Macedonia has been a part of Greece from ancient times. The recent preudostate of F.Y.R.O.M. born "in vitro" after WWII has no history,heritage or cultural continuity pre WWII and capitalizes on ancient Greek history due to its geographical proximity to Macedonia. This historical and political falacy where native Slavs are baptised as Greeks serves the imperialist US plans to "divide and conquer" the Balkan region in order to obtain political control over it

Appeal for resolution to International community regarding Macedonia

RESOLUTION – APPEAL

We the undersigned residents of the region of Greek Macedonia,have noted that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is systematically violating the letter and the spirit of the Interim Accord of 1995, the European acquis communautaire, relevant international agreements such as UN Security Council Resolutions 817/1993 and 845/1993, as well as resolutions of the European Union in Brussels (16.12.1991), Guimaraes (3.5.1992), Lisbon (27.6.1992) and Edinburgh (12.12.1992), and, more recently (2005), the European Council’s call far a ‘speedy solution’ of the name issue;

is promoting irredentist propaganda at the expense of Greek Macedonia and disseminates hostile feelings to its youth through textbooks at all levels of its educational system;

is monopolizing for expansionist purposes, the name ‘Macedonia’, although only a fraction of the Macedonian territory falls under its jurisdiction;

is appropriating Greek history and cultural heritage;

is turning Greece’s own generosity against her, employing the incalculable financial support which Greece has supplied in so many ways.

is deliberately provoking the Greek people, by offending official statements and acts and, despite its international legal commitments, refuses even to discuss a name acceptable to both parties and to the international community.

We, the 2.5 million Greek Makedones of Greek Macedonia, demand that our government exercise its right to prevent the accession of FYROM to the European Union and NATO, until such time as FYROM consents to a mutually acceptable name.

We also demand of our government to allow the Greek people to express their view on the final decision through a national referendum.

Greece and her people and especially we, the Makedones of Greek Macedonia, strongly object to the usurpation of our cultural heritage, the violation of our human right to retain our own identity and our dignity.

Therefore, we ask the international community to show its solidarity with the Greeks of Macedonia, who are European citizens. This solidarity, which is based on international and Community law, is also an obligation under articles 58 of the Constitutional Treaty of Europe, currently awaiting ratification. One of the criteria for accession of a country to the EU is respect for the values enshrined in articles 1 and 2. Specifically, article 2 requires (and this requirement is reiterated in article 61) respect for and protection of the dignity of other members. The values which fellow members are required to respect, include the names of states, their principles, symbols, history, traditions and so on.

We bring to your attention other instances in which attempts have been made to make improper use of a country's name, and where a change in name has been required; for example - the cases of Austria, Ireland, the United Kingdom, the ex-Yugoslavia/Serbia, the Czech Republic, Belarus, etc.

We appeal to the international organizations and the governments of countries which may have recognized EYROM under its so-called "constitutional name", and to all interested parties, emphasizing that:

- The name in itself would not represent the essence of the problem if it was not being used as a vehicle for irredentist claims against Greece, as has already been apparent in the actions of our neighbour to date in invoking a ‘Macedonian’ minority in Greek Macedonia.

- The problem of the deliberate distortion of history, with which we are all familiar, is a provocation to the Greek people, leading to destabilization across the broader region of Southeastern Europe.

We ask you most earnestly to avert the destabilization of the Balkan countries.

Greece assists and protects the multi-ethnic population of our neighbour FYROM, where Greek businesses are in the vanguard of foreign investors. Greece has more at stake than any other country in the stability of the region.

You can be confident that your support for the Greeks of Macedonia is at the same time an indication of solidarity with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and, of course, with our shared European ideals.

On the basis of the fundamental principles enshrined in UN and EU documents, we request your support for a solution which will not lead to the appropriation of Greek identity and will not entail possible territorial claims.

Our ancestors are the original Macedonians, the Macedonian Hellenes, who arrived in the area around 2000 BC. The Macedonian Hellenes were descendants of the Heracleides. As such the ancient Macedonians were part of a larger and the last group of Hellenes, which reached the area of present day Kastoria (ORESTIS) along with the Dorians, Acarnanians and Aetolians around 2000 BC. Herodotus, the father of history, very carefully describes the 800- year wanderings of that large group, which eventually split into three smaller groups. Just after the Trojan War, the first group under the leadership of Dorus inhabited Peloponnesus and the second group, the Acarnanians and Aetolians, went south. The third group marched east and by pushing the Phrygians, established the Kingdom of Macedonia on a loop of the River Aliakmon. The first king of Macedonia was Karanos who reigned between 813 and 786 BC. More recent archeological discoveries of the tomb of King Philip II (father of Alexander the Great) at Vergina, in 1985 and lately at nearby Aiani, the discovery of remnants from the 600 BC Mycenean civilization (southern Greece) add to the tangible evidence that Macedonia is Greek.

Alexander was as much a Hellene as the southern Hellenes, speaking the same language, worshipping the same gods, uniting the Hellenes against the common enemy, spreading the Hellenic language and civilization throughout his vast empire and leaving nothing but Hellenic footprints everywhere he went in his short life.

Alexander's own words are quoted as: "Men of Athens... Had I not greatly AT HEART the common welfare of GREECE I should not have come to tell you; BUT I AM MYSELF GREEK BY DESCENT, and I would not willingly see Greece exchange freedom for slavery.... If you prosper in this war, forget not to do something for my freedom; consider the risk I have run, out of zeal for the GREEK CAUSE, to acquaint you with what Mardonius intends, and to save you from being surprised by the barbarians. I am ALEXANDER of MACEDON."

[Herodotus, The Histories, 9.45, translated by G.Rawlinson]

"...consider all Hellas your fatherland, as did the founder of your race,..."

Isokrates, To Philip 127

In 324BC, after the establishment of his state, Alexander the Great gave an oath to the officers and soldiers of his state. The oath was also addressed to all the races that lived in the territories of his empire, it was given near Babylon (in Opis) and the philosopher Eratosthenes passes it to us. By the reading the oath one can quickly realize how much Greek Alexander felt, and how proud he was of his Greek origin:

"I wish all of you, now that the wars are coming to an end, to live happily, in peace. All mortals from now on will live like one people, united, and peacefully working towards a common prosperity. You should regard the whole world as your country, a country where the best govern, with common laws, and no racial distinctions. I do not separate people, as many narrow minded others do, into Greeks and barbarians. I am not interested in the origin or race of citizens. I only distinguish them on the basis of their virtue. For me each foreigner is a Greek and each bad Greek is a barbarian. If ever there appear differences among you, then you must not resolve them by taking to arms, you should resolve them in peace. If need be, I will act as your negotiator.

You must not think of God as an authoritarian ruler, but you should consider him as a common father, so that your conduct resembles the uniform behavior of brothers who belong to the same family. For my part, I consider all, whether they be white or black, equal. And I would like you to be not only subject of my common-wealth, but also participants and partners. You should regard the Oath we have taken tonight as a Symbol of Love."

Alexander I - Opis (324 BC)

There is no doubt that particular area endured many conquests by various conquerors. But even during the Roman Conquest, which continued into the Byzantine Era - a period of about one thousand years - that Roman territory, with Constantinople as its capital and Thessaloniki (in Macedonia) as a cultural and commercial center of the Empire, remained fully Hellenic. Furthermore, during Justinian’s time it adopted the Hellenic language as the formal and official Language of the Byzantine State. Although the Romans came as conquerors they were instead conquered by the Hellenic spirit, education and culture.

Throughout the Ottoman Empire the geographical area of Macedonia was divided in three administrative areas called vilayets. Each vilayet was further divided in smaller areas called sandzaks and each sandzak was further divided in kazas. Thus during the period of the Ottoman Empire there were three vilayets that included, but not limited the area of geographic Macedonia. One vilayet was Manastir with its capital the city of Manastir (present day Bitola, the FYROM). The other one Kosova, with capital Prizren (present day Kosovo), which included parts of present day Kosovo and the northern part of the FYROM). The third one was the vilayet of Selanik with its capital Selanik (present day Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece). This included parts of the Greek Macedonia, parts of the south-eastern FYROM and parts of southwestern Bulgaria.

After the demise of the Ottoman Turkey the terms of the Treaty of Bucharest of 1913 Greece was awarded the south geographical part of Macedonia, Serbia the north geographical part, and Bulgaria was awarded a small northeastern geographical part of Macedonia. The Serbs called their part South Serbia and later Vardarska Banovina, which included the whole territory of the FYROM, Kosovo and part of present-day south-eastern Serbia.

During the Ottoman Occupation of Greece, which lasted about four hundred years, the Greeks, including those in the Macedonian area, never lost their Hellenic identity. Through about twenty generations during that era they were able to preserve their language, religion and most importantly their Hellenic conscience under the most difficult circumstances of an enslaved nation. Southern Greece was liberated in 1821 and during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13 Greece liberated its province of Macedonia from the Ottoman rulers.

Why Macedonia?

Facts about Macedonia

Why Macedonia is Greek

• Were the ancient Macedonians Greek?

There is no doupt that ancient Macedonians were Greek. It is thoroughly proved by historic documents and archaeological discoveries which can be found in history books and museums in Greece and arround the world. The most important archeological discovery in Macedonia is the tomb of King Philippos II. It was excavated in Vergina, Greece in 1978 and it proves beyond any doubt the Greekness of ancient Macedonia. All the findings are characteristic of the Greek culture and all the inscriptions are written using the Greek language. Among the discoveries of this tomb is the "Vergina sun" the symbol that FYROM attempted to use on its flag initially.

Facts which prove that ancient Macedonians were Greek people:

• Macedonians spoke a dialect of the Greek language

All the monuments and inscriptions found in the Macedonia are written using the Greek language. Take a look at the archaeological discoveries. There is no historic evidence to suggest that the Macedonians were using a different language.

• Macedonians had Greek names

All the ancient Macedonian names mentioned in history or found on tombs are Greek. All the kings of Ancient Macedonia had Greek names. Nobody discovered ancient Macedonian names ending to -ov or -ovski or whatever.

Alexander's name is Greek. The word "Alexandros" is produced from the prefix alex(=protector) and the word andros(=man) meaning "he who protects men". The prefix "alex" can be found in many Greek words today (alexiptoto=parachute, alexisfairo=bulletproof - all these words have the meaning of protetion).

Philip's name is also Greek. It is produced from the prefix Philo(=friendly to something) and the word ippos(=horse) meaning the man who is friendly to horses. The prefix "philo" and the word "ippos" are also found in many words of Greek origin today (philosophy,philology, hippodrome,hippocampus).

A detailed list of ancient Macedonian names can be found here.

• The regions of ancient Macedonia had Greek names.

The regions which formed ancient Macedonia had Greek names. Most of these names are used in Greece even today. You can see a list of the regions of ancient Macedonia here.

• Macedonian architecture was similar to the Greek architecture.

All the buldings found in the Macedonia region have many common characteristics with the ones found in the rest of Greece. Palaces, temples, theaters markets are characteristic sampes of ancient Greek architecture.

• Macedonians fought together with the rest of the Greeks.

Macedonians always fought along with the other Greek city-states against enemies from Asia.

• Macedonians took part in the Olympic games.

It is well known then ONLY Greeks were allowed to take part in the ancient Olympic games. For a list of Macedonians who participated in the Olympic Games click here.

• Macedonians celebrated the same festivals as the rest of the Greeks.

Examples of festivals which were celebrated in Macedonia as well as in other Greek states are the "Hetaireidia", the "Apellaia" and many more.

• Macedonians worshiped the same Gods as the rest of the Greeks.

Several temples dedicated to the Greek Gods have beem discovered in Macedonia and especially in Dion the religious center of ancient Macedonians. It is obvious that the Macedonias worshiped the 12 Olympian Gods as the rest of the Greeks. The Gods were "living" on Mount Olympos which happens to be located in Macedonia. How would that be possible if there was hostility between Macedonians and Greeks? This is another proof that Macedonia was considered a part of Greece.

Facts about F.Y.R.O.M

After the unfortunate dismemberment of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRJ) the individual countries proceeded with imperialistic visions of their ethnic groups claiming not only territories, but also ancestry from various ancient peoples to have some type of proud history and legitimacy for their modern existence.

In this respect the Slovenes claim to be descendants of the Wends, an ancient Illyrian tribe, the Croats of the Persians, the Slavs of the FYROM from ancient Macedonians, the Bosnian Moslems from the ancient Illyrian tribes of Bosnia.

But the FYROM is a unique case. The sole purpose of the creation of the Socialist Republic under the name "Macedonia" was the eventual claim and incorporation of Greek Macedonia into communist Yugoslavia with the port of Thessaloniki as the trophy. During the period of communist Yugoslavia, a systematic "macedonization" of everything possible took place. As long as something took place in or someone was born in the Geographic Macedonia at any time from the beginning of time until today it was being changed into "Macedonian" meaning Slav.

The area that later comprised of the former Yugoslavia's southern republic was not called Macedonia but was called Vardarska Banovina (Province of the river Vardar). It was in 1944 that Marshal Joseph Broz Tito, the communist dictator ruling Yugoslavia at that time, created Yugoslavia's southern republic and called it "People’s Republic of Macedonia" and in 1963 "Socialist Republic of Macedonia" for purely political and expansionist reasons. However, "Macedonia" was already the name of one of Greece's northern provinces. In ancient times, the land that Macedonia covered included this northern province of Greece (about 80%), a small part of Bulgaria (about 5%), a small part of Albania (about 5%), and a small part of the region that Tito named the Socialist Republic of Macedonia (about 10%). It is pertinent to note that this 10% of ancient Macedonia in Tito’s Socialist Republic of Macedonia was only 1/5 of this Republic’s area while the other 4/5 was actually from Slavic Yugoslavia.

Extremely interesting is the U.S. State Dep. Foreign Relations Vol. VII, Circular Airgram [868.014], which was sent by then Secretary of State E. Stettinius, December 26th 1944, to all consular officials, informing them of the act to create a separate "Macedonia," as a "cloak for aggression against Greece." "The Department has noted with considerable apprehension increasing propaganda rumors and semi-official statements in favor of an autonomous Macedonia emanating from Bulgaria, but also from Yugoslav partisan and other sources with the implication that Greek territory would be included in the projected State. This Government considers talk of "Macedonian Nation", "Macedonian Fatherland", or "Macedonian National Consciousness" to be unjustified demagoguery representing no ethnic or political reality, and sees in its present revival a possible cloak for aggressive intentions against Greece".

After 1944 a deliberate and systematic campaign was initiated for Yugoslavia's southern republic to take over the history of ancient Macedonia. “Scholars” from the “People’s Republic of Macedonia” were commissioned to re-write their history books to include the ancient Macedonian History according to the wishes of the League of Communists of communist Yugoslavia, accompanied by perverted maps showing their "Macedonia" going all the way down to the northern half of Mount Olympus. Also, “linguists” led by Blagoj Konev, a.k.a. Blaze Koneski, were appointed to create the alphabet for and refine the "newly discovered" Macedonian language, which, of course, was made to sound as if it were the “natural development” of the ancient Macedonian language. Through their control of mass media and education, the government of “People’s Republic of Macedonia” then introduced this language and claimed that it is the language that was spoken by the ancient Macedonians. However, this language is grammatically nearly identical to Bulgarian and, due to continuous government interventions, its vocabulary tends to include more Serbo-Croatian words that have replaced the Bulgarian words. They clearly overlooked the unquestionable fact that the inhabitants of ancient Macedonia were Hellenes and spoke the Hellenic language. Numerous excavations in all of the ancient Macedonia area have consistently unearthed relics clearly with Hellenic writings, and depictions of rulers clearly designated with Hellenic names.

The GREEKNESS of the following which are examples of countless others cannot be denied:

Macedonian = GREEK for "the tall one"

Amyntas (father of Philip) = GREEK for "defender"

Philippos (Philip) = GREEK for "one who loves the horse"

Alexandros (Alexander) = GREEK for "the protector of man"

Bucephalus (Alexander's beloved horse with a large head)= GREEK for "ox-like head "

Aristotle (Alexander's teacher) = GREEK for "the best and perfect one"

Thessaloniki = GREEK for "victory over the Thessalians"

The deliberate and systematic campaign of distortion, stealing and absorption of the history and ethnicity of the ancient Macedonians has intensified and is ongoing today with full and untiring strength. Although officially this country is known as The FYROM, through a vigorous campaign they have managed to contrive the world to call it “Macedonia” in common day usage disregarding the UN resolutions. The Internet and mass-communications have made it easy for them to do this and they have used these tools to create a flood of misinformation. One such example that clearly shows their devious actions is the Web site: http://faq.macedonia.org/. Hitler is credited with saying "Tell a big enough lie, tell it often enough, and it becomes the truth." In some way this provides an explanation as to why the inhabitants of The FYROM are so adamant about keeping the name “Macedonia.” Now, fifty-eight years after the start of the campaign of distortion, stealing and absorption of the HELLENIC history and ethnicity of the ancient Macedonians, we find that the inhabitants of The FYROM are mostly the children of 1944 and those that were born afterwards and who grew up with these untruths. To them these have become facts.

There has been much confusion since the FYROM's independence. There have been many discussions and misunderstandings with respect to its name and its dealings with Greece. It brings out the fact that neighbors of Greece, irrespective of international alignments or internal political regimes, have pursued, throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, schemes for expanding into Greek Macedonia and Thrace. Furthermore, it supports the thesis that no single Balkan neighbor dared challenge Greek sovereignty over the two Greek northern provinces, unless it was in alliance with one or more external Great Powers.

After its independence The FYROM pursued the expansionist policies of the Communist Yugoslavia claiming lands from all neighboring countries with no exception. Unquestionably, Greece and the Greek people do not feel threatened today by a frail FYROM. However, if the FYROM is permitted to progress on a nationalist, expansionist and even revanchist course, it is guaranteed to seek its own patron who will hand over the "promised lands." The cases of Eastern Rumelia in 1885 and Kosovo in our days fully support the above perception.

The government of the FYROM has already officially appropriated Sts. Cyril and Methodius as being "Macedonians" meaning Slavs only because they were born in Thessaloniki, Greek Macedonia. This is as if the Yugoslavian government declares the Roman Emperor Constantine I, the Great, a Yugoslav only because he was born, in Nis, Serbia. Should Greece call Mustafa Kemal a Greek since he was born in Thessaloniki?

The ethnicity of F.Y.R.O.M.

The Yugoslavian Military Encyclopedia lists the ancestors of the present FYROM inhabitants as Slavs, people of the first Slavic tribes of Brsjaci, Dragudati, Smoljani, Rinhini, Velegiziti and others, that arrived in the area in the 6th century AD.

But who are these people? The history of the Slav inhabitants of The FYROM goes hand to hand with the history of the Bulgarian people up to 1913, for they started together by fate and they were forced to separate by politics. The present day Slavic population of The FYROM has nothing in common with the ancient Macedonians. They are simply put Slavs.

The southern Slavs used to be called Venedi, but the Byzantines changed their name when they migrated to the south part of the Balkans to Sklavini because the Slavs established alliances, or unions among themselves called ‘sklavinije’ with a regular hierarchy of princes like Hatson, Akamir, Prvud as their high commanders. In the middle of the 5th century AD the southern Slavs crossed the Carpathian Mountains and settled in the former Roman provinces of Panonia (modern day Hungary) and Dacia (modern day Romania). It seems that the first Slavic and the Hunnic (Turkish) tribes of the Bulgars started attacking the Balkan areas together in the 5th century AD. In the beginning they robbed the Byzantine population, devastating the countryside and then returning to their bases.

Lasting settlements of Slavs in Macedonia began at the end of sixth century. Up to the middle of the seventh century seven Slavic tribes, such as Draguviti, Brsjaci or Bereziti, Sagudati, Rinhini, Strumljani or Strimonci, Smoljani, Velegeziti united in tribal unions, thus turning into an important political and ethnic factor in the history of the Balkans. They are the ancestors of the present day Slavic population of the FYROM and originally they inhabited the territory from the river Nestos to Thessaly, and from Thessaloniki to the Mountains Shar, Rila, and Osogovska.

Smoljani and one part of Draguviti settled on the Rodopi Mountain Range; Sagudati and the other part of Draguviti inhabited the area north of Thessaloniki; Strumljani / Strimonci preferred the lowlands of Strymon; whereas Rinhini went down to Chalkidiki and some of them even to Mt. Athos. On the other hand Brsjaci / Bereziti along with the Velegeziti settled the areas of Ohrid and Prespa. There were a few other tribes of Timocani, Abodrini, and Moravjani, which inhabited the south part of the present day Serbia and later they were incorporated to the Serbia Nation. The Timocani lived in the lowlands of the river Timok, the Abodrini inhabited the west lowlands of Timok and the Moravijani populated the area of the river Morava in the heart of present day Serbia, called Sumadija. As time passed the trapped Thraco-ilirian population was either pushed to the mountain regions, or at a later time assimilated by the Slavs.

Because of their strong culture and population the Greeks could not be assimilated, but stayed intact. So that areas with strong Greek presence remained Greek. Thus even if Slavic and Bulgarian elements were living in Macedonia and Thrace the main bulk of the populace was Greek. The Illyrian lands that form today's Albania and its neighboring areas were out of the Slavic and Bulgarian reach.

So, these are the Slav inhabitants of the FYROM. What is interesting about the whole matter is that very few of them know their own history and even those who know it don’t want to say anything afraid for their safety or the stigma of being a “traitor.” What is more interesting is the fact that notable citizens of The FYROM, like the following, have acknowledged publicly that they are descendants of the first Slavic tribes.

February 26, 1992: The FYROM's President Kirov Gligorov, at an interview by the Foreign Information Service daily report, Eastern Europe, stated: "We are Slavs, who came to the region in the sixth century. We are not descendants of the ancient Macedonians.

January 22, 1999: The FYROM's Ambassador in Washington D.C., Mrs. Ljubica Acevska, gave a speech on the present situation in the Balkans, she stated: "We do not claim to be descendants of Alexander the Great. We are Slavs and we speak a Slavic language. Greece is The FYROM's second largest trading partner and its number one "investor."

February 24, 1999: The FYROM.'s Ambassador to Canada, Gyordan Veselinov, in an interview with the "Ottawa Citizen", he admitted: "We are not related to the northern Greeks who produced leaders like Philip and Alexander the Great. We are Slavs and our language is closely related to Bulgarian. There is some confusion about our identity."

December 29, 2001: Even recently, in an interview to Utrinski Vesnik of Skopje, the Foreign Minister of The FYROM Slobodan Casule said that he mentioned to the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria Solomon Pasi that they “belong to the same Slav people.”

And yet nobody neither internally nor externally has asked “then what’s with the name Macedonia?” The only ones who believe they are descendants of the ancient Macedonians, are the ones who received their high degree of education from the "Titoic School of History" under the auspices of communist Yugoslavia.

Birth of an imposter

Common lies used and exposure

Who is behind it all?