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The Macedonian minority in Greece and its issues were discussed within the framework of the “Facts about our Country” programme 

29.04.2022

The eighth part of the online programme series titled “Facts about our Country” of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) was broadcast on 28 April 2022.

The guest of the eighth programme was Pavlos Voskopoulos Filipov, member of the Presidium of “EFA-Rainbow” which is the political party of the Macedonian minority in Greece.

In the programme, which was moderated by Nihan Ayan from ABTTF Athens Office, Voskopoulos Filipov answered the questions about the fundamental issues and demands of the Macedonian minority, which Greece does not accept and does not recognize, and the political manifesto and activities of  “EFA-Rainbow”.

Voskopoulos Filipov noted that there are 500 villages in northern Greece where the Macedonian minority live, noting that in the 1923 population exchange, 20% of the Macedonian-speaking population had to leave their homes.

Voskopoulos Filipov stated that the issue of the ethnic minorities is a sensitive issue for modern Greece, and that if ethnic minorities are recognized, the national myth that all modern Greeks taught in schools are descendants of ancient Greeks will be shattered, and that according to that myth it is noted that Macedonia has always belonged to the Greeks and therefore only Greeks live in this part of Greece.

Voskopoulos Filipov underlined that the Greek national myth is really potent and does not allow any space when it comes to the recognition of minorities in the country, adding that it is very difficult in Greece today to publicly voice the demand for the recognition as a Macedonian minority and thus the formal teaching of the Macedonian language in schools.

Noting that the Macedonian issue peaked after the dissolution of Yugoslavia, Voskopoulos Filipov indicated that in 1994, with the support of his friends in other European Union (EU) Member States, and as the Macedonian minority, they formed their own political party, known as “Rainbow”, in Florina. Voskopoulos Filipov stated that the political authorities and the Greek Orthodox church had reacted to the formation of their party, which have signboards in Greek, Macedonian and English, adding that he and his friends were found not guilty in the case of the Greek state against the “Rainbow” party.

Voskopoulos Filipov stressed that the most important political demand of “Rainbow” as a political party is the recognition of the Macedonian language and its teaching in Macedonian villages, adding that the Macedonian language can also be maintained with the recognition of the ethnic Macedonian minority.

Furthermore, Voskopoulos Filipov noted that as a citizen of Greece, he belongs to the Macedonian minority, but that democracy is in name only in Greece and that it is impossible for Greek politicians to talk about the ethnic Macedonian minority in the country.

You can watch the entire program, which was broadcast live simultaneously on ABTTF’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, by clicking on the links below in English and Greek:

YouTube English recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqrcO1R2G2U&t=327s 

YouTube Greek recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8JSM-Ci7V0&t=50s  

Facebook English recording: https://www.facebook.com/939989616164959/videos/1147026182803659 

Facebook Greek recording: 
https://www.facebook.com/939989616164959/videos/363656815804104 

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