Newsgroups: bit.listserv.hellas
Date:         Mon, 16 Nov 1992 14:08:39 EST
Reply-To:     Thanassi Protopapas <ST403357@BROWNVM.BITNET>
From:         Thanassi Protopapas <ST403357@BROWNVM.BITNET>
Subject:      National Geographic
Comments: To: macedonia@husc.harvard.edu

Opws ndn 3erete, sto teuxos Dekembriou tou agantou mas national Geographic
uparxei ev9etos megalos xartns tns "neas Eurwpns" opou favtazei mia
"Makedovia" me profavws plnrn kratikn upostasn, mia kai exei diko tns xrwma
kai ovoma avtistoixo me tis alles uparxouses xwres, evw n perioxn tns
boreias Kuprou exei uposnmeiwsn gia tnv amfisbntoumevn upostasn tns.

Biazovtai faivetai oi alntes tns Washington va avagvwrisouv tous alntes
twv Skopiwv, as eivai kala n a9avatn ellnvikn makariotnta edw kai saravta
xrovia pou oi Skopiavoi plnmmurizav tov kosmo me mparoufes.

Gia osous dev exouv parakolou9nsei to snrial, va pw oti ta Skopia emfavizovtai
ws ave3artnto kratos me ovoma Makedovia se sxetika prosfato ar9ro tou N.G. gia
tnv Albavia. Tote eixa grayei to akolou9o gramma:

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\begin{document}
\address{Athanassios Protopapas \\
         Dept. of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences \\
         Box 1978, Brown University \\
         Providence, RI 02912 \\ (401) 421-0324 }
\date{June 12, 1992}
\signature{
           Athanassios Protopapas\\}

\begin{letter}{ FORUM\\
                National Geographic Magazine\\
                Box 37448\\
                Washington, DC 20013}

\opening{Dear Editor:}

There is a very serious error in the maps appearing
on p.\ 75 of the July 1992 issue of the National Geographic Magazine,
in the story ``Albania opens the door'' by Dusko Doder.
Specifically, the depiction of a state
named ``Macedonia'' which borders Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia,
is incorrect and misleading.

It is clear that, by the way this region is depicted
(borderline, color, font etc.), the unaware reader is led to the incorrect
conclusions that a) this region is a country, i.e., it constitutes a
recognized state, as Greece, Albania and Yugoslavia do, and b)
the name of this ``state'' is ``Macedonia''. Let me bring to your attention
the fact that such a state exists only in the misinformed minds of a
part of the Slavic
population of the region and in their propagandist campaign that is carefully
orchestrated by the authorities in Skopje. As far as the
United Nations, the United States of America, the European Economic Community,
and the international community in general are concerned, there is no
recognized state where the former Yugoslav ``Socialist republic of Macedonia''
used to be. Consequently, it should not be depicted as such.

Actually, if
you are interested in showing the populations that seek independence and the
respective lands, you should have included a region named ``Illyria''
to the east of Albania, within the borders of what you have called
``Macedonia'', which is what the Albanian minority in the area are after.
That would be not only relevant to your discussion of Albanians, but also
indicative of the minorities' problems in the area.

Furthermore, let me draw your attention to some maps in  past issues
of the National
Geographic Magazine, where the term ``Macedonia'' is appropriately used as
a gegraphical-regional name, and not as a national or state name.
(Presenting all the relevant literature would be too space-consuming).
For example, in the June 1939 issue, Vol. LXXV, No.\ 6, p.\ 694; in the
March 1944 issue, Vol. LXXXV, No.\ 3, pp.\ 276-277 and p.\ 498; and in the
January 1956 issue, Vol. CIX, No.\ 1, p.\ 38, to name just a few.

Let me also remind you that the population
of the region constitutes a multi-national entity, consisting of
Slavic Muslims, Albanians, Bulgarians, Serbs, Vlachs, Gypsies and Greeks.
Recognizing an independent ``Macedonia'' state would
completely overlook the apparent problem of the coexistence of so
many minorities, which can easily lead to an uncontrolled, potentially
explosive, situation, in a case analogous to what happened to
Bosnia-Herzegovina. Incidentally, let me also remind you that Greece was
opposing the recognition of Bosnia-Herzegovina for
precisely this reason; and has been proven correct.

It seems strange to me, why the National Geographic Magazine  would want to
side on Skopje
on this matter, adopting the most truth-distorting view and ignoring most
sides of a complicated problem, so as to support the potentially most
undesirable resolution, in terms of not only political stability, but also
human lives. With the possible exception of countries like Germany, who are
being forced to take back their nuclear waste from the places
in eastern Europe where they have long been
dumping them, and are now presented with a serious problem of long-term storage
for their hazardous residues, I cannot see why anyone would support the
recognition of an ultimately unstable, non-viable collection of nationalities
as a national ``Macedonian'' state. I believe you owe your readers an
appropriate correction in your very next issue.

\closing{Sincerely,}
\end{letter}
\end{document}

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Mia kai nmouva sxetika eugevikos, kai kuriws akribns kai me stoixeia, perimeva
mia toulaxistov sobarn apavtnsn. Avt'autns, elaba to e3ns aparadekto gramma,
to opoio me e3orgise:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

John F. Shupe
Senior Assistant Editor
and Chief Cartographer

July 10, 1992

Athanassios Protopapas
Dept. of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences
Box 1978, Brown University
Providence, Ri 02912

Dear Mr. Protopapas:

Thank you for your recent letter to the National
Geograhic Society prompted by teh map accompanying our July
1992 article on Albania.

I am sure you are aware that we have no bias or political motivation.
National Geographic is fulfilling in the fairest possible manner our
mandate to give our members maps which are timely, accurate and current.
We publish de facto conditions existing at the time of printing. Therefore,
we do show Macedonia as an independent country. Macedonia was given
independence when the Yugoslav government avvounced the new smaller Federal
Republic of Yugoslavia consisting of Serbia and Montenegro only.

Should Macedonia accept Greece's suggestion to change its name, our maps
will reflect such change accordingly.

In the meantime we doubt very seriously whether we would be serving
anyone's interests if we gave our map readers anything other than a
realistic picture.

Sincerely,

John F. Shupe

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Otav suvnl9a apo to sok tou 9rasous autou tou kuriou, o opoios eixe ndn
avagvwrisei ta Skopia kai tous eixe dwsei kai vte fakto ovoma, esteila
stov proistamevo tou to akolou9o, mpas kai tov balei stn 9esn tou:

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\begin{document}
\address{Athanassios Protopapas \\
         Dept. of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences \\
         Box 1978, Brown University \\
         Providence, RI 02912 \\
         (401) 421-0324 }
\date{July 28, 1992}
\signature{
           Athanassios Protopapas\\}

\begin{letter}{ William Graves, {\em editor} \\
                National Geographic Magazine \\
                1145 17th Street N.W.  \\
                Washington, DC 20036-4688 }

\opening{Dear Sir,}

Please find enclosed my recent letter to the National Geographic Society
concerning a map of Albania that appeared in your July 1992 article on Albania
and the answer I received, signed by Mr. John F. Shupe, senior assistant
editor and chief cartographer. I consider this answer very insulting in
style and unacceptable in content.

I used to think that National Geographic had indeed no bias or political
motivation. However, after this incident, I seriously doubt the credibility
of your articles and your staff. As you should know, there is no independent
country under the name ``Macedonia''. The self-appointed government of the
former Yugoslav ``Republic of Macedonia'' have been explicitly denied
recognition under the name ``Macedonia'' by the EEC at the recent summit
of Lisbon. The US and most countries also support the Greek position on this
matter.

I do not wish to go into the essence of the Macedonian issue in this letter.
There is an abundance of literature on the subject. I have to say, however,
that claiming a ``de facto condition'' for the existence of an ``independent
Macedonia'' is not only unrealistic, but also highly inaccurate and
indicative of political bias or ignorance.
It is exactly what the ex-communists of Skopje
hope to achieve with their continuous propaganda and falsification of history.

Let me also point out that there is no ``Greece's suggestion'' regarding the
name of the prospective state in question. Greece, supported by the other
European countries, strongly objects to an act of recognition, because of
serious concerns about territorial claims and historical and factual
misinformation spread by the Skopje administration, including an alleged
``Macedonian minority''. As you well know, this is as absurd as claiming a
``Texan minority'' within the US. Also, it is not about changing a name, but
about finding one.

I have to say that I am very disappointed in the National Geographic Magazine.
If the letter I received was actually written by a senior assistant editor
and chief cartographer, I fear to imagine what the level of inferior staff
must be. The answer I got indicates an ignorance (or is it indifference?)
of international issues unimaginable for the National Geographic Society.
I advise you to visit the areas you write about in the future and to carefully
examine your sources before publishing.
At least your photographers are still doing their job well.

\closing{Sincerely,}
\cc{John F. Shupe}
\encl{My letter of 6/12/92 to NGS \\
      The answer of Mr. J. F. Shupe}
\end{letter}
\end{document}

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Kai to moulari, avti va paei va diabasei kai va dei oti toulaxistov dev
upnrxe 9ema avagvwrisns, toulaxistov osov afora US, EOK, klp. ektos apo
tnv avekdingntn (kai movimws epi9etikn) Tourkia, kaluptei tov upallnlo
tou kai mou stelvei allo aparadekto:

-------------------------------------------------------------------


William Graves, Editor

Mr. Athanassios Protopapas
Box 1978 Brown University
Providence, Rhode Island 02912

Dear Mr. Protopapas:

 I'm sorry you were disappointed over our depiction of Macedonia on the
Albania map. Whether it is an error or not is a matter of opinion. ours
obviously differs from yours.

I do not find Mr. Shupe's letter insulting. On the contrary, I find yours
quite offensive. The National Geographic Society takes a great deal of
pride in its fairness and its continual efforts to portray the world and
its elements accurately, in cartography, photography, and in editorial
material.

You are certainly at liberty to disagree; no one contests that. But to
label us biased because you hold a diferent view smacks of something
other than scholarship or impartiality. I have my own definition of
that, and I leave you to yours.

Sincerely,

William Graves

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Meta loipov ta kaivouria me tov kwloxartn tous, tous stelvw to e3ns:

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\begin{document}
\address{Athanassios Protopapas \\
         Dept. of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences \\
         Box 1978, Brown University \\
         Providence, RI 02912 \\
         (401) 421-0324 }
\date{November 16, 1992}
\signature{
           Athanassios Protopapas\\}

\begin{letter}{ William Graves, {\em editor} \\
                National Geographic Magazine \\
                1145 17th Street N.W.  \\
                Washington, DC 20036-4688 }

\opening{Dear Sir,}

I am writing in response to your newest map of Europe, which is included with
the December 1992 issue of the National Geographic Magazine. I just want to
say that you once more contradict all your (and your assistants') claims of
impartiality. Please refer to our previous correspondence, which I have enclosed
for your convenience.

I am not going to repeat why is there no such thing as a ``Macedonian'' state,
language, or ethnic identity. I made a few points in my previous
letters, but neither Mr. Shupe nor you ever bothered answering them. Instead,
you claimed ``de facto conditions'' and ``personal opinions''. A careful
examination of the situation would be enough to convince you that the only
de facto condition is that of a handful of ex-communists trying to impose
a forged identity on a multi-national population. It would
also show that no matter what my or your personal views are, there is no
officially recognized state where your map depicts ``Macedonia''.

On the other hand, you do inform your readers that the region of Northern
Cyprus is in dispute and that international recognition has not been granted.
Taking into account that neither has the ex-Yugoslav ``Republic of Macedonia''
been recognized as an independent state by the international community, and
that it has been actually denied recognition on the grounds of (among other
things) inappropriate
choice of name (unanimous decision of the EEC, supported by the US and most
countries in the world), one is left to wonder what prevented you from letting
your unsuspecting readers know that this is also a disputed region, at least
as far as independence and name are concerned. It is obvious that all this
claimed ``fairness'' and ``impartiality'' is as close to reality as life on
Mars. Or are you just uninformed?

Moreover, you go as far as depicting the (by all means Greek) emblem of
Philip II, the star of Vergina, as the flag of that non-existent nation.
I think that this is just one step too far. I am really sorry, and, frankly,
it completely eludes me, what reasons could you
possibly have, to defy international decisions in favor of a lie,
discrediting an otherwise excellent publication.

\closing{Sincerely upset,}
\cc{John F. Shupe}
\encl{My letter of 6/12/92 to NGS \\
      An answer of 7/10/92 by Mr. J. F. Shupe\\
      My letter to you of 7/28/92 \\
      Your answer of 8/11/92}
\end{letter}
\end{document}

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Av kaveis exei labei paromoies apavtnseis gia ekeivo to 9ema as metatreyei
katallnla to teleutaio kai as to steilei me tis euxes mou. Gia tous
upoloipous, akolou9ei eva metriopa9es gramma, to opoio apeu9uvetai sto
FORUM kai eivai suvtomo, eugeviko kai periektiko, mpas kai to dnmosieusouv.
To stelvw se 3exwristo posting amesws meta ap'auto kai parakalw steilte to
oloi, toulaxistov va akoustoume.

Kai mn xeirotera,

 0avasns Prwtopapas
 Brown University   (aka 0ANASHS in Providence)
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU