From: kostas@zoro.cis.temple.edu (Kostas Blathras)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.greek,alt.news.macedonia
Subject: A fast answer (Was: Re: Ellemann-Jensen on Macedonia)
Date: 26 Jan 93 03:51:52 GMT
Reply-To: kostas@aegis.cis.temple.edu (Konstantinos Blathras)
Organization: Temple University
Orgnisation: CACC, Temple University

In article <ANDERSON.93Jan22154123@sapir.cog.jhu.edu> anderson@sapir.cog.jhu.edu (Stephen Anderson) writes:
>
>
>The Yugoslav Macedonians insist, for their part, that they have no
>territorial designs on anyone, and have incorporated this disavowal
>into their proposed constitution. Why do we not take their word for
>it? In fact, there is one possibly relevant argument to which I have
>heard faint allusions, one which is echoed here:
>
>	LJI> Western analysts said Greece has not made its point
>	LJI> lucidly enough to the world community, and has failed to
>	LJI> explain that the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia
>	LJI> was set up by a group responsible for terrorism in the
>	LJI> Balkans before World War II.  Greece's fears are
>	LJI> justified, the analysts said, because the group had won
>	LJI> respectability after coming to power, but hard-liners in
>	LJI> the present Skopje government had to be viewed as
>	LJI> potential troublemakers.
>
   Why don't Greeks take them for their word on it? Because they believe 
in actions and not words. They believe what they see, not what some 
ex-Communist would say to save its regime. Do you really believe that 
The Goverment of FYRM would ever say: "Yes, we have territorial ambitions
against Greek Macedonia, and Bulgarian Macedonia". Of course not. However,
from time to time, there are provoking actions like the 'unofficial' currency
notes with the White tower of Salonica on them, maps published from 
time to time, including the Greek part of Macedonia, as a part of FYRM, 
their flag which has the Macedonian dynasty star on it, and a long list
of others.

   Now a big part of the reason, imho, the Greeks react like that, and
people here think that they are irrational and unjustified, is that
in this land of Greek Macedonia ( Makedonia ), they have fought five (5)
wars during the current century, and there are people still alive who
fought there. Greeks know, by example, that history repeats itself. They
simply feel uneasy and don't want to fight to save their homeland again,
because people here are so uninformed of the situation over there. Greeks can't 
understand how a communist abortion of a state, with irridentist ambitions
against all of their neigbouring countries (Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and 
Serbia ), would be accepted in the world community, and be characterised on
the top of all as a victimised nation.

  Wars Greece fought during the current century, 
  on the soil of Greek Mecedonia:

  1.  First Balkan war (1912-13)  [Serbia, Greece, Montenegro, Bulgaria 
                                   .vs. Turkey (alias Ottoman Empire)]
  2.  Second Balkan war (1913)    [Greece and Serbia .vs. Bulgaria]

  3.  First World war   (1916-1918)  [Greece entered the war on 1916 against
                                      Bulgaria]

  4.  Second World war   (1941-1944) [Greece was invaded by Germany through 
                                      Bulgaria and FYRM]
  5.  Greek Civil War    (1946-1949) [Royalists .vs. Communist Greeks.Communist
                                      Greeks would surrender Greek Macedonia to
                                      Tito in exchange for arms, supplies, army
                                      and other support].


   I don't recall now if Greek Macedonia was occupied by Bulgarians during 
WW I (1914-1918), but it was annexed by Bulgaria during 1941-1944.

   So, do you still expect Greeks to believe in words??  I wouldn't.
                                      

>
>Yours in some genuine puzzlement,
>--Steve Anderson

   I hope I helped a little,
   Konstantinos Blathras

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