I'm not throwing jibes at the AMHRC/MHRMI, their campaing is very important. I have some knowledge of the AMHRC and the MHRMI and I respect their work immensely. I'm merely expressing my view that this project could have been more effective if it had had a wider base of Diaspora stakeholders. I may be wrong about that, and the AMHRC and MHRMI obviously don't see it this way, but that is my view.

Are you still a paid member of MHRMI? If not, don't you see the problem you face here - personal agenda?

http://www.mhrmi.org/multimedia.asp

I face no dilemma - I respect the UMD the AMHRC and the MHRMI.

I'd like to see these groups work together more effectively. Easier said than done, of course, but doable, in my opinion.

The way I see it Alek, there's no problem that can't be fixed with a little (or a lot of) cranberry juice.

Paul Christie was at my table for the UMD banquet.

Former UN Mediator tells Macedonia not to change name

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/16206/45/

Macedonia must not and will not change its name in order to appease Greece - this was a message from the first UN mediator Mr. Robin O'Neil for Ohrid based NTV station as part of a conference entitled "Macedonia, our name, identity and dignity.

Speaking about exclusivity of the name Macedonia, British expert of international law and ambassador, explained that no one exclusively owns the name Macedonia.

According to Mr. O'Neil, if Macedonia succumbs to pressures and changes its name, such events will only give more firepower to Greece until it reaches its final goal - Macedonia to vanish from the map.

O'Neil advised the Macedonian Government to work hard on admission to EU and NATO adding: 'Macedonia already has two names, it doesn't need a third. As time passes, the temporary name will lose its importance and relevance, because it is a temporary name."

Mr. O'Neil believes Greece has broken the rules of the 1995 Agreement because it is blocking the country from accessions to EU and NATO, even though it is clearly stated in the Agreement (UN Resolution 817) it can not do so.

The former UN mediator stressed repeatedly at the conference: "If Macedonia accepts any sort of change, whether it is the silly North, Above, Top, Vardar, Upper... it shall commit a national suicide.

Greek professor Aristotelis Camparis disagrees. The intellectual from the Athens University of Pirea believes there is a rare opportunity for the two countries to solve the name dispute until November in which borth parties will win. He believes there are friendly Governments in both countries that could work things out.

Famous professor and intellectual at Ss Cyril and Methodius Mr. Ljubomir Cuculovski disagrees with his colleague from Athens. Cuculovski believes Greece is just a poodle in the whole name dispute game and is being used by a third powerful nation whose agenda is to remove Macedonia from the map, a sentiment shared by many Macedonian professors.

Thanks for posting that article, MHRMI. I agree with Mr O'Neil, it would be beyond the bounds of acceptable behaviour for Macedonia to alter its national name in order to join the Eurofilth Union. We all know what Greece's goal is here and the Eurogarbage are shameless whores for propping up this kind of racism.

I view the European Union as a very dangerous collective - I mean that sincerely.

While I'm glad that Europeans aren't killing and eating each other these days, I am concerned by the spectacular amorality of the politicians that run the European sewer. In my view such an unprincipled and amoral group of people will - sooner or later - cause terrible problems for the world - again.

Maknews, I agree with you on EU, in many occasions, but the only way we Macedonians have to be really united as one people is through EU. If Macedonia becomes a member of the Union, then no borders will exist in the 3 parts of it. The differences will be minor (administrative) but we could move and live freely in any part of Macedonia we wish, all of us. And this is what Greece and Bulgaria want to avoid to happen, by blocking Macedonia's accesion!

Vodenka, what you are saying is logical, but it won't happen. The European Union is a dysfunctional group of racist countries presenting themselves as "enlightened" and "progressive". It's decisions are based on the lowest common denominator - the most racist, most vulgar, most corrupt has a veto - and this is the limit of the European Union.

Just look at the level of minority persecution in EU member states like Bulgaria and Greece. Look at the French ape barking on and on about minorities and immigrants. The European Union is not what people think it is - the EU brand is garbage.

A dictatorship / pyramid

Maknews, things have already changed for the better thanks to EU. In 1995 when I visited Republic of Macedonia for the first time, I had to get a visa at the border with my photo on it: I did not have a photo, so I went back to the greek border and I photocopied my passport photo, to give for the visa. In 1997, I had to send my passport by registered mail to Athens to the Macedonian consular office, wait 10 days and pay the equevalent of 50 euros, to get a tourist visa to visit Macedonia for few days.
Today, that I am writing to you, I am back to Voden from Bitola where i travelled this morning using just my greek ID card as I do not need to have a passport to go there, any more. Since December 2009, Macedonian citizens can visit us without going through all the trouble and expences to get a greek visa. And all this thanks to EU regulations to which Greece is obliged to conform.

Thank you Vodenka!

Can you imagine, NO BORDERS between the occupied parts of Macedonia!!!

Staro_Selo

If you or ANYONE else thinks changing our name Macedonia to open up the borders with racists countries is in our (EVERY MACEDONIAN IN THE WORLD) best interest you folks have a HUGE surprise coming very soon!!

PLEASE, wake up before ALL is lost forever and say NO to name talks today, .. and if you continue to go against everything MHRMI/AMHR, United Macedonians, Vinozito, World Macedonian Congress and Risto Stefov are doing to help the Macedonian cause you'll never survive as an organization past 2015 let alone 2025.

http://www.tv-sonce.com/
http://www.makedonika.org/alijansa/
http://www.mhrmi.org/our_name_is_macedonia/

http://www.youtube.com/user/MACEDONIANE ... FCHsWT-zuA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrko1Dsh ... re=related

World Macedonian Diaspora
Toronto, Ontario Canada
http://www.makedonskakafana.com

IMPORTANT

When an organization (UMD) tells you "we're against any name change" yet REFUSES do demand an end to those talks simply means they really do support a compromise indirectly - covering their ass with words. If you're a paid UMD member please look yourself in the mirror because you are part of the problem - no voice, no say - mutes

Who is saying that we should ask Macedonia to change its name? What I am saying, it is not wise at this moment to stop the TALKS with Greece. We have to continue to talk till we win and get in EU, NATO or any organization that Macedonia whishes and thinks is good for it to be in. And this is what the macedonian government is doing. If they stop talking to Greece, they automatically will have to stop to talk with EU, Nato, etc. Macedonia could go to UN and ask to be recognized with its name there, but there is no guarantee that a country like France would not put a veto. The only way to keep our name is through constractive talks till everybody will be convinced about our rights. Because we are RIGHT, on our name. Even in EU things are changing in our favour, month by month, by the excellent lobbying work done by Macedonian organizations and politicians.

Yes, I can and I am looking forward to that day where in all parts of Macedonia the macedonian nation will be free to declare its existance and its NAME with no prefixes or any identifiers. And I work hard for it.

this matter is before the european court and there is no need to continue ANY talks until there is a court ruling. if greece places another embargo on the republic they'll suffer much more internationally.

greece stands to lose this battle sooner or later, just how much is unknown?

UMD will be waiting until their organization is off the radar screen in Diaspora. NOTHING is bigger then this regardless what they might be thinking - pales.

HOTTEST TOPIC INTERNATIONALLY

Can someone please let us know what percent of UMD members appose this very important matter? Vote? I would like to hear from ANYONE that is a paid member and not on the board.

Thank you

There are some positive things to the EU, of course. The free travel is one benefit. But over all, from an economic standpoint the EU could be diasterous for Macedonia. One need only to look at Estonia's economy prior to entering the EU, and her economy today. Plain and simple, centralized planning DOES NOT WORK.
Also, yes Macedonians will be able to travel freely, but do we actually hold an belief that we'll able to just usurp any land? The no-boarder utopia is the sick, twisted manipulation of failed ideas like the European Union, and the North American Union, which is in the works. The European Union is a broken paradigm. On one end they have the current that promotes territories breaking off arbitrarily from others like Kosovo; something that promises to set off a firestorm of similar breaks, yet it is also attempting to promote this "no-boarders-kumbaya" ideology that in the end will take away liberty, and personal idenity for a central-planning system that fails citizens. Free market and trade is the only answer.

UMD is suppose to be an NGO and this is totally unacceptable behavior on their part and the people who support them financially are to blame - get off your high horses and do the correct thing, .. DEMAND what is rightfully ours, MACEDONIAN NAME.

MPO was the big winner in the Macedonian census fiasco (handled all wrong) and MHRMI/AMHR will benefit next, very smart UMD!

World Macedonian Diaspora
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