From: chrysp@zooid.guild.org (Chrys Pelegris)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.greek
Subject: H.N.I.N. #4 - PART 1/4
Date:  7 Jan 93 15:16:29 GMT

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                                 H.N.I.N
                   Hellenic News & Information Network
 
                        " Greek News from Abroad "
                   Edition 4 - Saturday January 2, 1993
 

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 Sorry for not posting for a while, hopefully the amount of this edition will
 make up for it. :)
 
 Due to its enormous size, it had to be cut into 4 chunks..
 

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 All articles from the "Hellenic Times" - December/92
 Reprinted without permission.

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                          Hellenic Times (Pg 9)
                       IN THE NAME OF MACEDONIA...
                         Western voices speak up
 
     When Shakespeare wondered "what's in a name?", he was talking about
roses.
 When it comes to people, names are important because they distinguish, define
 and establish identity.  They thus become a source of pride for people, for
 peoples, for nations and states.  Valuables, however, whether tangible or
 intangible can be coveted, threatened, usurped or simply stolen.  They must
 therefore be protected.  Macedonia has been such a valuable for Greeks for
 3 millenia.  It has been the source of Balkan conflicts during the last
 century.  It represents much more than a name.
     When it is used as a program of expansion, when so called "Macedonians"
 beyond Grece's borders dream about a "Larger Macedonia" and publish maps with
 Thessaloniki (or Solun as they call it) as their future capital, Greeks
object,
 Europe objects, reasonable decent people around the world object.
     Here is, then, a selection of influential western voices speaking up in
 the name of Macedonia.
                                                           Vassilis Maghinas
                                 Secretary General for Press and Information
 
 

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                         THE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
 
 
                             48 YEARS AGO...
                   E.R. STETTENIUS, SECRETARY OF STATE
 
                           US STATE DEPARTMENT
                       Foreign Relations. Vol. VIII
                             Washington D.C.
 
                             Circular Airgram
                          (868.014/26 Dec. 1944)
 
     The Secretary of State to Certain Diplomatic and Consular Officers.
 
     The following is for your information and general guidance, but not for
any
 positive action at this time.
 
     The Department has noted with considerable apprehension increasing
 propaganda rumors and semi-official statements in favor of an autonomous
 Macedonia, emanating principally from Bulgaria, but also from Yugoslav
Partisan
 and other sources, with the impliocation that Greek territory would be
included
 in the projected state.  "This Government considers talk of Macedonian
 'nation', Macedonian 'Fatherland', or Macedonian 'national consciousness'
 to be unjustified demagoguery representing no ethnic nor political reality,
 and sees in its present revival a possible cloak for aggressive intentions
 against Greece."
 
     The approved policy of this Government is to oppose any revival of the
 Macedonian issue as related to Greece.  The Greek section of Macedonia is
 largely inhabited by Greeks, and the Greek poeple are almost unanimously
 opposed to the creation of a Macedonian state.  Allegations of serious Greek
 participation in any such agitation can be assumed to be false.  This
 Government would regard as responsible any Government or group of Governments
 tolerating or encouraging manacing or aggressive acts of 'Macedonian forces'
 against Greece.
 
     The Department would appreciate any information pertinent to this subject
 which may come to your attention.
 
                                                                 STETTINIUS*
 
 ------
 * Edward R. Stettinius:  1900-1949 Secretary of State 1944-1945.
 

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                                  TODAY
                              PRESIDENT BUSH
 
 
                        LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
 
                             THE WHITE HOUSE
                                WASHINGTON
                              June 26, 1992
 
 Dear Archbiship Iakovos,
 
 Thank you for forwarding the letter signed by thousands of Greek Americans
 expressing the concerns of Greek Americans regarding the recognition of the
 former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and the settlement of the situation in
 Cyprus.  As you know, I have been in regular contact with Prime Minister
 Mitsotakis on these issues.
 The United States has played an important part in the processes to find
 lasting solutions to these problems in full cooperation with Greece.  I am
 confident that the highest levels of the Greek Government will confirm that
 the United States has been nothing less than understanding, sympathetic and
 supportive.
 I would appreciate your reiterating to the many thousands of Greek Americans
 who came to Washington and who signed the letter our strong regard in helping
 to resolve these issues.
 
                                                                 Sincerely,
                                                                 George Bush
 

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                        MESSAGE TO GREEK AMERICANS
 
                             THE WHITE HOUSE
                                WASHINGTON
                             October 9, 1992
 
 I am delighted to send greetings to all those who are gathered in New York
for
 the Saint Iakovos Dinner in honor of the Nameday of His Eminence Archbishop
 Iakovos.
 
 This is as special day of celebration for Greek Americans and for members of
 the Greek Orthodox Church.  In my dear friend Archbishop Iakovos, the entire
 Greek-American Community has a wise and stedfust ally and a model of
 Christian faith.  As you join the celebration with his Eminence, it is
fitting
 to recall the links that all Americans share with this community and the
 vigor that it brings to our Nation and culture.
 
 In addition, my contacts with Prime Minister Mitsotakis have cemented a bond
 between our two countries that cannot be broken.  On a matter of grave
 concern - the breakup of Yugoslavia - Prime Minister Mitsotakis and I have
 had several discussions.  I understand Greek concerns regarding the former
 Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and I take them seriously.  Accordingly the
 United States has not recognized the independence of that republic and our
 policy will not change until this dispute is resolved to the satisfaction
 of both parties.  The United States will not waver in its support for the
 stability of Greece.
 
 On this and other questions, Archbishop Iakovos has been, and remains, a
 forceful voice for international peace, human rights and Christian charity.
 We are greatful for such able leadership.
 
 Barbara joins me in sending best wishes for an enjoyable evening.
                                                             George Bush
 

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                        PRESIDENT - ELECT CLINTON
 
    STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR CLINTON ON ISSUES OF SPECIAL CONCERN TO THE
                         GREEK AMERICAN COMMUNITY
 
                             October 2, 1992
 
     The celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of Athenian
 democracy reminds all Americans of the lasting contributions of Greek people
 and institutions to the United States.
     The authors of our nation's Declaration of Independence and Constitution
 admired the ancient commitment of Greece to liberty, freedom and democracy
 and were inspired by her history.  And today, Greek ideals and institutions
 continue to strengthen our nation.  Greek Americans have a remarkable history
 in this nation - high levels of achievement in education, business, medicine,
 law and government.  They have maintained a traditional respect for the
 institutions of church, community, and family, keystones of the American
 experience and have always placed a premium on educating the next generation
 in order to ensure a bright future for American democracy...
 
     In the aftermath of World War II and at a time when the communist threat
 was real, President Truman made a historic decision:  he would help the
 Greek people fight off a communist threat.  Subsequently, under the Truman
 doctrine, the United States and Greece fought commmunism and won and, in the
 process, forged a close alliance based on shared values and the belief in
 democratic ideals and institutions which continues to this day.  And in the
 recent war against Iraq, Greece and America joined together in the coalition
 that defeated Saddam Hussein.
     Working together, we can meet the challenges that continue to be of
 concern to both our nations.  By upholding the values of democracy and human
 rights and committing ourselves to the defense of those values around the
 world, we advance the cause of freedom for all.
 
     The turmoil in the Balkans and the breakup of Yugoslavia has introduced
 new pressures on Greece.  The wanton killing, the starvation and forcible
 relocation of civilians, the ethnic cleansing and destruction of some of
 Europe's most historic cities must end.  I have called on the U.S. and the
 international community to take stronger action against this aggression and
 welcome the recent actions by the United Nations to ensure the delivery of
 humanitarian assistance, to open the detention camps, and to bring an end to
 the bloodshed.
     The United States should support the legitimate aspirations for freedom
 and independence for the people of the region who have suffered over four
 decades of cummunist aggression.  At the same time, we must be attentive to
 Greece's legitimate concern regarding the consequences of Yugoslavia's
 breakup on Greek security and regional stability.  In particular, we must
work
 to ensure that the violence does not spread to Kosovo or other nations in the
 region and that minority rights throughout the Balkans, including in Albania,
 are fully protected.  We should work with our longtime democratic ally,
Greece,
 and the other nations of Europe to achieve a solution that respects the
rights
 and interests of all concerned.
     I support the recent decision by the European Community which agreed to
 recognize the southernmost former Yugoslav Republic as an independent state
 provided its name does not include "Macedonia".  For many Americans, the
 question of the use of the name "Macedonia" may seem hard to understand.  At
 the close of World War II, the use of this name for the southern part of
 Yugoslavia was labeled by our then Secretary of State "as a cloak for
 aggressive actions against Greece" and could again become a source of
 instability and conflict.
     The United States position must be clear.  If this new nation wishes to
 receive American recognition, it must first accept the principles of the
 Helsinki Final Act, satisfy its neighbors and the world community that its
 intentions are peaceful and abide by the European Community's decision which
 reject the use of the name Macedonia.  A Clinton Administration will stand
 by these principles and ensure that Greece's legitimate concerns are met.
     Greece remains a faithful friend in a turbulent, dangerous part of the
 world.  The Greek people are justifiably proud of their history of
 independence, democracy, and justice.  We have treaty obligations and a moral
 commitment to support the Greek people.  The relationship between the
 United States and Greece has strengthened both our nations.  If elected, I
 look forward to building on this important relationship.
 
 

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                              US CONGRESSMEN
 
                         LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
 
 The Honorable George Bush
 President
 The White House
 Washington, D.C. 20500
 
 
 Dear Mr. President,
 
     We strongly urge you to maintain the policy of withholding the
recognition
 of the remaining Yugoslavian republic until the significant concerns of
Greece
 are alleviated.
     It is imperative that the U.S. preserve its historic relationship with
 Greece, a longstanding U.S. ally and reliable strategic presence in the
Eastern
 Mediterannean.  Hasty recognition to the controversial new republic on
Greece's
 northern border will further destabilise this volatile region by causing a
 political crisis in Greece.
 
     American attempts to end the turmoil in the Balkans and restore the peace
 must remain productive.  Moving on the "Macedonia" issue before sufficiently
 addressing Greece's concerns will be inconsistent with our efforts to this
 point.
 
     Thank you for the opportunity to express our views.
 
 Wayne Owans                                                       John Porter
 United States Congressman                           United States Congressman
 
 

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                               US SENATORS
 
                         LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
 
 The Honorable George Bush
 President
 The White House
 Washington, D.C. 20500
 
 
 Dear Mr. President,
 
 We are writing to express our concern for United States policy in regard to
 the recognition of the remaining Yugoslav republic which would like to call
 itself "Macedonia".  We urge you to continue to withhold recognition of this
 republic, until the concerns of our faithful ally Greece are alleviated.
 
 It is imperative that the United States preserve its historic relationship
with
 Greece, a longstanding U.S. ally and reliable strategic presence in the
 Eastern Mediterranean.  Hasty recognition of the new republic on Greece's
 northern border under the controversial name it is now using will surely
cause
 a political crisis in Greece, further destabilising this volatile region.
 
 American attempts to end the turmoil in the Balkans and restore the peace
there
 must remain productive.  Moving to recognise the republic that would like to
 call itself "Macedonia", before sufficiently addressing Greece's conerns,
will
 be inconsistent with out efforts.
 
                                Sincerely,
 Alfonse D'Amato                                                    Tom Karkin
 United States Senator                                   United States Senator
 
 

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                               18-19.06.92
                             HENRY KISSINGER
 
 
                         THE STRENGTH OF HISTORY
 
     Stettinius' views were endorsed 48 years later by Henry Kissinger.
     The former Secretary of State was asked at the annual meeting of
Management
 Centre Europe held in Paris on June about his views on the Skopje authorities
 claims to be internationally recognised as the "Republic of Macedonia'.
     Kissinger has this to say:
 
 "Look, I believe that Greece is right to object and I agree with Athens.  The
 reason is that I know History which is not the case with most of the others
 including most of hte Government and the Administration in Washington.
 
 The strength of the Greek case is that of the History which I must say that
 Athens have not used so far with success."
 

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                            THE AMERICAN PRESS
                           --------------------
 17,04,92
                            The New York Times
 
            FOR THE NAME OF MACEDONIA, A BURST OF GREEK PRIDE
                            By: Marlise Simons
                      special to The New York Times
 
     ATHENS.  April 12 - Greece seems hypnotized once again by its past,
 not a study of its glorious achievements, but in an extraordinary burst of
 nationalism set off by the disintegration of Yugoslavia to the north.
     The object of this passion is the name Macedonia.  Marching in the
streets,
 putting stickers on cars and shop windows and waving flags.  Greeks are
 heatedly proclaiming that the name Macedonia is exclusively Greek, that it
has
 been theirs for 3,000 years and must remain so.
     The threat, as they see it, is that a small territory long part of
 Yugoslavia now wants recognition as the independent republic of Macedonia.
 Greeks say a combination of ethnic Albanians and Slavs are thus trying to
 unsurp the name of a Greek region that was made famous by Macedonians like
 Aristotle and his pupil Alexander the Great.
     And as important here, the name evokes the painful history of northern
 Greece, a land that has been constantly fought over, the last time barely
 40 years ago.  The Greeks say they have no designs on the territory to the
 north, but they fear that Yugoslav Macedonia has designs on Greece.
 
                          "A True Balkan Puzzle"
     The issue has come to a boil here in recent weeks because of growing
signs
 that both the European Community and the United States are eager to find a
 way of recognizing the new sate, whose capital is Skopje, to help stabilize
 the volatile situation in the republic.
     "This is a true Balkan puzzle", a Western displomat said.  "Skopje says
 this part of Yugoslavia will destabilize if it's not recognized quickly.
 Athens says that recognizing the new Macedonia will destabilize all of the
 southern Balkans."
     Bowing to intense Greek pressure, the Community and Washington have
 postponed a decision until May, but they have urged Athens to find a
compromise
 with the Skopje Government, though talks in January broke down.  They have
also
 propowed other names for the new republic, like New Macedonia and Slavo-
 Macedonia.
     But no name that includse the word "Macedonia" is acceptable to Greece,
 the Government and most of the opposition have solemnly reiterated in recent
 days.  And if Western European governments decide to ignore Greece's
 protestations, many Greeks say Athens should close the country's northern
 border in retaliation and paralyze an important international transit
 rout(...)
     In recent weeks, Greek officials have been busily reasserting their
claims
 oer the name, although they make no claims on the Yugoslav territory.  They
 have rebaptized several warships and northern airports.  Salonika's airport
 is now called MAcedonia and Kavala's was renamed Alexander the Great.  Fresh
 archeological finds have been unveiled to link the area' history to Greece.
 This month, two museus in Athens put on Macedonia exhibits.
     Many citizens have joined what seems to be a wholesale reaffirmation of
 identity.  The Macedonian star, the emblem of the ancient empire, appears in
 stickers on shop windors and streetlamps.  Men wear the star in their lapels,
 and women have them on brooches and earrings.  A few weeks ago, the
 Government sisued new 100 - drachma coins that carry the Macedonian star and
 the image of Alexander.
     "Greeks often are not good patrios; they emigrate; tehy send their money
 abroad", said Andreas Ekonomides, a lawyer.  "But they are very sensitive
 about their heritage and their history."
     Thus, what the outsiders might appear to be merely a dispute over
 semantics has taken on the dimensions of a battle for Greek cultural heritage
 against the heirs to a Yugoslav Communist Govenrment that long harbored
 territorial ambitions over Macedonia.
     Government officials here said that ever since Tito created a Yugoslav
 Macedonia, radical groups in the territory had spoken openly of the need to
 "liberate" the rest of their region to form a "Greater Macedonia".  The
 officials say such talk goes on with ominous insistence.  The Skopje
 Government says that it has no territorial designs but that it does not want
 to change the republic's name.
     The six-month-old dispute has had the unusual effect of uniting this
often
 quarrelsome and divided nation in an intense wave of nationalism.  But this
 has also enormously complicated the Greek Government's efforts to find a
 solution.  "We have reached a nationalistic delirium", a senior official
said.
     Foreign diplomats in Athens said that the Government itself had helped
 stir up the highly charged mood, and that it now had little room for
maneuver.
 Apparantly seeking to widen his freedom of movement, Prime Minister
Constantine
 Mitsotakis dismissed his hard-line Foreign Minister, Antonis Samaras, on
 Monday.  Mr. Samaras had insisted on closing the border.
     When asked what they fear from their small and impoverished neighbor,
 greeks recall that competing claims over "Macedonia" - both name and land -
 have often led to war.
     In Athens and Salonika, the nortern capital, Greeks say they believe
 that the Skopje Government is not looking to start offensive actions now.
 But they fear that militant groups might start trouble in the future under
 a Macedonian banner.  Radicals reportedly include former Greek Communists
 who fled to Skopje and never got over their defeat in the civil war.
 

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 22.04.92
                           The Washington Times
 
                  LITTLE MACEDONIA'S BIG IDENTITY CRISIS
                             by: B.J. Cutler
 
     A tiny part of former Yugoslavia has declared itself an independent
nation
 in a desperate (and possibly futile) move to prevent its seizure by covetous
 neighbours.
     The United States and the 12-member European Community want to recognize
 the new country, hoping to give it international protection and to foster
 stability in the uneasy Balkans.
     But they cannot exchange diplomats with it because of its name: 
Macedonia.
 Greece, a member of the EC and a U.S. ally refuses to allow the name to be
 used by a non Greek territory.
     Athens, heatedly backed by a majority of its citizens, insists that
 Macedonia has been part of Greek history for 3,500 years and the home of some
 of its greatest sons:  Alexander the Great; his father, Philip of Macedon;
 and Aleaxander's teacher, Aristotle.
     Greece also suspects that by calling itself Macedonia, the bit of ex-
 Yugoslavia is making an implied claim to Greece's northernmost province,
 also named Macedonia.
     At first glance, it seems ridiculous for Greece, with 10 million people,
 a mordern army and the safety of membership in NATO, to fear dirt-poor
 Macedonia, which has a population 2.3 million and no armed forces.
     But that southernmost piece of collapsed Yugoslavia has a remarkable
 record of touching off warfare.  In recent history it has been ruled by
 Serbian overlords, Ottoman Turks, Bulgarian allies of Nazi Germany and
 expansionist communists.
     The territory has been claimed by Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia,
 which fought two nasty Balkan wars over it early in this century.  Some of
 those claims still lurke beneath the surface.
     Greeks painfully recall that Marshal Tito, Yugoslavia's communist
dictator,
 created the "Republic of Macedonia" in 1945 as part of a greater ambition:
 To reconstitute Alexander's Macedonia, under Tito's rule by annexing parts
 of Greece and Bulgaria.
     Tito especially had his eye on Salonika.  Greece's second largest city,
 which would have given his dream Yugoslav empire a port on the Aegean Sea.
     In pursuit of a "Greater Macedonia", Tito gave Greek communists bases in
 his country from which they directed the vicious Greek civil war of 1946-49.
 The Greek government won, with help from President Truman but at a terrible
 price:  more than 100,000 dead, 685,000 homeless, vast devastation.
     American and European diplomats are irritated with Greece's obstruction
 of their desire to recognize Macedonia.
     They did not, however, live through the horrors of the civil war and
 should be more sensitive to the concerns of those who did.
     Fortunately, Greece has no claims to the territory of Macedonia and is
 willing to have trade ties and neighborly relations - if the entity will just
 change its name.
     So far, the authorities of Skopje, the capital reject Greece's demand.
     They are short-sighted, for Serbia and not Athens should be their main
 worry.
     Between two world wars, Belgrade ruled Macedonia as "Southern Serbia".
 Today's Serbia, under hardline communist Slobodan Milocevic, has emerged
 as the bully of the Balkans.  After it finishes, dismembering the old
 Yugoslav Republics of Croatia and Bosnia, it may move on Macedonia, whose
 independence it opposed.
     When and if that happens, the ethnic Albanians, Gypsies, Slavs and Turks
 who call themselves Macedonians will need all the friends they can get.  It
 would be tragic if, because of a name, they found themselves isolated and
 helpless.
 
 CONTINUED NEXT MESSAGE...
 
 
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