Macedonia: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/20 ... 119091.htm
Greece: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/20 ... 119082.htm
Bulgaria: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/20 ... 119072.htm
Albania: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/20 ... 119064.htm
Serbia: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/20 ... 119103.htm
Kosovo: http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/20 ... 119462.htm

On Greece:

The United States government uses offensive language when describing the ethnic Macedonians in Greece -- which it also understates. The Dept. of State refers to ethnic Macedonians in Greece as "Slavic speakers". This is not how they self-identify nor is it a respectful way to refer to people.

Given that the report itself notes this indigenous population identifies as "Macedonian" perhaps the Dept. of State shouldn't use denigrating language to refer to them. Perhaps the United States Dept. of State should show some respect to the way they self-identify, the way they have identified for centuries, and the way they have been recorded in American documents for well over a century.

Can you imagine the US Dept. of State referring to the people of the United States or the UK as "people who speak a Germanic dialect"?

To be correct, the ethnic Macedonian minority are Macedonian-speaking citizens of Greece -- they are not "Slavic speakers", which could represent many different groups.

The report is greatly watered down and mildly offensive. It is also inaccurate in places.

A memo should be sent to the Dept. of State regarding these issues. If the Dept. of State keeps repeating the same mistakes over and over again, then we must understand that they are deliberately doing this in order to bias the report.

You're 100% correct maknews, however, one positive this is the first time the report is up to date with recent events other years the reports were prepared 6-12 months earlier then released.

EVERY TIME we (Tsarknias) were told by the US Department of State something would be included in the report it NEVER was, this happened 4 times to us.

One thing the USA tries to do is please ALL and that just doesn't work out very well.

I didn't see Father Tsarknias mentioned in the report. That's a serious omission and rather sloppy work, to be honest.

"Slavic speakers" I wonder if they were talking about Macedonians, Pomacks, Bulgarians or the recent Slavic speaking immigration from the Black Sea?

I guess the Turks would be the "Turkish speakers" and so on.

What a stupid and disrespectful way to refer to people who are struggling to have their status in this racist shithole of an EU member state brought into the 21st century.

These country reports have and will continue to be nothing but a very sad joke. Until the "super powers" begin to tell truths they're just
a waste of tree's.

The "dervo" reports

Maybe this report is not so accurate, I agree that the term Slavic-speakers is degrading for the Macedonians, but the report contains some very important things and principal, namely people (Greek citizens) who want and would like to self-determine as Turkish, Macedonians, Albanians, Pomaks,etc. have the right to do it and to establish all the necessary institutions for defending their identity (schools, radio-TV stations, cultural organizations, churches.) They have the right to use their languages freely. This is a signal toward the Greek society how to behave in the future and what are the principal human rights which should respect Greece.
Sometimes is very important to see what is behind the lines!

The report is so watered down, derogatory in its references and has important omissions, you have to wonder if it has been politically manipulated to assist the human rights abuser.