We Vlachs are Greeks, got it?

[Bozur]

We Vlachs are Greeks, got it?

www.hellenesonline.com — While a considerable effort has been made to ghetto allophone Greeks into distinct ethnic minority groups, they themselves proclaim a Hellenic National identity.

--------

16 / 07 / 2008

For the Record: While a considerable effort has been made to ghetto allophone Greeks into distinct ethnic minority groups, they themselves proclaim NOT a “non-Hellenic national identity”, but a Hellenic National identity. This renewed interest in propaganda by US Administrations serves to counter the rising economic power of Russia by attempting to remold the region into small and controllable entities. Perfected by the ex-communist [...]

We Vlachs are Greeks, got it?



For the Record:

While a considerable effort has been made to ghetto allophone Greeks into distinct ethnic minority groups, they themselves proclaim NOT a “non-Hellenic national identity”, but a Hellenic National identity.

This renewed interest in propaganda by US Administrations serves to counter the rising economic power of Russia by attempting to remold the region into small and controllable entities. Perfected by the ex-communist bloc countries, the machine is available to be put into good use if the price is right. Here the venue is Oppressed Ethnic Minorities and ”Human Rights”! (as opposed to what other rights?)

The Vlachs are descendants from the Romanized, local Greek population. The opposing, self-serving claim contends that Aromanians came to northern Greece from the Danube region. Other theories on the possible origins of the Aromanians describe them as:

* The descendants of Roman colonisers and soldiers, who would receive agricultural lands as payments for their services;
* or a branch of Daco-Romanian; or descendants of ancient Thracians or Illyrians;
* or romanised mercenary Greek soldiers of the Roman legions.

Aromanians, that is Vlachs, played an important role in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire and generally in Greek society. Prominent Vlachs in Greece includ Ioannis Kolettis, one of the first prime ministers, Evangelos Averof, minister of Defence during the Balkan Wars and Konstantinos Krystallis, the famous poet.

FYROM governments, serving US as well as their own self-interests continue to confuse their citizens by rushing to recognize Vlachs as a distinct ethnic minority: anything “but Greek” is good enough for FYROM’s ultra-nationalistic puppet administrators. One can raise the question whether this could represent a paper form of ethnic “greek” cleansing from the books of the Former Socialist Republic.

But what do they - Vachs’ themselves say? It might not be be such a novel idea to read one of their declarations:

PROTEST RESOLUTION BY 31 VLACH MAYORS AND COMMUNE PRESIDENTS AGAINST STATE DEPARTMENT REPORT

Thessaloniki, 28 February 2001 | MPA

" The recently issued U.S. State Department report provoked a vehement reaction from 31 Vlachophone mayors and presidents of mountain communes in Greece. A resolution passed today by the mayors and community presidents cites the following: * Concerning the recent report by the American State Department on our country, we the undersigned Mayors and Commune Presidents, as elected representatives of the Local Government Organization, state that:
* 1st We protest the direct or indirect characterization of Vlachophone Greeks (Vlachs) as a national, linguistic or other minority.
* 2nd We declare that we ourselves, the Vlachophone Greeks, have never requested to be recognized by our country as a minority because we have always been a historically and politically integral part of the Hellenic nation.
* 3rd The existence and use of a second linguistic idiom, the consequence of a protracted Greco-Roman cultural tradition on mainland Greece, does not constitute a reason to characterize it as a minority language with the familiar political and other repercussions this entails.
* 4th We condemn any and all exploitation of a purely cultural element for political purposes or other motives, and its conversion into a factor to ethnically or otherwise differentiate the Vlachophone Greeks.
* 5th We express our displeasure and question forthwith the data upon which the authors of this report have based their findings, and challenge them to produce this documentation.
* 6th We categorically declare that we will act as a body to oppose whomever intentionally misinforms and misrepresents the historical and current facts concerning the collective national identity of Vlachophone Greeks.

This protest resolution has been forwarded to the United States State Department and communicated to the President of the Hellenic Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Official Opposition, Political Party Leaders, and the Council of Europe, and is signed by the following Mayors and Commune Presidents."

"1. Ioannis Hasiotis, Mayor of Veria, Imathia
2. Achilleas Evangelou, Mayor of Kleisoura, Kastoria
3. Athanasios (Nikos) Kapsalis, Mayor of Livadi, Larissa
4. Alexandros Kachrimanis, Mayor of Metsovo, Ioannina
5. Nikolaos Yioutikas, Mayor of Axios, Thessaloniki
6. Dimitrios Koulinas, Mayor of Polykastro, Kilki
7. Yeorgios Yitsos, Mayor of Evropos, Kilki
8. Yeorgios Makris, Mayor of Prosotsani, Drama
9. Nikolaos Zacharakis, Mayor of Kleinovos, Trikala
10. Christos Malakasiotis, Mayor of Malakasi, Trikala
11. Dimitris Basios, Mayor of Ano Pogoni, Ioannina
12. Sotiris Spyridakis, Mayor of Anatoliko Zagori, Ioannina
13. Ioannis Papapoulios, Mayor of Goryiani, Grevena
14. Ioannis Filos, Mayor of Kastania, Grevena
15. Alkiviadis Lantavos, Community President of Matsouki, Ioannina
16. Dimitrios Frangos, Community President of Pefka, Thessaloniki
17. Christos Nitsiakos, Community President of Aetomilitsa, Ioannina
18. Nikolaos Mertzos, Community President of Nymphaio, Florina
19. Stergios Raptis, Community President of Greater Aspropotamos, Trikala
20. Konstantinos Moutsioulis, Community President of Fourka, Ioannina
21. Achilleas Dokos, Community President of Avdella, Grevena
22. Efthimios Goulas, Community President of Distratos, Ioannina
23. Athanasios Stangoyiannis, Community President of Vovousa, Ioannina
24. Ioannis Kapetis, Community President of Milea, Ioannina
25. Nikolaos Gatzoyias, Community President of Kalarita, Ioannina
26. Ioannis Argyris, Community President of Syrakos, Ioannina
27. Yeorgios Platsoukas, Community President of Vathypedo, Ioannina
28. Konstantinos Tzimas, Community President of Samarina, Grevena
29. Apostolos Zioboras, Community President of Perivoli, Grevena
30. Panayotis Tsakalis, Community President of Grammos, Kastoria
31. Fotis Kilipiris, Community President of Livadi, Kilkis"

www.hellenesonline.com/go/2008/07/we-vlachs-are-greeks-got-it/

[Patrinos]

Vlachs must be around 3% of the Greek population, and though are very important and patriotic, long before the creation of the Greek state, that with their money made it more beautiful(the most beautiful building in Athens like Zapeio, Metsoveio Univ., etc etc) were built with their money.

[tyson]

only vlachs in greece consider themselves greek though,.... and not because everywhere else they supress greek identity. everyone has the right to declare themselves what they like. this is a democratic principle, just like vlachs in greece want to be declared as greeks. that is to be respected. thats what they want.

also i can totally understand why vlachs of greece would consider themselves greek, because going by the theory that the vlachs were roman colonists from north africa, middle east and balkans who were freed at the port of epirus, from there they intermarried with the local greek population, and migrated further into greek lands, while other groups of vlachs chose to migrate north into albania & fyrom, and then further into bulgaria, serbia, romania, and then later into montenegro, bosnia-herzegovina and croatia.
vlachs that crossed the danube , settled the area, and ruled it, and subsequently assimilated the local indigenous populace who were dacians, and made the state of romania, with the vlach component of romanians being the dominant factor culturally and linguistically over the dacian component of the romanians.

vlachs are definately a distinct group though. there's no question about that. they have their own history, they speak a forum of latin , and are mixed with blood of roman colonists, so its quite understandable why vlachs wouldnt call themselves greeks outside of greece.

[greenemperor]

Please show some proof that Vlachs have Greek blood.

[rex362]

We Vlachs are Greeks, got it?

If that was the case there would not be the word "VLACH " so to differentiate


GOT IT !



case closed !




.

[rex362]

greeks strive for and  copy this .....



to be greek is to be from all the people of Balkans


OPA !

[rex362]

The vlachs are indigenous populations of ethnic Balkans .....Just like the Albanians

both from Illyrian stock one kept its language the other took the Roman soldier tongue



they are where the neo greeks get their culture ,dance and legends from ....ask Pyrros he tell you

[rex362]

We Vlachs are Greeks, got it?

only on Sundays at Church ..........




there is no difference in music and singing style and dance of Albanians and Vlachs we have kept
the traditions that others so very hard copy




Vlach and Albanains have traditionally,geographically and historically lived next to each other and also
among each other but the Vlachs were the buffer people between  Albanians and the new greeks and slavs .....

They are of the same ancient seed of traditions and blood ...don't allow the language/religion of today be a barrier of
long ago Pelasgian-Illyro commonness


Thank you .










Ti faci bre

[rex362]

very nicley sung .....nice strings in the middle of video

 




and of course this classic w/  Dimitri Hantzaras....

and one  of Pyrros's favorites

[kartadolofonos]

Vlachophone Hellenes



Vlachs and their national contribution, begins during the Ottoman occupation.
The Greek language, connected with the Greek Patriarchate prevailing in all the Balkans.
The Vlachs are now a structured population. Flourish commercially and become initiators of Hellenism in all Greek centers in the Balkans along with Phanariots.
The Vlachs are not uneducated highlanders, but national benefactors, warriors, merchants and landowners, craftsmen, Patriarchs, scholars and politicians.
Scattered in the Balkans because of the situation prevailing in enslaved Greece, and carry everywhere the light of Hellenism economic and cultural contribution with celebrities like Arsakis, Averof, Tositsas, Boukouvalas Boutari, Patriarch Joachim, Kolletis, papaya, Valaoritis Pheraios and agonists-chieftains Chatzipetros and Olympian
Georgakis, like many others.

The Greek identity, therefore, arguably maintained and reinforced. The situation finally became clear after the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
The vast majority of the Vlachs, and the most thriving economy, the Greek and the minority, economically and educationally disadvantaged groups are those that have been absorbed by the Slavic nationalism.
Once in 1913, however, the Vlachs are officially Greek citizens beyond their capacity as integral members of the Orthodox community despite the scorn and war who later received inside and outside the country, with arbitrary claim Romanians, Albanians, Bulgarians and Fyromanians .
They tried to reach mainly the weak and uneducated social classes, since the attempt to affluent and educated population, they met strong Greek resistance , though the Greek state was-as always-absent prophylaxis after their subsequent critical policy of the country did not allow anything above, so the Vlachs were once again guards of their
own identity.
Until today this joke continues with devious manipulations, after several supposedly valid and official bodies trying to create supposedly issues Vlach minority in Greece ...! Using the Vlach dialect as a pretext, still trying to raise the issue of connecting their own Romanianvlachs with the Vlachophone Greeks.


Culminating in the ridiculous statement of the American State Department who favored the Turks, Romanians and Fyromanians, Vlachs that, regardless of nationality and language, must be considered minority!
The resistance of the Greek Vlachs was understandably very intense.
The official representatives of all the Vlach-speaking villages, and
official links, clearly stated that it is Greek and not minority. A separate dialect created and incorporated into Greek in so many centuries does not make stranger or foreigner.
Categorically denied any connection with this propaganda, and made it
clear that they would not allow it the Vlach Hellenism to become the  prey to
exploitation and misinformation. As he said, speaking in Macedonian Press Agency, the Chairman of

Federation, Adam Constantine, "we Vlach-speaking Greeks never  ask our recognition of the Greek state as a minority, as historically and culturally we were and are an integral part of Hellenism."

The Vlachs they have accumulated great contribution in all areas of life of our country.
Since early 90m Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in section
Linguistics making significant efforts to regenerate the Vlach language.
Cultural clubs, organizations, libraries, and sample musical tradition is the least feature rich Vlachs in their activity, cultural and
historical contribution.


I conclude with the features words of the President of Greek Republic Mr. Kostis Stephanopoulos in the preface of the important treatise of Mr. Asterios Koukoudis "Studies on the Vlachs": "The Vlachs should not be considered as a Hellenized or a group torn between national propaganda early 20th century, but as a genuine expression of the
Orthodox community. "
The Vlachs are not a minority and not just the Vlach-speaking or Fustanella wearing is eminently bourgeois almost throughout mainland Greece, with a huge contribution in building the Greek homeland.

[branislavnusic]

Nov 27, 2012 13:47:23 GMT -5 rex362 said:

We Vlachs are Albanians, got it?

If that was the case there would not be the word "VLACH " so to differentiate


GOT IT !



case closed !




.

[Pyrros]

Dec 11, 2009 7:59:02 GMT -5 Patrinos said:

Vlachs must be around 3% of the Greek population, and though are very important and patriotic, long before the creation of the Greek state, that with their money made it more beautiful(the most beautiful building in Athens like Zapeio, Metsoveio Univ., etc etc) were built with their money.

vlachs / sarakatsans / karagounides / arvanites = 80% of the greek population.

but we are so weak that it is always easier to follow the money : become proud ancient bla bla