From: sachz@montebello.ecom.unimelb.EDU.AU (SAS)
Subject: Vera offers thoughts on Macedonia crisis
Followup-To:  alt.test
Organization: Dept. Engineering Computer Resources, Melbourne Uni.
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1992 14:05:11 GMT

note: replace alt.test by series of relevant groups after tests passes.

Vera offers thoughts on Macedonia crisis

 - One of the many interesting people in Bendigo for the recent
meeting of exchange teachers was Vera Capovska from Skopje in
Macedonia.

   Vera is teaching Macedonian to children at Thomastown 
Secondary College and Preston South Primary School.

   There are more than 500 children of Macedonian background of
the 800 children at Thomastown and 60 of the 200 students at
Preston South Primary.

   In the light of the recent disintegration of the former 
Yuoslavia, it was interesting to hear vera's thoughts on her 
homeland.

   "The Republic of Macedonia, a Balkans state of 2.2 million
people, is bordered by Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia and Albania.

   The territory of the Republic of Macedonia has been known
as Macedonia since before Alexander the Great.

   In a modern, post-industrial revolutionary context, the
Macedonians never have had an independent state, but they
have prevailed against all attempts to assimilate or 
exterminate them.

Domination:

   Throughout history they were under foreign domination during
successive rules by Serbia and Bulgaria until the whole of the
Balkans cane under the Ottoman rule which lasted five centuries.

   Macedonia was wrested from the Turks in 1912 and divided
amoung Serbia, Greece and Bulgaria.

   So partitioned, the Macedonians did not get their ethnic
and cultural rights.

   In 1912 Greece "acquired" 51 per cent of Macedonian territory
and hereafter cruelly oppressed its Macedonian population who
speak Macedonian language, denying them the most basic of
human rights.

   According to Greece, there is no Macedonian minority in Greece.

   Since the establishment of the Republic of Macedonia within
federal Yugoslavia in 1944, Macedonian culture has flourished.

   Its social development has been pronounced and the Macedonian
language now taught in mainstream educational institutions across
the world including Australia.

   Macedonians akin to many other nations, recently have openly
expressed their will for independence and democratic reform.

   However, Macedonia is the only republic of the four which have
succeeded from Yugoslavia not to have been recognised by the 
European Community or Washington.

   The Special Commission of Arbitration set up by the EC has
come down strongly in favour of Macedonia being recognised as an
independent and sovereign state because it has satisfied all
set criteria for such recognition.

   The last EC decisions is not to recognise Macedonia until it
changed its name.

Shock:

   This vicious request provoked waves of shock among Macedonians
in every corner of the world where they live.

   The demand for a name-change means a decee of their own death as
a people with a culture, language, historical heritage and identity.

   Macedonia has fulfilled all the normal conditions for recognition
but it could not invent a new name.

   The Macedonian President said: "I cannot tell people to change
their name and become nameless. To change our name means destroying
every textbook and street sign in this country."

   Macedonia is going through psychological and physical warfare.

   The economic blockades imposed by Greece and Serbia intend to
strangle Macedonia economically thus forcing it to give up its
struggle for independence.

   Petrol stocks are low, medicines urgently are needed.

   The living standards have plummeted.

   Anoither tragedy is waiting to happen unless action is taken now.

- Greame Topp, (Bendigo Advertiser)

Abstralisko Makedonski Nedelnik, 1 Sep 92.

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