The theft of a name

Πριν από δυόμισι χρόνια είχα μια σύντομη αλληλογραφία σχετικά με την ονομασία του κράτους των Σκοπίων, με έναν ξένο συνάδελφο, απόστρατο στρατηγό με υψηλή ακαδημαϊκή μόρφωση και ενασχόληση. Σκέφθηκα, με την ευκαιρία της δημόσιας συζήτησης που προέκυψε τις μέρες αυτές εξαιτίας της πρόκλησης Μουζάλα, να δημοσιεύσω το κείμενο της τελικής επιστολής μου από εκείνη την αλληλογραφία. Έχω απλώς αφαιρέσει κάποιες μικρές φράσεις στην αρχή και στο τέλος που δεν αφορούν στο θέμα.  Δρ Ιωάννης Παρίσης

I understand that it is not possible for you to have the same interest and sensitivities on this issue as we, the Greeks, have. But holding the appropriate education you are able to distinguish the reality from the political expediencies, which do not always conform to the truth.

History is not possible to build, and it is not possible to falsify it. As I already informed you, the historical truth on this issue presented in an excellent and scientific way by the Classical Scholars from around the world, in their letter to the President of the United States. I believe you agree that they know better than… some politicians.

Often, political expediencies and geopolitical aspirations lead countries (mainly the great powers) to make decisions, contrary to the law and the truth. I understand that states like FYROM have the support of some persons or states, whose interests they serve. So, in this case, some countries are using today a hybrid concoction of Tito, for their own strategic objectives. Obviously, communism was a bad thing but some of its actions that serve us today, are good (!). Thus, the policy of the Tito’s communist regime is continuing since today it serves various interests. 

Greece could help FYROM in various fields to enable it to join the EU and NATO. Unfortunately the Government of Skopje acts against the international standards of state behavior, causing even in ways that reach beyond the ridiculous. I refer, in particular, to the fanatical and extremist behavior of the current Fyromian Prime Minister and the third-world type “archaic appearance” of his capital. It is like trying to dress a Bedouin with English suit to become British.

In addition, after the country is filled with statues and monuments (mainly belonging to the Greek History and the Greek cultural heritage), the so called (unrecognized) “Macedonian Orthodox Church” was asked to canonize Alexander the Great (!!!) Or, when they tell us that, Alexander the Great used to speak Greek because… he liked to speak foreign languages (!!!)

What kind of state is that which steals to survive? It steals name, history and national identity. A sovereign nation not steals to justify its existence. Instead of stealing name and history from other nations, they could use their traditional historical names (i.e. Paionia, Vardaska, etc). Moreover, they cause and express irredentist intentions and they threaten Greece, in funny ways but challenging. Does this remind you of some of Aesop’s fables?

It is obvious that they try to create a historical and national background to support the existence of their new state. But it is true that everything based on falsehood has no future.

The “Macedonian issue” (it is not only “name issue”) will be solved only if the governing elite of FYROM will agree to change the country’s name to something more neutral than «Macedonia». It is also vital to change the educational system and replace today’s History lesson with the true History. «Macedonian people» and «Macedonian Nation» is a chimera, an illusion based on fake historical evidence which is the outcome of Tito’s propaganda during previous decades.

One wonders, who are these people who insist on calling themselves “Macedonians” and their state “Macedonia”? We all know very well that in that country live mainly Bulgarians and Albanians, and some Greeks, Serbs, Turks, Roma. Well?

Professor Stephen G. Miller, University of California, Berkeley, in his letter of January 22, 2009 to the editor of Archaeology Magazine, (Long Island City, NY 11106, U.S.A.), writes, among others, about ancient Macedonia: “It is true that those people were subdued by Philip II, father of Alexander, in 359 B.C. (Diodorus Siculus 16.4.2), they were never Macedonians and never lived in Macedonia. Indeed, Demosthenes (Olynthian 1.23) tells us that they were “enslaved” by the Macedonian Philip and clearly, therefore, not Macedonians.” 

In the end of his letter, Professor Miller makes a suggestion: “Allow me to end this exegesis by making a suggestion to resolve the question of the modern use of the name “Macedonia.” Greece should annex Paionia – that is what Philip II did in 359 B.C. And that would appear to be acceptable to the modern residents of that area since they claim to be Greek by appropriating the name Macedonia and its most famous man. Then the modern people of this new Greek province could work on learning to speak and read and write Greek, hopefully even as well as Alexander did.” (See full text here:http://www.macedonia.info/Archaeology+Miller.htm) 

In any case you should know that the Greeks will never accept any resolution that would challenge their History and include conditions contrary to international practice and the behavior of civilized nations. The theft of Philip and Alexander by a land that was never Macedonia cannot be justified. The reaction of the Prime Minister of Greece during the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008, showed a lot. I hope that some people in the US and EU have understood.

At this point, I’d like to highlight the official positions of NATO, in Bucharest Summit declaration: “The Alliance has noted with regret that these talks have not produced a successful outcome.  Therefore we agreed that an invitation to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be extended as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue has been reached.”, as well as in Chicago Summit declaration (May 2012): “We reiterate the agreement at our 2008 Bucharest Summit, as we did at subsequent Summits, to extend an invitation to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to join the Alliance as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue has been reached within the framework of the UN, and strongly urge intensified efforts towards that end.” 

Why the use of this name provokes a strong reaction? Does not every nation have the sovereign right to adopt any name it chooses? Not really…. For in many cases claims follow names: historic, ethnic, and even territorial. In any case these positions affect the historical truth and scientific ethics, but also have political dimensions.

Finally I would like to suggest to you, the next time you will travel to FYROM, to spend some days in Thessaloniki and the wider region of Macedonia. Please call me in due time. I can assure you that you will learn a lot and because you’re an educated and intelligent person, you will understand the truth.