2006 NEWS ARCHIVES
USA Calls On Greece to Respect Macedonian Minority
Source: Makfax The United States of America has called upon Greece to respect the rights of its Macedonian, Albanian and Turkish minorities. This was reported on Friday by Greek newspaper Eleftherotypia, stating that this stance has provoked a severe reaction by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Promotion of the Macedonian Language Primer at the Annual OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting
The Greek ambassador to the OSCE, Mr Haralambos G. Manesis became the first representative of the Greek state to officially receive yesterday a copy of the Macedonian Primer "Abecedar”, during the annual OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting in Warsaw. This initiative of EFA-Rainbow comes as an answer to the recent ...
Bulgaria Deliberately Postponing Registration of Macedonian Party
Source: A1 TV The Bulgarian authorities have violated the deadline during which they should decide on the registration of the OMO Ilinden PIRIN [United Macedonian Organization-Party of Economic Development and Integration of the Population]. Instead of on 20 October, one month after the party of Macedonians submitted the documents required for its registration, the court will reach a verdict on 10 November.
Ethnic Macedonian Political Party in Bulgaria Set to Register and is Positive on EU Accession
Source: Eurolang The ethnic Macedonian political party in Bulgaria, OMO Ilinden Pirin, has made a decisive step towards its legitimization and official registration with the Bulgarian courts after collecting 5,000 signatures. This is the amount required by Bulgaria as a precondition for any political party that wants to be legal and active in national elections.
Macedonian Abecedar re-published in Greece after 81 years
Source: Makfax The Macedonian-language primer entitled Abecedar, which was published in Athens in 1925 as a result of recognition of Macedonian ethnic minority after the World War I, was re-published in Greece. The re-publication of the Abecedar, which actually never reached the children of the Macedonian national minority in Greece, was wrapped up recently in Thessaloniki, Skopje's Dnevnik daily said.
Greece and Bulgaria Fail to Comply on National Minority Rights Says Catalan MEP
Source: Eurolang Greece and Bulgaria are continuously failing to comply with international accords concerning human rights and protection of ethnic and linguistic minorities, while historic-based propaganda is used to justify the hostile attitude of both states towards their Macedonian minorities.
Bulgarian Media Sets New Low for Publicly Sanctioned Racism Against Macedonians
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International - Press Release The Bulgarian media, namely, the Focus News Agency, has set a new low in the country's publicly sanctioned racism, xenophobia and intolerance toward its Macedonian minority. On September 12, 2006, Focus referred to OMO Ilinden PIRIN as "separatists", and claimed that the party paid individuals to sign up to become members.
U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report 2006
Following are excerpts from the US State Department's report on Greece. For the full text please see the link below. International Religious Freedom Report 2006 Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71383.htm Minority religious groups have requested that the Government abolish laws regulating ...
European Parliament Members Report on Macedonian Minority in Greece and Bulgaria
Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya in the European Parliament - Press Release Bernat Joan i Mari Catalan MEP in Greece/Macedonia visit Catalan MEP Bernat Joan of the European Free Alliance group in the European Parliament and party co-director Gunther Dauwen have highlighted the heavy burden of history on the peaceful co-existence of Greek and Macedonian speakers during a visit to the region.
MHRMI Condemns Defamation of Ethnic Macedonians by Bulgarian Media
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International - Press Release Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) condemns the Focus News Agency's constant defamation of Macedonian minority political party OMO Ilinden PIRIN. Focus is notorious for its anti-Macedonian rhetoric and frequently incites Bulgarians to condemn any expression of Macedonian identity.