Macedonian Nation


Our southern neighbours (the Greeks) maintain that ancient Macedonians were Greeks. Modern revisionists, upon closer scrutiny of the existing archeological records, and employing comparative analysis of the available data, have explicitly stated the opposite: Ancient Macedonians were a distinct people and separate from the Greeks.

The following passages illuminate that ancient Macedonians were a separate and a distinct people from the ancient Greeks.

D. Brendan Nagle under the title of "Macedonian Appropriation of Greek Kulturgechichte" states:

".....the appropriation of Greek Kulturgescichte, and the use by non-Greeks for political purposes against Greeks, is less common, and even less well documented. Here I offer an example of highly effective Macedonian use of Greek cultural history to advance the propaganda aims of Philip II which had the double aim of blunting Greek criticism of his state-building while at the same time cloaking his work in the legitimizing terminology devised by Greeks for their own, often violent, colonizing and city founding activities."

Philip gathered and organized the Macedonians into cities. At the same time he was engaged in extensive deurbanization, dismembering the Chalcidian League, destroying Olynthus, Methone, Apollonia, Galepsus, and Stagira, while Macedonizing other poleis. Thus Philip's action was not received without concerns by the Greeks, as is indicated by Demosthenes' speeches. To counter this negative image Philip appropriated the themes and language of Greek kulturgescichte to "camouflage the fact that he was creating a wholly new type of state, a consolidation of ethne under a personal monarchy."

This was neither in line with the theories of Kulturgeschichte nor with Aristotle's theory. Nagle concludes the article with the following statement: "That it has continued to confuse interpreters is testament to the hegomonic power of Greek cultural history and the adroitness of the Macedonians in using this powerful tool of self-identification against its devisers."



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"What did others say about Macedonians? Here there is relative abundance of information", writes Borza, "from Arrian, Plutarch (Alexander, Eumenes), Diodorus 17-20, Justin, Curtius Rufus, and Nepos (Eumenes), based upon Greek and Greek-derived Latin sources. It is clear that over a five-century span of writing in two languages representing a variety of historiographical and philosophical positions the ancient writers regarded the Greeks and the Macedonians as two separate and distinct peoples whose relationship was marked by considerable antipathy, if not outright hostility." Let us break it down and simplify it:

And Ulrich Wilcken in his "Alexander the Great", on p. 26 states:

"The dislike was reciprocal, for the Macedonians had grown into a proud masterful nation, which with highly developed national consciousness looked down upon the Hellenes with contempt. This fact too is of prime importance for the understanding of later history."

[One is compelled to ask the obvious: Why isn't there such reference for "Theban nation", or "Athenian nation", or "Phocian nation"?

In conclusion

[Note: Brandan Nagle talks about Macedonian ethnos being consolidated into a Macedonian state. Ulrich Wilcken refers to Macedonia as a national state, a masterful, proud nation that looked down upon the Hellenes with contempt. Borza states that the hatred between Macedonians and Greeks was pervasive. Badian notes that ancient Macedonians did not regard themselves as Greeks, nor were they so regarded by the Greeks. Bloedow uses the term "the age-old distinction" between Macedonians and Greeks, etc.

On p.271 (Wilcken cont.) we find the same reference to "Macedonian nation."

"On the march and in battle he was just the same as ever, he was the king of the Macedonian nation, who shared with them the unspeakable fatigues, and the hunger and thirst of this guerilla warfare."

One must be able to separate a "lover of Greek culture" from a leader of a "proud masterful nation". One must be able to "read" the intended outcome of a speech before a battle, when Alexander "as son of Zeus, prayed to the gods to help the Hellenes of his army". (Wilken p.139) He prayed for the Hellenes of his army, the Hellenes in Alexander's army who needed some encouragement. For the Hellenes, he prayed to Zeus, for the Macedonians he did not.

"What he had previously said to his Macedonians on the right wing and in the center, we are not told; but we may be perfectly certain that to them he said nothing of his divine sonship, for he was only son of Zeus to the Greeks." (Wilcken p. 139)

On p.267 (Wilcken) we find:

"Certainly, his successors in the next generation strove to hinder the fusion of Macedonians and Greeks with Orientals by the principle of a national Macedonian government..."

267, cont.

"On the other hand, with the news of Alexander's death a storm broke out in Greece, which completely swept away the Corinthian League. Under the leadership of Demosthenes, who was received back with great honour, Athens rose and summoned the Greeks to fight for freedom against Macedonia."

[Those whom the ancient Greeks rose up against in the persuit of freedom the modern-day Greeks now worship as heroes]

TURKISH MINORITY MOVEMENT
FOR HUMAN AND MINORITY RIGHTS

PUBLIC DENUNCIATION AND STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY ON THE TRIAL OF THE FLORINA FOUR

Komotini 8-10-97

On the occasion of the "Trial of the Florina Four", the Turkish Minority Movement for Human and Minority Rights denounces the national-totalitarian mentality governing the overall prosecution of the four activists of the minority Macedonian party "Rainbow", Romas Vassilis, Tassopoulos Costas, Vassiliades Petros and Voskopoulos Pavlos, who will be brought to trial on the 14.10.97, in Florina, for hanging up a sign with an inscription in their mother Macedonian minority language, on the charge that this has provoked division among the citizens.

So, we denounce the national - totalitarian mentality in the planning of the prosecution as the truly guilty party for provoking a division among the citizens which does not tolerate any expression of minority and ethnic-cultural differences, as a curse upon the Balkans and as a father of Balkan fascism and racism which is resuscitated magnificently with the oncoming "Trial of the Florina Four" and with all that has preceded the trial. And thus it proves that it has lost nothing from its vigor and leveling out momentum on account of the country's European perspective, the incorporation into the procedures of a multicultural society and the international commitments to respect and protect minority groups. National-totalitarianism is flourishing.

Consequently, it is not an unprecedented matter that an inscription in a minority mother language is dealt with as high treason and is prosecuted, that the right to ethnic self- ascription of minority groups is considered as treason and is banned, and that terrorism against minorities by means of the familiar method of indignant citizens is consecrated and rewarded.

Among all its negative aspects, the Florina trial achieves also a positive function: it reveals the true situation prevailing in the field of minority rights in Greece, but also in the field of freedom of expression when it does not proceed in parallel with the dominant national-totalitarianism. Also, it exposes the hypocritical stance taken by the modernist government which, abroad and in relation to the neighboring countries, devotes itself to championing human and minority rights, whereas inside the country, to anachronistic authoritarianism. Moreover, it exposes the guilty silence and eloquent complicity on the part of the political parties.

The Turkish Minority Movement for Human and Minority Rights coming from a similar area, the Turkish Minority in Thrace, confronted with similar problems, deprivations, restrictions and persecutions, offers its wholehearted support to the Florina Four in their ordeal.

A list of recent Greek FIASCOS


Although part of NATO it attempts to bring Russian influence down to the Eastern Mediterranean with the purchase of the S-300 Missiles, but the Mighty Turkish Armed Forces tells Greece it would take them out !!!.

Poor weakling Greece quickly stores them in warehouses in Crete where it was NOT intended for !.

Although a NATO member it attempts to support the "fascist" government of Serbia against the NATO alliance of which it is a member ... once more she is "pushed aside" as she is of no "consequence" and the bombing of Serbia begins !.

Alleges that a piece of rock, Imia, is theirs but again when the Mighty Turkish Armed Forces tells them to get out they "oblige" !.

The "inconsequential" Banana Republic of Europe has been adamant about her its opposition to the decleration of Turkey's formal EU candidacy ... well known fact, but when the time comes in Helsinki the EU shoves Turkey's candidacy down "Greek throat" as the EU knows of Turkey's potential !.

A British Military Attache is murdered by a Terrorist Organization by the name of November 17 which has been operating there for decades freely with NOT a single arrest of any of their members ... the US and the EU wonder about putting Greece on Terrorist countries list !.

Greece attempts to hide an International Terrorist Master and Turkey's most wanted in Kenya ... then the Turkish Secret service snatches him out of Greek hands !.

It attempts to "re-name" an independent neighboring country to its "XENOPHOBIC" liking the International Community blows her off after shoving her the finger and continues to call that country MACEDONIA !!!.

Let's face it the Greek Foreign Policy is good for one thing : for "laughs" as it is a travesty !.

Intense " Xenophobia " in Greece ... directed against even Christian Religious Groups like the " Jehonav's Witnesses " !!! ...

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Press communiqué issued by the Secretary to the European Commission of Human Rights
Application No. 28802/95
Gabriel TSAVACHIDIS v. Greece
On 4 March 1997, the First Chamber of the European Commission of Human Rights (Council of Europe) held a hearing on the admissibility and merits of the above application brought by Gabriel TSAVACHIDIS against Greece.

The case concerns allegations that the applicant, who is a Jehovah's Witness, has been placed under secret surveillance by the National Intelligence Service. It raises issues under Articles 8, 9, 11 and 14 of the Convention.

Following deliberations, the Commission declared the complaints under the above articles admissible without prejudging the merits. It also declared a complaint under Article 5 of the Convention inadmissible.

In the context of criminal proceedings against the applicant for operating a church without the necessary permit in Kilkis, the defence became aware that a "top secret" anonymous information report had been included in the case-file. The report contained information about the activities of the Jehovah's Witnesses in Kilkis, the premises allegedly used as a church and the position of the applicant in the Jehovah's Witnesses community. The applicant requested information about the report from the Prosecutor's Office of Kilkis with a view to instituting criminal proceedings against its authors. He also requested the court which would hear the charges against him to take steps towards the institution of such proceedings. The court refused to do so, but acquitted the applicant. Later the assistant prosecutor of Kilkis informed the applicant that the "information report" had been sent anonymously by mail to the Prosecutor's Office and that the document was not drawn up by the National Intelligence Service.

The applicant considers that the report was compiled by the National Intelligence Service. He makes reference to two similar reports leaked to the press which were clearly marked as emanating from the National Intelligence Service, one of them referring to Jehovah's Witnesses as "non-genuine" and "impure" Greeks. The applicant also relies on a statement made by the Prime Minister accepting that one of the reports published in the press had been drafted by "a low ranking civil servant". According to the Prime Minister's statement, the report, which did not in any way express the position of the Government, had been rescinded immediately, its author had been moved and "the service had been disbanded". The applicant further submits that he has no other domestic remedies to exhaust and that the information contained in the report found in his case-file discloses an interference with his right to private life, home, freedom of religion and association which is illegal under national law and unnecessary in a democratic society. He also claims that he is discriminated against on religious grounds.

The Government submit that the steps taken by the applicant at the national level do not suffice to ensure compliance with the requirement of prior exhaustion of domestic remedies. In any event, the Government contend that there is no indication that the applicant was subjected to surveillance by the National Intelligence Service. They provide assurances by the National Intelligence Service that they are not the authors of the report found in the applicant's case-file and that they have never dealt with the applicant and his activities. In the alternative, the Government argue that the information contained in the report is not of such a nature as to disclose an interference with the right to private life, home, freedom of religion and association.

The Commission will now consider the merits of the application and place itself at the disposal of the parties with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights as defined in the Convention (Article 28 para. 1 (b)). If it succeeds in effecting a friendly settlement, the Commission will make a Report to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, containing a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached (Article 28 para. 2).

On the other hand, if a solution is not reached, the Commission will draw up a Report on the facts and state its opinion as to whether the facts disclose a breach by the Government of Greece of its obligations under the Convention. The Report will be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers, which will decide the matter unless the case is referred to the European Court of Human Rights by the Commission or the Government of Greece.

At the hearing the parties were represented as follows :
The Government :
Mr Vassilios Kontolaimos, Agent, Senior Adviser (Paredros), Legal Advisory Council of the State
Mr Vassilios Kyriazopoulos, Counsel, Legal Assistant (Dikastikos Antiprosopos), Legal Advisory Council of the State

The applicant :
Mr Panos Bitsaxis, Counsel, Lawyer
Mr Charalambos Charalambeas, Representative, Lawyer
Mr Vassilios Dedotsis, Adviser
Mr Evangelos Kaparos, Adviser

there is no xenophobia in hellas! we have the most albanians and vlachs in the EU! and the makedonians are not "XENOI" because they are from greece!
I'm from thessalia,home of the sarakatsans like GEORGIOS KARAISKAKHS,the ottoman-killer of 1821!
he was fighting for his country,HELLAS!
you say that there was not greece before? look at the history: the greek unity became true when the persians wanted to invade. thessalia,makedonia,athens,sparta,mhkhnes,krhth and so on.. were fighting together against the persians.
in all this places was one language.the old-greek one.
makedones and thessalians took also place at ancient Olympic Games! you know that? which language spoke Alexander the Great? you said also that he was invading Asia with together with OTHER greek fighters! thats right! i'm thessalian and i'm the same greek as the makedones! I know that many people came 1920 to macedonia,refugees from the turkish genucid, but many of them have their roots in ancient macedonia. but i want to know when your language was created. i think not in the Romanian empire , but maybe in the byzantine empire. why do you call that macedonian language when alexander the great didn't heard anything about this? would he understand you? i don't think so! but I would understand him, i learned old-greek in school.and he also spoke old-greek! or do you call it old-macedonian language? greek language has its roots in old-greek. where are the roots of your language? you said slavic, is that right?