Letter from Christos Karatzios/USA
respectfully disagree with Evangelos Kofos on this. Firstly, no one is ensuring that Skopje will agree on these things. Secondly, can Dr. Kofos answer this question: "Can modern Greece consider the historical region of Macedonia as ITS fatherland?" In a way it is. If he says no, then he has a different view of history than I do. Thirdly, just because Greece's diplomacy has failed in the past few years to get the message across, does not mean that we should stop trying to make our.. eloquent points instead of throwing in the towel.
Fourthly, I am no historian or versed diplomat but why did he not consider this: Central Balkan Republic: Ethnicities?Slavomacedonians (1 word; no hyphens; no capital "m"), Albanians, etc. Nationality? Central Balkan. Languages? Slavomacedonian, Albanian etc. Church? Slavomacedonian...if Belgrade and the Ecumenacy agree. Army? Central Balkan. This would appease the Albanians and would preserve identity in this polyglot, polyethnic society. Greece does not call itself "Macedonia" and has no derivative as such in its name despite the fact that Macedonia is its heartland and breadbasket. Why should FYROM?
This is a better solution than what he offers and it's ALL encompassing. It is not our fault that they identify themselves as "Macedonians" for more than half a century. That is politics for you and collective propaganda. We also call ourselves "Macedonians" but we know better than to consider it as an ethnic adjective. We know that there is no Macedonian ethnicity. Similarly, Americans know that there is no Californian, or Texan ethnicity.
Similarly, the French know that there is no Bretonne ethnicity. Similarly, the Germans know that there is no such thing as a Bavarian ethnicity and the Chinese know that there is no Cantonese or Taiwanese ethnicity (and they even have different languages).
Only the Soviets knew how to make up ethnicities for political gain (see ByeloRussia). Switzerland does not call itself Bavaria or Piemonte. They are nationaly Swiss but ethnically German, Italian, French, or Helvetic. There is no Swiss language. What Dr. Kofos is asking is akin to the people of Switzerland call their country Alpine Bavaria and their language Alpenbavarisch. The people in FYROM are Slavs, Bulgarians, Albanians, and yes even Greeks. These are their ethnicities regardless of the VMRO's leap into Ancient times.
The red line for Greece should be defined as: We don't use the term Macedonian for ethnicity and we don't call our country Macedonia and since we have greater historical, geographical, and linguistic continuity in the region, our view on the matter should be respected.
The red line for Greece should be defined as: We don't use the term Macedonian for ethnicity and we don't call our country Macedonia and since we have greater historical, geographical, and linguistic continuity in the region, our view on the matter should be respected.
If the country is polyethnic, then a completely neutral name for the country should be used (hence Central Balkan Republic). Try convincing the 30% Albanians that they are "Makedonski". How do we change history books etc etc that mention "Macedonians"...and how do we explain that no, they are Makedones now? The name issue etc etc etc should be based on an ethnic character and not on geography and should leave "Macedonia" out of the equation.This is the solution and I am not being chauvinistic here. It is as plausible and just as effective as a slogan as his opinion on the matter. Mr.Kofos should be able to see this. This is diplomacy or at least how I see it. But I am one and insignificant in the political arena.
Therefore, I respectfully disagree with Dr. Kofos.
