done

The biggest macedonian community is in Germany with more than 120.000 macedonians.
There are 14 church organisations and more than 40 cultural organisations.
But the activities of all these org's are down. There are no organizes meetings anymore.
The second greater macedonian community is in Switzerland.

http://www.zmd.ch - Makedonski Sojuz Shvajcarija
http://www.macedonie.net - Makedonski Sojuz Holandija
http://www.makedonskisojuz.com/ - Makedonski Sojuz Shvedska




It's an great idea, but unrealistic!

The former macedonian activist from Europe are to old and disappointed. The majority of the macedonians are not interested in fighting for rights.

Massive protests are out of "fashion" anyway.

But they can certainly write few e-mails to their representatives.

Now the time is short too. We need to react in a matter of one week.

Try to contact them and spread the word.

emails won't do it on their own. As good as letter writing is, a public demonstration shows there are actual people who write those letters and in large numbers who care about this issue.

You can't go past public demonstrations, for two main reasons (and one other, helpful reason):

1. Press picks it up, the issue hits mainstream media and is then unavoidable by the European Parliament.

2. The Macedonians in Bulgaria hear about it and it encourages them to continue their struggle for rights, knowing that other Macedonians do care - we're showing our support.

3. Public opinion can easily be gained through the media, especially during the Joyful Christmas period, where the people can see that even during these times, the Macedonians in Bulgaria are facing all this crap.


There is nothing stronger than a peaceful public protest if you want to get an issue into the mainstream media. Letters, emails and phone calls work - there's no doubt about it, but they can be avoided and ignored. However, once the media grasps an issue, it's not so avoidable.

How about doing both?

E-mailing now in the next few days, so we grab the European Parliament MEP's attention.

And do a peace protest ASAP. In front of the Parliament.

We need to understand that chances like this do not present often. And sometimes there is only one chance. If it is lost, it is lost forever.

Rogi,

If you can prepare a full list of addresses of all 753 MEP's, that would be great. I'm working on a letter that I want to send to every single one of them:

Subject: Bulgaria and the Macedonian minority

In six weeks Bulgaria will join EU. There are several areas where this county did not achieve the standards. I would like to draw your attention to the area of human rights protection, specifically in regards to the protection of the Macedonian minority and the registration of the OMO Ilinden Pirin political party.

Is the denial of registration of OMO Ilinden Pirin a Human Rights Protection Issue?

While at least 15% of Bulgaria’s population are ethnic minorities, this country is defined in its own constitution as a mono national state. In addition to that, its constitution forbids creation of ethnic political parties.

On the other hand, the country has a long record of human rights violations toward its Turkish, Roma and Macedonian minorities, and very little has been done to change the internal political and social climate toward these ethnic minorities.

The last incident with the registration of the OMO Ilinden Pirin political party, including all the public reactions that surrounded it, demonstrated that all political parties in Bulgaria deny the existence of the Macedonian minority, have very strong opinion on this issue, and are actively working on suppressing the minority, even to the extent of full extermination. Some government and high political officials openly called on forcing the members of the Macedonian minority into exile, similar to the exile of the Turkish minority that Bulgaria organized in the late 80-ties.

In a highly xenophobic and politicized country, as Bulgaria is, it is impossible for the Macedonian minority to ensure its protection, unless there is a political subject to work on their behalf. This is the main reason why the legalization of the OMO Ilinden Pirin as a political party is a Human Rights Issue.

Of course, implementing some kind of international monitoring, changes in the Bulgarian constitution, and encouraging the Bulgarian government to promote the protection of the ethnic minorities to the level of positive discrimination, can also be useful.

Is their registration denied on the grounds of being an ethnic party?

No. The Sofia Court did not deny the registration on the grounds of OMO Ilinden Pirin being an ethnic party. And truly if we take a look at their Program and By-Laws, published on their web page:

http://www.omoilindenpirin.org/about.html

They are open for membership to all citizens of Bulgaria, and there is no formal reason to label them as an ethnic party. They were denied a registration for minor administrative irregularities in their application.

Did the Sofia’s Court violate their civil rights?

Yes, the Sofia’s Court violated their civil rights by not giving them an opportunity to supply the missing data and correct the irregularities in their application. The only legal cure left at their disposal was to complain to the High Court.

Knowing that Hight Court does not need to respond to their complain in a certain timeframe, this leaves and opportunity for another type of obstruction: delay and procrastination.

Why is it important to act now?

All these events happened after the EU Court for Human Rights in October 2005 ruled in favor of the OMO Ilinden and found the state of Bulgaria in violation of the Article 11 – Freedom of Assembly. If Bulgarian government is bold enough to ignore the ruling of EU Court now, when the country is not yet a member of EU, and we do not react, they will interpret this as a permission to continue to ignore the EU Court decisions, and to continue the policy of oppression toward the ethnic minorities. If the EU validates their behavior now, that can even be used as an internal propaganda tool to fully suppress and marginalize these minorities.

What needs to be done?

The government of Bulgaria must receive a very clear message: They cannot ignore the EU Court for Human Rights. They need to fully comply with its decisions. Paying the fine does not amnesty them to repeat the offence.

Since they already demonstrated that they are incapable and/or unwilling to voluntarily act on behalf of the ethnic minorities, EU should establish a political body to monitor and direct the activities that will ensure a normalization of the social and political climate toward the ethnic minorities, as well as fully protecting the human rights guaranties by the European Convention for Human Rights.

Possible delay in their admission to the EU membership can also be taken into consideration, at least until they correct their track record in the area of human rights protection.

I'm with you.

sent mine

This came in so I'm posting it here:
-----------------------------------------

Podrshka za Evropskata Unija

Zdravo nashi

Mnogu brzo se odvivaat rabotite okolu baranjata na makedoncite I nivnite organizirani sabdjekti od celiot svet, vo podrzuvanjeto na baranjeto na OMO "Ilinden" - PIRIN, politicka partija na makedoncite od Bugarija, da se priznae politickiot status, na ovaa makedonska organizacija, od strana na Evropskiot Union I Evropskiot Sud za Covekovi Prava, ukinat od strana na Bugarskata Vlada.

Baranjata so fakticki obrazlozenija, za pravicno saniranje na ovoj problem, do Evropskite tela, podetalno I pocelishodno I permanentno, od strana na makedonski internacionalni organizacii od diasporata, kako shto se: United Macedonia Diaspora (UMD), Macedonian Human Rights Muvement International (MHRMI, a I drugi makeedonski grupi I poedici od diasporata, kako sto se Risto Stefov, Meto Kolevski I drugi vidni I aktivni makedonci,se dostavuvaat postojano.

Apeliram do Liderite - Celnicite na Sojuzot na Makedonskite Pravoslavni Opshtini, Makedoskite Zaednici, Makedonskite organizacii I Asocijacii, grupi I poedinci I prijateli na makedoncite od Avstralija, da organizirano I hitno ispratat grupni I poedinecni pismeni baranja do Evropskite tela, koi postojano zasedavaat I za nekolku dena koi treba da donesat konecna odluka I reshenie, okolu priznavanjeto na pilitickiot status na OMO "Ilinden" - PIRIN.

Emai da se isprati na slednata adresa:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu...

Clik 'mailbox'

Mozebi e kuso vremeto, za dogovaranje I konceptiranje na pismata, Ve molam posluzete se od slednite pisma pishuvani na Anglijski Jazik, so dodatok od kogo e isprateno (Ime I prezime, mesto, a i organizacija ili asocijacija ili klub i sl.)

Eve nekolku primeri na pisma shto se isprateni do EP:

To whom it may concern in the European parliament:

I am an Australian Macedonian, living in Brisbane Australia for 35 years. I am a writer and publisher of books, in Macedonian and in English languages about the history and the human rights issues of my people.

I would like to make an appeal for the many Macedonians, some of them my own relatives, forced to live in Bulgaria since the Balkan and First World Wars, for them to have their rights to free assembly, as prescribed by EU Court of Human Rights. I am a strong supporter of the European Union's recognition of the political party OMO 'Ilinden' -PIRIN, the political party of Macedonians in Bulgaria.

Macedonian minorities in Bulgaria and Greece continue to be denied their basic rights, despite these two countries being members of the European Union. No modern country should be able to hide abuses of human rights within their countries and proclaim themselves as law abiding modern countries, equal with any in the Union.

There are now Macedonians living in many parts of the world as a result of the many years of conflict and oppression by the Communist system in their own country. They should never be denied the right to participate in politics in their chosen country. This would not happen with any other person from an EU country living in a different one. The Macedonians in Bulgaria deserve to have a voice. I speak for them! Please consider the needs of my people in Macedonia.

Regards,

Janko Tomov, Brisbane, Australia.


Sent to the European parliament

To whom may it concern

It appears Bulgaria and Greece are the only two countries in entire Europe that do not have ethnic minorities. Unbelievable, pure nations, true Aryans. Hitler who, he could have been educated by these two how to protect their national interest and their "purity"

Regretfully both these countries are already or will become full members of the EU. Pretending to be modern democratic societies and on the other hand being allowed to get away with their 19th century policies?!

I believe in old European wisdom and intelligence. Do not practice the double standard as acceptable decision making process. Stop those conservative governments to play their games, despite whether they are in EU or not.

Let those people live with dignity, let them organize and call themselves what ever they feel or believe they are. If they call themselves Macedonians let them be Macedonians. That's their right and no one can take that right away from them.

This will result in loyal, low obeying and tax paying citizens in the country of their residence. This is Europe all about and more...

I am wondering what the alternative is? Further denial, more alienated, disintegrated and angry people or potentially another trouble sport at the outskirts of Europe. No tanks.

Give those ethnic minorities in Bulgaria and Greece the right they deserve.

Regards.

_________________

To the European Union Parliamentarians

I would like to add my voice to the chorus of appeals in support of your decision to encourage the Bulgarian government to recognize and fully protect the Macedonian minority living in Bulgaria, including their right to free assembly, as was prescribed by the EU Court of Human Rights in October of last year. Despite this ruling, the Bulgarian Government continues to deny the rights of the Macedonian minority living on its soil and has circumvented all attempts to gain political representation inside Bulgaria.

I would also like to add my voice in support of your decision to encourage the Bulgarian government to lift the administrative barriers for the registration of the political party OMO Ilinden - Pirin, and allow it to register as a regional political party in the areas where Macedonians live.

As Bulgaria is scheduled for accession into the European Union on January 1, 2007, I plead with you to assist the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria in achieving its objectives of being recognized as a minority by the Bulgarian State with full rights and privileges.

Macedonians have lived and still live in the entire world. They are accepted and recognized as Macedonians with full rights and privileges everywhere except in Greece and Bulgaria.

Please let human rights prevail.

Best Regards
----------------------------------------------------------

February 24, 2005

Mr. Javier Solana Secretary General of the Council Of European Union Rue de la Loi 175 B-1048 Bruxelles Belgium

Dear Mr. Solana,

The Macedonian community all over the world appreciates the job youâ?Tve done keeping Macedonia relatively save from major conflicts. We are also commending you on your efforts to get Macedonia ready for a membership in the European Union. Not an easy task by any standards, but we believe that your diplomatic skills and professional perseverance one day will pay big dividends for Macedonia.

It will be redundant to point out to you all the major problem which Macedonia is facing today. However, we think that your attention should be focused for a moment on Bulgaria and its Macedonian aspirations. As you know, Bulgaria is yet to recognize the Macedonian ethnic identity as a separate and distinct nationality. Unfortunately, if left alone, we donâ?Tt think that Bulgarians will ever come around to do it. It is not because they donâ?Tt think it is an issue but precisely because they donâ?Tt want it to become an issue before they join the European Union. It is their deeply rooted nationalistic sentiment that the Macedonian ethnic identity is a Bulgarian heritage.

That makes the Bulgarian application to join the European Union incomprehensible. While Bulgaria aspires to join the European Union for a better future, the Bulgarian government has yet to get rid of their past ghosts. Did Bulgaria learn anything from Serbiaâ?Ts misfortunes in Bosnia and Kosovo? They should understand that it is no longer up to them alone to resolve the Macedonian riddle; the Macedonian national identity is a fact they should accept.

We firmly believe that the European Union should present Bulgaria with a clear and unambiguous choice. If Bulgaria wants to be a modern European state and enjoy the fruits of prosperity by way of membership, then Bulgaria should find a political strength to rid itself of its assimilatory aspirations toward Macedonian national identity. Otherwise, if Bulgaria wants to carry the heavy burden of being obsessed with the Macedonian heritage, then Bulgaria deserves to remain a Balkan nation.

By an encouragement from the European Union they will not only free themselves from the bondage of the Balkan ethnocentrism but they will also help the Macedonians on their way to Europe.

Very truly yours,

Dusan Sinadinoski

Cc: Condolezza Rice, US Secretary of State Vlado Buckovski, Macedonian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, Bulgarian Prime Minister Lawrence Butler, Us Ambassador to Macedonia

Have sent a letter in Swedish as I believe it is important to show that people from a variety of countries react on this matter


Zrinski

thanks zrinski :wink:

Everyone please have a look at this thread:

http://www.maknews.com/forum/viewtopic. ... 2680#42680


ACT NOW! It has never been easier to support the Macedonian cause!

Thank you Rogi. It has never been more important to support Macedonians in Bulgaria. So everybody, act now.

I already sent this link to few of my friends. Lets get the word out.