From: sachz@montebello.ecom.unimelb.EDU.AU (SAS)
Subject: Adelaide Newspaper abused by 'Ellinika Nea'
Followup-To:  soc.culture.yugoslavia,soc.culture.greek
Originator: sachz@montebello.ecom.unimelb.EDU.AU
Organization: Dept. Engineering Computer Resources, Melbourne Uni.
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1992 13:06:28 GMT


ADELAIDE NEWSPAPER ABUSED BY "ELLINIKA NEA"
 
   I refer to some maps placed in the "Sunday Mail", Adelaide,
on Sunday 9/8/92 and Sunday 16/8/92. On these maps are shown the
plight of the new Europe, and in particular the breakup of the
former Yugoslavia.
 
   As Australian-Macedonians we express our concerns about an
article placed in the Greek newspaper, "Ellinika Nea". Not only
have the Greeks slandered the Macedonians in the past year and
nicknamed them "Skopjens", (Skopje is the capital of the Republic
of Macedonia), but they now go on to slander and abuse the Sunday
mail, the journalists involved, and the Adelaide University. We
find this attitude repulsive and totally unacceptable.
 
   We are aware of the "so called" decision of the E.C. about
Macedonia, but as far as we know, these decisions are not final.
For this reason, we believe that Greece has not got full rights
to the name Macedonia, and in the meantime, has no cause to
slander and abuse any nation or nationality.
 
   The article in "Ellinika Nea" quotes:-
 
   "For the interest of the schools, the Sunday Mail has tried to
teach something to them. On the 9/8/92 they, the 'Sunday Mail',
demonstrated the map of the world which shows a piece which they
name as Macedonia. Next to the Pelopponese they put a number 18
which appeared as if this was Macedonia." 'Ellinika Nea' then uses
the phrase, "palouki pou sas kriazeten", which literally means "a
pole up your anus".
 
   They then go on to say :- "Wake up you no-hopers to what is
happening around you. Are you a newspaper, or are you made to
work for the 'Skopjens'. It's okay that you haven't read other
papers to know what's going on around the world. Haven't you
learnt that it is not accepted for 'Skopjens' to use the name
Macedonia? What were you doing when the European Community and
Australia did not recognise that name? Planting broad beans? If
we trust you to teach our children geography, then our children
are the losers. As if it wasn't enough on 9/8/92, but on
16/8/92, you again included Macedonia on the world map, but this
time showed it bigger than the week before."
 
   The journalist then goes on to insult the 'Sunday Mail'. "You
must have been the biggest brick walls at school, for these
things to be placed in the paper. It can't be explained in any
other way. On one hand you show a piece of Macedonia, and
underneath say it's not recognised by the E.C. and Australia. So
who is it recognised by - Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide
University? If the responsible people at Adelaide University
believe in this matter, and they have given rights to the
newspapers, sorry, but institutions like this on our country were
referred to as schools for the 'voydoskoles', ie schools for the
bulls. And what would you expect to come out of such schools but
animals. And if you don't know what you are doing, then we feel
sorry for the students who are studying."
 
   As can be seen, not only has "Ellinika Nea" insulted members
of the Macedonian community, but have also insulted the
Australian teaching institutions, our teachers, scholars and
political leaders.
 
   How far will the Greeks go in their lies? We are sure that the
sights of ethnic cleansing in Bosnia-Herzegovina are disturbing
to us all, but what about the cleansing of Macedonians over the
past sixty odd years by Greek, Bulgarian and Serbian authorities
in Macedonia.
 
   We are proud to be living in a country that allows us to
express our freedom of speech, culture and identity, but we feel
that with this article, the Greeks have pushed it one step too
far. We speak Macedonia and also Greek as a consequence of the
Greek totalitarian regime of Aegean Macedonia, and have tried to
give you the best translation.
 
   I myself am a University student of Adelaide University
studying a Bachelor of Science degree, and am writing this letter
on behalf of my family, and other relatives and friends. I wish
to express my concern to you about such articles and hope that
they will be acknowledged as offensive, and acted upon
accordingly.
 
Concerned Australian-Macedonians
Abstreliesko Makedonski Nedelnik, 8 Sep 92.