The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) posted the first ten chapters of the upcoming 2006 Report - "Human Rights In The OSCE Region: Europe, Central Asia and North America" (Events of 2005) on its website under: www.ihf-hr.org/documents/doc_summary.php?sec_id=3&d_id=4232 today.
Introduction 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 the Macedonian minority in Greece causes Greek citizens and politicians alike to react in outrage. The majority of Greek society supports its government's non-recognition and discrimination of its large Macedonian minority.
By Mary Meeker & Steve Gligorov, Esq. As the European Union struggles to bring multicultural prosperity to the Balkan region of Europe, "the task is proving more elusive than ever," says American legal rights lawyer, Michael Rollins. One reason for the difficulty, says Rollins, is the E.U.
Source: Greek Helsinki Monitor www.greekhelsinki.gr At the recent HDIM (Human Dimension Implementation meeting) of the OSCE in Warsaw (25-30 September, 2005) dedicated mainly to human rights and minority issues, Rainbow has been participating as an organization of the Macedonian minority in Greece.
by Georgios N. Papadakis Representatives from Macedonian and Turkish minority organizations at the annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (HDIM) of the OSCE in Warsaw, ending last Friday (30.9.2005), told the meeting that Greece continues to refuse to recognize any ethnic or linguistic minorities, other than the so-called "Muslim” minority in the west Thrace region.
Mr. Moderator, May I first ask if you can see and hear me? Thank you because according to an earlier speaker I am someone who does not exist.* * The Greek ambassador in his reply to yesterday's and this morning's sessions once again refused to acknowledge the existence of the Macedonian minority in Greece.
Mr. Moderator, In the framework of today's morning session we are focusing in the topic of racism and xenophobia. Should a person claim that there are citizens in Europe at the beginning of the 21st century who do not possess the right to visit the graves of their parents or have the right to live and die in their place of birth, this would sound bizarre.
Mr. Moderator, In 2000, here at the Human Dimension Implementation Meetings in Warsaw, the Greek ambassador replied to our questions by repeating the well known but irrational claim that the Macedonian minority in Greece does not exist. He said: "There is no such a Macedonian minority in Greece.
Table of Contents Introduction Bulgaria Denies Registration of Macedonian Organizations Defamation of Macedonians on Bulgarian Television OMO PIRIN's Office Vandalized Macedonian Activists Arrested/Detained Expulsion from Work Interference by Bulgarian Authorities at Macedonian Commemorations Bulgarian Ultra-Nationalists Threaten Ethnic Macedonians Violations of OMO Ilinden's Freedom of Assembly Bulgarian TV Station Criticized for ...
Distinguished Moderator and Representatives: Thank you for the opportunity to present to you the current situation of the Macedonian minority in Greece, Bulgaria and Albania. Greece and Bulgaria vigorously deny the existence of the Macedonian minority on their territory and attempt to suppress any voices that advocate human rights.