United Macedonia Diaspora

[Vangelovski]

Originally Posted by amitreski

Tom

UMD is formulated based on the opinions we receive from our supporters and members. Few guys in Australia, Canada or USA sitting behind a PC on a public forum can not dictate UMD's policy.

UMD has done many town hall meetings across USA and Canada to hear the opinion of out members. Furthermore, UMD sends out a survey to our membership to hear their opinions on important topics. I know you may be disappointed, but when we asked our membership body if we should withdraw from the negotiations, the majority of respondents said that we should not.

So there you have it. People that donate and support UMD get to influence the direction of UMD.


Again, UMD is not the only Macedonian organization out there. Feel free to support another organization.

Mitreski,

You didn't really answer any of my questions. You and UMD have made some positive statements, but they are few and far between.

Can you answer any of the questions surrounding the highly controversial statements made by UMD and its leadership that have been posted here?

[aleksandrov]

Bucktop,

The one good thing about the Macedonian Constitution, which many Western constitutions don't offer, is the opportunity for a citizens-initiated referendum to change or supplement any legislative act, including the Constitution. But that's of little use when foreign powers like the US and some European countries, with the help of cheap local journalists and politicians, are successful in scaring and brainwashing a large section of the Macedonian public against protecting Macedonian rights and interests, as was the case with the last referendum organized by the World Macedonian Congress, against local government legislation that amounted to further ethnic segregation of the country, in accordance with the wishes of separatist terrorists. If the UMD wants to end this trend, it has to first stop deceiving itself and the Macedonian public into believing that the USA or any other power that tries to suppress the free will and citizens' rights of the Macedonian people is "Macedonia's best friend". I know that this is hard for Americans of Macedonian origin, who have conflicting allegiances between America and Macedonia, but perhaps they could avoid that conflict by putting justice and fairness above all?

[aleksandrov]

Originally Posted by amitreski

Tom

UMD is formulated based on the opinions we receive from our supporters and members. Few guys in Australia, Canada or USA sitting behind a PC on a public forum can not dictate UMD's policy. ...

Have you held a general meeting of your membership to articulate or endorse the contentious policies? How many of your members support your opinion that the Framework Agreement as a great achievement of the late Boris Trajkovski? What forum have they expressed their support in? Since you've decided to try and belittle and discredit the critics of some of your policies as "few guys in Australia, Canada or USA sitting behind a PC on a public forum", you should answer that question clearly and directly, unless you have no problem appearing hypocritical.

Do you want to lead or follow the opinion of your general membership? The fact that you still work with a self-appointed Board of Directors that has decided not to have its first general election until 2011 suggests that you want to lead your membership in a particular direction. I can understand that, but you can't have it both ways. You can't severely restrict the power of your members when it comes to holding elections or general meetings, yet credibly use the membership as a shield to protect yourselves against policy criticism.

[Risto the Great]

Originally Posted by Risto the Great

No they won't. We already have confirmation the UMD chooses to ignore historical arguments. It is policy for them apparently.

Originally Posted by amitreski

Where did you hear that?

I am sorry if I give the impression of misleading anybody. I can only work with public statements from relevant and interested parties. Then I have to try to make sense of various agendas and try to determine where the issue of credibility lies.

I believe you had private correspondence with Pelister where you stated the following:

Too much nationalism and the ancient rhetoric from Macedonia have damaged our reputation

If you deny making this statement, I will pursue this with Pelister.
If this is indeed correct and attributable to you, I ask you how that statement should be interpreted. I believe it should be interpreted in a way that suggests historical arguments are in fact damaging Macedonia's reputation. As a consequence of who you were representing in your correspondence, the UMD believes historical arguments are in fact damaging Macedonia's reputation and it must form part of their policy.

Correct me if I am wrong.

[aleksandrov]

Does the following public statement by the UMD organization amount to support for the Ohrid Framework Agreement or not?

"UMD Remembers President Trajkovski

Monday, 26 February 2007

Washington, D.C. – February 26 marks the 3-year anniversary of the tragic plane accident that caused the death of the former Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and his entourage. The president and his associates were heading towards the regional economic forum in Mostar, Bosnia.

President Trajkovski stood behind his people through many trials and tribulations. His thoughts are prevalent even today. “The [Framework] Agreement is not perfect, but no agreement ever is…It is the best thing we have right now…The alternative is division at all levels: civil, inter-ethnic, political and generational…The alternative to peace is war, which will expose everyone to mass casualties, misery and a loss of perspective for many years to come,” said President Trajkovski in 2001.

Republic of Macedonia knocks on the door to NATO membership and is an EU member candidate. United Macedonian Diaspora encourages the Macedonian government, political opposition, and civil society not to forget the words of President Trajkovski and to continue towards the much-needed progress and reforms to ensure admission into all Euro-Atlantic institutions. There are urgent reforms that must be addressed in order for the Republic of Macedonia to join Euro-Atlantic structures, and our organization encourages the Macedonian government and its assembly to diligently work toward meeting these goals.

United Macedonian Diaspora is certain that differences between political parties will be overcome, reforms will be met, and that President Trajkovski’s vision “to create a society based on democracy, the rule of law and the free market economy, ultimately creating a civil society based on trust,” will prevail. The United Macedonian Diaspora salutes this courageous man that always put his people and country ahead of personal glorification.

To learn more about the life and legacy of President Trajkovski, please visit the Boris Trajkovski International Foundation website by clicking HERE."

http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/180/54/


I know the answer seems too obvious to warrant a poll, but there's at least one member of this forum who vehemently disagrees.

I am particularly interested in the answer of UMD members.

__________________________________________________ ______________________

Added on 17 June 2010:

I am adding a clip posted by Homer Makedonski and Indigen further down on this thread, which refers to evidence of collusion by the US administration and its Macedonian vassal, Boris Trajkovski, with Albanian terrorists, in their attacks on the Macedonian Republic in 2001:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1X86MWXAGQY&feature=related

[Vangelovski]

In my view, the fact that UMD has quoted Trajkovski's arguement FOR the Framework Agreement and then called on us to continue those "reforms" is a clear statement of support. UMD could have chosen any number of Trajkovski quotes, however, they specifically opted for this particular one to send a message. UMD's message is, that the Framework Agreement should be supported and implemented in full so that Macedonia can enter the EU and NATO.

[Pelister]

United Macedonian Diaspora encourages the Macedonian government, political opposition, and civil society not to forget the words of President Trajkovski

If its made in the West, UMD is likely to back it.

Why would UMD support these exclusively Western institutions and Western structures, knowing full well how unjust and injurous they are to us?

Why would they back these anti-Macedonian institutions and structures?

Are they whores? Don't they have any back bone, or even the most basic principles to stand on? Or are they simply opportunists and careerists seeking their own personal gain at our misfortune?

[Buktop]

Originally Posted by aleksandrov

Bucktop,

The one good thing about the Macedonian Constitution, which many Western constitutions don't offer, is the opportunity for a citizens-initiated referendum to change or supplement any legislative act, including the Constitution. But that's of little use when foreign powers like the US and some European countries, with the help of cheap local journalists and politicians, are successful in scaring and brainwashing a large section of the Macedonian public against protecting Macedonian rights and interests, as was the case with the last referendum organized by the World Macedonian Congress, against local government legislation that amounted to further ethnic segregation of the country, in accordance with the wishes of separatist terrorists. If the UMD wants to end this trend, it has to first stop deceiving itself and the Macedonian public into believing that the USA or any other power that tries to suppress the free will and citizens' rights of the Macedonian people is "Macedonia's best friend". I know that this is hard for Americans of Macedonian origin, who have conflicting allegiances between America and Macedonia, but perhaps they could avoid that conflict by putting justice and fairness above all?

I know the referendum you speak of very well. Now how is it that SDSM's propaganda campaign was allowed to run unopposed? Did the opposition coalition not have enough funds to run their own media campaign?

[osiris]

can someboy direct me to meto article written for the melbourne age, i must have missed it.

[Vangelovski]

Originally Posted by osiris

can someboy direct me to meto article written for the melbourne age, i must have missed it.

That's a good question - where is that article?