Educative and Cultural Movement of Voden

It is with great honor that I announce the formation of a new Non Governmental Organization (NGO), the “Educative and Cultural Movement of Edessa”. The association was officially registered in Voden, Aegean Macedonia, on February 11, 2009 and is a non-profit association. The statute consists of five individuals who are dedicated to promoting the needs of Education and Cultural activities in Aegean Macedonia.

The objectives and activities are two fold, the first objective is teach the Macedonian Language and History. The association is pleased to announce that starting this summer (for two months) classes will be available in Voden and the surrounding Villages. For the first time local Macedonians will have an opportunity to read and write in their Macedonian mother tongue. Further plans are in the works to expand the classes to the Lerin and Kostur regions.

The second objective is to promote Cultural and Traditional activities throughout Aegean Macedonia and develop relations with the people in the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian minorities that live in many Balkan States and the Diaspora. The association will use every opportunity to promote our rich and vibrant Macedonian Culture through music, songs and dance.

Lastly, and I wish to make this clear, this new NGO has no political affiliation or motive with any other political organization in Aegean Macedonia or any political organization in the Diaspora.

Best wishes,

Jim Daikos

MHRMI Condemns Attack on Minority Activist in Greece During Live Broadcast

SEEMO Toronto, Canada - MHRMI joins the South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO) appeal denouncing the attack on Turkish minority rights activist, Abdulhalim Dede, during a live television broadcast on February 19, 2009.

Greece vigorously denies the existence of any ethnic minorities on its territory and attempts to suppress any voices that advocate human rights. Simply raising the issue of minority rights, and specifically the Macedonian minority, in Greece causes Greek citizens and politicians alike to react in outrage.

Greece's state-sponsored racism includes Greek politicians publicly calling for the death of Macedonian minority party EFA-Rainbow members, the Greek army entering an ethnic Macedonian village and arresting several inhabitants, and possible treason charges against Greek Helsinki Monitor spokesperson Panayote Dimitras for advocating minority rights.

MHRMI calls on the international community, and specifically the European Union, to finally hold Greece accountable for its persecution of its ethnic minorities and force Greece to abide by all European Court of Human Rights judgements against it.

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Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information, please visit www.mhrmi.org, or contact MHRMI at 416-850-7125, or info@mhrmi.org.

UMD Strongly Condemns Sofia Mayor Borisov’s Plans to “Buy” Macedonia

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 6, 2009 - The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) categorically condemns Sofia mayor Boyko Borisov’s recent statements in Chicago advocating an effective “buyout” of Macedonia by Bulgarians to ensure “friendly relations” between the two states. “Such a statement by a leading politician of an EU and NATO member is deeply troubling and reveals a fundamental ignorance of the principles on which both organizations were founded,” stated UMD President, Metodija A. Koloski. Plans to effect a “buyout” of Macedonia by Bulgarians violate one of the EU’s most important principles, “promoting respect for the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders.” They are tantamount to economic extortion, not unlike the 1995 embargo that Greece imposed on Macedonia to create a “friendly atmosphere” among Macedonians.

UMD regards Mr. Borisov’s reasoning that Bulgaria, through economic and political isolation, will foster “friendly relations” with Macedonians as laughable on its face, if not dangerously mischievous. Although the UMD deplores Mr. Borisov’s remarks, the United Macedonian Diaspora promotes and encourages friendly, positive and mutually productive relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia.

UMD believes that Mr. Borisov’s stated goal of friendly ties would best be achieved not through economic extortion and enforced “bulgarianization” of Macedonia’s economy, but rather through the prompt registration of OMO-Ilinden PIRIN (Political Party of the Macedonian Minority in Bulgaria) as a legitimate political party representing ethnic Macedonians in Bulgaria. “Rather than resort to economic extortion, the Republic of Bulgaria would be well advised to recognize the sizable Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. And rather than ignore the very founding principles of NATO and the EU, the Republic of Bulgaria might even wish to issue a formal apology for the deportation of nearly 9,000 Macedonian Jews to Hitler’s death camps,” added Koloski.

As a final gesture of genuine friendship toward Macedonian citizens, the United Macedonian Diaspora would urge the Republic of Bulgaria to consider ending its support of subversive elements within Macedonian civil society that seek to deny the existence of a unique, separate and distinct Macedonian ethnicity, language and nation.