Post by Panos on May 26, 2008 19:31:43 GMT -5
FYROM’s provocations against Greece are mounting both at political and social level. In a demonstration held in Melbourne, FYROM citizens appear in a video burning Greek flags and stating that Thessaloniki is their capital. In Skopje, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, not only did he choose to not condemn the groundless claims by the so-called "Macedonian Archbishop," but he raised tones on the name row, a few days prior to the elections. In Greece, all political parties blasted the territorial claims.
Tones Got Raised
In particular, the head of the so-called "Macedonian Orthodox Church" laid claims to Thessaloniki, while outgoing FYROM Premier Nikola Gruevski blasted his political rivals for doing nothing to defend the country’s name, stressing that his people would only join the EU as "Macedonians."
"It has been 15 years since we gave up on the name and accepted the temporary name of FYROM, since we revised the Constitution and gave up looking after of our minority, since we change the Macedonian flag," claimed Gruevski, blasting the opposition parties for doing nothing.
On his part, the head of the FYROM Church said, "It can never be doubted that Thessaloniki has been the birthplace of the first pan-slavonic alphabet, which was built upon the oral speech of the locals. Therefore, spiritually and culturally, Thessaloniki belongs to us and to the Slavs for ever."
Greek Foreign Ministry: "Obsolete Territorial Claims"
The new provocations coming from FYROM triggered off a prompt and dynamic response of the Greek Foreign Ministry and the opposition parties. The Greek Government is monitoring the developments in the neighbouring country and has no intention of interfering with the pre-election rhetoric, diplomatic sources were quoted as saying.
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis called on Skopje to condemn the said positions, speaking of obsolete and groundless territorial claims that pose a serious threat to regional cooperation and stability.
PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) spokesman Giorgos Papakonstantinou dismissed the FYROM archbishop’s claims as utterly provocative and unacceptable, further stressing that his party condemns them.
Announcement by the Skopje Archdiocese
The Bureau of the Archbishop of the so-called "Macedonian Orthodox Church" issued Monday an announcement with regard to Greece’s reactions to the statements by the Prelate of the FYROM Church. The announcement read that Archbishop Stephan’s sermon "included no territorial claims, and while its message was entirely different, it was deliberately exploited by extracting words from the sermon."
"It can never be doubted that Thessaloniki has been the birthplace of the first pan-slavonic alphabet, which was built upon the oral speech of the locals. Therefore, spiritually and culturally, Thessaloniki belongs to us and to the Slavs for ever," said the announcement.
Notice how Greece has reacted to FYROMs tacit endorsement of the annexation of a democratic nation of Europe.
There are no nationalist claims about FYROM being Greek, no claims about them having no right to exist.
FYROM invite hostility against them, yet the Greek Government are civilised enough to never deliver it (at least these days anyway).
Notice how the rhetoric from FYROM was that "RoM" has no territorial claims on Greece, thus the name "RoM" is not an issue.
After giving support to these fanatics in Melbourne and calling Thessaloniki yours, you shoot yourselves in the foot sirs.
So what has the Novamacedonian government achieved with these foolish actions?
Actions like this achieve nothing positive for you.
Tones Got Raised
In particular, the head of the so-called "Macedonian Orthodox Church" laid claims to Thessaloniki, while outgoing FYROM Premier Nikola Gruevski blasted his political rivals for doing nothing to defend the country’s name, stressing that his people would only join the EU as "Macedonians."
"It has been 15 years since we gave up on the name and accepted the temporary name of FYROM, since we revised the Constitution and gave up looking after of our minority, since we change the Macedonian flag," claimed Gruevski, blasting the opposition parties for doing nothing.
On his part, the head of the FYROM Church said, "It can never be doubted that Thessaloniki has been the birthplace of the first pan-slavonic alphabet, which was built upon the oral speech of the locals. Therefore, spiritually and culturally, Thessaloniki belongs to us and to the Slavs for ever."
Greek Foreign Ministry: "Obsolete Territorial Claims"
The new provocations coming from FYROM triggered off a prompt and dynamic response of the Greek Foreign Ministry and the opposition parties. The Greek Government is monitoring the developments in the neighbouring country and has no intention of interfering with the pre-election rhetoric, diplomatic sources were quoted as saying.
Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis called on Skopje to condemn the said positions, speaking of obsolete and groundless territorial claims that pose a serious threat to regional cooperation and stability.
PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) spokesman Giorgos Papakonstantinou dismissed the FYROM archbishop’s claims as utterly provocative and unacceptable, further stressing that his party condemns them.
Announcement by the Skopje Archdiocese
The Bureau of the Archbishop of the so-called "Macedonian Orthodox Church" issued Monday an announcement with regard to Greece’s reactions to the statements by the Prelate of the FYROM Church. The announcement read that Archbishop Stephan’s sermon "included no territorial claims, and while its message was entirely different, it was deliberately exploited by extracting words from the sermon."
"It can never be doubted that Thessaloniki has been the birthplace of the first pan-slavonic alphabet, which was built upon the oral speech of the locals. Therefore, spiritually and culturally, Thessaloniki belongs to us and to the Slavs for ever," said the announcement.
Notice how Greece has reacted to FYROMs tacit endorsement of the annexation of a democratic nation of Europe.
There are no nationalist claims about FYROM being Greek, no claims about them having no right to exist.
FYROM invite hostility against them, yet the Greek Government are civilised enough to never deliver it (at least these days anyway).
Notice how the rhetoric from FYROM was that "RoM" has no territorial claims on Greece, thus the name "RoM" is not an issue.
After giving support to these fanatics in Melbourne and calling Thessaloniki yours, you shoot yourselves in the foot sirs.
So what has the Novamacedonian government achieved with these foolish actions?
- Novamacedonia is still nowhere close to increasing its territory;
- It has justified the Greek veto for NATO & for the EU; &
- It has invited the Albanian minority to become more vocal as they aspire to NATO even if the consequence is a compromise on name.
Actions like this achieve nothing positive for you.