy Trinity 1 km” with a blue arrow pointing in a direction away from the main road. I turned and took the narrow, curvy path hidden in the shadow of the old and tall beechwood trees. Behind the end of the last curve was a wide parking lot and inside a stone yard was the Holy Trinity monastery.



We entered the yard and breathed an aroma of freshly cut grass. Clear and cool water was flowing non-stop out of a five tap spring. We toured the monastery yard and on the western wall we noticed a Greek inscription carved in stone that read: “Agia Triada” (Holy Trinity) and underneath it was written the date “1050”. The entrance door into the monastery was not locked. An older man came out of the lodge and after greeting us in Greek we continued our conversation in Macedonian. He said that he was from the village Psoderi and his job was to look after the monastery and the lodge. We lit a number of candles in front of the altar, in memory of the fallen that had guarded Bigla and the road to Prespa, and left.



Lying nestled at the base of the mountains, divided by the River Bistritsa, we were greeted by the village Andartikon which, in the past and in the memories of its inhabitants, most of whom are now spread all over the world, was better known as Zhelevo. Zhelevo is remembered as the place where permanent scars were left in the history of the Macedonian resistance, especially during the Greek Civil War. Zhelevo was the village, as was German, where the first Macedonian schools were opened. It was November 1947 and the region was engulfed in the Greek Civil War. It was here and in German that the first Macedonian teachers were mobilized to teach Macedonian. Eighty demobilized young men and women, who had primary and a few years of gymnasium education in the Greek language, still dressed in their military uniforms received orders to learn to read and write in the Macedonian Cyrillic alphabet. They were given fifteen days to do it in and after that were sent to complete an even greater task, to teach children to read and write in the Macedonian language.



Burdened with this knowledge and loaded with a saddlebag full of newly delivered books from Skopje, they set off to the various Kostur and Lerin Region villages carrying the burning torch of enlightenment for the Macedonian people. Classes were held at night.



After dark students gathered in cold classrooms and during the night, for the first time, by dimly lit lamps and shimmering candlelight, they learned how to read and write in their native Macedonian language. Learning by day was out of the question, no noises and laughter could be made by students in the daytime because of the menacing iron birds that flew over and beat anyone learning written or spoken words in that language.



Unfortunately that fall was misty and very sad for the people. Day and night news arrived at an alarming rate; bad news, undesirable news, the church bells kept ringing, signalling more death and more mothers were forced to wrap themselves in black. The winter passed in tears and sobs and when the dogwood tree began to bud and the first swallow arrived, the flame of the dimly lit lamps and shimmering candles illuminating the schools died out. Then when the migrating birds began to fly north, mothers abandoned their pride and joy and happiness from their arms, laps, homes, yards, neighbourhoods, villages. And when the fragrant blossoming spring arrived, there were no children to welcome it…


* * *



About two kilometres away from Zhelevo, towards Kostur, on the opposite side of Oshchima there was an intersection with a sharp right turn and before it there was a sign with the words: “Πρεσπες” meaning this way to Prespa. We made a right turn and took the wide, winding uphill road. We passed several passenger cars and buses going in the opposite direction. Then as we passed the last curve we found ourselves at the peak of the hill. This place is called Prevolot, a place where we stopped and had a look at the two beautiful Prespa lakes all nestled in the surrounding mountains. From here we saw and were fascinated by the enchanting picturesque and lush surrounding scenery. We saw the reflection of the mountain tops and the dense green oak tree forests in the lake waters. And looking up we saw a clear blue sky all decorated with puffy white clouds looking like cotton balls. We saw black and white storks, following the warm current of the wind, flying in wide circles over the waters, climbing higher and higher, reaching heights above the highest hills of Pelister and Galichnitsa. We saw proud pelicans regally and masterfully cut the lake waters, leaving a long wake behind them.



There was fog above Mount Galichnitsa and a cloud was lazily making its way on top of the lake. A rainbow could be seen forming, connecting the bases of the great mountains. The colours of the lake began to change as the reflection of the sun in the water was slowly replaced by droplets of rain.



The road from Prevolot leading down to Prespa was treacherous and full of sharp curves but eventually straightened in front of the intersection where a new road is now under construction. The writing on the blue road sign above the arrow that pointed to the left said “Mikrolimni”, but under it, hidden, was the old Macedonian village name “Lak”. Above the arrow that points to the right there are a number of village names written in Greek. These are “Karie-Levkonas-Kalites-Plati-Milonas-Lemos-Agios Germanos”. But no matter what the Greeks call these villages, the people of Prespa have their own Macedonian names which are “Orovnik-Popli-Rudari-Shtrkovo-Medovo-Rabi-German”. We decided to turn left and visit the village Drenovo, even though it was not shown on any traffic or tourist sign.



The village “Lak” now called “Mikrolimni” (Small Lake) surprised us by its tidiness. We circled around while driving on the paved streets, delighted to see so many new houses with blooming flowers in their yards. We noticed that almost every house had a sign offering rooms for rent for tourists and visitors. We stopped in front of a café and after greeting the person sitting closest to us in Macedonian, we asked which road would take us to Drenovo.



“To Drenovo!!!” he said out loud in a surprised tone of voice. “Are you from there? I don’t recognize you…”



“No, we are not from Drenovo,” I replied.



“Are you from Skopje?” he asked looking at the licence plate of my car.



“We live there,” I replied.



“Ah, I understand. You are from this Macedonia. Please, come out of the car and let’s have coffee and after that we will go to Drenovo together,” he said.



Before praising the coffee I praised the village.



He agreed and said: “This is a beautiful village especially since it is full of people. But we are only very few… of our kind… We built our houses with money earned from Australia and America, some from Germany and some from selling fish. The streets and roads were paved by the municipality, in other words the state. And don’t think that the state used its own money. This country is milking Europe and is doing it whenever it feels like it. Before entering Europe we had nothing, we were very poor. Now we can even afford to have guests, tourists and visitors. Many come here from the big cities looking for clean air and peace and quiet. They breathe polluted air in the cities and come here for clean lake and mountain air. Only a few of our people ever return and fewer remain here. The old died out abroad and the young that were born there go to the sea for their vacations. I tell them ‘whoever wants to have good health, come here, to Prespa.’ Do you need a room? I have one available. Would you like to see it?”



“We would like to go to Drenovo first,” I replied.



“Why do you want to go there? It’s a wasteland. There is nothing there. Nothing!” he repeated.



“That’s okay,” I insisted, “if there is nothing then we will see nothing.”



“Okay. If you want to go that badly then let’s go. Leave your car here and we will walk. You can’t go there by car, only on foot or by boat,” he said.



“Then we will go on foot,” I added. I repeated and stressed the word ‘on foot’ out loud, not by chance and not without reason.



The road was narrow and almost hugged the lakeshore.



“Here is Drenovo,” said our companion after we arrived on the other side of the great boulder hanging over the lake water. “This is Drenovo…” he repeated while making a circle with his hand.



The place was desolate, abandoned, tame and quiet. Except for the waves caressing the rocky shore, there was no other sound. One cannot conceive of the idea that here, in this abandoned remote corner of the world, the entire village was a “gathering place” for the enemies of the people. They used to call this “a gathering place” and not a jail or a camp. Here, the people’s self-appointed government, from the beginning of October 1947 to August 1949, for punishment without trials and judgements, sentenced many fathers, mothers and women with young children as well as those who had abandoned their rifles and fled to the other side.



They had no problem referring to these people, some of them being close relatives, as “enemies of the people” and plundering their homes until empty, in the name of the “people’s government”. The jailed men and women, healthy and capable of work, were placed in formations of two and made to walk to Orovnik and Rudari barefoot. There they were given shovels, pickaxes, hammers and metal wedges and forced to dig tunnels at the foothills of the mountains. They took them in and out blindfolded so that the enemy would not find out what these tunnels were used for and that they were actually stashes and warehouses for storing weapons and ammunition.



They cursed sunrise and sunset. They cursed sunrise because from the first to the last rays of the sun they were made to dig holes in the rock-strewn mountains. They cursed sunset because from the last to the first rays of the sun, exhausted, hungry and thirsty near water they were frequently awakened and forced to listen to the moaning and cries of those who were beaten, burned with a hot wire, their heads submerged in buckets filled with human filth and, during the day, exposed to ridicule. And by such means, the power of the popular people’s government was demonstrated.



Those simple, ignorant shepherds, ploughmen, cow herders, servants, janitors and simpletons, where and from whom did they learn to be public judges and cruel tormentors? Noted in a report sent to communist high command were the words: “We are teaching the enemies of the People's National Movement and the People’s Struggle to love the struggle for freedom and to work for it and through their effort to be free…”



The last words of the report horrified me and reminded me of a similar so-called “meeting place” that existed far north where people were also freed through their hard work and effort. They were reminded about that every day by the writing above the entrance door and by the chimney bellowing black smoke non-stop. But in Drenovo there was no writing on any door and no bellowing chimney. There was only beating to unconsciousness, burning with a hot wire, exhaustion from work, a piece of dried up dark bread not exceeding one hundred grams per day to eat, half drowning in a bucket full of filth and public ridicule and humiliation. Mothers and fathers were coerced into signing pre-prepared letters which, by various means, were delivered to the sons who had moved to the other side, begging them to return to the Partisan ranks with promises that the People’s Government would forgive their sins. And those who did return… by no means were they free. Three times a week they had to report to the police station and every day police agents shadowed them.



It was said that one particular man felt so much pressure and remorse that he returned because he believed that his mother, father and wife and two young children were suffering because of what he had done. He was killed at dawn in the grove above Drenovo upon his return. The People’s Government did not forgive his sins. And this was not the only time that an individual was murdered in this grove and in the surrounding area. Automatic rifle bursts were heard there on a regular basis.



Early one morning two armed men with automatic rifles went into the cellar of one of the houses in Drenoveni and woke up the General of the Partisans, a general who had been sentenced to death because of “the failure” to capture Voden. The story goes something like this;



A few hours before the attack on Voden it was said that this particular general advised the men and women fighters to take a rest. The fighters were very tired, hungry and sleepy after a long march in bad winter conditions. It would be better, the general suggested, if they were given some time to rest, sleep, eat something warm and dry their wet uniforms before they attack. Another general, however, a member of high command who was well rested and well fed and rode on a horse and who had arrived over the Yugoslav border and did not take part in the march, gave a different order. He ordered the fighters to commence the attack immediately and without delay. As ordered, the fighters attacked and in the process many drowned in the freezing Voden River, were blown up by mines and were cut down by machine gun fire in front of the enemy bunkers and naturally the battle was lost. While the fighters were being massacred, this particular general from high command slipped out of the battle and, travelling via Yugoslav territory, returned to Vineni and reported that the other general was at fault because of what he had said. A judgement was passed against the general in absentia and he was sentenced to death.



When he returned from the battlefield he was captured and imprisoned in Drenovo. His name was Georgiadis.



The two armed men who had awakened the general that morning told him that it was time for his usual morning walk. Looking through a crack in the cellar window, in the dim grey morning light, the general recognized one of the men. He was a Unit Commander in one of his brigades. The general smiled at the men and greeted them and without saying anything else, proceeded to walk ahead of them. They walked at a slow pace looking like they were measuring the road, turned left uphill and then entered the grove. The general stopped, turned towards the men and asked if it was far enough or should he take a few more steps into the forest. The men took their automatic rifles off their shoulders. The general unbuttoned his leather shirt and from the inside pocket pulled out a piece of paper that was folded in four and said: “Comrade Captain, this is a letter addressed to my daughter who lives in Athens. Please make sure that it is delivered, but if you can’t then let it be known that I fought honourably and I am not a traitor.” The general took a step back and with his legs spread apart, stomped on the ground several times as if checking if it was hard enough to support him. He then lifted his head up and looked at the peaks of Mount Bela Voda.



The sun was just about to rise when a volley of machine gun fire was heard above Drenovo. The two men returned to Vineni by boat. There were thirty bullet holes in the general’s leather shirt. One bullet was not enough for the Partisan general…



Several days after that incident they brought twelve more men to Drenovo. Rumours were that they were caught at the border attempting to escape to Yugoslavia. They were not tried in a court of law because a long time ago an act had been passed which gave their captors the power to execute them without a trial. In fact anyone caught attempting to escape across the border or even thinking of escaping across the border was to be executed. Among the twelve prisoners was a famous clarinet player who had won first prize at a local Greek music competition held in 1936. No wedding took place in Prespa or in the entire Belitsa River Valley without the presence of the famous clarinet player known as Karatimio.



Before sunrise, as usual, they took the twelve to the grove above Drenovo. Only one was allowed to return, that was Karatimio’s son. He was a minor. That spring day in 1949 was the day when nightingales stopped singing in the thick lush grove above Drenovo.



Drenovo; a beautiful and peaceful place nestled between the forested base of Mount Vrba and the coastline of Lake Mala Prespa.



Drenovo; a place of suffering, an ugly picture from which the bad and evil, perpetrated against the poor, innocent Macedonian people by the Macedonian and Greek communist leaders, cannot be erased.



That ugly picture was etched in the memories of all those who experienced it. It was taken to far away places by the survivors, the wives and mothers from Kostur and Lerin Region. It was taken to the migrant working husbands and sons in Australia, America and Canada and, like a nightmare, it was etched into the memories of their children and grandchildren.



We took to the road and silently walked from Drenovo back to Lak on foot. We walked slowly and it seemed as if we could hear the quiet steps of the barefoot men and women who, with shovels and pickaxes over their shoulders, walked alongside of us on this cross bearing road. It seemed that we could hear the cries and moans of those suffering in the cellars of the Drenovo houses. It seemed that we could hear a clarinet playing for one moment and then going silent for another…



We walked in silence as if returning from a funeral, moving slowly, quietly walking away from the forgotten loneliness…



* * *



While driving on the main road we turned right at the intersection leading to Kula-Peroo. Our aim was to visit German which, by population, was at one time the biggest village in Mala Prespa Region. Some of the houses here looked like they had been restored, others were in the process of being restored and still others, by the cracks in the walls, the sagging roofs and the dented chimneys, looked like they had been left to the mercy of the elements.



To the left of the wide paved road in front of the old weathered down wooden door, braced by iron nails, was a man sitting at the rotting doorstep. Leaning his elbows on his knees and bracing his chin with his crossed palms, he sat there in silence staring at the yard full of overgrown nettles and weeds. Slowly and quietly he switched his view between the roof and the chimney and then stared at the windows and, for a while, at the front door. He tightened his lips with his fingers and looking at him all shrunken and sad I did not know if he wanted to talk, cry, or scream. After I greeted him he sat up and adjusted himself, making room for us to sit at the doorstep beside him. Then, after being silent for a while, he pointed to the yard with his hand and said:



“People took me from this yard when I was just a little boy and others returned me in front of this door as an old man… It was like this;



The first to be collected were the young men, seventeen to twenty something years old, and two or three months later they collected the young ladies. After that, in the spring of 1948, in March when all the mountains around Lake Prespa were covered with snow, they collected us, around four hundred and fifty children ages two to fourteen. The children aged fifteen and sixteen were left in the village but the year after that they drafted them and put guns on their shoulders. So I am telling you, they took four hundred or so children and made us walk on foot from here to Dolno Dupeni and from there to Liuboino where we spent the night. The next morning we were loaded onto trucks and taken to Bitola, to the railway station. There they loaded us onto rail cars and took us to Brailovo where many children from Prespa, Kostur and Voden Region villages had been taken. Days later more children arrived from various other regions and villages. Every three or four days, children were loaded into rail cars according to village of origin or some other kind of list and I don’t know where they were taken. Nobody was talking.



They put us in barns where we slept covered in hay and straw and for food they gave us a small piece of cornbread. Was it enough? No! We were all hungry all the time, a hunger that pushed us to go begging from house to house. But instead of giving us bread the residents swore at us, cursed us and chased us with sticks, sending their dogs after us… And they were right, how could they feed us when they had nothing to eat themselves?… Brailovo was very poor at the time and the only thing we received there was a load of lice and dirt. There were too many children for them to be able to do anything for them…



One day my cousin Kote and I decided that we had had enough of the kindness which the leaders of this excursion, with a woman named Vera in charge, had told us about in German and at every other stop we had made. We made up our minds and decided that it was time to go home; to return to German. We figured that we could walk back to Bitola over the rail line that had brought us here and then ask which line went to Prespa, take it and walk back to German. We left and walked and walked for several hours and I think we may have made it to the half way point when we were caught and taken back to the Brailovo barns.



Unfortunately we could not sit still and desperately wanted to return home. So even before a week had passed, we left again and walked on the rail line back to Bitola. This time we were wiser and every time we noticed someone or something unusual we hid in the ditches, in the brush, or in holes under the rails. We managed to evade capture during the first day and spent the night in a ditch. The next morning, before dawn, we arrived at the entrance to Bitola. We were frozen and very hungry. We were afraid to go on the road so we went to a cemetery and there, between the graves, we could see many cats and dogs gathering. We figured they were coming to eat the offerings the living had left for their departed… We chased the animals with sticks and stones and collected as much of the bread, apples and pieces of pastry that we could find. We ate what we could and the rest we stuffed in our pockets. After that my cousin Kote said:



“From what I heard from my grandfather, our people, some time ago, used to come to the Bitola market from our villages. They took the road from Dolno Dupeni, Liuboino, Braichino and came out to a village called Kazani and from there they went straight to Bitola.”



We asked a very old woman to show us the way to Kazani. She asked us, “Why do you want to go there?” Kote lied and said, “We are looking for work as shepherds…”



“Go straight, only straight, past the mosque then follow the river up past the meadows and after that you go straight again…” she said.



We left and walked for about an hour on the road and another hour hiding from people off the road in the bushes and in the willow groves… We then reached open space from where we could see a dark snow cloud forming over the mountains and coming our way. We continued to walk until we came to the outskirts of the village Kazani where we hid in the first barn we ran into. We spent the night there. In the morning we asked an old man if this road led to Prespa? “Yes it does,” he said and disappeared into the narrow village lane.



A few minutes before sundown we came up behind a mountain. There were mountains to the left, mountains to the right and in the distance in front of us we could see the lake and beyond that a long mountain. All the mountains were snowed-in.



“You see that mountain far away?” my cousin asked, out of breath.



“I see it, so what?” I replied.



“We can see it from our village… Do you see that slit in the mountain that makes the mountain look like it’s broken?” Kote asked.



“I see it, but so what?” I replied again.



“That slit can also be seen from our village. So if we go to the left from here we will get home,” he said.



So we took the path to the left and walked until dark. It got very dark and we were cold but we dragged our frozen feet until we arrived at a village. I don’t know what time it was but the villagers were asleep and so were their dogs. We broke into a barn and spent the rest of the night there. At the break of dawn we went above the village and continued our trek. Kote, who was a couple of years older than me, remembered the mountains. He stopped and asked: “You see that mountain there? It is called Vrba. And that one, left of it, do you see it?”



“Yes I see it…” I said.



“Well silly boy,” he yelled out loud, “that one is called Bela Voda…”



When he said that mountain was Bela Voda I jumped with joy and yelled: “And under it is German?”



We were so happy to be so close to home that we hugged each other and laughed, forgetting our misery and hunger. We took to the road again and headed for Mount Bela Voda or what we in German call German’s mountain. We kept moving and stayed to the left of the villages, avoiding being seen. We arrived in Liuboino by early evening. We recognized the houses and the large church… but our fear told us “stay away from the people…” There was a barn at the end of the village so we decided to go there. In the yard we saw a pile of leeks. Quickly we picked up a bunch and quietly entered the small barn door. Then, as soon as we had tucked ourselves in the hay, we began to eat. We were very hungry so we ate a lot of leeks but things did not go well for us.



Before dawn when we came out of the barn and took the road to Dolno Dupeni, we felt tired and exhausted; we had lost our strength; we could hardly walk… we had terrible diarrhea, we figured from eating too many leeks… We could not go on so we hid in a big church above the village and rested. From there we could see the tall peak of Mount Tsutse and to the right of that was Tsrveni Steni. That’s were the border was. We recognized the mountain peaks because they were also visible from our village.



We decided that if we traveled along the brook we would arrive at Tsrveni Steni and from there it would be easy to get to German, so we left. The snow was frozen. My cousin Kote was wearing military boots and was able to break the snow and create holes. I walked behind him barefoot (my moccasins were torn to pieces). We arrived at the top of Tsrveni Steni and stopped beside a border marker. From there we could see our village. But soon the mountain was covered in fog. We welcomed the thick fog because it was easier for us to cross the border undetected. Unfortunately when we arrived at the bottom of the other side, the Partisans caught us and took us to the militia station. There they asked us many questions and we told them everything. Unfortunately, in spite of what we said, they insisted that we tell everyone that all the children in Brailovo were alive and well, that they were well dressed in new clothing and that they were sleeping in beds with white sheets and that there was plenty and all kinds of food for them to eat and that they could eat whatever their little hearts desired… When they saw me barefoot, they gave me a pair of military boots and after that they let us go.



Hey, do you know what happened to me after that damn Brailovo? After having to spend all that time getting there, after having to sleep in barns and after being frozen and hungry? And here I thought once I arrived at home, my father, sisters and brother would welcome me with open arms and hug me. My father would let me sit on his knee, pat my head and give me a warm embrace. My sisters would cook something good for me to eat and bring it to me nice and hot with plenty of bread. They would bring me nice woollen socks and sit with me by the warm fire. Then when I got nice and warm I would fall asleep in my father’s lap and in the morning when I woke up under a warm blanket I would drink warm sheep’s milk… So I thought, as I walked home with a heart full of joy, hopping, dancing and feeling like singing…



Then I felt sudden fear, which made me want to get home faster… When I got there I found the door locked. I banged and banged, then I listened. I banged and listened again and again, once, twice, three times harder and harder but there was no answer. I got desperate and began to pound the door with my fists, with my knees and with my hard military boots. They would not open the door. I thought they must be out somewhere working and wherever they were surely they would soon return. The sun was still shining over the Drenicheto Hill on the other side of the lake and there was plenty of time until dark. I sat at the threshold of the gate and waited. I placed my elbows on my knees and covered my face with my hands and then waited and waited and waited. It became dark but still I waited and refused to move even after I got the shakes from the cold, feeling like ants were crawling up my legs. My face turned white from the cold, my fingers became numb and my ears felt like they were on fire. I felt sleepy and began to lose consciousness. I could not tell where I was and what time it was when I felt a shake on my shoulder. I came to and heard a woman’s voice asking: “Who are you child? Get up. There is no one here in this house…” She took me home to her house. She gave me bread and cheese to eat. And while I ate she told me slowly, word by word that my entire family, my father, my sisters and my brother were taken, mobilized by the Partisans and sent to the front. She told me that my brother had been killed…



The bread and cheese I was eating fell out of my hands, my throat tightened, I saw sparks before my eyes, I began to shake and wanted to cry but I had no tears, I wanted to yell but had no voice, I wanted to run away but had no strength… And… and at that moment I felt utterly alone, I felt a great pain inside of me, I felt broken. And this is how I have remained to this day, all alone… Everything for me became desolate. But as they say, life goes on…

[George S.]

On the Road of Time – Chapter 2 - Part 1



By Petre Nakovski

Translated and edited by Risto Stefov

[email protected]

June 24, 2012



About two kilometres from the foot of Bigla, at an elevation of 1,700 metres above sea level, is the Vlach village Pisoderion (Psoderi in Macedonian). The houses there are built with carved stone and above each door are placards which, in the winter when cable cars carry thousands of skiers from all over Greece, offer rooms for rent with various domestic village food specialties consisting mainly of beans and a variety of pastries. The languages spoken here are Vlach, Greek and the older people speak the local Macedonian dialect. There is a hotel being built above the road on the slope of Mount Bela Voda. The old road has been widened and paved with asphalt. During Ottoman rule this road was, then as it is now, a link between Lerin, Korcha and from there, via Durres by ship, to Italy and the rest of the world.



The road snaked down the hill. I had to drive slowly and very carefully because I couldn’t get the story of the tragedy that had taken place in Lerin about sixty years ago out of my mind. Then I was distracted by a road sign that read “Holy Trinity 1 km” with a blue arrow pointing in a direction away from the main road. I turned and took the narrow, curvy path hidden in the shadow of the old and tall beechwood trees. Behind the end of the last curve was a wide parking lot and inside a stone yard was the Holy Trinity monastery.



We entered the yard and breathed an aroma of freshly cut grass. Clear and cool water was flowing non-stop out of a five tap spring. We toured the monastery yard and on the western wall we noticed a Greek inscription carved in stone that read: “Agia Triada” (Holy Trinity) and underneath it was written the date “1050”. The entrance door into the monastery was not locked. An older man came out of the lodge and after greeting us in Greek we continued our conversation in Macedonian. He said that he was from the village Psoderi and his job was to look after the monastery and the lodge. We lit a number of candles in front of the altar, in memory of the fallen that had guarded Bigla and the road to Prespa, and left.



Lying nestled at the base of the mountains, divided by the River Bistritsa, we were greeted by the village Andartikon which, in the past and in the memories of its inhabitants, most of whom are now spread all over the world, was better known as Zhelevo. Zhelevo is remembered as the place where permanent scars were left in the history of the Macedonian resistance, especially during the Greek Civil War. Zhelevo was the village, as was German, where the first Macedonian schools were opened. It was November 1947 and the region was engulfed in the Greek Civil War. It was here and in German that the first Macedonian teachers were mobilized to teach Macedonian. Eighty demobilized young men and women, who had primary and a few years of gymnasium education in the Greek language, still dressed in their military uniforms received orders to learn to read and write in the Macedonian Cyrillic alphabet. They were given fifteen days to do it in and after that were sent to complete an even greater task, to teach children to read and write in the Macedonian language.



Burdened with this knowledge and loaded with a saddlebag full of newly delivered books from Skopje, they set off to the various Kostur and Lerin Region villages carrying the burning torch of enlightenment for the Macedonian people. Classes were held at night.



After dark students gathered in cold classrooms and during the night, for the first time, by dimly lit lamps and shimmering candlelight, they learned how to read and write in their native Macedonian language. Learning by day was out of the question, no noises and laughter could be made by students in the daytime because of the menacing iron birds that flew over and beat anyone learning written or spoken words in that language.



Unfortunately that fall was misty and very sad for the people. Day and night news arrived at an alarming rate; bad news, undesirable news, the church bells kept ringing, signalling more death and more mothers were forced to wrap themselves in black. The winter passed in tears and sobs and when the dogwood tree began to bud and the first swallow arrived, the flame of the dimly lit lamps and shimmering candles illuminating the schools died out. Then when the migrating birds began to fly north, mothers abandoned their pride and joy and happiness from their arms, laps, homes, yards, neighbourhoods, villages. And when the fragrant blossoming spring arrived, there were no children to welcome it…


* * *



About two kilometres away from Zhelevo, towards Kostur, on the opposite side of Oshchima there was an intersection with a sharp right turn and before it there was a sign with the words: “Πρεσπες” meaning this way to Prespa. We made a right turn and took the wide, winding uphill road. We passed several passenger cars and buses going in the opposite direction. Then as we passed the last curve we found ourselves at the peak of the hill. This place is called Prevolot, a place where we stopped and had a look at the two beautiful Prespa lakes all nestled in the surrounding mountains. From here we saw and were fascinated by the enchanting picturesque and lush surrounding scenery. We saw the reflection of the mountain tops and the dense green oak tree forests in the lake waters. And looking up we saw a clear blue sky all decorated with puffy white clouds looking like cotton balls. We saw black and white storks, following the warm current of the wind, flying in wide circles over the waters, climbing higher and higher, reaching heights above the highest hills of Pelister and Galichnitsa. We saw proud pelicans regally and masterfully cut the lake waters, leaving a long wake behind them.



There was fog above Mount Galichnitsa and a cloud was lazily making its way on top of the lake. A rainbow could be seen forming, connecting the bases of the great mountains. The colours of the lake began to change as the reflection of the sun in the water was slowly replaced by droplets of rain.



The road from Prevolot leading down to Prespa was treacherous and full of sharp curves but eventually straightened in front of the intersection where a new road is now under construction. The writing on the blue road sign above the arrow that pointed to the left said “Mikrolimni”, but under it, hidden, was the old Macedonian village name “Lak”. Above the arrow that points to the right there are a number of village names written in Greek. These are “Karie-Levkonas-Kalites-Plati-Milonas-Lemos-Agios Germanos”. But no matter what the Greeks call these villages, the people of Prespa have their own Macedonian names which are “Orovnik-Popli-Rudari-Shtrkovo-Medovo-Rabi-German”. We decided to turn left and visit the village Drenovo, even though it was not shown on any traffic or tourist sign.



The village “Lak” now called “Mikrolimni” (Small Lake) surprised us by its tidiness. We circled around while driving on the paved streets, delighted to see so many new houses with blooming flowers in their yards. We noticed that almost every house had a sign offering rooms for rent for tourists and visitors. We stopped in front of a café and after greeting the person sitting closest to us in Macedonian, we asked which road would take us to Drenovo.



“To Drenovo!!!” he said out loud in a surprised tone of voice. “Are you from there? I don’t recognize you…”



“No, we are not from Drenovo,” I replied.



“Are you from Skopje?” he asked looking at the licence plate of my car.



“We live there,” I replied.



“Ah, I understand. You are from this Macedonia. Please, come out of the car and let’s have coffee and after that we will go to Drenovo together,” he said.



Before praising the coffee I praised the village.



He agreed and said: “This is a beautiful village especially since it is full of people. But we are only very few… of our kind… We built our houses with money earned from Australia and America, some from Germany and some from selling fish. The streets and roads were paved by the municipality, in other words the state. And don’t think that the state used its own money. This country is milking Europe and is doing it whenever it feels like it. Before entering Europe we had nothing, we were very poor. Now we can even afford to have guests, tourists and visitors. Many come here from the big cities looking for clean air and peace and quiet. They breathe polluted air in the cities and come here for clean lake and mountain air. Only a few of our people ever return and fewer remain here. The old died out abroad and the young that were born there go to the sea for their vacations. I tell them ‘whoever wants to have good health, come here, to Prespa.’ Do you need a room? I have one available. Would you like to see it?”



“We would like to go to Drenovo first,” I replied.



“Why do you want to go there? It’s a wasteland. There is nothing there. Nothing!” he repeated.



“That’s okay,” I insisted, “if there is nothing then we will see nothing.”



“Okay. If you want to go that badly then let’s go. Leave your car here and we will walk. You can’t go there by car, only on foot or by boat,” he said.



“Then we will go on foot,” I added. I repeated and stressed the word ‘on foot’ out loud, not by chance and not without reason.



The road was narrow and almost hugged the lakeshore.



“Here is Drenovo,” said our companion after we arrived on the other side of the great boulder hanging over the lake water. “This is Drenovo…” he repeated while making a circle with his hand.



The place was desolate, abandoned, tame and quiet. Except for the waves caressing the rocky shore, there was no other sound. One cannot conceive of the idea that here, in this abandoned remote corner of the world, the entire village was a “gathering place” for the enemies of the people. They used to call this “a gathering place” and not a jail or a camp. Here, the people’s self-appointed government, from the beginning of October 1947 to August 1949, for punishment without trials and judgements, sentenced many fathers, mothers and women with young children as well as those who had abandoned their rifles and fled to the other side.



They had no problem referring to these people, some of them being close relatives, as “enemies of the people” and plundering their homes until empty, in the name of the “people’s government”. The jailed men and women, healthy and capable of work, were placed in formations of two and made to walk to Orovnik and Rudari barefoot. There they were given shovels, pickaxes, hammers and metal wedges and forced to dig tunnels at the foothills of the mountains. They took them in and out blindfolded so that the enemy would not find out what these tunnels were used for and that they were actually stashes and warehouses for storing weapons and ammunition.



They cursed sunrise and sunset. They cursed sunrise because from the first to the last rays of the sun they were made to dig holes in the rock-strewn mountains. They cursed sunset because from the last to the first rays of the sun, exhausted, hungry and thirsty near water they were frequently awakened and forced to listen to the moaning and cries of those who were beaten, burned with a hot wire, their heads submerged in buckets filled with human filth and, during the day, exposed to ridicule. And by such means, the power of the popular people’s government was demonstrated.



Those simple, ignorant shepherds, ploughmen, cow herders, servants, janitors and simpletons, where and from whom did they learn to be public judges and cruel tormentors? Noted in a report sent to communist high command were the words: “We are teaching the enemies of the People's National Movement and the People’s Struggle to love the struggle for freedom and to work for it and through their effort to be free…”



The last words of the report horrified me and reminded me of a similar so-called “meeting place” that existed far north where people were also freed through their hard work and effort. They were reminded about that every day by the writing above the entrance door and by the chimney bellowing black smoke non-stop. But in Drenovo there was no writing on any door and no bellowing chimney. There was only beating to unconsciousness, burning with a hot wire, exhaustion from work, a piece of dried up dark bread not exceeding one hundred grams per day to eat, half drowning in a bucket full of filth and public ridicule and humiliation. Mothers and fathers were coerced into signing pre-prepared letters which, by various means, were delivered to the sons who had moved to the other side, begging them to return to the Partisan ranks with promises that the People’s Government would forgive their sins. And those who did return… by no means were they free. Three times a week they had to report to the police station and every day police agents shadowed them.



It was said that one particular man felt so much pressure and remorse that he returned because he believed that his mother, father and wife and two young children were suffering because of what he had done. He was killed at dawn in the grove above Drenovo upon his return. The People’s Government did not forgive his sins. And this was not the only time that an individual was murdered in this grove and in the surrounding area. Automatic rifle bursts were heard there on a regular basis.



Early one morning two armed men with automatic rifles went into the cellar of one of the houses in Drenoveni and woke up the General of the Partisans, a general who had been sentenced to death because of “the failure” to capture Voden. The story goes something like this;



A few hours before the attack on Voden it was said that this particular general advised the men and women fighters to take a rest. The fighters were very tired, hungry and sleepy after a long march in bad winter conditions. It would be better, the general suggested, if they were given some time to rest, sleep, eat something warm and dry their wet uniforms before they attack. Another general, however, a member of high command who was well rested and well fed and rode on a horse and who had arrived over the Yugoslav border and did not take part in the march, gave a different order. He ordered the fighters to commence the attack immediately and without delay. As ordered, the fighters attacked and in the process many drowned in the freezing Voden River, were blown up by mines and were cut down by machine gun fire in front of the enemy bunkers and naturally the battle was lost. While the fighters were being massacred, this particular general from high command slipped out of the battle and, travelling via Yugoslav territory, returned to Vineni and reported that the other general was at fault because of what he had said. A judgement was passed against the general in absentia and he was sentenced to death.



When he returned from the battlefield he was captured and imprisoned in Drenovo. His name was Georgiadis.



The two armed men who had awakened the general that morning told him that it was time for his usual morning walk. Looking through a crack in the cellar window, in the dim grey morning light, the general recognized one of the men. He was a Unit Commander in one of his brigades. The general smiled at the men and greeted them and without saying anything else, proceeded to walk ahead of them. They walked at a slow pace looking like they were measuring the road, turned left uphill and then entered the grove. The general stopped, turned towards the men and asked if it was far enough or should he take a few more steps into the forest. The men took their automatic rifles off their shoulders. The general unbuttoned his leather shirt and from the inside pocket pulled out a piece of paper that was folded in four and said: “Comrade Captain, this is a letter addressed to my daughter who lives in Athens. Please make sure that it is delivered, but if you can’t then let it be known that I fought honourably and I am not a traitor.” The general took a step back and with his legs spread apart, stomped on the ground several times as if checking if it was hard enough to support him. He then lifted his head up and looked at the peaks of Mount Bela Voda.



The sun was just about to rise when a volley of machine gun fire was heard above Drenovo. The two men returned to Vineni by boat. There were thirty bullet holes in the general’s leather shirt. One bullet was not enough for the Partisan general…



Several days after that incident they brought twelve more men to Drenovo. Rumours were that they were caught at the border attempting to escape to Yugoslavia. They were not tried in a court of law because a long time ago an act had been passed which gave their captors the power to execute them without a trial. In fact anyone caught attempting to escape across the border or even thinking of escaping across the border was to be executed. Among the twelve prisoners was a famous clarinet player who had won first prize at a local Greek music competition held in 1936. No wedding took place in Prespa or in the entire Belitsa River Valley without the presence of the famous clarinet player known as Karatimio.



Before sunrise, as usual, they took the twelve to the grove above Drenovo. Only one was allowed to return, that was Karatimio’s son. He was a minor. That spring day in 1949 was the day when nightingales stopped singing in the thick lush grove above Drenovo.



Drenovo; a beautiful and peaceful place nestled between the forested base of Mount Vrba and the coastline of Lake Mala Prespa.



Drenovo; a place of suffering, an ugly picture from which the bad and evil, perpetrated against the poor, innocent Macedonian people by the Macedonian and Greek communist leaders, cannot be erased.



That ugly picture was etched in the memories of all those who experienced it. It was taken to far away places by the survivors, the wives and mothers from Kostur and Lerin Region. It was taken to the migrant working husbands and sons in Australia, America and Canada and, like a nightmare, it was etched into the memories of their children and grandchildren.



We took to the road and silently walked from Drenovo back to Lak on foot. We walked slowly and it seemed as if we could hear the quiet steps of the barefoot men and women who, with shovels and pickaxes over their shoulders, walked alongside of us on this cross bearing road. It seemed that we could hear the cries and moans of those suffering in the cellars of the Drenovo houses. It seemed that we could hear a clarinet playing for one moment and then going silent for another…



We walked in silence as if returning from a funeral, moving slowly, quietly walking away from the forgotten loneliness…



* * *



While driving on the main road we turned right at the intersection leading to Kula-Peroo. Our aim was to visit German which, by population, was at one time the biggest village in Mala Prespa Region. Some of the houses here looked like they had been restored, others were in the process of being restored and still others, by the cracks in the walls, the sagging roofs and the dented chimneys, looked like they had been left to the mercy of the elements.



To the left of the wide paved road in front of the old weathered down wooden door, braced by iron nails, was a man sitting at the rotting doorstep. Leaning his elbows on his knees and bracing his chin with his crossed palms, he sat there in silence staring at the yard full of overgrown nettles and weeds. Slowly and quietly he switched his view between the roof and the chimney and then stared at the windows and, for a while, at the front door. He tightened his lips with his fingers and looking at him all shrunken and sad I did not know if he wanted to talk, cry, or scream. After I greeted him he sat up and adjusted himself, making room for us to sit at the doorstep beside him. Then, after being silent for a while, he pointed to the yard with his hand and said:



“People took me from this yard when I was just a little boy and others returned me in front of this door as an old man… It was like this;



The first to be collected were the young men, seventeen to twenty something years old, and two or three months later they collected the young ladies. After that, in the spring of 1948, in March when all the mountains around Lake Prespa were covered with snow, they collected us, around four hundred and fifty children ages two to fourteen. The children aged fifteen and sixteen were left in the village but the year after that they drafted them and put guns on their shoulders. So I am telling you, they took four hundred or so children and made us walk on foot from here to Dolno Dupeni and from there to Liuboino where we spent the night. The next morning we were loaded onto trucks and taken to Bitola, to the railway station. There they loaded us onto rail cars and took us to Brailovo where many children from Prespa, Kostur and Voden Region villages had been taken. Days later more children arrived from various other regions and villages. Every three or four days, children were loaded into rail cars according to village of origin or some other kind of list and I don’t know where they were taken. Nobody was talking.



They put us in barns where we slept covered in hay and straw and for food they gave us a small piece of cornbread. Was it enough? No! We were all hungry all the time, a hunger that pushed us to go begging from house to house. But instead of giving us bread the residents swore at us, cursed us and chased us with sticks, sending their dogs after us… And they were right, how could they feed us when they had nothing to eat themselves?… Brailovo was very poor at the time and the only thing we received there was a load of lice and dirt. There were too many children for them to be able to do anything for them…



One day my cousin Kote and I decided that we had had enough of the kindness which the leaders of this excursion, with a woman named Vera in charge, had told us about in German and at every other stop we had made. We made up our minds and decided that it was time to go home; to return to German. We figured that we could walk back to Bitola over the rail line that had brought us here and then ask which line went to Prespa, take it and walk back to German. We left and walked and walked for several hours and I think we may have made it to the half way point when we were caught and taken back to the Brailovo barns.



Unfortunately we could not sit still and desperately wanted to return home. So even before a week had passed, we left again and walked on the rail line back to Bitola. This time we were wiser and every time we noticed someone or something unusual we hid in the ditches, in the brush, or in holes under the rails. We managed to evade capture during the first day and spent the night in a ditch. The next morning, before dawn, we arrived at the entrance to Bitola. We were frozen and very hungry. We were afraid to go on the road so we went to a cemetery and there, between the graves, we could see many cats and dogs gathering. We figured they were coming to eat the offerings the living had left for their departed… We chased the animals with sticks and stones and collected as much of the bread, apples and pieces of pastry that we could find. We ate what we could and the rest we stuffed in our pockets. After that my cousin Kote said:



“From what I heard from my grandfather, our people, some time ago, used to come to the Bitola market from our villages. They took the road from Dolno Dupeni, Liuboino, Braichino and came out to a village called Kazani and from there they went straight to Bitola.”



We asked a very old woman to show us the way to Kazani. She asked us, “Why do you want to go there?” Kote lied and said, “We are looking for work as shepherds…”



“Go straight, only straight, past the mosque then follow the river up past the meadows and after that you go straight again…” she said.



We left and walked for about an hour on the road and another hour hiding from people off the road in the bushes and in the willow groves… We then reached open space from where we could see a dark snow cloud forming over the mountains and coming our way. We continued to walk until we came to the outskirts of the village Kazani where we hid in the first barn we ran into. We spent the night there. In the morning we asked an old man if this road led to Prespa? “Yes it does,” he said and disappeared into the narrow village lane.



A few minutes before sundown we came up behind a mountain. There were mountains to the left, mountains to the right and in the distance in front of us we could see the lake and beyond that a long mountain. All the mountains were snowed-in.



“You see that mountain far away?” my cousin asked, out of breath.



“I see it, so what?” I replied.



“We can see it from our village… Do you see that slit in the mountain that makes the mountain look like it’s broken?” Kote asked.



“I see it, but so what?” I replied again.



“That slit can also be seen from our village. So if we go to the left from here we will get home,” he said.



So we took the path to the left and walked until dark. It got very dark and we were cold but we dragged our frozen feet until we arrived at a village. I don’t know what time it was but the villagers were asleep and so were their dogs. We broke into a barn and spent the rest of the night there. At the break of dawn we went above the village and continued our trek. Kote, who was a couple of years older than me, remembered the mountains. He stopped and asked: “You see that mountain there? It is called Vrba. And that one, left of it, do you see it?”



“Yes I see it…” I said.



“Well silly boy,” he yelled out loud, “that one is called Bela Voda…”



When he said that mountain was Bela Voda I jumped with joy and yelled: “And under it is German?”



We were so happy to be so close to home that we hugged each other and laughed, forgetting our misery and hunger. We took to the road again and headed for Mount Bela Voda or what we in German call German’s mountain. We kept moving and stayed to the left of the villages, avoiding being seen. We arrived in Liuboino by early evening. We recognized the houses and the large church… but our fear told us “stay away from the people…” There was a barn at the end of the village so we decided to go there. In the yard we saw a pile of leeks. Quickly we picked up a bunch and quietly entered the small barn door. Then, as soon as we had tucked ourselves in the hay, we began to eat. We were very hungry so we ate a lot of leeks but things did not go well for us.



Before dawn when we came out of the barn and took the road to Dolno Dupeni, we felt tired and exhausted; we had lost our strength; we could hardly walk… we had terrible diarrhea, we figured from eating too many leeks… We could not go on so we hid in a big church above the village and rested. From there we could see the tall peak of Mount Tsutse and to the right of that was Tsrveni Steni. That’s were the border was. We recognized the mountain peaks because they were also visible from our village.



We decided that if we traveled along the brook we would arrive at Tsrveni Steni and from there it would be easy to get to German, so we left. The snow was frozen. My cousin Kote was wearing military boots and was able to break the snow and create holes. I walked behind him barefoot (my moccasins were torn to pieces). We arrived at the top of Tsrveni Steni and stopped beside a border marker. From there we could see our village. But soon the mountain was covered in fog. We welcomed the thick fog because it was easier for us to cross the border undetected. Unfortunately when we arrived at the bottom of the other side, the Partisans caught us and took us to the militia station. There they asked us many questions and we told them everything. Unfortunately, in spite of what we said, they insisted that we tell everyone that all the children in Brailovo were alive and well, that they were well dressed in new clothing and that they were sleeping in beds with white sheets and that there was plenty and all kinds of food for them to eat and that they could eat whatever their little hearts desired… When they saw me barefoot, they gave me a pair of military boots and after that they let us go.



Hey, do you know what happened to me after that damn Brailovo? After having to spend all that time getting there, after having to sleep in barns and after being frozen and hungry? And here I thought once I arrived at home, my father, sisters and brother would welcome me with open arms and hug me. My father would let me sit on his knee, pat my head and give me a warm embrace. My sisters would cook something good for me to eat and bring it to me nice and hot with plenty of bread. They would bring me nice woollen socks and sit with me by the warm fire. Then when I got nice and warm I would fall asleep in my father’s lap and in the morning when I woke up under a warm blanket I would drink warm sheep’s milk… So I thought, as I walked home with a heart full of joy, hopping, dancing and feeling like singing…



Then I felt sudden fear, which made me want to get home faster… When I got there I found the door locked. I banged and banged, then I listened. I banged and listened again and again, once, twice, three times harder and harder but there was no answer. I got desperate and began to pound the door with my fists, with my knees and with my hard military boots. They would not open the door. I thought they must be out somewhere working and wherever they were surely they would soon return. The sun was still shining over the Drenicheto Hill on the other side of the lake and there was plenty of time until dark. I sat at the threshold of the gate and waited. I placed my elbows on my knees and covered my face with my hands and then waited and waited and waited. It became dark but still I waited and refused to move even after I got the shakes from the cold, feeling like ants were crawling up my legs. My face turned white from the cold, my fingers became numb and my ears felt like they were on fire. I felt sleepy and began to lose consciousness. I could not tell where I was and what time it was when I felt a shake on my shoulder. I came to and heard a woman’s voice asking: “Who are you child? Get up. There is no one here in this house…” She took me home to her house. She gave me bread and cheese to eat. And while I ate she told me slowly, word by word that my entire family, my father, my sisters and my brother were taken, mobilized by the Partisans and sent to the front. She told me that my brother had been killed…



The bread and cheese I was eating fell out of my hands, my throat tightened, I saw sparks before my eyes, I began to shake and wanted to cry but I had no tears, I wanted to yell but had no voice, I wanted to run away but had no strength… And… and at that moment I felt utterly alone, I felt a great pain inside of me, I felt broken. And this is how I have remained to this day, all alone… Everything for me became desolate. But as they say, life goes on…

[damian]

Prespa

Hello,


Does anyone know anything about the history of Prespa particularly during the occupation, war for liberation/civil war. Thank you.


damian

[damian]

Greece may have its borders altered who knows to its natural borders. Now of course they are using the "national issues" to confuse people while the elites steal everything and withdraw to their real locations.

[George S.]

Nothing would surprise me what greece could get up to.On the pretext of some bs history 2000 years ago they could jump borders look at paeonia they think it is theirs.So i'm not surprised at all .All you need is the nazi poltical greek party & hey presto you can do anything.Greeks mistreat their minorities & nothing happens Rom sneezes & all hell breaks out.So we aren't trusted & we don't have friends in high places.Welcome aboard damian.
The greeks use everything like names,symbols etc etc to falsly claims on macedonia.

[damian]

Thank you. But also whats going on in Greece is from circles who want to destroy all countries and masses so Macedonia is also under threat from globalists.