Reaction of several civic organizations, media and institutions to the directive EB (2004) 05 of the European Council

"Say Macedonia"

"Neither the international law nor the ethics give the right to any organization or any other subject within the international community to decide upon the identity or the origin of a certain nation...".

"Say Macedonia" is the name of the campaign that started on 19 March on the initiative of the Macedonian Centre for International Cooperation (MCIC), the Euro Balkans Institute, The Economic Institute, the Institute for Macedonian Language, the Institute for Sociological and Political-Legal Studies, OHO, Transparency Macedonia, the Historians' Union, the Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia (FOSIM), several daily newspapers and institutions. The campaign is a reaction to the Directive ED (204) 05 of the European Council from 2 March 2004 on the use of the reference "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and for the people who belong to the minority or speak the language of minority out of the country to use for all the goals within the European Council.

The organizers of "Say Macedonia" emphasize that the references present a direct attack to the identity, tradition and culture of the Macedonian nation, which is in opposition to the international standards and principles. Through this campaign, the Macedonian citizens send a message to the European Council and its representatives that they consider the Directive inappropriate and unacceptable.

On 20 March, the daily newspapers Dnevnik, Utrinski Vesnik and Vest inserted "postcards" with a protest note, which could be directly addressed to the European Council or the European Council Office in Macedonia. From 24 to 26 March at the entrance of the Macedonia Square in Skopje, there was an action for public sending of the postcards and signing the protest letter. During this activity, the "postcards" with the protest note were sent by politicians, businessmen, singers, artists, sportsmen and many interested citizens.

"I have sent a "regard" to the European Council in Strasbourg and the Office in Skopje written in Cyrillic and in quotation mars, in English, and I stated that it was written in Macedonian. The idea is great, but you might more support from the government sector", said Zidas Daskalovski, one of the citizens who put their protest signature.

During the weekend, on 27 and 28 March, the action extended in the City Park in Skopje and from 29 March throughout the country. "We are Macedonians, we were born in Macedonia and we speak Macedonian. That is our message to Strasbourg, said Ivica Najdovski and Sandra Petrovska.

An open letter of protest was sent to Mr. Jan Kleijssen, director of European Council Secretary General's Office in Skopje, which calls for withdrawing the Directive and respecting the basic principle in the European Council, that is respecting the human rights as a basic guideline in the work of this organization. " Neither the international law nor the ethics give the right to any organization or any other subject within the international community to decide upon the identity or the origin of a certain nation...", states the letter of protest among other things.

The Directive ED (2004) 05 of the European Council from 2 March 2004, the European Council, the European Parliament, the European local and regional authorities, the European Human Rights Court and the independent monitoring mechanisms, are advised to call the country "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", where the quotation marks consist part of the name; an adjective, or nationality should be added to the name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia". For example, the Government of the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", "Police of the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", citizen of the "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"; The adjective that refers to the culture should be Macedonian (Slavic). For example, Macedonian (Slavic) tradition, Macedonian (Slavic) culture, Macedonian (Slavic) organization, Macedonian (Slavic) school; The language - Macedonian (Slavic).

For the people or groups who belong to the minority or speak the language of minority outside the country - Macedonian/s, adding a footnote, which explains that it is a "terminology for self-identification of the person who uses that name";

Nationality - Macedonian (Slav).

The organizers invite all Macedonian citizens, governmental and non-governmental organizations and institutions in the country to support this initiative and the open letter of protest. For more information visit our web-site www.graganskisvet.org.mk and www.civicworld.org.mk, or directly contact one of the organizers.

 

Daniel Medaroski