Serbs of Macedonia Caught in the Middle

It is very interesting that some Serbs have rejected the Serbophile Priest Jovan, but it does not discuss his support among other Serbs in Skopje and Kumanovo, not to mention his support among Macedonians … if any. I have yet to read a good article in English about Jovan and his supporters. If I can’t find it, then neither can the BBC or CNN.

Reality Macedonia : Veles: Serbs Dump Jovan: "Source: Dnevnik, June 3, 2005 (Direct link)

Veles: Serbs Dump Jovan

The Serbian community in Veles denounced the decisions of the Serbian Orthodox Church for recognition of the so-called Orthodox Ohrid Archbishipric of the defrocked episcope Jovan. Serbs from Veles claim that they remain in the Macedonian Orthodox Church and that they will attend its temples in regard to their religious needs.

'We thank Vranishkovski and his archbishopric for their wish to represent us, but we refuse their services. The decision to create a new church only managed to cause dissatisfaction among the local Serbs, because it endangered their good relations with their friends, relatives and neigbors,' stated Vlastimir Jovic, member of the Local board of the United Serbian Community from Veles.

Jovic reminded the public that members of the Board participated in banishing Zoran Vranishkovski from the Povardarska Eparchy of MPC."

Another Report, Another Greek Violation

When I have time, I will bring all these report together and publish it as "A Reporter's to Greek (and EU's) Human Rights Values. Macedonians reporters should go to Italy and take the ferry over to Greece. No passport controls between Greece and Italy.

Reality Macedonia : Greece Seriously Violates the International Media Freedom Standards: "Greece Seriously Violates the International Media Freedom Standards

By Goran Momirovski

Greece didn't allow A1 (the Macedonian TV station) to enter Greece and report on the Macedonian minority in Lerin (Florina). This doesn't come as a surprise to the Macedonians in Greece. For them, the medium embargo is a part of a wider Greek strategy to stop any information about the Macedonian minority in Greece. The Greek nationalism is behind this strategy.

The political party of the Macedonian minority in Greece, Rainbow, says that is asking for noting more than what is in Europe accepted as standard.

'What we are asking for, as a political body, is for Greece to implement all international standards and conventions, not just for the Macedonian minority, but also for every other minority in Greece today.' Says Pavle Voskopolos, a member of the collective leadership of Rainbow.

The fight for civil rights of the Macedonian in Greece is joined by the 'Macedonian children refugees' from the civil war in Greece, who are trying to get back the rights that they've lost after Greece brought into effect a couple of laws in the eighties.

Their goal is to, with help from the court for Human rights in Strasburg, return the Greeks citizenship to the 'children refugees' of the civil war.

'We ask that two discriminatory laws are eliminated, and that we are get equal rights to the Greek citizens, so we can return to our birth paces,' says Georgi Donevski, a general secretary of the association of the 'children refugees' from Egian Macedonia.

Greek's ban to A1 to film a report in Lerin is a serious violation of the international standards, says the association for the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO).

'This is a serious violation of the freedom of media. In Monday morning this case will be officially protested and reported by SEEMO and IPI. We hope that this is a last time for the Greek government to treat the foreign media this way,' says Yorgos Papadakis, SEEMO executive board member.

Twenty days after A1 officially asked for a permission to visit Lerin, there has been no explanation from the Greece why A1 can't visit Florina (Lerin). It remains unclear why Greece a member of EU, doesn't allow Macedonian media to do any reporting from Greece.

Twenty days ago Albania allowed A1 to enter Albania and report on the political activity of the Macedonians in that country."

Another Great Article From Reality Macedonia

Calling a politician a hypocrite, is like saying the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. It is part of the fabric of domestic politics and international relations. The analysis below on international law and the Macedonian "name issue" is a very learned and an intelligent analysis of our situation. However, relying on international law is a tricky business. In my opinion, because of its discrimination against its ethnic Macedonian minority, Greece is not elligible to be a member of the EU, but it is a member in good standing and has forced the entire EU to adopt illegal procedures against Macedonia. We have to be wary of putting our eggs in the legal basket. Use the law against the EU and Greece by concentrating on the violations of human rights in Greece. Take that to the International Court





Strategy to Return Macedonia's Constitutional Name in the UN: "Thus a key for solving the name issue of Republic of Macedonia in UN is to bring forth new resolution to General Assembly which would exclude additional conditions imposed on Macedonia in appropriate resolutions during its admission as UN member. Macedonia alone or together with other member countries can initiate the suggestion for such General Assembly resolution if it appraises that result from the vote is positive. If, on the other hand, in spite of a long and intensive political activity and 'lobbying,' absolute conviction in a positive aftermath of such resolution is not acquired, then Macedonia should question the legality of additional conditions in front of International Court of Justice (through appropriate resolution of General Assembly). But the Court in 1948 had already given its interpretation to Article 4 from the Charter, ruling out any expansion of the conditions for admission. Thence its position on the same issue cannot be any different from that of 1948. In UN General Assembly’s practice no case has been noticed when UN General Assembly has not taken into consideration the advisory opinion of International Court of Justice.



Solving the problem of the name of RM in the UN by requesting advisory opinion from International court of justice is the most desirable path for Macedonia to follow since it includes only principles and norms from international law, Court’s authority that once came out for this issue and avoids games of political interests where Macedonian stakes are relatively small. It is only with such approach towards the problem that the sovereign right for choice of name bears its full 'weight.' In that case Greek demands for intervention in foreign name would remain groundless. Only that approach provides politically neutral solution for the problem and enables international interactions, member of which is Greece, to conduct common politics towards Macedonia (including recognition of its constitutional name), referring to political will of world community (expressed in UN). Greece, of course, has sovereign right to call Macedonia whatever it desires."

New Book on Macedonia

Reality Macedonia : New Book: People of the Storm God



"Source: Amazon.com (Direct link)



New Book: People of the Storm God



Book Description



With this sense of historic complexity in mind, Will Myer traveled to the troubled Balkans in autumn 1994 and the following spring. His aim was to discover the political and human reality of a region beset by conflict and controversy, fought over for centuries by rival powers. In particular, he sought to explore the true nature of Macedonian identity, or rather of a multiple identity.



Traveling in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and the newly independent Former Yugoslav [sic!] Republic of Macedonia, Myer encounters a bewildering array of political and cultural opinions-Orthodox Christians and Muslims, communists and nationalists, warlords and modernizers. His investigations take him to Orthodox weddings and Easter parades, political meetings and religious ceremonies. He encounters widows and witches, dervishes and mystics. Throughout, he remains fascinated by the human dimension of Macedonia's deep-seated identity crisis.



More than a simple travelogue, People of the Storm God casts light on the troubled history of Macedonia and its unique melting pot of politics, religion and ethnicity. Compared to the work of Patrick Leigh Fermor, this book evocatively reveals the extraordinary cultural diversity of the Balkans and the weight of history borne by its different peoples.



About the Author



Dr. Will Myer (1968-2002) developed a passion for the Balkans as a teenager in the mid-1980s. His book Islam and Colonialism: Western Perspectives on Soviet Central Asia was published in 2002. At the time of his death he was working on a book entitled Islamic Fundamentalism: Tamerlaine's Revenge.

Product Details





* Paperback: 276 pages

* Publisher: Interlink (April 15, 2005)

* Language: English

* ISBN: 1566565782

* Product Dimensions: 8.0 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches"

Macedonians need to struggle for unity

This is an article about how to deal with the Quislings among our people. It tempting to agree but we must resist this temptation.

Many good Macedonians are working with American and EU governments and pseudo-human rights groups in the Balkans at the time that these groups are working against the interests of Macedonia. My hope is that our people are keeping their eyes and ears open. At the time that they are being asked to betray our country, they should reverse the pressure and try to get their organisations to change to a pro-Macedonian policy.

Lets assume that all our people are acting in good faith. Let's not sow more division than already exists.

Reality Macedonia : Quislings

Second, we must identify the QUISLINGS in our midst and deal with them appropriately [expletive omitted].

We have two groups of traitors: On the one hand, we have those who are earning their pay from Greece, while the others have ties with foreign secret services from the times of KOS and Belgrade’s influence in Macedonia [KOS – intelligence service of former Yugoslavia (SFRJ)]. Today, they have been placed in Athens’s route.

Rainbow/Vinozhito is alive and kicking

Rainbow/Vinozhito, the political party representing Macedonians in Greece, is one of the most effective forces in promoting the interests of Macedonians in the balkans. It has been ingored for years, but seems to be making more stride of late.

Reality Macedonia : Rainbow/Vinozhito Letter to EU Council of Foreign Affairs Regarding Macedonia Name Issue

Florina/Lerin, April 21, 2005

TO: The members of the EU Commission on External Relations
Honorable Foreign Ministers

Dear Mr. Minister,

On the occasion of the recent developments in the relations between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia concerning the issue of our neighboring country’s name as well as its prospective accession into the European Union, permit us to point out the following.

We are members of the national Macedonian minority in Greece as well as members of the Rainbow Party, which has been active in Greek politics since 1994 and in the European Parliament via the European Free Alliance (5 EMPs), which Rainbow joined in 2000. We have every respect for your undertaking with the “Macedonian issue”, for which we wish you every success, and we would like to express our views on the issue of the name – and thus perhaps assist you in your endeavor.

Our political position on the issue of the name of the Republic of Macedonia is based on the democratic principle that every individual and every people has the right to choose the name by which it wishes to define itself. We believe that this individual and collective democratic right is a European as well as a universal value. After all, it is on the basis of this principle that we call ourselves ethnic Macedonians in Greece.

Macedonian Opera Singer for World Peace

Nice honour for a Macedonian

Reality Macedonia : Macedonian Baritone Boris Trajanov Named UNESCO Artist for Peace

Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, will name Macedonian opera singer Boris Trajanov UNESCO Artist for Peace on February 24 during a ceremony at Organization Headquarters (Room I, 6.30 p.m.). Mr Trajanov will then give a recital, to be followed by a performance of folk dancing by the group Tanec. Boris Trajanov receives the honour in recognition of his commitment to “defending humanist values and promoting dialogue among cultures and civilizations.” The baritone performed in more than 550 operas in Europe, America and Africa over the past 17 years and has played more than 35 leading roles, notably in Tosca, Nabucco, Rigoletto, Macbeth, Aïda, La Traviata, Madame Butterfly, Lucia di Lammermoor.

Macedonian Jazz fans BUY THIS BOOK!

A nice book! Buy it as a present for you friends!

Reality Macedonia : New Macedonian Book in US: "The Basics of Jazz Harmony"

The Reality Macedonia team is happy to announce that a new book by a Macedonian author just hit the shelves of the world’s biggest bookstore, Amazon.com. In our opinion, the proliferation of knowledge and culture from and to Macedonia is the biggest contribution to its survival and development.

The book, "The Basics of Jazz Harmony", written by the 57-year old award-winning jazz composer, arranger, conductor and educator, Mr. Ilija Pejovski. He is a Berklee graduate from 1977 (mentored by Mr. Barrie Nettles) and he is a regular professor since 1980 in Macedonia, Greece, Switzerland, Italy

Creeping Recognition

The headline is wrong. It is just a recommendation from a British Houxe of commons committee. Just a case of "creeping recognition".

Reality Macedonia : Britain and Other EU Partners to Recognize Macedonia's Constitutional Name

Skopje, February 23 (MIA) - The British Parliament Committee for Western Balkans recommends to the British Government to follow the United States example and recognize Macedonia's constitutional name.

The Committee recommends that the United Kingdom work in unison with Germany, France, and other EU partners to recognise Macedonia's constitutional name and to encourage Greece by an act of statesmanship to do the same, the BBC - Macedonian language program reported.

The fact that three out of the five permane

What's the Question?

I have not bothered to read this book because ofthe reasons that follow in this review. The editor, James Pettifer, is pro-Greek, anti-Macedonian and anti-truth. He is part of the de-stabilization network in the Balkans.

Reality Macedonia : Review of the Book "The New Macedonian Question":

he following book review written by Professor Robert Hislope will be forthcoming in the Canadian-American Slavic Studies

Certainly no identity and ownership questions surrounding Macedonia are definitively answered in this text. Rather, Pettifer enables the airing of conflicting Macedonian, Bulgarian, Greek, and Albanian interpretations, and leaves the reader to arrive at his/her own conclusion. The editor appropriately frames this as a contribution to the debate and not its resolution, a point some critics appear to miss.

That having been said, it is disconcerting to read Pettifer’s own terminological choices in the identification of the new state and its titular people. In his preface, introduction, and two chapters, Pettifer insists on calling the state of Macedonia by its internationally recognized name, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, or FYROM. This is a compromised name, brokered by the international community in an attempt to placate Greek claims and fears (see Drezov, ch.4 and Kofos, ch.15). Albanians in Macedonia have often exploited this formulation in an attempt to undercut the legitimacy of the state. In addition, Pettifer refuses to accept the self-identification of Macedonians, using either inverted commas to de-legitimize the term or employing the derisive phrase “Slav-speakers” to designate ethnic Macedonians. Again, this only makes sense from a Greek or Albanian point of view. It is an exercise in bad faith to declare neutrality (as he does in the introduction) and then actually take sides in a Balkan cultural war. It also borders on arrogance and racism to reject the self-designation of a group. What would we think, for example, if Pettifer examined race relations in the USA, but insisted on calling African-Americans “negroes”? While this volume does demonstrate the historical contestability of Macedonian identity, this point can be made without insulting the very people one is studying. As Dimitar Mircev points out in his chapter, a “common denominator” in so many efforts to derail Macedonian statehood is “to deny and repudiate Macedonian ethnicity” (p.209). Pettifer’s book, therefore, has the distinction of both offering an accessible insight into Macedonia’s tortured past and present, and providing scholarly encouragement to the very political forces that would like to keep the Macedonian Question an open one for the future.

On Lindsay Moran, CIA Spy, From A Macedonian Who Knew Her.

This is a very interesting article on our friend Lindsay Moran. I have not read the book and I am not surprised that Lindsay has some nice things to say about Albanians in Macedonia. This book was written before the US dumped the name FYROM in favour of just plain old Macedonia. It represented a mindset among US policy makers to take steps to prove to the "Muslim World" that the US is not anti-Muslim. Macedonia was unfortunately the recipient of this backhanded policy, as was Russia (over Chechnya).



I suspect, but am not sure, that the hard nosed conservatives who run the US foreign policy concluded that the Muslim world in general, and the Arab world in particular, don't give a camel's turd for the Albanians. The anti-Macedonian policy would destabilise the country and this would not look good because, lets face it, Clinton does the Balkans not George Bush.



I suspect, but am not sure, that the current CIA person in Macedonia is much more even handed that in the past.

Reality Macedonia : The Spying Game

The Spying Game
By Jason Miko

Earlier this year, a book written by a former CIA agent in Macedonia hit the bookshelves and amazon.com making waves in both the United States and Macedonia. “Blowing My Cover, My Life as a CIA Spy* (*And Other Misadventures),” is the title of the book written by one Lindsay Moran, a former “diplomat” and spy in the US Embassy in Skopje. She served there for roughly three years, from the middle of 2000 through the middle of 2003

Lindsay calls Skopje “unspectacular” and “…a hot, dusty and altogether discouraging place.” I can only assume this is because she was too busy playing James Bond to bother to see the city. Later, she makes the bold, sweeping statement that “Macedonians always appeared to be angry.” I can only assume that is because she never took time out to get to really, truly know any Macedonians as real friends and another statement of hers – “…I visited less and less frequently with the scant few Macedonian friends I had” – bears that out.

Her most sweeping invective, however, is reserved for the Macedonian army and police. Telling a story about a group of soldiers she ran into one day on Mt. Vodno during the 2001 crisis, she wrote, “To me, they looked like the riffraff of which the Macedonian Army was generally composed.” She later calls them the “Hapless Macedonian police or military…” and she calls the Lions “…a rouge police force composed of Macedonian ultranationalists…” and then goes on to outline the Tigers, Wolves, and Scorpions, making the confusing statement that “All these childish animal kingdom names seemed only to highlight the amateurism of the country’s entire security apparatus” failing to note that many other countries’ armed units carry the same or similar names.

Her greatest ire, however, is reserved for Ljube Boshkovski who she labels as “the whack-job interior minister” and “an erratic nutcase,” without failing to similarly crucify, let alone mention, Ali Ahmeti. It seems her hypocrisy knows no bounds.

Finally, however, she shows us her true sympathies simply stating “Instinctually, I empathized with the Albanian rebels.” Note that it is not only the Albanians she empathizes with, but the NLA itself. She also manages to get a few slurs in at the Macedonians when she states “While the Macedonians took every opportunity to rant against Americans, the Albanians were constantly blowing sunshine up our asses; it was natural to side with them over the Slavs.” So, I guess you are Slavs indeed.

Finally, she claims that, after the events of 9/11, Macedonians were greatly pleased that the United States had been attacked simply stating “Among Macedonians, there lingered the inevitable impulse to gloat.” I remember the third call I received that day offering condolences to me… it was from President Boris Trajkovski. I never met a Macedonian – or anybody – who gloated over the events of that day. But perhaps she was visiting some Saudi-funded mosque and was confused.

Ljube Boshkovski

I respect Amnest International. This affair regarding the Pakistani migrants who were shot by Macedonian troops is a stain on Macedonia.



Reality Macedonia : Amnesty International Against Amnesty Law If it Might Cover Ljube Boshkovski

Take a cue from "The Beatles" ... "Let it Be"

Reality Macedonia : Chento Versus Kolishevski: Battle Over History

Reality Macedonia : The Battle of Srem: the Controversy that Won't Die

As someone from Greek occupied Macedonia, I can agree with the general tone of this article. BUT ... we have bigger fish to fry. When Macedonia is secured, then lets talk history.

Reality Macedonia : The Battle of Srem: the Controversy that Won't Die

Greek politician is the shame of the EU.

Reality Macedonia : Karatzaferis Must Go

Reality Macedonia : Macedonia to Sign Agreement with US Under its Constitutional Name

Reality Macedonia : Macedonia to Sign Agreement with US Under its Constitutional Name



It looks like Macedonian politicians are not totally asleep. I think it was VMRO that signed a similar agreement when the US wanted immunity for its soldiers from the new International Court.



I read recently that the US insisted that Serbia hand over indicted war criminals to the Hague for trial before Serbia was to get any US aid. At the same time the US said no aid would be given to Serbia unless it signed an agreement to exempt US soldiers from the new International Court.



Makes you want to spit

Reality Macedonia : EU's Macedonia Questionnaire: Two Days for Translating 3,000+ Questions

Reality Macedonia : EU�s Macedonia Questionnaire: Two Days for Translating 3,000+ Questions



The EU Questionaire is secret:



The Macedonian Government wanted to make the Questionnaire public, but the EU forbade them to so before delivering the answers to Brussels.



The Vice Prime Minister Shekerinska thinks that the answering of the Questionnaire will be finished by the end of January next year, or two weeks before the deadline given by the European Commission





Were the Questionaires for other states, like Slovenia, Poland etc. also secret. Can't we get the Greens to take up this issue in the EU Parliament. I smell a conpiracy.

Reality Macedonia : EU�s Macedonia Questionnaire: Two Days for Translating 3,000+ Questions

Reality Macedonia : EU's Macedonia Questionnaire: Two Days for Translating 3,000+ Questions



The Macedonian government (and the people in general) have put all their eggs in the "EU" basket and are now determined to jump through hoops to get admission to the EU. I agree with this position since I can offer no alternative.



However, the Macedonian media should put its come to a consensus to put a set of question to the EU. Relating to the plight of Macedonians in Greece.

Reality Macedonia : New Jersey Macedonian-American Community Proclaims Crvenkovski Persona Non-Grate

Reality Macedonia : New Jersey Macedonian-American Community Proclaims Crvenkovski Persona Non-Grate



If Macedonians are going to make it through the next few years without being partitioned, again, we must learn from the super-powers who "unite their friends and divide their enemies". Macedonians in New Jersey should apologise to Crvenkovski, and the Macedonian diaspora, who is after all "The President of the Republic of Macedonia". This is a fight "within the familly" and we should not banish familly members.



I have always thought that we have to try to form alliances with "our first cousins - the Bulgarians" and "our second cousins - the Serbs". This task seems to be harder as each day passes. Now we are fighting with our own brothers, which reminds me of the saying:



"Brotherly love isn't what it used to be, ever since Cain killed Abel".