The situation in which Macedonia finds itself today can be traced back to the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. As a result of the Treaty of Bucharest, Macedonia was partitioned among Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria. These regions are known as the Republic of Macedonia (independent since 1991), Aegean Macedonia (presently within the borders of Greece), and Pirin Macedonia (within the borders of Bulgaria). A small part of Macedonia was given to Albania in 1919 (known as Mala Prespa and Golo Brdo).
Upon annexation of Macedonia's territory, each country began terrorist campaigns aimed at expelling or forcibly assimilating the indigenous Macedonian population. Greece, in particular, began an intense campaign in order to eradicate the existence of Macedonia through a horrific policy of cultural genocide and ethnic cleansing. They outlawed the term Macedonia and proceeded to rename this region "Northern Greece". They changed the names of Macedonian people, villages, and landmarks from Macedonian to Greek. Bulgaria and Greece continue to deny the existence of their large Macedonian minorities to this day and refuse to grant them human rights. The human rights violations have been well-documented. Albania offers its Macedonian minority limited human rights but the situation does not compare to the human rights and freedoms enjoyed by the Albanian minority in the Republic of Macedonia.
Before 1988, and the Republic of Macedonia's imminent independence in 1991, the official Greek policy was to deny the very existence of the name Macedonia. In fear of losing valuable territory, Greece's position has changed dramatically. Now, propaganda that "Macedonia is 4000 years of Greek history" is the official Greek position. It is ironic that the very country that tried to eradicate Macedonia's existence now claims it as its own. Furthermore, if Macedonia has always been Greek, why did the Greek government deny its existence until 1988? This website will outline the various aspects of Macedonia, including it's long history, culture and the continued human rights violations that the Macedonians face in Greece, Bulgaria and Albania.
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The situation in which Macedonia finds itself today can be traced back to the Balkan Wars of 1912-13.
<<< Let's not forget that the Albanians, who did not have their own country, fought in those wars, lost, and were still able to convince the Great Powers to grant them their own country. Why did the Albanians, who had nothing, succeed, yet we can find no verifiable record of 'Macedonians' petitioning the powers to have their own country? >>>
As a result of the Treaty of Bucharest, Macedonia was partitioned among Serbia, Greece, and Bulgaria.
<<< No, the Ottoman vilayets of Uskup, Manastir, Selanik (and Ioaninna, and others) were legally partitioned by internationally accepted treaty among those countries plus Montenegro and Albania. >>>
These regions are known as the Republic of Macedonia (independent since 1991), Aegean Macedonia (presently within the borders of Greece), and Pirin Macedonia (within the borders of Bulgaria).
<<< No, the second and third areas have been known as parts of Greece and Bulgaria since the end of the First World War. >>>
A small part of Macedonia was given to Albania in 1919 (known as Mala Prespa and Golo Brdo).
<<< See above. Why them and not you? >>>
Upon annexation of Macedonia's territory, each country began terrorist campaigns aimed at expelling or forcibly assimilating the indigenous Macedonian population.
<<< Cry baby, cry. >>>
Greece, in particular, began an intense campaign in order to eradicate the existence of Macedonia through a horrific policy of cultural genocide and ethnic cleansing.
<<< There is no evidence that ethnic cleansing occured in Greece. I dare and challenge you to prove this in a court of law, otherwise, it's all hot air. >>>
They outlawed the term Macedonia and proceeded to rename this region "Northern Greece".
<<< Check the old encyclopedias. The geographic area was always called Macedonia. A government ministry changed its name from 'Ministry of northern Greece' to 'Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace' in the 1980's, but names of government ministries have nothing to do with the geographical names of a country. Has Canada ever had a 'Ministry of Ontario'? No. Does Ontario exist today? Yes. Case closed. >>>
They changed the names of Macedonian people, villages, and landmarks from Macedonian to Greek.
<<< Some place names were Hellenized from Slavic and Turkish names. As for people, most of these people were peasants without a clear record of their names, and after the voluntary Greek-Bulgarian exchanges, this was a wise policy of the Greek government, but it still amazes me that your people who left the Balkans continue to carry surnames of the dreaded Greek oppressor when they can easily change them. I certainly would have changed my name. >>>
Bulgaria and Greece continue to deny the existence of their large Macedonian minorities to this day and refuse to grant them human rights.
<<< Greece will only accept the word 'Macedonian' as meaning a Greek from Macedonia and never as a separate ethnicity. You can scream and yell until you're blue in the face but there is no chance of this happening, and the EU or the UN will never even try to force Greece to accept this. I also doubt the Bulgarians will ever accept a separate Macedonian ethnicity or language, but you better talk to them about it. >>>
The human rights violations have been well-documented. Albania offers its Macedonian minority limited human rights but the situation does not compare to the human rights and freedoms enjoyed by the Albanian minority in the Republic of Macedonia.
<<< Please explain why none of these so-called oppressed people in Greece left in 1991 for the newly liberated republic, or why no young men crossed the border in 2001 to help their 'brothers' fight the Albanians. Greece would be ecstatic to get rid of these unhappy Greek citizens, yet no one left. Why? >>>
Before 1988, and the Republic of Macedonia's imminent independence in 1991, the official Greek policy was to deny the very existence of the name Macedonia.
<<< A bald-faced lie! Museum of the Macedonian struggle, founded 1979: http://www.culture.gr/4/42/421/42103/42103a/e42103a1.html
Pan-Macedonian Ass'n, founded 1947: http://www2.hsp.org/collections/Balch%20manuscript_guide/html/panmacedonian.html >>>
In fear of losing valuable territory, Greece's position has changed dramatically. Now, propaganda that "Macedonia is 4000 years of Greek history" is the official Greek position.
<<< Let us compare: Skopje has produced maps in the last decade showing 'Greater Macedonia' or 'Unredemmed Macedonia' and once printed actual official currency with a picture of Salonika's White Tower on it, yet Greece has never produced a map claiming any land the other way. It's obvious which country has not totally respected internationally accepted treaties and boundaries since 1991. >>>
It is ironic that the very country that tried to eradicate Macedonia's existence now claims it as its own.
<<< Ironic -- good Greek word! >>>
Furthermore, if Macedonia has always been Greek, why did the Greek government deny its existence until 1988?
<<< Pure propaganda. See above. >>>
This website will outline the various aspects of Macedonia, including it's long history, culture and the continued human rights violations that the Macedonians face in Greece, Bulgaria and Albania.
<<< What website? Do you mean you copy-and-pasted this from another website and didn't write it yourself, like I wrote mine? >>>
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The ancient Hellenic heritage has been stretched to such extremes, it has become a subject of ridicule around the World. A free society cannot continue under the shadows of ancient glory and myth, the chains of Hellenism have compromised the sense of freedom and reality. The concept of self-criticism is a remote idea from the national Greek psyche.
