The fifth part of the online programme series titled “Facts about Our Country’ of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe (ABTTF) was broadcast on 24 February 2022.
The guest of the fifth programme was Eugenia Natsoulidou, founding member of the non-profit organisation (NPO) “Krste Misirkov (Movement to Promote Macedonian Mother tongue)” of the Macedonian minority in Greece. Natsoulidou answered the questions from the programme’s moderator, Nihan Ayan from ABTTF Athens Office, with respect to the issues facing the Macedonian minority, which Greece does not accept and does not recognise.
Natsoulidou noted that the language and culture of the Macedonian minority in Greece are completely different from Greek language and culture, noting that Greece does not recognise any ethnic minorities within its borders because that if it starts to recognise ethnic minorities, the structure based on the assumption that all Greeks came from Ancient Greece would collapse. Natsoulidou added that it is very difficult to change the perception in the country because there is no political will to do so.
Stressing that the most important issues of the Macedonian minority are not officially recognised, and that the minority faced exclusion and was deprived of its citizenship rights that are enshrined in the Constitution of the country, Natsoulidou indicated that when they express Macedonian identity, Greek authorities do not allow it, and that for example, they cannot establish associations promoting local Macedonian traditions or are not allocated space when they want to organise events.
Touching upon the legal process with respect to the House of Macedonian Civilisation before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), Natsoulidou noted that the application for registration of the association in 1990, which was established by Macedonians living in Florina, was rejected by the Greek courts on the grounds that the Macedonian ethnicity does not exist in the country. Natsoulidou stated that they applied to the ECtHR after the exhaustion of internal legal avenues, and that the ECtHR twice ruled that Greece had violated Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights on the freedom of association.
Moreover, Natsoulidou indicated that the main purpose of “Krste Misirkov” is to encourage the learning of the Macedonian language, noting that their application for registration in the register of associations within the Greek Ministry of Culture was first accepted but later cancelled. Natsoulidou added that they will reapply to the Ministry of Culture for the registration of their organisation and will take legal action if they receive another rejection response.
Calling on the government to grant and protect the rights of all minorities in Greece, Natsoulidou underscored that the claim made by Greece that there are no ethnic minorities in the country is untrue, stressing that what the state should do is protect minorities and respect their rights on the basis of international treaties adopted by the Council of Europe and other international organisations.
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 Greek and English:
YouTube English recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRMRSREn4SA&t=92s
YouTube Greek recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1n6Axld4dI&t=30s
Facebook English recording:
https://www.facebook.com/939989616164959/videos/529074878514789
Facebook Greek recording:
https://www.facebook.com/939989616164959/videos/258445379780642
