Gruevski, the caricature of the Balkans
Can anyone imagine a country in the middle of a financial crisis to spend 500 million euros in order to build..colossal statues for its ''heroes'' in the middle of its capital city? Can you now imagine that despite all these, these ''heroes'' are the apple of discord between this country and its neighbors ? This is not an illumination nor a science-fiction scenario- its the reality in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), where Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski is trying to cultivate to his people nationalist sentiments.
What is really odd in this, is that next to the statues of Goce Delchev and Dame Grueve, founders of IMRO, and the statues of Saint Cyril and Methodius protectors of the Slavs, a prominent position in ''Macedonia'' square has been kept for the statue of Alexander the Great. The height of this statue will be equal to an eight-floor building!! The kitsch compilation will be surrounded by four colossal lions-protectors of the city..
The editor of SPIC newspaper in Skopje, mr. Branko Geroski, in his interview at Greek newspaper ''Kathimerini'' said that this plan is ''an expression of political hegemony of mr. Gruevski and his intention is to change the history, the society and the aesthetics of the country'', while he spoke of a ''De-Slavisation plan'' in order for the PM to win the elections.
What is now happening in Skopje is ''retarded nationalism''..Events like these, were common during the Willelmine Germany and Britain before World War I...maybe mr. Gruevski should join us in the 21st century and stop being a caricature of Kaizer...
with news from Kathimerini.
on 05-09-2010 By Giorgos - Corinthian column
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Comments
Hm, I don't think that you are right. First of all, it is a project since 2007 (way before the crisis, you know which one). Secondly, it is not 500, but it is like 200 from 8 annual budgets. Again, it is in million euros, not, ahem, billions, as Athens' governments has falsified. For what they spent their BILLIONS? For museums and stadiums nobody needs? For bribes? Their salaries? And who gives YOU the right to tell me why should I spend MY money?
BTW, there's no de-slavisation plan in place - Macedonian language belongs in Slavic group of languages. And it has, almost, nothing to do with the ethnogenesis of Macedonian people...
Where's your statue of Alexander the Great in Athens?
Kiro
Macedonia
Kiro,
I will not stick to the numbers, 200 from 500 is not that big a difference. The point is that we are talking about millions of euros spent on statues ! You can do whatever you want with your money, but this is a free blog you know. With the same right that you judge Greece's financial state I can judge what your PM does. And as I do not agree with how Greece spent its money, I do not agree either on how FYROM is spending its own, in a time of poverty.
As for what you said over stadiums and museums, at least these are better than building statues. I prefer the Acropolis Museum to host the city's antiquities in Athens, instead of building a statue of Alexander.
The whole thing is provocative and you know it. Instead of doing silly things, FYROM should settle the issue with Greece and join the EU and NATO instead of provoking its neighbors and the Albanians inside the country.
Guys please explain me, you seem resonable but ok enough with Alexander bla bla.
Isn t the 7th century that Slavic people came to install at Makedonia?
Alexander was already greek ''ancient'' history at 7th centure after Christ..
Do we have to fight over that? Do we need Governments for that?
But 25 millions per year is quite different than 500. The fact that all started in 2007 also makes difference. At that time all the countries had the money. Including Greece. And Macedonia is not in times of poverty - check our budget deficit. It is like 2% or something?
So, even it is a free blog - you are insulting me by calling my country FYROM. It is the same as calling black people Negroes, Germans - Krauts. Or like Mandela was not allowed to use his name for 30 years, but he was a number. Or like all the Jews in Nazi camps that were not allowed to use their names but used numbers (imposed by their captors).
And about settling the issue - you have issue with yourselves. We do not have any issues with our name. We use the name we always used, and, even more, we do not have to ask permission from anyone to use any name we want. If you think that there was a wall at Gevgelija that cut off Republic of Macedonia from the rest of the region, than I assure you that there was not. If you think that your three peripheries have the right to use Macedonia, I agree with you. And they use very distinct names - West, Central, East. And we OFFICIALLY use Republic of Macedonia since 1944, from the very first day we liberated ourselves.
So, freedom has its limits. Free blog means free without insulting and hurting others. Think about it.
BTW, regarding that Slavs allegedly (I wasn't there) came here in 6th century, it is fine with me. That is probably not true (I have like 15% of the genes shared by people that talks Slavic languages and Poles, Russians have 60% of the same gene), but, hey, anyway, it makes me more historically Macedonian than the Asia Minor immigrants that came to Macedonia in 1925 after the exodus from Greco-Turk war. Isn't that so? 20th century opposed to 6th?
Again, If you chose history to defend your thesis, why don't you start from the most recent history that is most certainly true and better documented. I am Macedonian. As my grandfather. From Republic of Macedonia. Check the census data. Check my travel documents. I always self-declare myself as such. So, I am ethnic Macedonian. You can be whatever you want - Greek Macedonian, Macedonian Greek, Greek from Macedonia. Chose one. I've chosen mine. I am Macedonian and I can do with my country whatever I want...
Asking the question again - where's the statue of Alexander the Great in Athens? If you don't know, here it is:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/200...
Dear Kiro,
Nobody's intention here is to insult nobody. I used the UN APPROVED, the internationally accepted name for your country and that is FYROM. It is a name that your SOVEREIGN state ACCEPTED in 1994. So, any racist connections are at least invalid. I didn't try to hurt or insult nobody.
As for the name issue, yes there is an issue no matter if you keep denying it. We didnt present any map which ''unites'' all the Macedonians. Our problem is not your use of the term Macedonia. Our problem is your will to MONOPOLIZE that term and your efforts to present Alexander and Ancient Macedonia like if it was not Greek. You always condemn us, the bad Greeks but think about it how would you react. Alexander and Macedonia is for us our pride, our history. We spoke the same language, and Macedonia was always integral part in our history even in the Byzantine era. And now, you are trying to provoke us with all these, by falsifying history.
To me the best politician of your country was Gligorov. He was pragmatist, he said that he wanted to secure his state and said that Macedonians are Slavs and have no connection to Alexander and Philip. The problem at that time was that Greece overreacted and managed to self-trapped.
You are so wrong. Check the UN archives on the web. We never agreed and we never sign to that name and we never use it and AGAIN, WE NEVER AGREED, IT IS SINGLE SIDED DECISION OF UN. And, yes, it is racist.
You present a map that unites all Greeks. From Izmir to Sicily. And if you refer to some maps that call for unification of region of Macedonia, there are no such official maps. There are maps that show the region, but, hey, Macedonia is still a region, isn't it? You have 51%, we have 38%, Bulgaria has 9%, and Albania some...
I do not monopolize anything. Read this http://greatersurbiton.wordpress.co...
We also speak the same language with ethnic Macedonians in your country, and they were always integral part of our history. Alexander is also our pride, our history. Was there a wall that divided Macedonia? Why don't you erect Alexander's statue in Athens? Or Phillip's?
Your delusion of grandeur is on stage - why do you think that our national self-declaration has anything to do with you? That we self-declare as Macedonians just to hurt YOU? Ground control to Major Tom...
About bad Greeks - General Markos got his citizen rights back in 1982. He moved back to his country then. THE KIDS of ethnic Macedonians that fought in his army CANNOT return to their own country. He is a killer. These are kids of soldiers. No courts. No trials. Just the methods of General Metaxas.
Gligorov was not a politician. He was a communist that crowned Tito when he became our President for good. And if you want, we can talk about the jokes that we have about him in Macedonia... Not for public use.
We are a sovereign country. 8.000 soldiers cannot harm anyone. We decide about the names of our roads, books, streets, kids, stadiums, schools, highways, country, language, nation... We are Macedonians. From Republic of Macedonia. That's it.
Dear Kiro,
Just a precision: ''Alexander is also our pride, our history. '' (and everything that goes with him)
You mean as a personality, a way of thinking, of yoking continents and nations, a personality that is "patrimoine globale de l humanite"
I couldn t be more honoured ...
Or do you imply that he was a Slav (!!!), on 356–323 BC a Slav in the territory?
I agree with Tsakos in the comments...
Please explain what do you mean.
Elina, you are smart enough to understand what I am talking about our common legacy (Alexander the Great). Check again my link http://greatersurbiton.wordpress.co...
What makes you certain that he was or wasn't a Slav? First of all Slavic people means, first and foremost, people speaking some of the Slavic languages. If you check this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic... you will see that Macedonians and Bulgarians are not quite as similar to the other Slavic speaking nations. Again, what makes you sure that prosfigi (that we are 100% positive that they came in less than 100 years ago) are more Macedonian that people that allegedly moved in 1.500 years ago?
Finally, how can you be so sure about things that happened so long ago and you decide not to take into account things of today? Today I say that I am a Macedonian. Today I decide name my country Republic of Macedonia. 100% certain. No doubt.
Kiro,
I believe we do not have to make it complicated. And that because I do not want to seperate something, revendicate or fight over with people that are neighbours, and we have much things to gain and build united.
Now, What makes you certain that he was or wasn't a Slav?
I am no historian and no expert scientist about the past but first of all his name, Alexandros as Filippos as Olympia and all the ancient names have specific etymological signification in the greek language. They still do apart from the fact that now we have Christian names too (arbitrary words for a Greek speaking).
But all the greek names are pure logiacal synthetic words.
ΑΛΕΞ (ALEX) + ΑΝΔΡAΣ (ANDRAS) = means the one who pushes men etc
Unless we find out that all this was a conspiracy all these years
I am sorry about my temper, I do not like to get in such discussions, and I do not like the circus with the two Government (mine and yours), someone else is profiting from chaos and hatetreat, but I confess Alexander used to be my hero
and that is my favourite book: http://www.stevenpressfield.com/the...
cheers
‘‘Can anyone imagine a country in the middle of a financial crisis to spend 500 million euros in order to build..colossal statues for....‘‘
IT'S NOT YOUR MONEY AND WE ARE GONNA SPEND IT AS WE PLEASE ....
Mr Kiro,
Who gave you the right to call your self as MACEDONIAN in 1944?
If you agree to the fact that the word Macedonia belongs to our culture as well as yours then what gives you the right to use the world exclusively and as THE Macedonian?
You speak slavic therefor your are a Slav-Macedonian, we speak Hellenic so we are Hellenic-Macedonians, isn't that more apropriate? Why should you be THE MACEDONIAN?
It is your right to build statues and it is our right to unearth statues from your own land that bare Hellenic letters.
Your constant attempts to falsify history and people's views is futile. Your background is that of Bulgarian turncoats, Nazi collaborators and Communist treators. Ancient Macedonia dosn't stick to it.
Your language is Bulgarian (I know because I speak it), your history is that of four nationalities, Hellenic, Bulgarian, Albanian and Serbian.
The only good thing about your statues so far is that they reflect your true Bulgarian origin.
Falla.
Elina, you are the only people that care about language and names so much. Do you know that half of us ethnic Macedonians have names that are not in Slav roots? Do you know what my name Kiril means? It's common Byzantine legacy.
The fact that someone is your hero and you are emotional about it, does not mean anything. He was not Greek in terms of contemporary Greece. He was not Macedonian in terms of contemporary Macedonia. There was no wall in region of Macedonia. He and Phillip and all the ancient Macedonians are common legacy. My people chose to identify ourselves with Macedonian legacy. You chose to identify with Hellenic legacy. Can you go back in time and ask Alexander if he was a Macedonian OR Hellenic? And who cares? Regarding my language. - do you believe that Indians and Irish people are English because they speak English?
So, believe me - I've spent at least a year in your country. Recently I spent a part of my vacation in Polychrono, Kassandra, Macedonia. But I've been mostly on Chalkidiki, Thassos, Thesaloniki, but I've been to Athens, Cyclades... I know your country and your people. Do you know my country and my people?
I'm Macedonian. From Republic of Macedonia. So simple.
Preston,
Who give you right to claim Hellenic legacy in 1821? Or for prosfiges to claim Macedonian ?!?!? legacy since 1925?
Fu*k off for the rest of the insulting nonsense that you comment. I thought that we might have a proper discussion here, and you are just blind hater. Hate yourself pal, you deserve it.
I am Macedonian. On every census. From Republic of Macedonia. On every official paper. On my passport. You are Macedonian only on Internet forums and when drinking with pals and when you call us Gypsies, Monkeydonians and similar. You don't even have the Macedonian sun as an official symbol of region of Greek Macedonia. You are just to blind to notice that you are Hellenic by identity and Macedonian by region. I am ethnic Macedonian. So simple.
So, where are the statues of Phillip and Alexander in Athens? Anyone can give me Google Earth link?
My friend,
Legacy is not an a-la-carte menu. You dont choose it like if you will east beef or pork. You inherit it. This idea of common Byzantine and ancient legacy is totally fake. If we have common Byzantine e.g. with the Bulgarians how can we share it when they regard us their ancestors Czar Samuel and we Basilius II' Bulgaroktonos ( killer of the Bulgarians) ??
The fact that we co-exist in a region doesnt mean that we are all the same, nor that we can ''choose'' a legacy.
As for Alexander, yes whether he was Greek or not was questioned and he went to Olympia to participate in the Olympic Games of 324 BC. As you probably know, in order for someone to participate in the Games he had to proof that his blood was Greek.
Furthermore, many scholars clearely state that Macedonians were Greeks.
I. Herodotus says that Macedonians were from Dorian race ( like the Spartans) who were forced outside from Thessaly (Herodotus 1, 56).
II. Skylax, an ancient Greek explorer from Karia, in his text about Macedonia, described it full of Greek cities.
III. The English geographer and linguist Stanford (1857) states that ''the Macedonian dialect is strongly connected to the Greek language, the manners and customs, folk Greek poetry, temperament and characteristics, thus proving that the Macedonians are of Greek origin.''
As for the statue of Alexander and Philip you should know that a statue does not make the legacy. Because the Greek state is incapable of finding a place to put it (because there is one statue of Alexander ready, check the source you ve sent me) this doesnt mean that we have no connection to it. So, according to your logic Aristotle is not Greek because there is no sculpture of him in Athens.
As for Philipp, we wouldnt put a statue in Athens, since Demosthenes would be very unhappy of seeing it in his city...
Kiril,I'll focus on three points of your posts:
1)You ask us in sarcastic manner "where is your statue of Alexander in Athens?".I suppose this is an indirect implication that we didn't consider in older times ancient Macedonians as Greeks since we haven't errect so far a statue of Alexander in the center of our capital.Well,Kiro,we never needed any statue to express what was for centuries alive in our national subconscious,i.e. the Greekness of ancient Macedonians:
http://www.macedonians.com.au/forum...
2)You've claimed that your people always self-declared as ethnic Macedonians.That's dead wrong,,because no more than a century ago the vast majority of your ancestors self-identified as Bulgarians.This is admitted even by Krste Misirkov himself.Not to note that during your famous Ilinden uprising in 1903 your ancestors hoisted everywhere Bulgarian flags and sang Bulgarian patriotic songs like "Makedonija stara Bulgaria" (Macedonia old Bulgaria) :
http://www.macedonians.com.au/forum...
3)You seem to be obsessed with the Greek refugees from Asia Minor that settled in Macedinia after 1922.Yes,the very same people whom you use to slander calling them "Christian Turks" in your forums,since it's self-evident you are most probably one of their regular posters,eh Kiro (aka Rogi)?However,besides the refugees there was also in Macedonia an indigenous Greek (and Greek-speaking ) population,as it is confirmed by numerous western travelers,geographers,journalists e.t.c that visited Macedonia during Ottoman time:
http://www.macedoniaontheweb.com/fo...
Those Greeks were living in Macedonia way before your ancestors stepped foot there and furthermore they speak the same language with ancient Macedonians (Greek) while you speak a Slavic language very closely related to Bulgarian .Therefore they are more entitled than you to associate themselves with the heritage of ancient Macedonia..
Did you all noticed how our neighnour Mr Kiro lost his manner as soon as he read the realities of my post?
You see fellow posters, Im what has stoped Mr Kiro's grandparents plans twice in the past, Im what he hates the most, Im a Grkman.
Mr Kiro you can try all you like to sell your "human rights", "self identification" to the modern world...it dosent work. You can call your self Makedonek while inside your country, outside you are not.
Embati maikata...that's for swearing at me.
Preston, YOU lost your manners and insulted me very badly. And the fact that you are not Greek but Grkoman (as you said), tells a lot about you. You don't even feel Greek but Grkoman! :)
And you are definitely very stupid person that swears online. Bye bye...
Giorgos, you decide to base the identity of a person from 25 centuries ago on the fact if he participated in Olympic or not? Or by witnesses (or only writers) that claim this or that like at least 15 years after the fact? But you refuse to hear me and my people what we are telling you NOW?
We are Macedonians. Yes, we all chose a legacy. Why don't you call yourselves Dorians? Ionians? But decide to call yourself Hellenic instead of Romaoi? Or you were all that? You chose Hellenic.
Here's the definition of ethnic group:
An ethnic group (or ethnicity) is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, consisting of a common language, a common culture (often including a shared religion) and a tradition of common ancestry (corresponding to a history of endogamy).
Members of an ethnic group are conscious of belonging to an ethnic group; moreover ethnic identity is further marked by the recognition from others of a group's distinctiveness.
So, you are different? And finally - you claim that OUR statues means claiming legacy of Alexander, but the statues that you do not erect in Athens does not mean that you deny that legacy? Make up your mind.
Hello, we didn't come with arms to invade Greek Macedonia. No, we didn't. But it does not change the FACT that we ARE self-declaring as Macedonians. And we chose the name of our country to be Republic of Macedonia.
Here's very simple solution for your problem with our name: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipe...)
Kostas68, who's Rogi? I only post under my name. Do you?
Again and again. Who gives you right to interfere with my self-identification? Does anybody interferes with yours? You have Arvanites, Walachs, "Slavophones", "Muslim" Greeks melted into one big Greek pot, BUT, you do not allow me to say what is my national identity? What are you? A God?
http://makedonika.wordpress.com/200...
Kiro this is special for you...and by the way come to the real Macedonia and I will show you how I feel :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=telt...
the stupidity of the diaspora FYROMinians goes beyond human logic. Here he is telling us in a derocatory manner that we base our view of identity on archeological finds and recorded history and he is basing his view of identity on the stories told by his grandfather who couldnt not read or write in any language.
Man you people are honestly the epitomy of comedy.
Trying to reason your stupid choice of ethnicity to ancient Macedonia and it's history is your biggest mistake, you have come to realise that but it is too late, now only Nationalism can serve you and we all know the price you pay for that. Based on your analogy of ethnicity, your language is Bulgarian, your folklore is Bulgarian, your first organized church was Bulgarian, your first organised army was Bulgarian, your first schools were Bulgarian, your alphabet is Bulgarian....maybe you need to see that you are Bulgarian. Or maybe BulgaroMacedonian.
Kiro,do you really believe that only we Greeks got mixed with other people while you kept intact through the centuries your pure "anticki Makedonski" blood?You also assimilated other ethnicities,such as Vlachs:
http://www.macedoniaontheweb.com/fo...
And Turks:
http://www.macedoniaontheweb.com/fo...
And God knows whomever else.So leave aside your neo-nazi rhetoric about "pure blood" ,Kiro,there are no pure blooded nations on earth.What really matters isn't your DNA but your history,your cultural affiliation and your heritage and all the above prove that you have no whatsoever connection to Macedonian legacy.Instead,for the biggest part of your history you were known under a different ethnonym.
P.S. Nice joke that with the "interview of Nikola Karev to the Greek newspaper Acropolis"!An interview that has never been published,only on Piperkata's blog???How pathetic!I quoted a plenty of original sources (written by impartial authors) that prove how your ancestors self-identified and you show me as evidence an "unpublished article" (!!!) from Piperkata's blog??Did really Karev declared himself an "ethnic Macedonian"?The same Karev,whose brother Gjorgi was a Bulgarian collaborator:
http://books.google.gr/books?id=48N...
I really enjoyed the interview but I want to stick to one specific point :
''Direct descendent of Alexander the Great? I reply ironically.
NK : Yes.
And what was Alexander of Macedon I beg you?
NK: I don't know. But history says that he was Greek.''
As Caiaphas said : ''What do we need the witness''?? (Mathew, Z,63)
Kostas68, where did I mention true blood? Every person on Earth CHOSES it's national identity. Choses how to self-identify itself. That's true everywhere. I linked to some examples just to show that there are things that cannot be confirmed or denied by examples. So, we decided to self-identify ourselves as Macedonians. To connect with Macedonian heritage only. Exclusively. BUT, as we do not stop anyone to connect or to praise anything - try not to stop us.
Regarding the true blood - I agree fully. But it stand for you, too. There are no pure Greeks. All the genetic research shows that everybody's mixed. But, somehow, it also shows that, probably, we have the strongest connection to the ancient Macedonians. But, hey, who cares - let's re-conciliate through common history and heroes.
I am Macedonian. From Republic of Macedonia. Not despite anyone. Not exclusive descendant of Alexander or Phillip. Simply Macedonian.
Kostas68, I do not understand Greek, so, please check the Library of Parliament for Acropolis newspaper nr. 7608, dated May 08, 1903 with Karev interview. And find the Abecedar, too. Nevertheless that the Bulgarians are the closest to us, we are not the same people. We do not share the same history. Language. Yes, it has many similarities, but we also have similarities with Greeks, Serbs, even Albanians...
kiro, just 1 question do u know better than 367 professors ,scholars,and archaeologist from around the world??plz tell me.dnt think u do mate. i find it hilarious that all the stuff you are saying is only supported in your country and the rest of the world is laughing at u so called ''macedonians''.In australia we know the truth.by the way there is a statue of megas alexandros in thessaloniki,unique macedonia ,greece.doesnt need to be in athens .every single artifact found in makedonia and even all the way to india about megas alexandros,temples,gymnasiums and even the ones found in fyrom is in GREEK.if u can find just artifact in slavic then send me your bank details and ill transfer my wage in your account every week for 20 years..even the ones that you slavs try to palm off as ''macedonians''.its in greek like the icons ?i wonder why??maybe because he spread the hellenic culture. which the whole entire world is being taught,except in fyrom.And also the vergina sun is the official flag of real macedonia gold sun on a blue backround .greetings from australia champ, its notyour fault,its your governments
Mr kiro,
Allow me to explain a misunderstanding that happens to be a common phenomenon to all your compatrios (including you):
Self-determination,is "the principle in international law, that nations have the right to freely decide on their sovereignty and international political status without external compulsion or outside interference"
Sovereignty means "the power of a country to control its own government ".
So, where exactly within those definitions do you see that Greeks are interefering????Do we deprive you from having your own government?
I do not see somewhere on the above definitions that you are free to use whichever NAME you like and make your own history in whatever way you like, not to mention the usurpation of symbols and the unprecedented irridentism that you and your fellows are showing off. The name of a country is NOT just a choice, especially when it implies territorial and historical claims.
So, if you have red carefully the above definitions, WHERE ON EARTH DO YOU SEE the violation of your Self-determination?
If you feel insulted when someone is calling you FYROMian then how would you have felt if someone was stealing your history and symbols and was depicting maps including territories that are disputing the present border-status????
And even if you are right!!!!!
The principle of Self-determination " does not state how the decision is to be made, or what the outcome should be, be it independence, federation, protection, some form of autonomy or even full assimilation. Neither does it state what the delimitation between nations should be — or even what constitutes a nation. In fact, there are conflicting definitions and legal criteria for determining which groups may legitimately claim the right to self-determination."
So your allegation is invalid- if not tragicomic- in an attempt to gain ground.
hey Kiro,
you may not have accepted the provisional name FYROM as a country by your own. BUt it is indeed a UN APPROVED provisional reference until the name issue will be solved and this is the name under which you have agreed to proceed through international organisations until the issue is solved.
If you consider the name FYROM an insult you should blame UN.So, for the time being, everyone has the right to call you like this without bothering if he/she is insulting you. It is your problem if you think it is an insult.
And something more.
Your government has stated that all thise project will cost 200. but unofficial sources originated even from your country are stating that it will be much much more.
So you should e always suspicious and do not instantly believe whatever they say to you...Especially the governments
I will always call mr. Kiro and all my dear friends from Skopje the MACEDONIANS. Why? Because I think that we all should respect their national identity and nobody has a right to blackmail this peaceful and loving nation because of the name used also in Greece. Dear Greek fellows, you will finally have to accept their right to call themselves Macedonians. Why? Because the are Macedonians like I am Croatian or you are Greek or Greek Macedonian. They cannot be anything else! they cannot be North Macedonians or Slav Macedonians. this is stupid! Look what happened to us Croatians, we didnt want war, we just wanted to have our independent country and our name! Serbs were against it and what happened? War!
Dear neighbors, we live in 21 century...and we should live together in united EU without having any stupid issues with that???? name? come on...wake up! both! EU is watching you and what would be their conclusion? again some Balkan tribes (here I include Greeks too) are discussing about history...hahaahah....that's miserable!
Instead of finding differences, Macedonians in the Republic of MAcedonia and in Greece should build cultural, economic and any other connections! Greece is now a part of EU and is economically much stronger than Macedonia that was a part of Yugoslavia. Greece is now much powerful and use its power to block my dear friends. But dear Greeks, do not forget that those facts can be changed! learn from history! Some 50 years ago Macedonians in Yugoslavia was much richer and much powerful nation than you in Greece. So..please do not feel powerful and use it against your dear neighbors, we are all Christians, rather give a hand to your neighbors... love each other, respect each other. Dear Greek friends, I love your country, and I have been there several times and will come back even my Adriatic sea is also very beautiful. :) I respect Greece as I respect the Republic of Macedonia, and for the end, please be aware of the following FACT:
"However, most United Nations member countries have abandoned the provisional reference and have recognized the country as the REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA instead. These include FOUR of the five permanent UN Security Council members—the UNITED STATES, RUSSIA, UNITED KINGDOM and the People's Republic of CHINA; several members of the European Union such as Bulgaria, Poland, and Slovenia; and over 120 other UN members including my CROATIA.
Therefore my dear friends from the Republic of Macedonia already have its NAME recognized by the majority of other world countries. Finally, I pray God that Greece accepts this fact so that both nations can live peacefully, without bad feelings and with respect, together in united Europe!