ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΗ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΚΟΥ ΑΓΩΝΑ
ΜΕ ΤΗ ΣΥΜΜΕΤΟΧΗ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΝΕΛΛΗΝΙΟΥ ΣΥΛΛΟΓΟΥ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΟΜΑΧΩΝ «ΠΑΥΛΟΣ
ΜΕΛΑΣ», ΤΟΥ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΟΥ ΔΙΚΤΥΟΥ «ΝΟΙΑΖΟΜΑΙ.net», ΤΗΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΣΤΙΚΗΣ ΕΤΑΙΡΙΑΣ «ΜΑΚΕΔΝΟΣ», ΤΗΣ ΟΜΟΣΠΟΝΔΙΑΣ ΠΑΜΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΚΩΝ ΕΝΩΣΕΩΝ ΑΥΣΤΡΑΛΙΑΣ, ΤΗΣ ΠΑΜΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΚΗΣ ΕΝΩΣΕΩΣ ΑΜΕΡΙΚΗΣ, ΤΗΣ ΠΑΜΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΚΗΣ ΕΝΩΣΕΩΣ ΚΑΝΑΔΑ, ΤΗΣ ΟΜΟΣΠΟΝΔΙΑΣ ΠΑΜΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΚΩΝ ΕΝΩΣΕΩΝ ΕΥΡΩΠΗΣ, ΤΗΣ ΠΑΜΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΚΗΣ ΕΝΩΣΕΩΣ ΑΦΡΙΚΗΣ, ΤΗΣ ΚΙΝΗΣΗΣ ΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ ΓΙΑ ΤΗ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ
ΑΝΑΚΟΙΝΩΣΗ ΤΥΠΟΥ
Μακεδονία, 12 Απριλίου 2009 μ.Χ.
ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΚΗ ΑΠΑΝΤΗΣΗ ΣΤΟΝ κ. ΚΑΡΑΜΑΝΛΗ
«Όταν μιλάω για αμοιβαία αποδεκτή λύση, σας απαντώ ευθέως ότι, ναι, εννοώ σύνθετη ονομασία»!
Ντόρα Μπακογιάννη
Καθημερινή, 14/10/2007
http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_1_14/10/2007_245171
Την όμορφη Αριδαία της Πέλλας διάλεξε ο Πρωθυπουργός για να επαναλάβει μέσα στην ατόφια καρδιά της Μακεδονίας, την απαράδεκτη, αιρετική και υποχωρητική πρόταση της «Σύνθετης Ονομασίας», θέση που για πρώτη φορά παρουσίασε σε συνέντευξή της η Υπουργός Εξωτερικών στην Καθημερινή, στις 14 Οκτωβρίου 2007, ανήμερα του επίσημου εορτασμού του Μακεδονικού Αγώνα…
Παραβιάζοντας την ιστορική απόφαση των Πολιτικών Αρχηγών το 1992, υπό την Προεδρία του θείου του Κωνσταντίνου Καραμανλή και του επίσης ανένδοτου Ανδρέα Παπανδρέου, ο σημερινός Πρωθυπουργός πληγώνει τη Μακεδονία και τους Μακεδόνες και ανατρέπει την πάγια εθνική πολιτική, για μη αναγνώριση των Σκοπίων με οποιαδήποτε ονομασία «Μακεδονία», που ισχύει από την κομμουνιστική ανακήρυξη του νέου ονόματος του Ομόσπονδου Γιουγκοσλαβικού Κρατιδίου της Βαρντάρσκα στα 1944, από τον Τίτο!!!
«Η Ελλάδα θα αναγνωρίσει ανεξάρτητο κράτος των Σκοπίων μόνον εάν τηρηθούν και οι τρεις όροι που έθεσε η ΕΟΚ στις 16 Δεκεμβρίου '91 με την αυτονόητη διευκρίνιση ότι στο όνομα του κράτους αυτού δεν θα υπάρχει η λέξη “Μακεδονία”»!
Ανακοινωθέν Συμβουλίου Πολιτικών Αρχηγών, δια του Πρέσβεως Πέτρου Μολυβιάτη,
13 Απριλίου 1992
ΚΩΣΤΑΣ ΚΑΡΑΜΑΝΛΗΣ:
ΝΑΙ ΣΤΗ ΣΥΝΘΕΤΗ ΟΝΟΜΑΣΙΑ
Συγκεκριμένα είπε κατά λέξη ο Πρωθυπουργός στην Αριδαία (11/4/2009):
«Το διαβατήριο για τους ευρωατλαντικούς θεσμούς απαιτεί ένα σύνθετο όνομα με γεωγραφικό προσδιορισμό που θα ισχύει έναντι όλων. Και η ευθύνη για το διαβατήριο αυτό ανήκει στα Σκόπια».
ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΣ ΚΑΡΑΜΑΝΛΗΣ:
ΟΧΙ ΣΤΗ ΣΥΝΘΕΤΗ ΟΝΟΜΑΣΙΑ
«Σύνθετη Ονομασία», όμως σημαίνει ονομασία που θα εμπεριέχει τον πανάρχαιο ελληνικό όρο «Μακεδονία»! Κάτι που είναι αδιανόητο και ιστορικά και εθνολογικά ανυπόστατο, παράλογο και απαράδεκτο, όπως τόνιζε σε σχετική επιστολή του ο αείμνηστος Κωνσταντίνος Καραμανλής προς τους Ευρωπαίους Ηγέτες, στις 3/1/1992!
«Η αναγνώριση της αυτοαποκαλούμενης "Δημοκρατίας της Μακεδονίας" έχει θεμελιώδη σημασία για την Ελλάδα και το γνωρίζω καλύτερα από κάθε άλλον αφού είμαι ο ίδιος Μακεδών. Η Δημοκρατία αυτή δεν έχει δικαίωμα ούτε εθνολογικά, ούτε ιστορικά να λέγεται Μακεδονία»!
«Η εθνολογική σύνθεση του πληθυσμού της χώρας αυτής αποτελείται από Αλβανούς, Τούρκους, Τσιγγάνους και Σλάβους, που καμία σχέση δεν έχουν με Μακεδόνες»!
«Είναι αδιανόητο με την λήξη του Ψυχρού Πολέμου να δίδεται ιστορική νομιμοποίηση σε Τίτο και Μόσχα που ονόμασαν την Νότιο Γιουγκοσλαβία σε Μακεδονία προς έξοδο στο Αιγαίο, αποσπώντας την Μακεδονία από την Ελλάδα».
Ο αείμνηστος Πρόεδρος Κωνσταντίνος Καραμανλής στην επιστολή του προς τους 15 ηγέτες της ΕΟΚ, 3/1/1992
ΓΙΑΤΙ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΑΠΟΛΥΤΑ ΕΠΙΚΙΝΔΥΝΟ ΤΟ
«ΑΝΩ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ»
Σημειώνουμε, ότι π.χ. η σύνθετη ονομασία «ΑΝΩ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ» είναι επιπλέον απαράδεκτη και απόλυτα επικίνδυνη, διότι αποτελεί σαφή αρχαίο, ελληνικό γεωγραφικό προσδιορισμό των περιοχών Γρεβενών, Καστοριάς, Φλώρινας και Κοζάνης από τους Ιστορικούς Ηρόδοτο και Θουκυδίδη! Πράγμα που σημαίνει πως εάν την αποδώσουμε στα Σκόπια, τους δίδουμε το «ιστορικό» δικαίωμα να επικαλούνται τη μελλοντική προσάρτηση των εν λόγω περιοχών της Δυτικής μας Μακεδονίας, επικαλούμενοι τους …αρχαίους Έλληνες Συγγραφείς!
ΓΙΑΤΙ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΔΙΕΘΝΩΣ ΚΑΤΟΧΥΡΩΜΕΝΟ ΤΟ
ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ «ΒΟΡΕΙΑ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ»
Από την άλλη πάλι, το «Βόρεια Μακεδονία», είναι επίσης απόλυτα ελληνικό όνομα, διεθνώς δηλωμένο και κατοχυρωμένο, όπως προκύπτει από τα επίσημα Υπομνήματα της Επιτροπής Αλυτρώτων Βορείου Ελλάδος, με τίτλο «Η ΑΛΥΤΡΩΤΟΣ ΒΟΡΕΙΑ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ» και υπότιτλο «ΕΚΚΛΗΣΙΣ ΑΛΥΤΡΩΤΩΝ ΒΟΡΕΙΟΥ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑΣ, προς τους Δημοκρατικούς Λαούς των Ηνωμένων Εθνών, Συμμάχων του Ελληνισμού κατά τον τελευταίον πόλεμον», Θεσσαλονίκη 1946!!!
Το Υπόμνημα αυτό του 1946, κατοχυρώνει ως ελληνική και την ονομασία «Βόρεια Μακεδονία» αποδεικνύοντας ότι σε μεγάλο μέρος του σημερινού κρατιδίου των Σκοπίων κατοικούσαν Έλληνες και όχι εθνικά «μακεδόνες», οι οποίοι Έλληνες και αντιμετώπισαν τρομακτικές διώξεις και γενοκτονίες!
Σημειώνεται δε ότι οι σημερινοί Έλληνες των Σκοπίων φτάνουν τις 240.000 ψυχές και αποτελούν τη δεύτερη μεγαλύτερη μετά τους Αλβανούς, εθνική μειονότητα του Κρατιδίου!
Η τυχόν παράδοση λοιπόν της ονομασίας «Βόρεια Μακεδονία» στα Σκόπια, όχι μόνο θα νομιμοποιούσε την δήθεν ύπαρξη «μακεδονικού έθνους» που κατοικεί στη «Βόρεια Μακεδονία», όχι μόνο θα παρέγραπτε οριστικά τα νόμιμα δικαιώματα των αληθινών και μόνων Βορειομακεδόνων, της ελληνικής δηλαδή εθνικής μειονότητας των Σκοπίων, αλλά και θα εξουδετέρωνε τον πιο σημαντικό μοχλό ξεσκεπάσματος του Σκοπιανισμού, ο οποίος καταπιέζει μια τεράστια ελληνική μειονότητα εκεί, υφαρπάζοντας το όνομα και την ταυτότητά της, προκειμένου να την αφομοιώσει και να την εξαφανίσει, για να διεκδικήσει στη συνέχεια ανενόχλητα και το ελληνικό γειτονικό έδαφος, θέτοντας την ίδια ώρα θέματα «περιουσίων», «αποζημιώσεων» και «μειονοτήτων» μέσα στην Ελλάδα!
Με άλλα λόγια, τα Σκόπια σήμερα το μόνο που φοβούνται, είναι η έγερση και πολιτική οργάνωση του μόνου πληθυσμιακού κομματιού που δικαιούται να αποκαλείται «Μακεδόνες=Έλληνες», επειδή ακριβώς η επίσημη εμφάνισή του σαν ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΕΣ=Έλληνες, θα συντρίψει μια για πάντα τους ψευδομακεδόνες =Σκοπιανούς!!!
Επομένως η παράδοση του Βόρεια Μακεδονία, σημαίνει παράδοση της αιώνιας ελληνικής ταυτότητας των Βορειομακεδόνων, δηλαδή της καθοριστικής Ελληνικής Μειονότητας των Σκοπίων, όταν η Βουλγαρία από την άλλη μεριά είναι γνωστό ότι ασκεί σαφή και εκτεταμένη προπαγάνδα προσεταιρισμού μεγάλου μέρους των Σκοπιανών, για κάθε μελλοντική εκμετάλλευση… Για κάθε μελλοντική νέα Βαλκανική Συνθήκη…
Είναι επείγουσα άρα ανάγκη, όχι μόνο η υπεράσπιση του «Βόρεια Μακεδονία», αλλά και η επίσημη ενεργοποίηση από την Αθήνα του δικαιώματος και του ενδιαφέροντός της για την Ελληνική Μειονότητα των Σκοπίων! Τους θρυλικούς Βορειομακεδόνες, συμπεριλαμβανομένων των χιλιάδων αθώων Ελληνόπουλων που είχαν οδηγηθεί στα χρόνια του εμφυλίου στη Γιουγκοσλαβία και διατηρούν σήμερα, τουλάχιστον τα 2/3 αυτών, τη μαρτυρική ελληνική τους συνείδηση!
ΤΙ ΣΗΜΑΙΝΕΙ ΤΟ ΝΑ ΕΙΣΑΙ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΑΣ
Ο νυν Πρωθυπουργός Κώστας Καραμανλής, παρακάτω στην ίδια ομιλία του στην Αριδαία, μετά την εκτόξευση της απαράδεκτης «Σύνθετης Ονομασίας», αυτοπροβλήθηκε σαν «Μακεδόνας», χωρίς δάκρυα και συγνώμη, λέγοντας:
«Η ιστορία δεν παραχαράσσεται, δεν παραγράφεται, δεν ξαναγράφεται. Ως Μακεδόνας και ο ίδιος το επιβεβαιώνω ότι αυτό δεν γίνεται»…
Πράγματι δε γίνεται! Αλλά το να είσαι Μακεδόνας, δηλαδή Έλληνας της Μακεδονίας, σημαίνει πάνω από όλα ότι δεν δέχεσαι να μοιραστείς το όνομα και την ιστορία σου με τους σφετεριστές των Σκοπίων!
Σημαίνει ότι σέβεσαι το Μακεδονικό Αγώνα και τον συνεχίζεις «τοις κείνων ρήμασι πειθόμενος»!
Σημαίνει ότι αντιδράς όταν ξένες δυνάμεις επισφραγίζουν την παραχάραξη, επενδύοντας σε μελλοντική διεκδίκηση επί τους εδάφους της Βόρειας Ελλάδας, με όχημα την ονομασία!
Σημαίνει ότι δεν δίνεις το όνομα της πατρίδας σου!
Δεν ενδίδεις! Δεν υποχωρείς! Δεν υποκύπτεις! Ζεις, αναπνέεις και πεθαίνεις για ιδανικά και αξίες πολύ μεγαλύτερες από ένα κόμμα και μια προσωρινή θέση!
Ζεις, παλεύεις και πεθαίνεις σαν Μακεδόνας! Σαν ασυμβίβαστος Έλληνας!
Δεν προσφέρεις το όνομα με σύνθετη, προσχηματική ονομασία στα Σκόπια και την Τουρκία σύμμαχό τους!
ΔΕΝ ΑΝΟΙΓΕΙΣ ΤΗΝ ΚΕΡΚΟΠΟΡΤΑ μελλοντικών διεκδικήσεων κατά της Ελλάδος!
Δεν δίνεις το Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών σε εκείνους που θεωρούν εκ των προτέρων «χαμένο» τον αγώνα, αλλά ακολουθείς τον ασυμβίβαστο δρόμο των Κωνσταντίνου Καραμανλή και Ανδρέα Παπανδρέου στο Σκοπιανικό, που ήξεραν πολύ καλά, ότι «το όνομα είναι το όχημα του αλυτρωτισμού»! Και γι΄ αυτό απέρριπταν κάθε σύνθετη ονομασία που θα εμπεριείχε τον όρο «Μακεδονία»!
ΕΘΝΙΚΟ ΔΑΚΡΥ – ΕΘΝΙΚΟ ΔΟΓΜΑ
Και αν δεν έχεις δάκρυα, προφέροντας το ιερό όνομα της Μακεδονίας μας, τότε ας θυμάσαι τα δικά του! Τα δάκρυα του αείμνηστου και αληθινού Μακεδόνα Προέδρου, που το 1992, κατά την άφιξή του στο Αεροδρόμιο «Μακεδονία» είχε πει λόγια που σημάδεψαν ανεξίτηλα τη μακεδονική γη:
«Να καταλάβουν επιτέλους, ότι δεν υπάρχει παρά ΜΙΑ ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ! Και η ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ αυτή είναι ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ»!!!
«Μία Μακεδονία» σημαίνει καμία άλλη! Καμία «Άνω», «Βόρεια», «Νέα» «Μακεδονία»! Καμία «Σύνθετη Μακεδονία»! Και αυτό αποτελεί Εθνικό Δόγμα και παγκόσμια αξίωση του απανταχού Ελληνισμού!
Οι παραβάτες αυτού το Δόγματος, δεν δικαιούνται να λέγονται Μακεδόνες!
ΤΑ «ΑΚΡΑ» ΠΟΥ ΣΤΗΡΙΖΟΥΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΑΡΑΜΑΝΛΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΥΝΘΕΤΗΣ ΟΝΟΜΑΣΙΑΣ…
Και από την άλλη, δεν δικαιούνται να ισχυρίζονται πως αγωνίζονται για τη «Μακεδονία», οι στυλοβάτες του Πρωθυπουργού, τα «άκρα» στήριξής του, που διαρκώς δηλώνουν κοινοβουλευτικά, δημόσια και ιδιωτικά την υποστήριξη και τη συμπαράστασή τους στον Καραμανλή, ο οποίος όμως ευθύνεται τελικά και συντηρεί την αδιέξοδη, επιζήμια και απαράδεκτη πολιτική της «Σύνθετης Ονομασίας» για τα Σκόπια!
Ο ΝΕΟΣ ΠΑΛΜΟΣ
Η ΜΑΚΕΔΟΝΙΑ, είναι μεγάλη ιδέα! Για μεγάλες καρδιές, που αγωνίζονται με αγνότητα και αγάπη, με πατριωτισμό και όχι εθνικισμό! Με ανιδιοτέλεια και όχι μικροκομματισμό! Με περηφάνια και όχι με φόβο! Με καμάρι και όχι με ντροπή! Με φωνή ηχηρή και όχι με σιγή! Με εντιμότητα και όχι με διγλωσσία! Με παλικαριά και όχι με δολοπλοκίες!
Ο κοινός χτύπος τους, συνιστά πια εθνικό παλμό, που είναι αδύνατον πλέον να τον παραβλέψει κανείς! Πολύ περισσότερο που ο γιγάντιος αυτός παλμός εξελίσσεται σε Πολιτικό Εθνικό Παλμό, απαιτώντας συγκεκριμένες πολιτικές και λύσεις για τα μεγάλα και μικρά προβλήματα του Ελληνισμού και την αξιοπρέπεια της χώρας! Και σαφώς καμία απολύτως παραχώρηση του ελληνικού όρου «Μακεδονία» και των παραγώγων!
Εάν η Κυβέρνηση, η Αντιπολίτευση, τα Κόμματα, οι Πολιτικοί δεν συντονιστούν με τον Παλμό αυτό, σύντομα θα κληθούν να τον αντιμετωπίσουν όχι πλέον σαν ένα αόριστο κοινωνικό ρεύμα, αλλά σαν μια μεγάλη, οργανωμένη και πανίσχυρη Πολιτική Δύναμη, όπου θα συμμετέχουν από κοινού όλοι μαζί αδερφωμένοι οι ποιοτικοί και αξιοπρεπείς Έλληνες και του Εξωτερικού και του Εσωτερικού!
Ο δε Πρωθυπουργός, έχει μια τελευταία ευκαιρία. Να απομακρύνει τις επόμενες ώρες την Υπουργό Εξωτερικών και την πολιτική της και δεύτερον να ζητήσει δημόσια συγνώμη από τον Μακεδονικό Ελληνισμό για τη «σύνθετη» προσβολή του!
Πριν να είναι πολύ αργά…
Monday, 13 April 2009
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Letter to the Archaeology Magazine by UC Berkeley Professor (emeritus) of Archaeology, S. Miller
January 22, 2009
Editor, Archaeology Magazine
36-36 33rd Street
Long Island City, NY 11106
U.S.A.
Dear Sir,
I opened the January/February issue of Archaeology today and eagerly turned to “A Letter from Macedonia” only to discover that it was actually a letter from ancient Paionia – the land north of Mt. Barmous and Mt. Orbelos. Livy’s account of the creation of the Roman province of Macedonia (45.29.7 and 12) makes clear that the Paionians lived north of those mountains (which form today the geographically natural northern limits of Greece) and south of the Dardanians who were in today’s Kosovo. Strabo (7. frag 4) is even more succinct in saying that Paionia was north of Macedonia and the only connection from one to the other was (and is today) through the narrow gorge of the Axios (or Vardar) River. In other words, the land which is described by Matthew Brunwasser in his “Owning Alexander” was Paionia in antiquity.
While 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. Isokrates (5.23) makes the same point. Likewise, for example, the Egyptians who were subdued by Alexander may have been ruled by Macedonians, including the famous Cleopatra, but they were never Macedonians themselves, and Egypt was never called Macedonia (and so far as I can tell does not seek that name today).
Certainly, as Thucydides (2.99) tells us, the Macedonians had taken over “a narrow strip of Paionia extending along the Axios river from the interior to Pella and the sea”. One might therefore understand if the people in the modern republic centered at Skopje called themselves Paionians and claimed as theirs the land described by Thucydides.
But why, instead, would the modern people of ancient Paionia try to call themselves Macedonians and their land Macedonia? Mr. Brunwasser (p. 55) touches on the Greek claims “that it implies ambitions over Greek territory” and he notes that “the northern province of Greece is also called Macedonia.” Leaving aside the fact that the area of that northern province of modern Greece has been called Macedonia for more than 2,500 years (see, inter alios, Herodotus 5.17; 7.128, et alibi), more recent history shows that the Greek concerns are legitimate. For example, a map produced in Skopje in 1992 shows clearly the claim that Macedonia extends from there to Mt. Olympus in the south; that is, combining the ancient regions of Paionia and Macedonia into a single entity.
The same claim is explicit on a pseudo-bank note of the Republic of Macedonia which shows, as one of its monuments, the White Tower of Thessalonike, in Greece.
There are many more examples of calendars, Christmas cards, bumper-stickers, etc., that all make the same claim.
Further, Mr. Brunwasser has reported with approval (International Herald Tribune 10/1/08) the work of the “Macedonian Institute for Strategic Research 16:9”, the name of which refers “to Acts 16:9, a verse in the New Testament in which a Macedonian man appears to the Apostle Paul begging him: ‘Come over into Macedonia, and help us.’" But where did Paul go in Macedonia? Neapolis (Kavala), Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessaloniki, and Veroia (Acts 16:11-17:10) all of which are in the historic Macedonia, none in Paionia. What claim is being made by an Institute based in Skopje that names itself for a trip through what was Macedonia in antiquity and what is the northern province of Greece today?
I wonder what we would conclude if a certain large island off the southeast coast of the United States started to call itself Florida, and emblazoned its currency with images of Disney World and distributed maps showing the Greater Florida.
Certainly there was no doubt of the underlying point of “Macedonia” in the mind of U.S. Secretary of State Edward Stettinius on December 26, 1944, when he wrote:
“The Department [of State] has noted with considerable apprehension increasing propaganda rumors and semi-official statements in favor of an autonomous Macedonia, emanating principally from Bulgaria, but also from Yugoslav Partisan and other sources, with the implication that Greek territory would be included in the projected state. This government considers talk of Macedonian ”nation”, Macedonian “Fatherland”, or Macedonian “national consciousness” to be unjustified demagoguery representing no ethnic nor political reality, and sees in its present revival a possible cloak for aggressive intentions against Greece.”
[Source: U.S. State Department, Foreign Relations vol viii, Washington, D.C., Circular Airgram (868.014/26Dec1944)]
Mr. Brunwasser (a resident of Bulgaria), however, goes on to state, with apparent distain, that Greece claims “Alexander III of Macedon (Alexander the Great) . . . as Greek.”
This attitude mystifies me. What is there to “claim”? Alexander’s great-great-great grandfather, Alexander I, was certified as Greek at Olympia and, in the words of the father of history “I happen to know that [the forefathers of Alexander] are Greek” (Herodotus 5.22). Alexander’s father, Philip, won several equestrian victories at Olympia and Delphi (Plutarch, Alexander 4.9; Moralia 105A), the two most Hellenic of all the sanctuaries in ancient Greece where non-Greeks were not allowed to compete. If Philip was Greek, wasn’t his son also Greek?
When Euripides – who died and was buried in Macedonia (Thucydides apud Pal. Anth. 7.45; Pausanias 1.2.2; Diodorus Siculus 13.103) – wrote his play Archelaos in honor of the great-uncle of Alexander, did he write it in Slavic? When he wrote the Bacchai while at the court of Archelaos did he not write it in Greek even as it has survived to us? Or should we imagine that Euripides was a “Macedonian” who wrote in Slavic (at a date when that language is not attested) which was translated into Greek?
What was the language of instruction when Aristotle taught Alexander? What language was carried by Alexander with him on his expedition to the East? Why do we have ancient inscriptions in Greek in settlements established by Alexander as far away as Afghanistan, and none in Slavic? Why did Greek become the lingua franca in Alexander’s empire if he was actually a “Macedonian”? Why was the New Testament written in Greek rather than Slavic?
On page 57 of the so-called “Letter from Macedonia” there is a photograph of the author standing “before a bronze statue of Alexander the Great in the city of Prilep.”
The statue is patently modern, but the question is whether the real historic Alexander could have read the Slavic inscription beneath his feet. Given the known historic posterity of Slavic to Greek, the answer is obvious.
While Mr. Brunwasser’s reporting of the archaeological work in Paionia is welcome, his adoption and promotion of the modern political stance of its people about the use of the name Macedonia is not only unwelcome, it is a disservice to the readers of Archaeology who are, I imagine, interested in historic fact. But then, the decision to propagate this historical nonsense by Archaeology – a publication of the Archaeological Institute of America - is a disservice to its own reputation.
Let it be said once more: the region of ancient Paionia was a part of the Macedonian empire. So were Ephesos and Tyre and Palestine and Memphis and Babylon and Taxila and dozens more. They may thus have become “Macedonian” temporarily, but none was ever “Macedonia”.
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.
Sincerely,
Stephen G. Miller
Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley
PS: For a more complete examination of the ancient evidence regarding Paionia, see I. L. Merker, “The Ancient Kingdom of Paionia,” Balkan Studies 6 (1965) 35-54
cc: C. Brian Rose, President, Archaeological Institute of America
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States of America
Dora Bakoyiannis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece
Antonis Samaras, Minister of Culture of Greece
Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Enlargement
Erik Meijer, Member, European Parliament
Editor, Archaeology Magazine
36-36 33rd Street
Long Island City, NY 11106
U.S.A.
Dear Sir,
I opened the January/February issue of Archaeology today and eagerly turned to “A Letter from Macedonia” only to discover that it was actually a letter from ancient Paionia – the land north of Mt. Barmous and Mt. Orbelos. Livy’s account of the creation of the Roman province of Macedonia (45.29.7 and 12) makes clear that the Paionians lived north of those mountains (which form today the geographically natural northern limits of Greece) and south of the Dardanians who were in today’s Kosovo. Strabo (7. frag 4) is even more succinct in saying that Paionia was north of Macedonia and the only connection from one to the other was (and is today) through the narrow gorge of the Axios (or Vardar) River. In other words, the land which is described by Matthew Brunwasser in his “Owning Alexander” was Paionia in antiquity.
While 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. Isokrates (5.23) makes the same point. Likewise, for example, the Egyptians who were subdued by Alexander may have been ruled by Macedonians, including the famous Cleopatra, but they were never Macedonians themselves, and Egypt was never called Macedonia (and so far as I can tell does not seek that name today).
Certainly, as Thucydides (2.99) tells us, the Macedonians had taken over “a narrow strip of Paionia extending along the Axios river from the interior to Pella and the sea”. One might therefore understand if the people in the modern republic centered at Skopje called themselves Paionians and claimed as theirs the land described by Thucydides.
But why, instead, would the modern people of ancient Paionia try to call themselves Macedonians and their land Macedonia? Mr. Brunwasser (p. 55) touches on the Greek claims “that it implies ambitions over Greek territory” and he notes that “the northern province of Greece is also called Macedonia.” Leaving aside the fact that the area of that northern province of modern Greece has been called Macedonia for more than 2,500 years (see, inter alios, Herodotus 5.17; 7.128, et alibi), more recent history shows that the Greek concerns are legitimate. For example, a map produced in Skopje in 1992 shows clearly the claim that Macedonia extends from there to Mt. Olympus in the south; that is, combining the ancient regions of Paionia and Macedonia into a single entity.
The same claim is explicit on a pseudo-bank note of the Republic of Macedonia which shows, as one of its monuments, the White Tower of Thessalonike, in Greece.
There are many more examples of calendars, Christmas cards, bumper-stickers, etc., that all make the same claim.
Further, Mr. Brunwasser has reported with approval (International Herald Tribune 10/1/08) the work of the “Macedonian Institute for Strategic Research 16:9”, the name of which refers “to Acts 16:9, a verse in the New Testament in which a Macedonian man appears to the Apostle Paul begging him: ‘Come over into Macedonia, and help us.’" But where did Paul go in Macedonia? Neapolis (Kavala), Philippi, Amphipolis, Apollonia, Thessaloniki, and Veroia (Acts 16:11-17:10) all of which are in the historic Macedonia, none in Paionia. What claim is being made by an Institute based in Skopje that names itself for a trip through what was Macedonia in antiquity and what is the northern province of Greece today?
I wonder what we would conclude if a certain large island off the southeast coast of the United States started to call itself Florida, and emblazoned its currency with images of Disney World and distributed maps showing the Greater Florida.
Certainly there was no doubt of the underlying point of “Macedonia” in the mind of U.S. Secretary of State Edward Stettinius on December 26, 1944, when he wrote:
“The Department [of State] has noted with considerable apprehension increasing propaganda rumors and semi-official statements in favor of an autonomous Macedonia, emanating principally from Bulgaria, but also from Yugoslav Partisan and other sources, with the implication that Greek territory would be included in the projected state. This government considers talk of Macedonian ”nation”, Macedonian “Fatherland”, or Macedonian “national consciousness” to be unjustified demagoguery representing no ethnic nor political reality, and sees in its present revival a possible cloak for aggressive intentions against Greece.”
[Source: U.S. State Department, Foreign Relations vol viii, Washington, D.C., Circular Airgram (868.014/26Dec1944)]
Mr. Brunwasser (a resident of Bulgaria), however, goes on to state, with apparent distain, that Greece claims “Alexander III of Macedon (Alexander the Great) . . . as Greek.”
This attitude mystifies me. What is there to “claim”? Alexander’s great-great-great grandfather, Alexander I, was certified as Greek at Olympia and, in the words of the father of history “I happen to know that [the forefathers of Alexander] are Greek” (Herodotus 5.22). Alexander’s father, Philip, won several equestrian victories at Olympia and Delphi (Plutarch, Alexander 4.9; Moralia 105A), the two most Hellenic of all the sanctuaries in ancient Greece where non-Greeks were not allowed to compete. If Philip was Greek, wasn’t his son also Greek?
When Euripides – who died and was buried in Macedonia (Thucydides apud Pal. Anth. 7.45; Pausanias 1.2.2; Diodorus Siculus 13.103) – wrote his play Archelaos in honor of the great-uncle of Alexander, did he write it in Slavic? When he wrote the Bacchai while at the court of Archelaos did he not write it in Greek even as it has survived to us? Or should we imagine that Euripides was a “Macedonian” who wrote in Slavic (at a date when that language is not attested) which was translated into Greek?
What was the language of instruction when Aristotle taught Alexander? What language was carried by Alexander with him on his expedition to the East? Why do we have ancient inscriptions in Greek in settlements established by Alexander as far away as Afghanistan, and none in Slavic? Why did Greek become the lingua franca in Alexander’s empire if he was actually a “Macedonian”? Why was the New Testament written in Greek rather than Slavic?
On page 57 of the so-called “Letter from Macedonia” there is a photograph of the author standing “before a bronze statue of Alexander the Great in the city of Prilep.”
The statue is patently modern, but the question is whether the real historic Alexander could have read the Slavic inscription beneath his feet. Given the known historic posterity of Slavic to Greek, the answer is obvious.
While Mr. Brunwasser’s reporting of the archaeological work in Paionia is welcome, his adoption and promotion of the modern political stance of its people about the use of the name Macedonia is not only unwelcome, it is a disservice to the readers of Archaeology who are, I imagine, interested in historic fact. But then, the decision to propagate this historical nonsense by Archaeology – a publication of the Archaeological Institute of America - is a disservice to its own reputation.
Let it be said once more: the region of ancient Paionia was a part of the Macedonian empire. So were Ephesos and Tyre and Palestine and Memphis and Babylon and Taxila and dozens more. They may thus have become “Macedonian” temporarily, but none was ever “Macedonia”.
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.
Sincerely,
Stephen G. Miller
Professor Emeritus, University of California, Berkeley
PS: For a more complete examination of the ancient evidence regarding Paionia, see I. L. Merker, “The Ancient Kingdom of Paionia,” Balkan Studies 6 (1965) 35-54
cc: C. Brian Rose, President, Archaeological Institute of America
Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States of America
Dora Bakoyiannis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece
Antonis Samaras, Minister of Culture of Greece
Olli Rehn, European Commissioner for Enlargement
Erik Meijer, Member, European Parliament
Το ξύλο βγήκε από την Κόλαση
Γράφει η Λαμπρινή Χ. Θωμά - 03/04/2009
Πριν από μερικά χρόνια, τέτοιες μέρες, η είδηση για αιματηρές συγκρούσεις με «μαχαίρια, ρόπαλα και τσεκούρια» στο κέντρο της Αθήνας θα αντιμετωπίζονταν ως πρωταπριλιάτικη φάρσα. Να όμως που, για δεύτερη φορά μέσα στο τελευταίο εξάμηνο, συμμορίες αλλοδαπών συγκρούονται στις οδούς Σοφοκλέους και Μενάνδρου, διεκδικώντας, η κάθε εθνότητα, τον έλεγχο της περιοχής για τις δικές της «δραστηριότητες».
Δεν πρόκειται παρά για τις πιο εμπορεύσιμες από τις ειδήσεις της νέας βίας. Οι περισσότερες καθημερινές επιθέσεις, εγκλήματα και παραβάσεις μικρότερης έντασης δεν βλέπουν το φως της δημοσιότητας ή περιορίζονται σε κάποιο μονόστηλο. Οι επίσημες στατιστικές της αστυνομίας για το περασμένο έτος λένε ότι είχαμε 25% περισσότερους βιασμούς σε σχέση με το 2007 (και 34% παραπάνω σε σχέση με το μέσο όρο των τελευταίων οκτώ ετών), 16% περισσότερες ληστείες σε σχέση με το 2007 (και 54% παραπάνω σε σχέση με το μέσο όρο των τελευταίων οκτώ ετών), 15% παραπάνω διαρρήξεις (και 41% περισσότερες σε σχέση με το μέσο όρο των τελευταίων οκτώ ετών) και 30% περισσότερες υποθέσεις ναρκωτικών. Και ενώ είναι εντυπωσιακή η σταδιακή αύξηση της εγκληματικότητας από το 2000, ακόμα πιο εντυπωσιακή είναι η «έκρηξη» της το περασμένο έτος. Εντυπωσιακή και δυσοίωνη.
Ενώ σε κάθε κράτος που σέβεται τον εαυτό του αυτή η κατάσταση θα αποτελούσε αφορμή σοβαρού δημοσίου διαλόγου με ζητούμενο την λήψη των κατάλληλων μέτρων, στην Ελλάδα το όλο θέμα απαξιώνεται αν δεν λοιδωρείται κι όλας σαν «αδικαιολόγητη φοβία των μικροαστών» και των περιφρονητικά χαρακτηρισμένων ως «νοικοκυραίων».
Εν Ελλάδι, ορισμένοι έχουν εμπεδώσει τόσο την ρήση του Προυντόν ότι «η ιδιοκτησία είναι κλοπή» ώστε κάθε αντίδραση μπροστά στην άνοδο της εγκληματικότητας τους είναι περιφρονητέα. Όποιος δε επιθυμεί την εφαρμογή των νόμων, αυτός πια είναι σεσημασμένος οπαδός «του νόμου και της τάξεως», δηλαδή λίγο-πολύ χουντικός.
Αν μάλιστα τολμήσει να ψελλίσει ότι οι αλλοδαποί μετανάστες και λαθρομετανάστες έχουν παίξει και αυτοί το ρόλο τους στην άνοδο της εγκληματικότητας, ε, τότε πολιτικοί, δημοσιογράφοι, παράγοντες, μη κυβερνητικές οργανώσεις και μαϊντανοί των ΜΜΕ θα τον καταδικάσουν αυτόματα ως ξενόφοβο, ρατσιστή και οπαδό μπουμπούκων και ετέρων μπουμπουκιών.
Τι και αν ενώ οι αλλοδαποί υπολογίζονται γύρω στο 10% του πληθυσμού, είναι υπεύθυνοι για το 42% των ανθρωποκτονιών, 30% των απατών, 43% των βιασμών, 44% των διαρρήξεων, 32% των κλοπών τροχοφόρων, το 50.6% των ληστειών, 40.7% των υποθέσεων σεξουαλικής εκμετάλλευσης και το 26.3% των υποθέσεων παράνομης οπλοκατοχής που διεξάχθηκαν το σωτήριο έτος 2008.
Και οι αριθμοί είναι, από ό,τι φαίνεται, ξενόφοβοι. Και δεν είναι καν πλήρεις, αφού λόγω των δεκάδων χιλιάδων παράνομων ματαναστών που δεν είναι καταγεγραμμένοι πουθενά «και άρα χωρίς τους άτυπους κοινωνικούς ελέγχους που ισχύουν για τους άλλους, η συντριπτική πλειονότητα των εγκλημάτων που διαπράττονται από τους αλλοδαπούς παραμένουν ανεξιχνίαστα και η αριθμητική τους συμμετοχή στο έγκλημα μικρή», όπως είχε δηλώσει προ δεκαετίας ήδη στην Καθημερινή, ο καθηγητής Εγκληματολογίας στο Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο, Ιάκωβος Φαρσεδάκης. (Δικαιολογημένη, ελπίζουμε, ευαισθησία υποχρεώνει εδώ να αναφερθούν και πλευρές που πλήττουν δυσκόλως κεκτημένα της ελλαδικής κοινωνίας, όπως οι υποθέσεις εις βάρος γυναικών - θυγατέρων και συζύγων- που ποτέ δεν βγαίνουν έξω από τα φτηνά δωμάτια της μεταναστευτικής δυστυχίας. Και άλλα πολλά ανάλογα, που ίσως μες στο γενικότερο πλαίσιο να ηχούν ως λεπτομέρειες).
Την μαζική λαθρομετανάστευση, χωρίς υποδομές, χωρίς ελέγχους και χωρίς πρόγραμμα την υποδέχθηκαν πολλοί ως προάγγελο μιας νέας, πολυπολιτισμικής κοινωνίας. Λες και αρκεί να στοιβάξεις εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες ανθρώπους μακριά απ’ την πατρίδα τους, σε αναζήτηση αβέβαιης εργασίας και σε άθλιες συνθήκες, για να φυτρώσει πολυπολιτισμός. Αυτός ο κύριος όμως, για να σημαίνει κάτι και να μην καταντά κενό διαφημιστικό σλόγκαν, έχει προϋπόθεση την συνάντηση πολιτισμών. Κάτι αδύνατον όταν οι λαθρομετανάστες έρχονται ακριβώς αποστερούμενοι τον πολιτισμό τους, σαν «ανθρώπινο δυναμικό» προς εκμετάλλευση. Τα γκέτο, υπό αυτές τις συνθήκες, είναι αναπόφευκτα. Και δημιουργήθηκαν.
Από τα άνετα προάστια, την ελληνική ιδιότυπη suburbia των υψηλών εισοδημάτων, εύκολα τα παραβλέπει κανείς όλα αυτά και ασκεί αφ’ υψηλού κριτική στους κατοίκους του Αγίου Παντελεήμονα. Εύκολα βλέπει και κατακρίνει τις ακρότητες τους, την καταφυγή τους στην αυτοδικία, την στροφή τους στην δεξιά ή και την ακροδεξιά. Δύσκολα όμως καταλαβαίνει τα προβλήματά τους. Λογικό, αφού για τα άνετα προάστια τα γκέτο είναι σαν τις χωματερές. Μόνο οι Φιλιπινέζες τους έχουν το ελεύθερο σε αυτές τις περιοχές. Άλλωστε, οι φωνές του απαίσιου θιάσου δεν χρειάζεται να πάρουν τον νόμο στα χέρια τους για να διώξουν τους λαθρομετανάστες από την Κηφισιά. Αυτό το αναλαμβάνουν από μόνα τους τα υψηλά ενοίκια.
Βεβαίως, δεν είναι μόνο οι μετανάστες υπεύθυνοι για την αύξηση της εγκληματικότητας ―ακόμη και αν είναι δυσανάλογα υψηλά τα ποσοστά συμμετοχής τους σε αυτήν. Είναι και όλο το παραμύθι «γκλαμουριάς», υπερκατανάλωσης και γρήγορου πλουτισμού που εμπέδωσε από το ‘90 και μετά η ελληνική κοινωνία. Είναι και η διάλυση των μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων και της όποιας ελληνικής βιομηχανίας που μετέτρεψε άλλους σε υπάλληλους διαφόρων «φρανσάιζ» και άλλους σε ανέργους. Είναι και η αυξανόμενη ιδιωτεία και ιδιοτέλεια των κατά λάθος ελλήνων.
Η υψηλή εγκληματικότητα, όμως, είναι εδώ για να μείνει. Και, αντίθετα με όσα γράφονται και λέγονται, όσοι αντιδρούν δεν είναι αναγκαστικά συντηρητικοί, ούτε είναι επηρεασμένοι «από την τηλεόραση και την κινδυνολογία της». Ο κόσμος δεν είναι ηλίθιος. Θυμάται μια εποχή, όχι πολύ μακριά, που στις συνοικίες δεν χρειάζονταν να κλειδώνεις την εξώπορτα. Και δεν τολμά καν να την νοσταλγήσει
Πριν από μερικά χρόνια, τέτοιες μέρες, η είδηση για αιματηρές συγκρούσεις με «μαχαίρια, ρόπαλα και τσεκούρια» στο κέντρο της Αθήνας θα αντιμετωπίζονταν ως πρωταπριλιάτικη φάρσα. Να όμως που, για δεύτερη φορά μέσα στο τελευταίο εξάμηνο, συμμορίες αλλοδαπών συγκρούονται στις οδούς Σοφοκλέους και Μενάνδρου, διεκδικώντας, η κάθε εθνότητα, τον έλεγχο της περιοχής για τις δικές της «δραστηριότητες».
Δεν πρόκειται παρά για τις πιο εμπορεύσιμες από τις ειδήσεις της νέας βίας. Οι περισσότερες καθημερινές επιθέσεις, εγκλήματα και παραβάσεις μικρότερης έντασης δεν βλέπουν το φως της δημοσιότητας ή περιορίζονται σε κάποιο μονόστηλο. Οι επίσημες στατιστικές της αστυνομίας για το περασμένο έτος λένε ότι είχαμε 25% περισσότερους βιασμούς σε σχέση με το 2007 (και 34% παραπάνω σε σχέση με το μέσο όρο των τελευταίων οκτώ ετών), 16% περισσότερες ληστείες σε σχέση με το 2007 (και 54% παραπάνω σε σχέση με το μέσο όρο των τελευταίων οκτώ ετών), 15% παραπάνω διαρρήξεις (και 41% περισσότερες σε σχέση με το μέσο όρο των τελευταίων οκτώ ετών) και 30% περισσότερες υποθέσεις ναρκωτικών. Και ενώ είναι εντυπωσιακή η σταδιακή αύξηση της εγκληματικότητας από το 2000, ακόμα πιο εντυπωσιακή είναι η «έκρηξη» της το περασμένο έτος. Εντυπωσιακή και δυσοίωνη.
Ενώ σε κάθε κράτος που σέβεται τον εαυτό του αυτή η κατάσταση θα αποτελούσε αφορμή σοβαρού δημοσίου διαλόγου με ζητούμενο την λήψη των κατάλληλων μέτρων, στην Ελλάδα το όλο θέμα απαξιώνεται αν δεν λοιδωρείται κι όλας σαν «αδικαιολόγητη φοβία των μικροαστών» και των περιφρονητικά χαρακτηρισμένων ως «νοικοκυραίων».
Εν Ελλάδι, ορισμένοι έχουν εμπεδώσει τόσο την ρήση του Προυντόν ότι «η ιδιοκτησία είναι κλοπή» ώστε κάθε αντίδραση μπροστά στην άνοδο της εγκληματικότητας τους είναι περιφρονητέα. Όποιος δε επιθυμεί την εφαρμογή των νόμων, αυτός πια είναι σεσημασμένος οπαδός «του νόμου και της τάξεως», δηλαδή λίγο-πολύ χουντικός.
Αν μάλιστα τολμήσει να ψελλίσει ότι οι αλλοδαποί μετανάστες και λαθρομετανάστες έχουν παίξει και αυτοί το ρόλο τους στην άνοδο της εγκληματικότητας, ε, τότε πολιτικοί, δημοσιογράφοι, παράγοντες, μη κυβερνητικές οργανώσεις και μαϊντανοί των ΜΜΕ θα τον καταδικάσουν αυτόματα ως ξενόφοβο, ρατσιστή και οπαδό μπουμπούκων και ετέρων μπουμπουκιών.
Τι και αν ενώ οι αλλοδαποί υπολογίζονται γύρω στο 10% του πληθυσμού, είναι υπεύθυνοι για το 42% των ανθρωποκτονιών, 30% των απατών, 43% των βιασμών, 44% των διαρρήξεων, 32% των κλοπών τροχοφόρων, το 50.6% των ληστειών, 40.7% των υποθέσεων σεξουαλικής εκμετάλλευσης και το 26.3% των υποθέσεων παράνομης οπλοκατοχής που διεξάχθηκαν το σωτήριο έτος 2008.
Και οι αριθμοί είναι, από ό,τι φαίνεται, ξενόφοβοι. Και δεν είναι καν πλήρεις, αφού λόγω των δεκάδων χιλιάδων παράνομων ματαναστών που δεν είναι καταγεγραμμένοι πουθενά «και άρα χωρίς τους άτυπους κοινωνικούς ελέγχους που ισχύουν για τους άλλους, η συντριπτική πλειονότητα των εγκλημάτων που διαπράττονται από τους αλλοδαπούς παραμένουν ανεξιχνίαστα και η αριθμητική τους συμμετοχή στο έγκλημα μικρή», όπως είχε δηλώσει προ δεκαετίας ήδη στην Καθημερινή, ο καθηγητής Εγκληματολογίας στο Πάντειο Πανεπιστήμιο, Ιάκωβος Φαρσεδάκης. (Δικαιολογημένη, ελπίζουμε, ευαισθησία υποχρεώνει εδώ να αναφερθούν και πλευρές που πλήττουν δυσκόλως κεκτημένα της ελλαδικής κοινωνίας, όπως οι υποθέσεις εις βάρος γυναικών - θυγατέρων και συζύγων- που ποτέ δεν βγαίνουν έξω από τα φτηνά δωμάτια της μεταναστευτικής δυστυχίας. Και άλλα πολλά ανάλογα, που ίσως μες στο γενικότερο πλαίσιο να ηχούν ως λεπτομέρειες).
Την μαζική λαθρομετανάστευση, χωρίς υποδομές, χωρίς ελέγχους και χωρίς πρόγραμμα την υποδέχθηκαν πολλοί ως προάγγελο μιας νέας, πολυπολιτισμικής κοινωνίας. Λες και αρκεί να στοιβάξεις εκατοντάδες χιλιάδες ανθρώπους μακριά απ’ την πατρίδα τους, σε αναζήτηση αβέβαιης εργασίας και σε άθλιες συνθήκες, για να φυτρώσει πολυπολιτισμός. Αυτός ο κύριος όμως, για να σημαίνει κάτι και να μην καταντά κενό διαφημιστικό σλόγκαν, έχει προϋπόθεση την συνάντηση πολιτισμών. Κάτι αδύνατον όταν οι λαθρομετανάστες έρχονται ακριβώς αποστερούμενοι τον πολιτισμό τους, σαν «ανθρώπινο δυναμικό» προς εκμετάλλευση. Τα γκέτο, υπό αυτές τις συνθήκες, είναι αναπόφευκτα. Και δημιουργήθηκαν.
Από τα άνετα προάστια, την ελληνική ιδιότυπη suburbia των υψηλών εισοδημάτων, εύκολα τα παραβλέπει κανείς όλα αυτά και ασκεί αφ’ υψηλού κριτική στους κατοίκους του Αγίου Παντελεήμονα. Εύκολα βλέπει και κατακρίνει τις ακρότητες τους, την καταφυγή τους στην αυτοδικία, την στροφή τους στην δεξιά ή και την ακροδεξιά. Δύσκολα όμως καταλαβαίνει τα προβλήματά τους. Λογικό, αφού για τα άνετα προάστια τα γκέτο είναι σαν τις χωματερές. Μόνο οι Φιλιπινέζες τους έχουν το ελεύθερο σε αυτές τις περιοχές. Άλλωστε, οι φωνές του απαίσιου θιάσου δεν χρειάζεται να πάρουν τον νόμο στα χέρια τους για να διώξουν τους λαθρομετανάστες από την Κηφισιά. Αυτό το αναλαμβάνουν από μόνα τους τα υψηλά ενοίκια.
Βεβαίως, δεν είναι μόνο οι μετανάστες υπεύθυνοι για την αύξηση της εγκληματικότητας ―ακόμη και αν είναι δυσανάλογα υψηλά τα ποσοστά συμμετοχής τους σε αυτήν. Είναι και όλο το παραμύθι «γκλαμουριάς», υπερκατανάλωσης και γρήγορου πλουτισμού που εμπέδωσε από το ‘90 και μετά η ελληνική κοινωνία. Είναι και η διάλυση των μικρομεσαίων επιχειρήσεων και της όποιας ελληνικής βιομηχανίας που μετέτρεψε άλλους σε υπάλληλους διαφόρων «φρανσάιζ» και άλλους σε ανέργους. Είναι και η αυξανόμενη ιδιωτεία και ιδιοτέλεια των κατά λάθος ελλήνων.
Η υψηλή εγκληματικότητα, όμως, είναι εδώ για να μείνει. Και, αντίθετα με όσα γράφονται και λέγονται, όσοι αντιδρούν δεν είναι αναγκαστικά συντηρητικοί, ούτε είναι επηρεασμένοι «από την τηλεόραση και την κινδυνολογία της». Ο κόσμος δεν είναι ηλίθιος. Θυμάται μια εποχή, όχι πολύ μακριά, που στις συνοικίες δεν χρειάζονταν να κλειδώνεις την εξώπορτα. Και δεν τολμά καν να την νοσταλγήσει
Friday, 3 April 2009
The views of Hellenism of the Pseusomacedonians
όπως το έγραψε στο μηνιαίο φύλλο που εκδίδει το άλλο πουλέν του
Σλαβομακεδονισμού Chris Stefou ή Risto Stefov με τον τίτλο "Macedonian
Digest". Συνιστώ ψυχραιμία κατά την ανάγνωση και απλά λέω ότι δυστυχώς αυτή
είναι η άποψη της πλειονότητας των Δυαδυκτιακών Σλαβομακεδονιστών για τον
Ελληνισμό και για τους Έλληνες.
ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΞΥΠΝΑΜΕ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΞΕΡΟΥΜΕ ΠΟΙΟΙ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΜΕ ΑΥΤΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΣΥΝΟΜΙΛΟΥΜΕ.
Ο Ελληνισμός είναι όπως ένας ιός, που μολύνει τους ανθρώπους και αυτοί με
τη σειρά τους μολύνουν τους άλλους με αυτό. Οι άνθρωποι σήμερα που μολύνουν
άλλους με τον νοσούντα Ελληνισμό δεν είναι ούτε καν Έλληνες. Είναι οι ίδιοι
απόγονοι των Μακεδόνων(τύπου Σλαβομακεδονισμού), Αρβανιτών, Βλάχων, κλπ.,
των οποίων οι πρόγονοι ήταν οι τελευταίοι που έχουν μολυνθεί από την νόσο.
Οι μη Έλληνες, οι ψευδό-Έλληνες δεν είναι τίποτα άλλο παρά πομποί μιας
ψεύτικης εθνικής κληρονομιάς. Είναι κυριολεκτικά, ανθρώπινοι ιοί. (οι
Έλληνες)
Η νοοτροπία των ανθρώπων αυτών(οι Έλληνες) δεν είναι τίποτα περισσότερο
παρά καθαρός ρατσισμός. Καταστρέφουν οποιοδήποτε και κάθε εθνότητα, γλώσσα
και την πολιτιστική κληρονομιά που έρχεται σε επαφή και με τις προσπάθειές
τους στο να "Ελληνοποιήσουν" αυτό. Αυτοί(οι Έλληνες) είναι ιστορικές απάτες
του κόσμου, μεγάλη απομίμησης, οι οποίοι έχουν μετατρέψει τη νότια Βαλκάνια
σε ένα Ελληνικό θεματικό πάρκο, και οι ίδιοι σε Ελληνικά ζόμπυ. Είναι απλές
σκιές των προγόνων τους, των οποίων το πολύ εθνικής κληρονομιάς και μητρικής
αμφισβητούν και περιφρονώ. Πάρτε για παράδειγμα τον Πάγκαλο και την
Μπακογιάννη. Δείτε πώς καθυβρίζουν την αλβανική τους καταγωγής. Κοίταξτε τον
Καραμανλή, ο τυμπανισμένος βλάκας, που φέρεται χαμερπά όταν κάποιος
αναφέρεται ότι η οικογένειά του μιλούσε το "σλαβικό ιδίωμα". Σκεφτείτε όλους
τους Έλληνες πρωθυπουργούς με Βλάχικη εθνική κληρονομιά και πώς σήμερα τόσο
η βλάχικη εθνικότητα αλλά και η βλάχικη γλώσσα διασύρονται και αρνιούνται
από τους Έλληνες. Ο Ελληνισμός είναι μια ασθένεια, πιστέψτε με, αυτοί οι
άνθρωποι είναι άρρωστοι. Η Ελλάδα βάζει στα ράφια τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα
όπως και οι αθλητές τα μετάλλια τους. Υπάρχει ένα μετάλλιο για την πιο
ρατσιστική κοινωνία, στον κόσμο; Η Ελλάδα θα κερδίσει τον τίτλο «country
mile»( αυτό δεν μπόρεσα να το μεταφράσω).
O Lubi Uzunovski είναι ιδιοκτήτης του σαιτ του Ουράνιου Τόξου όπως και του
maknews.
Τώρα εάν συμφωνεί το εθνικιστικό κόμμα Ουράνιο Τόξο με τις απόψεις του θα
θέλαμε να το μάθουμε. Πάντως η κλίκα των αποχωρούντων και δυσαρεστημένων από
το ΟΤ όπως ο Abecedar και η Vodenka μάλλον τις ευχαριστιούνται αυτές τις
ρατσιστικές απόψεις του Uzunovski. Άλλωστε η τελευταία είναι και moderator
στο φόρουμ του.
http://akritas-history-of-makedonia.blogspot.com/2009/04/o.html
Σλαβομακεδονισμού Chris Stefou ή Risto Stefov με τον τίτλο "Macedonian
Digest". Συνιστώ ψυχραιμία κατά την ανάγνωση και απλά λέω ότι δυστυχώς αυτή
είναι η άποψη της πλειονότητας των Δυαδυκτιακών Σλαβομακεδονιστών για τον
Ελληνισμό και για τους Έλληνες.
ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΞΥΠΝΑΜΕ ΚΑΙ ΝΑ ΞΕΡΟΥΜΕ ΠΟΙΟΙ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΜΕ ΑΥΤΟΥΣ ΠΟΥ ΣΥΝΟΜΙΛΟΥΜΕ.
Ο Ελληνισμός είναι όπως ένας ιός, που μολύνει τους ανθρώπους και αυτοί με
τη σειρά τους μολύνουν τους άλλους με αυτό. Οι άνθρωποι σήμερα που μολύνουν
άλλους με τον νοσούντα Ελληνισμό δεν είναι ούτε καν Έλληνες. Είναι οι ίδιοι
απόγονοι των Μακεδόνων(τύπου Σλαβομακεδονισμού), Αρβανιτών, Βλάχων, κλπ.,
των οποίων οι πρόγονοι ήταν οι τελευταίοι που έχουν μολυνθεί από την νόσο.
Οι μη Έλληνες, οι ψευδό-Έλληνες δεν είναι τίποτα άλλο παρά πομποί μιας
ψεύτικης εθνικής κληρονομιάς. Είναι κυριολεκτικά, ανθρώπινοι ιοί. (οι
Έλληνες)
Η νοοτροπία των ανθρώπων αυτών(οι Έλληνες) δεν είναι τίποτα περισσότερο
παρά καθαρός ρατσισμός. Καταστρέφουν οποιοδήποτε και κάθε εθνότητα, γλώσσα
και την πολιτιστική κληρονομιά που έρχεται σε επαφή και με τις προσπάθειές
τους στο να "Ελληνοποιήσουν" αυτό. Αυτοί(οι Έλληνες) είναι ιστορικές απάτες
του κόσμου, μεγάλη απομίμησης, οι οποίοι έχουν μετατρέψει τη νότια Βαλκάνια
σε ένα Ελληνικό θεματικό πάρκο, και οι ίδιοι σε Ελληνικά ζόμπυ. Είναι απλές
σκιές των προγόνων τους, των οποίων το πολύ εθνικής κληρονομιάς και μητρικής
αμφισβητούν και περιφρονώ. Πάρτε για παράδειγμα τον Πάγκαλο και την
Μπακογιάννη. Δείτε πώς καθυβρίζουν την αλβανική τους καταγωγής. Κοίταξτε τον
Καραμανλή, ο τυμπανισμένος βλάκας, που φέρεται χαμερπά όταν κάποιος
αναφέρεται ότι η οικογένειά του μιλούσε το "σλαβικό ιδίωμα". Σκεφτείτε όλους
τους Έλληνες πρωθυπουργούς με Βλάχικη εθνική κληρονομιά και πώς σήμερα τόσο
η βλάχικη εθνικότητα αλλά και η βλάχικη γλώσσα διασύρονται και αρνιούνται
από τους Έλληνες. Ο Ελληνισμός είναι μια ασθένεια, πιστέψτε με, αυτοί οι
άνθρωποι είναι άρρωστοι. Η Ελλάδα βάζει στα ράφια τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα
όπως και οι αθλητές τα μετάλλια τους. Υπάρχει ένα μετάλλιο για την πιο
ρατσιστική κοινωνία, στον κόσμο; Η Ελλάδα θα κερδίσει τον τίτλο «country
mile»( αυτό δεν μπόρεσα να το μεταφράσω).
O Lubi Uzunovski είναι ιδιοκτήτης του σαιτ του Ουράνιου Τόξου όπως και του
maknews.
Τώρα εάν συμφωνεί το εθνικιστικό κόμμα Ουράνιο Τόξο με τις απόψεις του θα
θέλαμε να το μάθουμε. Πάντως η κλίκα των αποχωρούντων και δυσαρεστημένων από
το ΟΤ όπως ο Abecedar και η Vodenka μάλλον τις ευχαριστιούνται αυτές τις
ρατσιστικές απόψεις του Uzunovski. Άλλωστε η τελευταία είναι και moderator
στο φόρουμ του.
http://akritas-history-of-makedonia.blogspot.com/2009/04/o.html
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Περίλαμπρο ανάκτορο του Μεγάλου Αλεξάνδρου αποκαλύπτεται στην Πέλλα
A new palace of Alexander the Great has just been discovered in Pella, Macedonia, Greece.
Ως το μεγαλύτερο και εντυπωσιακότερο ανάκτορο της Μακεδονίας, όπου γεννήθηκε, εκπαιδεύτηκε και ανδρώθηκε ο Μέγας Αλέξανδρος, περιγράφουν οι αρχαιολόγοι το ανάκτορο που εντοπίστηκε στην αρχαία Πέλλα, έπειτα από τρία χρόνια ανασκαφών.
Τα ευρήματα, που θα παρουσιαστούν στη φετινή επιστημονική συνάντηση για το αρχαιολογικό έργο στη Μακεδονία και τη Θράκη, είναι εντυπωσιακά: Χώροι συμποσίων, δεκάδες κοιτώνες και εστιατόρια, παλαίστρα με ψηφιδωτά δάπεδα, πισίνα, λουτρά και χώροι προετοιμασίας και εκπαίδευσης των νεαρών γόνων των Μακεδόνων αριστοκρατών που χρονολογούνται στα παιδικά και εφηβικά χρόνια του Μεγάλου Αλεξάνδρου.
Το συνολικής έκτασης 70 στρεμμάτων ανάκτορο (μήκους 400 μ. και πρόσοψης 160 μ.) αποκαλύπτεται δυτικά του σημερινού χωριού και βόρεια του σημείου όπου βρίσκεται το νεοανεγερθέν Μουσείο Πέλλας.
Σύμφωνα με τα Νέα, στο εσωτερικό του ανακτόρου οι ανασκαφείς εντόπισαν χώρους δείπνων και συμποσίων και γύρω από την ενσωματωμένη στο κτίριο παλαίστρα ελαιοθέσια (χώροι όπου οι εκπαιδευόμενοι νεαροί βασιλόπαιδες άλειφαν με λάδι τα σώματά τους προετοιμαζόμενοι για αθλοπαιδιές).
Ο πυρήνας του κτιρίου των ανακτόρων χρονολογείται στα πρώιμα χρόνια, όπως και ολόκληρη η πόλη της Πέλλας.
«Πρόκειται για το μεγαλύτερο και εντυπωσιακότερο ανάκτορο στον μακεδονικό χώρο» δηλώνει ο αρχαιολόγος Παύλος Χρυσοστόμου, ανασκαφέας της ευρύτερης περιοχής την τελευταία 25ετία, που μετέχει στη φετινή επιστημονική συνάντηση για το αρχαιολογικό έργο στη Μακεδονία και τη Θράκη, με εισήγηση υπό τον τίτλο «Πέλλης βασίλειον».
Ως το μεγαλύτερο και εντυπωσιακότερο ανάκτορο της Μακεδονίας, όπου γεννήθηκε, εκπαιδεύτηκε και ανδρώθηκε ο Μέγας Αλέξανδρος, περιγράφουν οι αρχαιολόγοι το ανάκτορο που εντοπίστηκε στην αρχαία Πέλλα, έπειτα από τρία χρόνια ανασκαφών.
Τα ευρήματα, που θα παρουσιαστούν στη φετινή επιστημονική συνάντηση για το αρχαιολογικό έργο στη Μακεδονία και τη Θράκη, είναι εντυπωσιακά: Χώροι συμποσίων, δεκάδες κοιτώνες και εστιατόρια, παλαίστρα με ψηφιδωτά δάπεδα, πισίνα, λουτρά και χώροι προετοιμασίας και εκπαίδευσης των νεαρών γόνων των Μακεδόνων αριστοκρατών που χρονολογούνται στα παιδικά και εφηβικά χρόνια του Μεγάλου Αλεξάνδρου.
Το συνολικής έκτασης 70 στρεμμάτων ανάκτορο (μήκους 400 μ. και πρόσοψης 160 μ.) αποκαλύπτεται δυτικά του σημερινού χωριού και βόρεια του σημείου όπου βρίσκεται το νεοανεγερθέν Μουσείο Πέλλας.
Σύμφωνα με τα Νέα, στο εσωτερικό του ανακτόρου οι ανασκαφείς εντόπισαν χώρους δείπνων και συμποσίων και γύρω από την ενσωματωμένη στο κτίριο παλαίστρα ελαιοθέσια (χώροι όπου οι εκπαιδευόμενοι νεαροί βασιλόπαιδες άλειφαν με λάδι τα σώματά τους προετοιμαζόμενοι για αθλοπαιδιές).
Ο πυρήνας του κτιρίου των ανακτόρων χρονολογείται στα πρώιμα χρόνια, όπως και ολόκληρη η πόλη της Πέλλας.
«Πρόκειται για το μεγαλύτερο και εντυπωσιακότερο ανάκτορο στον μακεδονικό χώρο» δηλώνει ο αρχαιολόγος Παύλος Χρυσοστόμου, ανασκαφέας της ευρύτερης περιοχής την τελευταία 25ετία, που μετέχει στη φετινή επιστημονική συνάντηση για το αρχαιολογικό έργο στη Μακεδονία και τη Θράκη, με εισήγηση υπό τον τίτλο «Πέλλης βασίλειον».
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
A Greek response to Victor Friedman's views on Macedonia and Balkan multilingualism
Πέμπτη, 12 Μαρτίου 2009 Έλληνες πανεπιστημιακοί Δράση - Επιστολές A group of Greek academics respond to a Balkanalysis.com interview (12/14/08) featuring University of Chicago Professor of Slavic Languages & Literatures and Linguistics Victor Friedman, and focusing on Balkan history and culture.
Ime romeos e xeuro plus glose Fazio degli Uberti, Il Dittamondo, 3.23.36
March, 2009
In his interview on Balkanalysis.com (12/14/2008) [1], Linguistics professor and Balkan Studies scholar Victor Friedman portrays Greeks as a most undemocratic and oppressive nation, from ancient to present time, and places the role of Greece in the Balkans in a most negative light. The core of his arguments seems to lie in what he considers suppression of multilingualism and minorities in Greece, which he associates with the current dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on the name of the latter country. As scholars and academics, some of us students of Macedonian history and culture, we wish to offer an alternative perspective and rebut Friedman’s views and assertions in regard to the identity of the modern Greek nation and the true nature of the current dispute between Greece and FYROM. It should be noted that, prior to our decision to write this letter, we invited Dr. Friedman to debate his views in the Hellenic Electronic Center/Professors’ Forum*, but he declined our invitation.
Friedman’s overt bias is best exemplified in his remark “Greeks get away with this ‘cradle of democracy’ image! Give me a break! Ancient Greece was a slave-owning society,” which defies further comment. It is indeed unfortunate that such a statement came from a scholar.
We will not respond with similar sensationalism here. Rather, we will remain close to the facts and scholarly sources, and address those points made by Friedman which might sound reasonable to a reader who is not familiar with the past and the recent history of the Southern Balkan region.
1) Friedman states that “Greeks have been trying to destroy the Slavic culture and its literacy since the Middle Ages”.
Quite to the contrary, the Greeks of Byzantium and the post-byzantine period immensely and crucially contributed to the development of the Slavic cultures of Russia, Bulgaria, and Serbia, during their conversion to Christianity [2]. Remarkably, Friedman neglects to acknowledge that the written Slavic languages were developed by two Byzantine Greek monastic scholars and linguists, Cyril and Methodius of Thessaloniki. Among others, Friedman also displays sheer disregard for: a) the pivotal contributions to Russian literature and philosophy by 15th century Athonite luminary monk Maximus Graecus (Μάξιμος ο Γραικός) [3]; b) the learned Greek brothers, Ioanniky and Sofrony Likhud (Λειχούδη), founders of Moscow’s first institution of higher learning, the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, in 1687 [4]; and c) the centuries-old devotion of the Mother Church (Patriarchate of Constantinople) and Greek clergy to their Slav brethren, as embodied in the published works of the 19th century influential theologian and scholar Konstantinos Oeconomos (Κωνσταντίνος Οικονόμος εξ Οικονόμων)[5], a strong advocate of the historical ties and close kinship between Greeks and Slavs through the centuries.
2) In his rather bookish and rigidly circumscribed view about linguistically divergent constituencies in Greece, Friedman challenges the very essence of Modern Greek identity by disregarding –in a historical sense– the inclusive tradition of Romiosyni, the natural precursor of the Modern Greek nation. The concept of Romiosyni is, in many respects, akin to a 'Greek Commonwealth’, which transcends racial, tribal, and regional linguistic barriers. In failing to bring this concept into consideration when it comes to the historical context of multilingualism in the Balkan region, Friedman echoes earlier claims by—let us note—Greek scholars such as the late Loukas Tsitsipis [6] of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the late Kostas Kazazis [7] of the University of Chicago. Friedman – who is no stranger to Arvanitika, Vlahika and Slavonic dialects in the geographic region of Macedonia– fails to acknowledge that linguistically variegated groups such as Vlach-, Arvanite-, and Slavonic speakers in Macedonia, members of the Ottoman Rum millet and loyal followers of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, were not "Hellenized" subjects (by way of coercive or repressive assimilation) but rather they comprised dominant forces decisively partaking in the fermentation process leading to the shaping of Modern Greek identity and the dissemination of Greek letters in Ottoman Rumelia long before the eruption of ethnic feuds, divisions, and regional nationalisms [8, 9].
3) Friedman alludes to Greek indifference or even resistance to learning foreign languages, unlike other Balkan peoples. It is surprising that a Linguistics scholar uses the (presumed) lack of a Greek proverb to the effect that ‘languages are wealth’ as evidence that Greeks do not value multilingualism. This kind of rhetoric does not constitute a sound linguistic argument, and though possibly appealing to a lay-person, it reflects a way of thinking (called “strong relativism”) that has been largely discredited in current Linguistics.
To go back to scholarly sources, in his book “Bilingualism and the Latin Language” Cambridge University Press, 2003 [10], John N. Adams, Senior Research Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, asserts that whilst "it has long been the conventional opinion that Greeks were indifferent or hostile to the learning of foreign languages, recently it has been shown that that view is far from the truth. Latin in particular was widely known, as has been demonstrated by Holford-Strevens and on a massive scale by Rochette.” [11]
With reference to the modern history of the Greek Nation (Γένος), members of the Rum millet and Romiosyni, ranging from those belonging to the high echelon of diplomats and luminaries of the Sublime Porte (viz. the Phanariots) to the ubiquitous Balkan merchants and retailers in the Ottoman Rumelia, were in fact polyglot (Greek-, Vlach-, Albanian-, Slavonic-, and/or Turkish-speaking, many of them acquainted with Russian, French, German and/or English). Noteworthy in this regard was the precocious (18th century) Greek ‘renaissance’ in Moschopolis/Moscopole (present day Albania) [12] and the 19th/early 20th century Greek cultural dimension in Pelagonia (Krushevo and Monastir/Bitola; present day FYROM) [8, 9]. These centers fostered the dissemination of Greek culture and letters, promoted by bilingual or polyglot speakers with fervent Greek national identity. Vestiges from this, once flourishing, community are still present today in FYROM.
The famous Protopiria (Primer), an Albanian-German-Modern Greek-Vlach dictionary written by the polymath cleric and scholar Theodoros Anastasiou Kavaliotis (Kavalliotes) [13], was the forerunner of comparative linguistics in the Balkans. It was printed in 1770 in Venice, and stands as a reminder of the widespread multilingualism in the flourishing Grecovlach center of Moschopolis/Moscopole and across the territories of the Ottoman Rumelia (the geographical region of Macedonia included).
Reference is made herein to the published works by Thomas Paschidis (1879) [14] and Mihail Lanbrinydis (1907) [15], which capture the collective memories of Arvanite and Vlach Greeks during the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. These works offer a palpable proof of the Greek-Albanian kinship perceived by the 19th century Greek scholars. Noteworthy in this regard are the demonstrative sentiments of Thomas Paschidis, a bilingual -possibly polyglot- Greek Epirote/Arvanite luminary, towards his Grecovlach and Bulgarian brethren. His book contains an appendix in Arvanitika using Greek characters, which is especially informative and enlightening [14].
Given the above, we contend that claims for the presence of divergent identities of Greeks, Arvanites, Vlachs, and so-called Macedonian Slavs, based solely on linguistic grounds, should be viewed with cautious circumspection and within the context of time and space. In particular, it is somewhat surprising that Friedman did not consider the massive diffusion of Arbëreshë (Arvanite) speakers southward into the Helladic Mainland and the Peloponnese during the 14th and 15th centuries (and the most relevant Stradioti saga). Τhe remarkable fermentation and integration of Arbëreshë/Shqiptarë-speaking populations with Greek-, Vlach/Armîn-, and Slavonic-speaking members of the Rum millet during the ensuing centuries remains at the core of Romiosyni and Modern Greek ethnogenesis.
Thus, from a modern historic and anthropological perspective, the rigidly circumscribed and sharply delimited ethno-linguistic ‘definitions’ and compartmentalizations brought forward by Friedman are open to critical reappraisal. Importantly, they are, to a large extent, alien and irrelevant to the Greeks of Arvanite or Vlach origin, whose identity has been shaped by their collective participation in the Modern Greek Experience during the past two (and possibly more) centuries.
The "Declaration of the Northern Epirotes from the Districts of Korytsa and Kolonia Demanding Union of Their Native Province with Greece -- Pan-Epirotic Union in America, (Boston, 1919)" is a testament to the perception of their Greek identity among Albanian-, Vlach- and Greek speakers in Southern Albania/Northern Epirus http://www.helleniccomserve.com/pdf/Declaration%20of%20Northern%20Epirotes%20in%2019%5B1%5D...pdf
Whilst the vision of the 18th century Grecovlach luminary Rigas Velestinlis Thettalos (Feraios) for the creation of a post-Ottoman Balkan Federation/Commonwealth, transcending regional and linguistic differences, did not materialize, the idea –nonetheless- reflected the sentiment of many emancipated Greeks at the time. But the ethnic/national ‘awakenings’ and the divisive forces were already underway, heralding the partial disintegration of Romiosyni followed by a protracted and intractable course of regional feuds and dissensions, which unfortunately live up to this day. The emergence of the ethnocentric national(istic) narrative of ‘Makedonism’ is symptomatic of delayed ‘awakening’ thanks –in part- to the contributions by scholars like Dr. Victor Friedman.
4) Friedman’s argument that “the Greeks came up with a line claiming the Macedonians could not claim the name Macedonia unless they were descended from the Ancient Macedonians” is a sheer misrepresentation. The basis of the dispute between Greece and FYROM lies on the open attempt by the FYROM government to appropriate a very significant part of the Greek history (see examples: http://faq.macedonia.org/history/ and http://www.macedonia-timeless.com/). As part of its newly constructed national narrative, FYROM has opted to trace its historical roots to classical antiquity, underrating the predominantly Slavonic cultural heritage of the majority of its population, which is shared with its Bulgarian brethren. In the words of Dr. Evangelos Kofos, Greece’s leading authority on Modern Macedonian History, this all-encompassing doctrine of ‘Makedonism’ is “encroaching upon an illustrious past, which had been recorded in the annals of Hellenic heritage, almost a millennium prior to the arrival of Slavic tribes in the region” [16] (N.B. There was no Slavic presence in Macedonia until nearly 1,000 years after the time of Alexander the Great).
Aside from the grandiose ideations traceable to antiquity, there is yet another darker side to the ethnocentric national narrative of ‘Makedonism’. Central to the problem at hand is the morbid obsession with race, DNA, HLA haplotypes, and the likes, underlying a broader racial purity narrative. In the video below, one can see footage from a staged propaganda-style inspirational film titled “Makedonska Molitva” (Macedonian Prayer), which was aired on the government-run MTV1 - National TV, First Channel television station of Skopje. Note that the video culminates in a crescendo blending biblical apocalyptic delusions with overtly racial overtones from a different era. Thus, using Hellenized terms, the narrator speaks God's words to the children of the Sun and Flowers telling them that Mother Earth gave birth to three races: "Makedonjoide = white race, Mongoloide = yellow race, Negroide = black race (all others being mulattoes)." And God went on to say to the Makedontsi that, "All white people are your brethren because they carry 'Macedonian' genes." [17]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZJ62MGF7xI
It is indeed regrettable that Friedman has opted to downplay the gravity and long-term implications of a morbidly nationalistic narrative nurtured in the primary and secondary school curricula of FYROM.
Greeks throughout the world do not harbor any enmity or hostility toward FYROM nationals, and yearn for a peaceful and productive coexistence between the two peoples. Greece has an earnest desire for mutual respect and the realization of a lasting political solution with its northern neighbor. Greece does not deny the nationals of FYROM their identity (or identities). In this dispute, Greece is only compelled to delineate the distinction between the ethno-cultural domains of Greek Macedonia and FYROM. With this in mind, we wish that the people of FYROM start questioning the state propaganda and reflect upon their recent history. They were victimized for half a century under a totalitarian regime and were nurtured under a propagandistic educational system. In keeping with this entrenched tradition, Article 6 of the Law on the Scientific Research Activity, as published in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia" Nos.13/96 and 29/02, proscribes the development of any scientific research on the ethnic identity of the citizens of FYROM. We believe that such obsessive preoccupation with national identity in the 21st century, coupled with misrepresentation of history, only harms the citizens of FYROM.
As a geographic region, Macedonia has long been known for its ethno-linguistic diversity for which the time-honored term “Macedonian salad” was coined. Hence, Macedonia is neither a single country nor the cradle of a single nation, but a geographic region (with protean borders throughout history) parts of which belong nowadays to three states, each with its distinctive cultural heritage, national identity, and collective memory. It is most disturbing that Skopje claims the entire geographic Macedonian region of modern times as part of that nation’s “tatkovina” (fatherland), thus effectively laying claim to unredeemed territories in Greek Macedonia [18]. This is not a “hidden agenda”. The government of FYROM has published and circulated a state map showing FYROM to extend over Greek territory, including Thessaloniki [19].
The Hellenic identity of ancient Macedonia is indisputable; it is supported by historical, archeological, and linguistic evidence. For the socio-political and historical facts, the most authoritative source is the classic work of the leading scholar on the history of ancient Macedonia, the late Prof. Nicholas Hammond's book, The Macedonian State, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1989. As regards the language, by 5th century B.C. Attic Greek was standardized as the language of Ancient Macedonia (Makedon). For instance, of the 1,044 inscriptions included in the fascicle Inscriptiones Thessalonicae et Viciniae (ISBN 3 11 0018594) –one of the most painstaking and complex volumes of the Berlin corpus, encompassing all the inscriptions of ancient Thessaloniki from the 3rd century B.C. to the 7th or 8th century A.D.– most are Greek, while a few are Latin (personal communication with Dr. John C. Rouman, Professor Emeritus of Classics at the University of New Hampshire) [20]. When considering the pre-5th century B.C. language (for which evidence is more fragmentary), the current consensus seems to be that it was a Hellenic dialect. The term “Hellenic” has been proposed by Professor Brian Joseph (Ohio State University, 1999, 2001) [21] to refer to the linguistic sub-family within the Indo-European languages that comprises Ancient Macedonian and the rest of the Greek dialects. This classification has been adopted by the LINGUIST list (the official electronic site of Linguistics); see
http://www.linguistlist.org/forms/langs/GetListOfAncientLgs.html and http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/get-familyid.cfm?CFTREEITEMKEY=IEG
On the first site, it is additionally cautioned that “Macedonian is the ancient language of the Macedonian kingdom in northern Greece and modern Macedonia during the 1st millennium B.C. Not to be confused with the modern Macedonian language, which is a close relative of the Slavonic Bulgarian [emphasis ours].” For additional references on the subject, see G. Babiniotis, “Ancient Macedonian: The Place of Macedonian among the Greek Dialects” in : A. M. Tamis (ed.), Macedonian Hellenism, Melbourne 1990, pp. 241-250; C. Brixhe, A. Panayotou, “Le Macédonien” in: Langues indo-européennes, ed. Bader, Paris, 1994, 205–220; and J. Chadwick, The Prehistory of the Greek Language, Cambridge 1963.
5) Friedman’s assertion that the Greek State has implemented repressive measures against the “Macedonian minority” in Greece is politically motivated. Most importantly, it misrepresents the real demographic situation in the Northwestern prefectures of Greek Macedonia, by not taking into account the fact that the use of variant local Slavonic-like idioms/dialects is widespread among bilingual, indigenous Greek Macedonians with unambiguous Greek identity. These bilingual Greek Macedonians (also known as Grecomans or Grkmani) along with Grecovlachs were the backbone of Romiosyni and Hellenism in the region during the 19th and 20th centuries. Friedman should by now be cognizant of the fact that when it comes to Macedonian identities it ultimately boils down to choices of national affiliation, as, not infrequently, even members of the same family may profess divergent ethnic/national identities. And even though Greece disputes the existence of a “Macedonian minority” on the grounds of definition, the self-described “party of the Macedonian minority in Greece”, Rainbow-Vinozhito, enjoys full recognition by the Greek state (and receives a negligible number of votes in elections). Vinozhito’s members are free to openly express their grievances and dissenting opinions.
The problem of FYROM is further compounded by the fact that a large proportion of its population, and a number of the Slavophone inhabitants of Greece, collaborated with the Italian and German occupation forces (1941-1944) [22] and by the rekindling of old family feuds and grievances dating back to the days of the Greek Civil War (1945-1949). These have nowadays resurfaced thanks to the bitter politics embraced by a third generation of politicians in Skopje, belonging for the most part to the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party [16, 22]. Some of them, like current Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, identify themselves as “Aegean Macedonian” (Egejski) political refugees, based on their family roots in Greek Macedonia [16]. At issue are claims for restitution and/or repatriation, subjects that other states with autonomist Axis collaborators (such as the Czech Republic and Poland) refuse even to discuss [22, 23]. Whilst during the past thirty years the Greeks have managed to heal some of the Civil War wounds, there are still fresh memories, even among members of the Greek Communist Party, about the subversive actions of Makedonski autonomist bandsmen of NOF endangering the territorial integrity of Greek Macedonia. By playing the Egejski card half a century later, in the midst of negotiations over the thorny ‘name issue’, Skopje shows an increasingly intransigent and confrontational -rather than constructive- approach.
We conclude by emphasizing that sensationalism and sheer bias, as displayed in Friedman’s interview, serve neither historical truth nor a constructive scholarly or political discourse; and they certainly do not help the people of FYROM. No intellectual and scholar should feel comfortable accepting, let alone promoting, such rhetoric.
ENDNOTES
1. Victor Friedman on Macedonia: the Balkanalysis.com Interview
http://www.balkanalysis.com/2008/12/14/victor-friedman-on-macedonia-the-balkanalysiscom-interview/
2. “Byzantium nurtured the untamed tribes of the Serbs, Bulgars, Russians and Croats and shaped them into nations. It gave them its religion, its institutions, its traditions, and taught their leaders how to govern. Indeed, [Byzantium] gave them the essence of culture –written language/script and philology.” F. Dvornik, Les Slaves, Byzance et Rome au IXe siècle, II, Paris 1928 and P.P. Charanis, The development of Byzantine Studies in the United States. Acceptance lecture by Professor P. Charanis upon his conferral of Doctor honoris causa by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (14.3.1972), Thessaloniki, 1973, 34. Cited in Achille Lazarou, Ellinismos kai Laoi Notioanatolikis (NA) Evropis. Diachronikes kai Diepistimonikes Diadromes. Tomos A’. Lychnia Publishers, Athens, 2009, p. 218 [ISBN 978-960-930950-9].
3. Antonios-Emilios Tahiaos O Athonitis Monahos Maximos o Graikos. O Teleftaios ton Vyzantinon sti Rossia, published by the Society for Macedonian Studies, People's Library, Thessaloniki 2008.
http://www.ems.gr/ems/client/userfiles/file/EKDOSEIS/MAKEDONIKI_LAIKI_BIBLIOTHIKI/Taxiaos_Maximos_Graikos.pdf
4. Before coming to Moscow, the Greek brothers studied in Venice and Padua. At the Moscow Academy, Ioanniky taught physics while his brother Sofrony taught physics and logic in the Aristotelian tradition, while also emphasizing the works of Byzantine philosophers. The Greek brothers embodied the so-called "Greek" trend that prevailed in Russian culture prior to the radical reforms introduced by Peter the Great. Unlike the "Latin" tradition, which emanated from medieval Western scholasticism with a slant toward rhetoric and poetry, the Greek trend focused heavily on philosophy, history, and natural sciences. The rich and fertile rivalry between these two scholarly and scientific traditions was a prevailing feature of Russian culture during the late 17th century [Source: Alexander Vucinich, Science in Russian Culture: A History to 1860, Stanford University Press, 1963]
5. P. Matalas, Ethnos kai Orthodoxia. Oi peripeteies mias schesis. Apo to ‘Elladiko’ sto Voulgariko schisma. Panepistimiakes Ekdoseis Kritis, 2002
6. Lukas D. Tsitsipis. A linguistic anthropology of praxis and language shift: Arvanítika (Albanian)
and Greek in contact. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998. Also, see Victor Friedman's “The Albanian Language in Its Eastern Diaspora.” Arvanitika kai Ellenika: Zetemata polyglossikon kai polypolitismikon koinoteton [Greek: Arvanitika and Greek: Problems of multilingual and multicultural communities],
Vol. 2, ed. by Loukas Tsitsipis. Livadeia, Greece: European Union & The Prefecture of Levadeia, 1998,
pp. 215-231.
7. Kostas Kazazis' obituary by Victor Friedman posted on the website of Society Farsarotul, a United States-based political activist group promoting the so-called independent Aromanian movement http://www.farsarotul.org/nl25_5.htm
8. Antonis M. Koltsidas' monograph entitled Greek Education in Monastir – Pelagonia Organisation and Operation of Greek Schools, Cultural Life. [English Translation by Janet Koniordos] published by the Society for Macedonian Studies, Macedonian Library - 105, Thessaloniki 2008 http://www.ems.gr/ems/client/userfiles/file/EKDOSEIS/MAKEDONIKI_BIBLIOTHIKI/Koltsidas_Monastiri_Pelagonia.pdf
9. See Christos D. Katsetos’ article entitled Vlahoi. Rahokokalia tou Ellinikou ethnous (Vlachs - The backbone of the Greek nation) published in the Athens newspaper Apogevmatini (on 11 November, 2007, p. 17) http://www.vlahoi.net/content/view/257/109/
10. See the excerpt from the Introduction of J.N. Adams' book.
http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/17714/excerpt/9780521817714_excerpt.pdf
11. See Rochette's treatise Les Romains et le latin vus par les Grecs.
http://www2b.ac-lille.fr/langues-anciennes/telechargement/20Latinetgrec4eme.pdf
12. See Lazarou, op. cit., p. 293 [vide supra]. Prokopios Dimitrios Pamperis Moschopolitis, «Απαρίθμησις Λογίων Γραικών», Hamburg, 1772. Reprinted by Karavias Publishers, Athens, 1966 http://www.rarebooks.com.gr/book.asp?catid=361
13. Theodoros Kavaliotis, founder of the New Academy of Moschopolis, was the author of a quadrilingual dictionary entitled Protopiria. Das dreisprächige Wörterverzeichnis von Theodoros Anastasiu Kavalliotes aus Moschopolis, gedruckt 1770 in Venedig: albanisch-deutsch-neugriechischich-aromunisch/ neu bearbeit, mit dem heutigen Zustande der albanischen Schriftsprache verglichen_ [Protopiria (Πρωτοπειρία)= Primer. Three Lists of Words in Three Languages, which was printed in 1770 in Venice: Albanian-German-Modern ('Nea') Greek-Armîn/Vlach; New edition, with the today's Situation of the Albanian written Language].
14. Thomas Paschidis, «Οι Αλβανοί και το μέλλον αυτών εν τω Ελληνισμώ - Μετά παραρτήματος περί των Ελληνοβλάχων και Βουλγάρων», υπό Θ. Πασχίδου [Shqiptarët dhe e ardhmja e tyre në helenizëm - Me shtesë mbi grekovllehtë dhe bullgarët] Th. Paskidu, 1879 [The Albanians and their future in Hellenism -With an appendix on Grecovlachs and Bulgarians]. Reprinted by Karavias Publishers, Athens, 1981 http://www.rarebooks.com.gr/book.asp?catid=356
http://www.shqiptarortodoks.com/tekste/albanologji/Paskidu_1879.pdf
15. Mihail Lambrinidis, «Οι Αλβανοί κατά την κυρίως Ελλάδα και την Πελοπόννησον (Ύδρα-Σπέτσαι)», υπό Μιχαήλ Λαμπρυνίδου, 1907[Shqiptarët në Greqinë qendrore dhe në Peloponez Mihail Lambrinidou, 1907] [The Albanians in Mainland Greece and Peloponnese (Hydra-Spetsae)]. Reprinted by Karavias Publishers, Athens, 1981 http://www.rarebooks.com.gr/book.asp?catid=357
http://www.shqiptarortodoks.com/tekste/albanologji/Lambrinidu.pdf
16. See analysis by Dr. Evangelos Kofos of the ICG Report “Macedonia’s Name: Breaking the Deadlock” http://blogs.eliamep.gr/en/kofos/analysis-icg-report-macedonia’s-name-breaking-the-deadlock/#more-92
Also, see essay by the same author entitled 'The Unresolved “Difference over the Name”: The Greek perspective'. In: Kofos E, Vlasidis V (Eds) Athens-Skopje: An Uneasy Symbiosis, 1995-2002. Research Centre for Macedonian History and Documentation at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, Thessaloniki, 2005 http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/InterimAgreement/Downloads/Interim_Kofos.pdf
17. See claims about the ‘Sub-Saharan origin of the Greeks’ in state-sponsored ethnogenetic studies.
http://www.makedonika.org/processpaid.aspcontentid=ti.2001.pdf
18. Kofos, ibid
19 Vance Stojcev. Voena Istorija Na Makedonija: Skici. Sojuzot na drustvata na istoricarite na RM i Voenata akademija General Mihailo Apostolski, ISBN 9989776075 (9989-776-07-5)/ Military History of Macedonia. Military Academy General Mihailo Apostolski, ISBN 9989134057 (9989-134-05-7)
20. Excerpted from the letter of Dr. Rouman to the New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson (dated 2002). Dr. Rouman was for five years, both at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, research assistant during Professor Charles F. Edson's protracted and difficult project, focusing on the editing of all the inscriptions of ancient Thessalonica from the third century B.C. to the seventh or eighth century A.D. for the German Academy of Berlin. For his meritorious contribution Dr. Edson was awarded the prestigious Charles Goodwin Award of Merit of the American Philological Association.
21. Brian Joseph (1999), Ancient Greek in: J. Garry, C. Rubino, A. Faber, R. French (editors), Facts About the World's Languages: An Encyclopedia of the World's Major Languages: Past and Present, New York/Dublin, H. W. Wilson Press, 2001
22. See article by Aristide D. Caratzas titled Oi nazistikes rizes tou VMRO (the Nazi origins of VMRO) published in the Athens newspaper Ethnos (2.8.2009)
http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=11378&subid=2&tag=8334&pubid=1370687
Also, see article by the same author entitled “Why the Greek People Cannot Easily Accept FYROM’s Claims” published in The National Herald (30.8.2009)
http://rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=739&Itemid=41
23. See commentary by Evangelos Kofos titled “Unexpected Initiatives: Towards the resettlement of a Slav-Macedonian minority in Macedonia?” (Originally published in the Athens newspaper To Vima on June 25 , 2003) http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Opinion/comm_20030710Kofos.html
SIGNATURES
Martis, Nikolaos, Former Minister of Macedonia/Thrace.
Agathos, Spiros N., Professor, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BELGIUM.
Albrecht-Piliouni, Effie, Professor of Linguistics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Albrecht, Ulrich, Professor of Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL USA.
Anagnostopoulos, Stavros A., Professor of Civil Engineering, Head, University of Patras, 26500, Patras, GREECE.
Anastassiou, George, Professor of Mathematics, University of Memphis, USA.
Anastassopoulou, Jane, Professor, NTUA, GREECE.
Andreadis, Stelios T., Ph.D., Professor, Bioengineering Laboratory, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, New York, USA.
Antoniou, Antonios, Dr. Dent., D.M.D., Dental Surgeon, Lemesos, CYPRUS.
Arkas Evangelos, Ph.D., CEO Prometheus Technology Inc. London, UK.
Aroniadou-Anderjaska, Vassiliki, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, Dept. of APG and Dept. of Psychiatry, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Athanassouli, Georgia, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Physics, University of Patras, GREECE.
Baloglou, George, Associate Professor of Mathematics (retired, SUNY
Oswego), Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Balopoulos, Victor, Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Thrace, GREECE.
Barbas, John T., Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA, USA.
Billis, Euripides, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Bitros, George C., Professor of Economics, Emeritus, Department of Economics, Athens, University of Economics and Business, Athens, GREECE.
Botsas, Lefteris N., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Economics Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA.
Boundas, Constantin V., Professor Emeritus, Department of Philosophy, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, CANADA.
Bouros, Demosthenes, MD, Ph.D. FCCP Professor of Pneumonology, Chairman, Dept, of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Bronstein, Arna, Associate Professor of Russian, Dept. of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
Burriel, Angeliki R., DVM, MSc, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, GREECE.
Bucher, Matthias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, ECE Dept., Technical University of Crete, Chania, Crete, GREECE.
Cacoullos, Theophilos, Emeritus Professor, University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Caratzas, Aristide D., Historian, Academic Publisher, Athens/New York.
Chaniotakis, Nikos, Professor of Chemistry, University of Crete, Crete, GREECE.
Christodoulou, Chris, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Cyprus, 75 Kallipoleos Ave, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Christodoulou, Manolis A., Professor of Control Laboratory, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Crete, GREECE.
Chrysanthopoulos, Michael, Ph.D., Historian, Hagiographer, Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Cladis, John B., Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics, Lockheed Martin Space Physics Lab, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Clairmont, Richard, Dr., Senior Lecturer of Classics, University of NH, USA.
Constantinides, Christos, Professor Emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wyoming, USA.
Constantinou, Philip, Ph.D., Professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. National technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Constantopoulos, Yannis, Professor, GREECE.
Coucouvanis, Dimitri, Professor of Chemistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.
Daglis, Ioannis A., Ph.D., Research Director, Institute for Space Applications National Observatory of Athens, Penteli, GREECE.
Damianou, Pantelis, Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Cyprus, 1678, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Danginis, Vassilios A., Ph.D., Director of Engineering, SMSC, Hauppauge, NY 11788, USA.
Deltas, Constantinos, Professor of Genetics, Chairman of Biological Sciences, Head, Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of Cyprus, Kallipoleos Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Demetracopoulos, Alex C., Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, 265 00, Patras, GREECE.
Demopoulos, George P., Ph.D., Eng., FCIM, Professor and Gerald Hatch Faculty Fellow,
Associate Chair and Graduate Program Director, Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Wong Building, 3610 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B2, CANADA.
Dimopoulos, Nikitas, PhD, PEng, FEIC, Professor and Lansdowne Chair in Computer Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Victoria
PO BOX 3055, Victoria B.C. V8W 3P6, CANADA.
Dokos, Socrates, Dr., Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales Sydney, AUSTRALIA.
Doulia, Danae, Professor of Nat. Techn. University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Dritsos, Stephanos E., Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, 26500, Patras, GREECE.
Economou, Thanasis, Senior Scientist, Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, IL, USA.
Efthymiou, Pavlos N., Professor, Dr. ret. nat., Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR - 541 24 THESSALONIKI, GREECE.
Episcopos, Athanasios, Associate Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business, Athens, 10434, GREECE.
Eriotis, Nikolaos, Associate Professor of Accounting, University of Athens, Philothei, GREECE.
Fleszar, Aleksandra, Assoc. Professor of Russian, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
Flytzani-Stephanopoulos, Maria, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
Fotopoulos, Spiros, Professor, Electronics Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Patras, GREECE.
Foudopoulos, Panayotis, Ph.D., Electrical Engineer, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Fthenakis, Vasilis, Director, Center for Life Cycle Analysis, Earth and Environmental Engineering Department, Columbia University, 926 S.W. Mudd, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Gatzoulis, Nina, Supreme President of the Pan-Macedonian Association (USA) and Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of New Hampshire, USA.
Gavalas, George, Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, USA.
Gavras, Irene, MD, Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Georgakis, Christos, Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering,
Bernard M. Gordon Senior Faculty Fellow of Systems Engineering, TUFTS University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
Georges, Anastassios T., Professor, Department of Physics, University of Patras, GREECE.
Georgiou, Demetrius A., Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Giannakidou, Anastasia, Professor of Linguistics, Dept. of Linguistics, University of Chicago, USA.
Grammatikos Theoharry, Associate Director, Methods and Processes Improvement,
European Investment Bank, 100, blvd Konrad Adenauer, L-2950, Luxembourg.
Groumpos, Petros P., Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, GREECE.
Halamandaris, Pandelis, Ph.D., Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Brandon University, Deputy Director, University of Manitoba Centre for Hellenic Civilization, CANADA.
Hassiotis Sophia, Ph.D., Civil Engineering Program Director, CEOE, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N.J. 07030, USA.
Horsch, Georgios M., Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
University of Patras, Patras, GREECE.
Ioannou, Petros, Ph.D., Professor, Electrical Engineering-Systems, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Iliadis, Lazaros S., Associate Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Kakouli-Duarte, Thomais, Ph.D., President, Hellenic Community of Ireland, and Lecturer, Environmental Bio-Sciences, Dept. of Science and Health Institute of Technology, Carlow, IRELAND.
Kamari, Georgia, Professor, Division of Plant Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, GR-265 00, Patras, GREECE.
Kambezidis, Harry, Dr., Research Director, National Observatory of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Karabalis, Dimitris L., Professor, University of Patras, GREECE.
Karageorgis, Demetris, Information Science Teacher, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Karagiannidis, Iordanis, Ph.D., Assistant Researcher, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Karakatsanis, Theoklitos S., Ph.D., Electrical Engineer N.T.U.A, Assistant Professor D.U.TH., Dept. of Production Engineering & Management, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Karatzios, Christos, M.D. C.M., FRCPC, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, McGill University Health Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases, Montreal Children's Hospital; Associate Member, Special Immunology Division, Centre Universitaire Mere-Enfant de l'Hopital Ste Justine, University of Montreal, Quebec, CANADA.
Karayanni, Despina A., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Patras, Department of Business Administration, GREECE.
Karpathakis, Anna, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology, CUNY, New York, USA.
Katsetos, Christos D., M.D., Ph.D., FRCPath, Professor of Pathology, Drexel University College of Medicine and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Katsifarakis, Konstantinos L., Ph.D., Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Katsifis, Spiros, Ph.D., FACFE, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Biology, University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT, USA.
Katsoufis, Elias C., Associate Professor of Physics, School of Applied Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.Katsouris, Andreas, Professor of Ancient Greek Philology, Division of Classical Philology, University of Ioannina, GREECE.
Kitridou, Rodanthi C., MD, FACP, MACR Professor Emerita of Medicine (Rheumatology), USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Komodromos, Petros, Lecturer, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering University of Cyprus, CYPRUS.
Konstantatos (Kostas), Demosthenes J., Ph.D., M.Sc., M.B.A., Telecommunications, Greenwich, CT, USA.
Kottis, George C., Emeritus Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business Science, Athens, GREECE.
Kugiumtzis, Dimitris, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Koussis, Antonis D., Ph.D., Research Director, Institute for Environmental Research, National Observatory of Athens, Metaxa & Vassileos Pavlou, GR - 152 36 Palaia Penteli, Athens, GREECE.
Koutroumbas, Konstantinos, Ph.D., Researcher, Institute for Space Applications & Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens, Palea Penteli, 15236 ATHENS-GREECE.
Koutselini, Mary, Dr , Department of Education, University of Cyprus, CYPRUS.
Kouzoudis, Dimitris, Lecturer, Engineering Sciences Department, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, GREECE.
Kritas, Spyridon K., DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ECPHM Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, GREECE.
Kritikos, Haralambos N., Professor Emeritus, Department of Systems and Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA.
Kyriacou, George A., Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Kyriakou, Anastasia, Plant Pathologist, Agricultural Research Institute, Lefcosia, CYPRUS.
Ladikos, Anastasios, Professor, Department of Criminology and Security Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA.
Lagoudakis, Michail G., Assistant Professor, Technical University of Crete, Chania, GREECE.
Lambrinos, Panos, Professor of Mathematics, School of Engineering, Democritus, University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Lampropoulos, George A., Ph.D. Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept., University of Calgary, CANADA.
Lampropoulou, Venetta, Professor of Deaf Education, Deaf Studies Unit, Department of Education, University of Patras, GREECE.
Lazaridis, Anastas, Professor Emeritus, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013, USA.
Leventouri, Theodora, Dr., Professor, Department of Physics, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Lialiaris, Theodore S., BSc, MD, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor of Medical Biology and Cytogenetics, Medical School of Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Lolos, George J., Professor, Physics Department, University of Regina, CANADA.
Lymberopoulos, John Ph.D., Leeds School Summer Dean, Professor of International Business & Finance Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA.
Manias, Stefanos, Professor, National Technical University of Athens, Dep. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrical Machines and Power electronics Laboratory, Athens, GREECE.
Manolopoulos, Vangelis G., Assoc. Professor of Pharmacology, Democritus University of Thrace, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, GREECE.
Maragos, Petros, Professor, National Technical University of Athens,
School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Athens , GREECE.
Melakopides, Costas, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Mermigas, Eleftherios, Professor, ASCP, Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University at Buffalo NY, USA.
Metallinos-Katsaras, Elizabeth, Ph.D. RD, Associate Professor, Nutrition Department,
Simmons College, Boston MA, USA.
Michaelides, Stathis, Ph.D., P.E. Professor and Chair, Mechanical Engineering University of Texas at San Antonio One UTSA Circle San Antonio, TX, USA.
Michailidis, Dimitri, M.D., Gen.Surgeon, President, ELEFI (Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians), President, Auditors Committee, Hellenic Society of Pharmacology, Member, EB IFAPP, GREECE.
Michopoulos, Aristotle, Dr., Greek Studies, Hellenic College, Brookline, MA, USA.
Miller, Stephen G., Professor Emeritus, Classical Archaeology, University of California, Berkeley CA, USA.
Mylonakou-Kekes Iro, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational, Sciences, Faculty of Primary Education, University of Athens, 13A Navarinou, 10680 ATHENS, GREECE.
Milonas, Nikolaos, Professor of Finance, University of Athens, Marousi, GREECE.
Moulopoulos, Konstantinos, Dr., Associate Professor of Physics, University of Cyprus, CYPRUS.
Mourtos, Nikos J., Ph.D., Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, San Jose State University, One Washington Square San Jose, CA, USA.
Nasis, Vasileios T., Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Drexel University College of Engineering, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Nenes, Athanasios, Associate Professor, Schools of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.
Newman, Constantine, Reverent Dr., Classics Professor-University of New Hampshire, USA.
Newman Anna, Professor of Classics-University of New Hampshire, USA.
Nikolakopoulos, Konstantin, Professor, Institute of Orthodox Theology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, GERMANY.
Panagiotakopoulos, Chris T., B.Sc., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Educational Technology, University of Patras - School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Education, Archemedes Str., 265 04 Rio Patras, GREECE.
Panagiotakopoulos, Demetrios, Professor of Civil Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Panagiotopoulos, Dimitrios P., Assoc. Professor, University of Athens, Attorney-at-Law, President of International Association of Sports Law, GREECE.
Papadopoulos, George K., Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Epirus Institute of Technology, Arta, 47100, GREECE.
Papadopoulos, George, Professor Emeritus, Applied Electronics Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, GREECE.
Papadopoulos, Kyriakos, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
Papamarkos, Nikos, Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, School of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, GREECE.
Papavassiliou, Dimitrios P., MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Pediatric Cardiology, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian
Columbia University Medical Center. New York, NY, USA.
Papazoglou, Georges, Professor of Palaeography, Chairman - Department History and Ethnology, Democritus University of Thrace, KOMOTINI, GREECE.
Patitsas, Steve, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor, Physics Department, University of Lethbridge,
4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, CANADA.
Patitsas, Tom Athanasios, Professor Emeritus, Department of Physics and Astronomy Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, CANADA.
Pelekanos, Nikos, Professor of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Heraklion-Crete, GREECE.
Pelides, Panayiotis, Ph.D., Consultant Anesthesiologist, American Heart Institute, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Persephonis, Peter, Professor, Physics Department, University of Patras, GREECE.
Phufas, Ellene S., Professor, English/Humanities SUNY- ECC Buffalo, NY, USA.
Pintelas, Panagiotis E., Professor of Computer Science, Dept. of Mathematics, University of Patras, Patras, GREECE.
Pittas, Stamatios, Head of Marketing Dept., KOSTEAS GROUP OF COMPANIES, Chalkis, GREECE.
Plionis, Manolis, Ph.D., Research Director, Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, National Observatory of Athens, GREECE.
Pnevmatikatos, Dionysios, Assoc. Professor, ECE Department, Technical University of Crete, GREECE.
Polychroniadis, K.E., Professor, Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Poularikas, Alexander D., Professor Emeritus (University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama), Houston, Texas, USA.
Pozios, John LL.B., MBA, Director, Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, CANADA.
Psaras, GK, Ph.D., Professor, Section of Plant Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Patras, GR 265 00, GREECE.
Psyrri, Amanda, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
Rantsios, Apostolos T., Ph.D., Dipl., Past President, World Veterinary Association, Marousi, GREECE.
Rapsomanikis, S., Ph.D., Professor, Director, Laboratory of Atmospheric Pollution, Control Engineering of Atmospheric Pollutants, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Raptis, Aristotle, Professor, University of Athens, GREECE.
Rigas, Fotis, Ph.D., Associate Professor, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Roilides, Emmanuel, MD, PhD., Assoc. Professor, 3rd Dept. Pediatrics, University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Romanos, Michael, Ph.D., Professor of Economic Development, School of Planning, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Rontoyannis, George P., Professor, Dept. Phys Ed Sports, Science University of Thessaly, GREECE.
Rouman, John C., Dr., Professor Emeritus of Classics.
Sarafopoulos Dimitrios, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Samaras George, Professor, USA.
Samothrakis, Periandros, Ph.D., P.E., Hydraulic Engineer, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
Sapatinas, Theofanis, BSc, MSc, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Savvas, Minas, Professor Emeritus, San Diego State University, SanDiego, CA, USA.
Siafarikas Panayiotis, Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Patras Patras, GREECE.
Sideris, Kosmas, Ph.D., Civil Engineer Lecturer, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Simitses, George J., Professor Emeritus of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Siolas, John G., Ph.D., Educator, New York, USA.
Sivitanides, Marcos P., Ph.D., CCP. Associate Professor, Information Systems, McCoy College of Business, Texas State University San Marcos, Texas, USA.
Skias, Stylianos G., Assist. Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Skodras, A. N., Professor, Head of Computer Science, School of Science & Technology
Hellenic Open University, 13-15 Tsamadou, GR-26222 Patras, GREECE.
Sotiropoulou, Georgia, PhD, Assoc. Professor, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Rion-Patras 26500, GREECE.
Staikos, Georgios, Assoc. Professor, Laboratory of Organic Chemical Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, University Campus – Rion, GR - 265 04 Patras, GREECE.
Stamatoyannopoulos, George, M.D., Dr., Sci., Professor of Medicine and Genome Sciences, Director, Markey Molecular Medicine Center, K-240 Health Sciences Building, Box 357720, Seattle, WA 98195-7720, USA.
Stamboliadis, Elias, Associate Professor, Mineral Resources, Engineering Dept, Technical University of Crete University, Campus Chania, Crete, GREECE.
Stavrou, Esther, Ph.D., Associate Clinical Professor, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, USA.
Stephanopoulos, Greg W.H., Dow Professor, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Syrimis, Michael, Assistant Professor, Department of French and Italian, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Tassios, Dimitrios, Professor Emeritus, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Tavouktsoglou, Athanasios N., Ph.D., Professor, Concordia University, College of Alberta, CANADA.
Templar, Marcus A., M.A., M.S., Balkans expert, Illinois, USA.
Thramboulidis, Kleanthis, Assoc. Professor, Software Engineering Group (SEG) - Electrical & Computer, University of Patras, PATRAS, GREECE.
Triantaphyllopoulos, Demetrios D., Professor, Department of Archaeology and History,
University of Cyprus, CYPRUS.
Tryphonopoulos, Demetres P., A/Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Professor, Dept. of English, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, N.B., CANADA.
Tsakiridou, Cornelia A., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Philosophy, Director, Diplomat-In-Residence Program, La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Tsatsanifos, Christos, Ph.D., Civil Engineering MSc., D.I.C. M.ASCE. Athens, GREECE.
Tsigas-Fotinis, Vasiliki, Ph.D., Professor of Education, Caldwell College, Caldwell, New Jersey, USA.
Tsihrintzis, Vassilios A., Ph.D., P.E., P.H., Professor of Ecological Engineering & Technology, Director, Laboratory of Ecological Engineering & Tehnology, Chairman, Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi 67100, GREECE.
Tsaroucha, Alexandra, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi 67100, GREECE.
Tsinganos, Kanaris, Professor, Department of Physics, University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Tsohantaridis, Timotheos, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical Studies and Greek, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, USA.
Valanides, Nicos (visiting scholar at DePaul University, Chicago, USA), Associate Professor (Science Education), Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Velivasakis, Emmanuel E., PE, FASCE, President, PANCRETAN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA & HELLENIC AMERICAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, New York, USA.
Vardulakis, Antonis, Professor, Department of Mathematics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Varkaraki, Elli, Ph.D., Senior Researcher, Centre for Renewable Energy Sources, GREECE.
Vasilos, Thomas, Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA.
Velgakis, Michael, Professor of Physics, Engineering Science Dept., University of Patras, Patras, GREECE.
Vlavianos, Nickie, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, Calgary, CA, USA.
Vomvas, Athanassios, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, University of Patras
26500 Patras, GREECE.
Voudrias, Evangelos A., Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Vrongistinos, Konstantinos, Ph.D., Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, 18111 Nordhoff St., California State University, Northridge, CA, USA.
Yannopoulos, Panayotis C., Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, GREECE.
Yiacoumettis, Andreas M., Assoc. Professor, Plastic Surgery, Democritus University of Thrace, Secretary General ESPRAS ExCo, President 11th ESPRAS CONGRESS, President UEMS Section Plast. Rec.& Aesthetic Surgery, GREECE.
Ypsilanti, Maria, Assistant Professor of Ancient Greek Literature, University of Cyprus, Dept. of Classical Studies and Philosophy, PO Box 20537, 1678, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Zavos, Panayiotis, Professor Emeritus, Reproductive Medicine & Andrology, Lexington, KY, USA.
Zervakis, Michalis, Professor of Electronics and Computer Engineering,
Technical University of Crete, Chania, GREECE.
Zervos, Nicholas A., Ph.D., Director, Adv. Multimedia ALGOSYSTEMS, Athens, GREECE.
Zotou, Vassiliki, Ph.D., Language and Linguistics, University of Thessaly, Volos, GREECE.
* Hellenic Electronic Center (HEC) www.greece.org is a non-profit (IRS 501 (c )3 (51-0377653) US organization with 38,000 members and 90 forums. The Professors' and PhDs' forum has a membership of 5,000 academics from 18 countries. One of the objectives of HEC as well as the Professors' forum is to defend Hellenic history, language, and culture and inform the global community on these issues.
Ime romeos e xeuro plus glose Fazio degli Uberti, Il Dittamondo, 3.23.36
March, 2009
In his interview on Balkanalysis.com (12/14/2008) [1], Linguistics professor and Balkan Studies scholar Victor Friedman portrays Greeks as a most undemocratic and oppressive nation, from ancient to present time, and places the role of Greece in the Balkans in a most negative light. The core of his arguments seems to lie in what he considers suppression of multilingualism and minorities in Greece, which he associates with the current dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on the name of the latter country. As scholars and academics, some of us students of Macedonian history and culture, we wish to offer an alternative perspective and rebut Friedman’s views and assertions in regard to the identity of the modern Greek nation and the true nature of the current dispute between Greece and FYROM. It should be noted that, prior to our decision to write this letter, we invited Dr. Friedman to debate his views in the Hellenic Electronic Center/Professors’ Forum*, but he declined our invitation.
Friedman’s overt bias is best exemplified in his remark “Greeks get away with this ‘cradle of democracy’ image! Give me a break! Ancient Greece was a slave-owning society,” which defies further comment. It is indeed unfortunate that such a statement came from a scholar.
We will not respond with similar sensationalism here. Rather, we will remain close to the facts and scholarly sources, and address those points made by Friedman which might sound reasonable to a reader who is not familiar with the past and the recent history of the Southern Balkan region.
1) Friedman states that “Greeks have been trying to destroy the Slavic culture and its literacy since the Middle Ages”.
Quite to the contrary, the Greeks of Byzantium and the post-byzantine period immensely and crucially contributed to the development of the Slavic cultures of Russia, Bulgaria, and Serbia, during their conversion to Christianity [2]. Remarkably, Friedman neglects to acknowledge that the written Slavic languages were developed by two Byzantine Greek monastic scholars and linguists, Cyril and Methodius of Thessaloniki. Among others, Friedman also displays sheer disregard for: a) the pivotal contributions to Russian literature and philosophy by 15th century Athonite luminary monk Maximus Graecus (Μάξιμος ο Γραικός) [3]; b) the learned Greek brothers, Ioanniky and Sofrony Likhud (Λειχούδη), founders of Moscow’s first institution of higher learning, the Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy, in 1687 [4]; and c) the centuries-old devotion of the Mother Church (Patriarchate of Constantinople) and Greek clergy to their Slav brethren, as embodied in the published works of the 19th century influential theologian and scholar Konstantinos Oeconomos (Κωνσταντίνος Οικονόμος εξ Οικονόμων)[5], a strong advocate of the historical ties and close kinship between Greeks and Slavs through the centuries.
2) In his rather bookish and rigidly circumscribed view about linguistically divergent constituencies in Greece, Friedman challenges the very essence of Modern Greek identity by disregarding –in a historical sense– the inclusive tradition of Romiosyni, the natural precursor of the Modern Greek nation. The concept of Romiosyni is, in many respects, akin to a 'Greek Commonwealth’, which transcends racial, tribal, and regional linguistic barriers. In failing to bring this concept into consideration when it comes to the historical context of multilingualism in the Balkan region, Friedman echoes earlier claims by—let us note—Greek scholars such as the late Loukas Tsitsipis [6] of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the late Kostas Kazazis [7] of the University of Chicago. Friedman – who is no stranger to Arvanitika, Vlahika and Slavonic dialects in the geographic region of Macedonia– fails to acknowledge that linguistically variegated groups such as Vlach-, Arvanite-, and Slavonic speakers in Macedonia, members of the Ottoman Rum millet and loyal followers of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, were not "Hellenized" subjects (by way of coercive or repressive assimilation) but rather they comprised dominant forces decisively partaking in the fermentation process leading to the shaping of Modern Greek identity and the dissemination of Greek letters in Ottoman Rumelia long before the eruption of ethnic feuds, divisions, and regional nationalisms [8, 9].
3) Friedman alludes to Greek indifference or even resistance to learning foreign languages, unlike other Balkan peoples. It is surprising that a Linguistics scholar uses the (presumed) lack of a Greek proverb to the effect that ‘languages are wealth’ as evidence that Greeks do not value multilingualism. This kind of rhetoric does not constitute a sound linguistic argument, and though possibly appealing to a lay-person, it reflects a way of thinking (called “strong relativism”) that has been largely discredited in current Linguistics.
To go back to scholarly sources, in his book “Bilingualism and the Latin Language” Cambridge University Press, 2003 [10], John N. Adams, Senior Research Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford, asserts that whilst "it has long been the conventional opinion that Greeks were indifferent or hostile to the learning of foreign languages, recently it has been shown that that view is far from the truth. Latin in particular was widely known, as has been demonstrated by Holford-Strevens and on a massive scale by Rochette.” [11]
With reference to the modern history of the Greek Nation (Γένος), members of the Rum millet and Romiosyni, ranging from those belonging to the high echelon of diplomats and luminaries of the Sublime Porte (viz. the Phanariots) to the ubiquitous Balkan merchants and retailers in the Ottoman Rumelia, were in fact polyglot (Greek-, Vlach-, Albanian-, Slavonic-, and/or Turkish-speaking, many of them acquainted with Russian, French, German and/or English). Noteworthy in this regard was the precocious (18th century) Greek ‘renaissance’ in Moschopolis/Moscopole (present day Albania) [12] and the 19th/early 20th century Greek cultural dimension in Pelagonia (Krushevo and Monastir/Bitola; present day FYROM) [8, 9]. These centers fostered the dissemination of Greek culture and letters, promoted by bilingual or polyglot speakers with fervent Greek national identity. Vestiges from this, once flourishing, community are still present today in FYROM.
The famous Protopiria (Primer), an Albanian-German-Modern Greek-Vlach dictionary written by the polymath cleric and scholar Theodoros Anastasiou Kavaliotis (Kavalliotes) [13], was the forerunner of comparative linguistics in the Balkans. It was printed in 1770 in Venice, and stands as a reminder of the widespread multilingualism in the flourishing Grecovlach center of Moschopolis/Moscopole and across the territories of the Ottoman Rumelia (the geographical region of Macedonia included).
Reference is made herein to the published works by Thomas Paschidis (1879) [14] and Mihail Lanbrinydis (1907) [15], which capture the collective memories of Arvanite and Vlach Greeks during the second half of the 19th century and the early 20th century. These works offer a palpable proof of the Greek-Albanian kinship perceived by the 19th century Greek scholars. Noteworthy in this regard are the demonstrative sentiments of Thomas Paschidis, a bilingual -possibly polyglot- Greek Epirote/Arvanite luminary, towards his Grecovlach and Bulgarian brethren. His book contains an appendix in Arvanitika using Greek characters, which is especially informative and enlightening [14].
Given the above, we contend that claims for the presence of divergent identities of Greeks, Arvanites, Vlachs, and so-called Macedonian Slavs, based solely on linguistic grounds, should be viewed with cautious circumspection and within the context of time and space. In particular, it is somewhat surprising that Friedman did not consider the massive diffusion of Arbëreshë (Arvanite) speakers southward into the Helladic Mainland and the Peloponnese during the 14th and 15th centuries (and the most relevant Stradioti saga). Τhe remarkable fermentation and integration of Arbëreshë/Shqiptarë-speaking populations with Greek-, Vlach/Armîn-, and Slavonic-speaking members of the Rum millet during the ensuing centuries remains at the core of Romiosyni and Modern Greek ethnogenesis.
Thus, from a modern historic and anthropological perspective, the rigidly circumscribed and sharply delimited ethno-linguistic ‘definitions’ and compartmentalizations brought forward by Friedman are open to critical reappraisal. Importantly, they are, to a large extent, alien and irrelevant to the Greeks of Arvanite or Vlach origin, whose identity has been shaped by their collective participation in the Modern Greek Experience during the past two (and possibly more) centuries.
The "Declaration of the Northern Epirotes from the Districts of Korytsa and Kolonia Demanding Union of Their Native Province with Greece -- Pan-Epirotic Union in America, (Boston, 1919)" is a testament to the perception of their Greek identity among Albanian-, Vlach- and Greek speakers in Southern Albania/Northern Epirus http://www.helleniccomserve.com/pdf/Declaration%20of%20Northern%20Epirotes%20in%2019%5B1%5D...pdf
Whilst the vision of the 18th century Grecovlach luminary Rigas Velestinlis Thettalos (Feraios) for the creation of a post-Ottoman Balkan Federation/Commonwealth, transcending regional and linguistic differences, did not materialize, the idea –nonetheless- reflected the sentiment of many emancipated Greeks at the time. But the ethnic/national ‘awakenings’ and the divisive forces were already underway, heralding the partial disintegration of Romiosyni followed by a protracted and intractable course of regional feuds and dissensions, which unfortunately live up to this day. The emergence of the ethnocentric national(istic) narrative of ‘Makedonism’ is symptomatic of delayed ‘awakening’ thanks –in part- to the contributions by scholars like Dr. Victor Friedman.
4) Friedman’s argument that “the Greeks came up with a line claiming the Macedonians could not claim the name Macedonia unless they were descended from the Ancient Macedonians” is a sheer misrepresentation. The basis of the dispute between Greece and FYROM lies on the open attempt by the FYROM government to appropriate a very significant part of the Greek history (see examples: http://faq.macedonia.org/history/ and http://www.macedonia-timeless.com/). As part of its newly constructed national narrative, FYROM has opted to trace its historical roots to classical antiquity, underrating the predominantly Slavonic cultural heritage of the majority of its population, which is shared with its Bulgarian brethren. In the words of Dr. Evangelos Kofos, Greece’s leading authority on Modern Macedonian History, this all-encompassing doctrine of ‘Makedonism’ is “encroaching upon an illustrious past, which had been recorded in the annals of Hellenic heritage, almost a millennium prior to the arrival of Slavic tribes in the region” [16] (N.B. There was no Slavic presence in Macedonia until nearly 1,000 years after the time of Alexander the Great).
Aside from the grandiose ideations traceable to antiquity, there is yet another darker side to the ethnocentric national narrative of ‘Makedonism’. Central to the problem at hand is the morbid obsession with race, DNA, HLA haplotypes, and the likes, underlying a broader racial purity narrative. In the video below, one can see footage from a staged propaganda-style inspirational film titled “Makedonska Molitva” (Macedonian Prayer), which was aired on the government-run MTV1 - National TV, First Channel television station of Skopje. Note that the video culminates in a crescendo blending biblical apocalyptic delusions with overtly racial overtones from a different era. Thus, using Hellenized terms, the narrator speaks God's words to the children of the Sun and Flowers telling them that Mother Earth gave birth to three races: "Makedonjoide = white race, Mongoloide = yellow race, Negroide = black race (all others being mulattoes)." And God went on to say to the Makedontsi that, "All white people are your brethren because they carry 'Macedonian' genes." [17]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZJ62MGF7xI
It is indeed regrettable that Friedman has opted to downplay the gravity and long-term implications of a morbidly nationalistic narrative nurtured in the primary and secondary school curricula of FYROM.
Greeks throughout the world do not harbor any enmity or hostility toward FYROM nationals, and yearn for a peaceful and productive coexistence between the two peoples. Greece has an earnest desire for mutual respect and the realization of a lasting political solution with its northern neighbor. Greece does not deny the nationals of FYROM their identity (or identities). In this dispute, Greece is only compelled to delineate the distinction between the ethno-cultural domains of Greek Macedonia and FYROM. With this in mind, we wish that the people of FYROM start questioning the state propaganda and reflect upon their recent history. They were victimized for half a century under a totalitarian regime and were nurtured under a propagandistic educational system. In keeping with this entrenched tradition, Article 6 of the Law on the Scientific Research Activity, as published in the "Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia" Nos.13/96 and 29/02, proscribes the development of any scientific research on the ethnic identity of the citizens of FYROM. We believe that such obsessive preoccupation with national identity in the 21st century, coupled with misrepresentation of history, only harms the citizens of FYROM.
As a geographic region, Macedonia has long been known for its ethno-linguistic diversity for which the time-honored term “Macedonian salad” was coined. Hence, Macedonia is neither a single country nor the cradle of a single nation, but a geographic region (with protean borders throughout history) parts of which belong nowadays to three states, each with its distinctive cultural heritage, national identity, and collective memory. It is most disturbing that Skopje claims the entire geographic Macedonian region of modern times as part of that nation’s “tatkovina” (fatherland), thus effectively laying claim to unredeemed territories in Greek Macedonia [18]. This is not a “hidden agenda”. The government of FYROM has published and circulated a state map showing FYROM to extend over Greek territory, including Thessaloniki [19].
The Hellenic identity of ancient Macedonia is indisputable; it is supported by historical, archeological, and linguistic evidence. For the socio-political and historical facts, the most authoritative source is the classic work of the leading scholar on the history of ancient Macedonia, the late Prof. Nicholas Hammond's book, The Macedonian State, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1989. As regards the language, by 5th century B.C. Attic Greek was standardized as the language of Ancient Macedonia (Makedon). For instance, of the 1,044 inscriptions included in the fascicle Inscriptiones Thessalonicae et Viciniae (ISBN 3 11 0018594) –one of the most painstaking and complex volumes of the Berlin corpus, encompassing all the inscriptions of ancient Thessaloniki from the 3rd century B.C. to the 7th or 8th century A.D.– most are Greek, while a few are Latin (personal communication with Dr. John C. Rouman, Professor Emeritus of Classics at the University of New Hampshire) [20]. When considering the pre-5th century B.C. language (for which evidence is more fragmentary), the current consensus seems to be that it was a Hellenic dialect. The term “Hellenic” has been proposed by Professor Brian Joseph (Ohio State University, 1999, 2001) [21] to refer to the linguistic sub-family within the Indo-European languages that comprises Ancient Macedonian and the rest of the Greek dialects. This classification has been adopted by the LINGUIST list (the official electronic site of Linguistics); see
http://www.linguistlist.org/forms/langs/GetListOfAncientLgs.html and http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/get-familyid.cfm?CFTREEITEMKEY=IEG
On the first site, it is additionally cautioned that “Macedonian is the ancient language of the Macedonian kingdom in northern Greece and modern Macedonia during the 1st millennium B.C. Not to be confused with the modern Macedonian language, which is a close relative of the Slavonic Bulgarian [emphasis ours].” For additional references on the subject, see G. Babiniotis, “Ancient Macedonian: The Place of Macedonian among the Greek Dialects” in : A. M. Tamis (ed.), Macedonian Hellenism, Melbourne 1990, pp. 241-250; C. Brixhe, A. Panayotou, “Le Macédonien” in: Langues indo-européennes, ed. Bader, Paris, 1994, 205–220; and J. Chadwick, The Prehistory of the Greek Language, Cambridge 1963.
5) Friedman’s assertion that the Greek State has implemented repressive measures against the “Macedonian minority” in Greece is politically motivated. Most importantly, it misrepresents the real demographic situation in the Northwestern prefectures of Greek Macedonia, by not taking into account the fact that the use of variant local Slavonic-like idioms/dialects is widespread among bilingual, indigenous Greek Macedonians with unambiguous Greek identity. These bilingual Greek Macedonians (also known as Grecomans or Grkmani) along with Grecovlachs were the backbone of Romiosyni and Hellenism in the region during the 19th and 20th centuries. Friedman should by now be cognizant of the fact that when it comes to Macedonian identities it ultimately boils down to choices of national affiliation, as, not infrequently, even members of the same family may profess divergent ethnic/national identities. And even though Greece disputes the existence of a “Macedonian minority” on the grounds of definition, the self-described “party of the Macedonian minority in Greece”, Rainbow-Vinozhito, enjoys full recognition by the Greek state (and receives a negligible number of votes in elections). Vinozhito’s members are free to openly express their grievances and dissenting opinions.
The problem of FYROM is further compounded by the fact that a large proportion of its population, and a number of the Slavophone inhabitants of Greece, collaborated with the Italian and German occupation forces (1941-1944) [22] and by the rekindling of old family feuds and grievances dating back to the days of the Greek Civil War (1945-1949). These have nowadays resurfaced thanks to the bitter politics embraced by a third generation of politicians in Skopje, belonging for the most part to the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party [16, 22]. Some of them, like current Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, identify themselves as “Aegean Macedonian” (Egejski) political refugees, based on their family roots in Greek Macedonia [16]. At issue are claims for restitution and/or repatriation, subjects that other states with autonomist Axis collaborators (such as the Czech Republic and Poland) refuse even to discuss [22, 23]. Whilst during the past thirty years the Greeks have managed to heal some of the Civil War wounds, there are still fresh memories, even among members of the Greek Communist Party, about the subversive actions of Makedonski autonomist bandsmen of NOF endangering the territorial integrity of Greek Macedonia. By playing the Egejski card half a century later, in the midst of negotiations over the thorny ‘name issue’, Skopje shows an increasingly intransigent and confrontational -rather than constructive- approach.
We conclude by emphasizing that sensationalism and sheer bias, as displayed in Friedman’s interview, serve neither historical truth nor a constructive scholarly or political discourse; and they certainly do not help the people of FYROM. No intellectual and scholar should feel comfortable accepting, let alone promoting, such rhetoric.
ENDNOTES
1. Victor Friedman on Macedonia: the Balkanalysis.com Interview
http://www.balkanalysis.com/2008/12/14/victor-friedman-on-macedonia-the-balkanalysiscom-interview/
2. “Byzantium nurtured the untamed tribes of the Serbs, Bulgars, Russians and Croats and shaped them into nations. It gave them its religion, its institutions, its traditions, and taught their leaders how to govern. Indeed, [Byzantium] gave them the essence of culture –written language/script and philology.” F. Dvornik, Les Slaves, Byzance et Rome au IXe siècle, II, Paris 1928 and P.P. Charanis, The development of Byzantine Studies in the United States. Acceptance lecture by Professor P. Charanis upon his conferral of Doctor honoris causa by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (14.3.1972), Thessaloniki, 1973, 34. Cited in Achille Lazarou, Ellinismos kai Laoi Notioanatolikis (NA) Evropis. Diachronikes kai Diepistimonikes Diadromes. Tomos A’. Lychnia Publishers, Athens, 2009, p. 218 [ISBN 978-960-930950-9].
3. Antonios-Emilios Tahiaos O Athonitis Monahos Maximos o Graikos. O Teleftaios ton Vyzantinon sti Rossia, published by the Society for Macedonian Studies, People's Library, Thessaloniki 2008.
http://www.ems.gr/ems/client/userfiles/file/EKDOSEIS/MAKEDONIKI_LAIKI_BIBLIOTHIKI/Taxiaos_Maximos_Graikos.pdf
4. Before coming to Moscow, the Greek brothers studied in Venice and Padua. At the Moscow Academy, Ioanniky taught physics while his brother Sofrony taught physics and logic in the Aristotelian tradition, while also emphasizing the works of Byzantine philosophers. The Greek brothers embodied the so-called "Greek" trend that prevailed in Russian culture prior to the radical reforms introduced by Peter the Great. Unlike the "Latin" tradition, which emanated from medieval Western scholasticism with a slant toward rhetoric and poetry, the Greek trend focused heavily on philosophy, history, and natural sciences. The rich and fertile rivalry between these two scholarly and scientific traditions was a prevailing feature of Russian culture during the late 17th century [Source: Alexander Vucinich, Science in Russian Culture: A History to 1860, Stanford University Press, 1963]
5. P. Matalas, Ethnos kai Orthodoxia. Oi peripeteies mias schesis. Apo to ‘Elladiko’ sto Voulgariko schisma. Panepistimiakes Ekdoseis Kritis, 2002
6. Lukas D. Tsitsipis. A linguistic anthropology of praxis and language shift: Arvanítika (Albanian)
and Greek in contact. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998. Also, see Victor Friedman's “The Albanian Language in Its Eastern Diaspora.” Arvanitika kai Ellenika: Zetemata polyglossikon kai polypolitismikon koinoteton [Greek: Arvanitika and Greek: Problems of multilingual and multicultural communities],
Vol. 2, ed. by Loukas Tsitsipis. Livadeia, Greece: European Union & The Prefecture of Levadeia, 1998,
pp. 215-231.
7. Kostas Kazazis' obituary by Victor Friedman posted on the website of Society Farsarotul, a United States-based political activist group promoting the so-called independent Aromanian movement http://www.farsarotul.org/nl25_5.htm
8. Antonis M. Koltsidas' monograph entitled Greek Education in Monastir – Pelagonia Organisation and Operation of Greek Schools, Cultural Life. [English Translation by Janet Koniordos] published by the Society for Macedonian Studies, Macedonian Library - 105, Thessaloniki 2008 http://www.ems.gr/ems/client/userfiles/file/EKDOSEIS/MAKEDONIKI_BIBLIOTHIKI/Koltsidas_Monastiri_Pelagonia.pdf
9. See Christos D. Katsetos’ article entitled Vlahoi. Rahokokalia tou Ellinikou ethnous (Vlachs - The backbone of the Greek nation) published in the Athens newspaper Apogevmatini (on 11 November, 2007, p. 17) http://www.vlahoi.net/content/view/257/109/
10. See the excerpt from the Introduction of J.N. Adams' book.
http://assets.cambridge.org/97805218/17714/excerpt/9780521817714_excerpt.pdf
11. See Rochette's treatise Les Romains et le latin vus par les Grecs.
http://www2b.ac-lille.fr/langues-anciennes/telechargement/20Latinetgrec4eme.pdf
12. See Lazarou, op. cit., p. 293 [vide supra]. Prokopios Dimitrios Pamperis Moschopolitis, «Απαρίθμησις Λογίων Γραικών», Hamburg, 1772. Reprinted by Karavias Publishers, Athens, 1966 http://www.rarebooks.com.gr/book.asp?catid=361
13. Theodoros Kavaliotis, founder of the New Academy of Moschopolis, was the author of a quadrilingual dictionary entitled Protopiria. Das dreisprächige Wörterverzeichnis von Theodoros Anastasiu Kavalliotes aus Moschopolis, gedruckt 1770 in Venedig: albanisch-deutsch-neugriechischich-aromunisch/ neu bearbeit, mit dem heutigen Zustande der albanischen Schriftsprache verglichen_ [Protopiria (Πρωτοπειρία)= Primer. Three Lists of Words in Three Languages, which was printed in 1770 in Venice: Albanian-German-Modern ('Nea') Greek-Armîn/Vlach; New edition, with the today's Situation of the Albanian written Language].
14. Thomas Paschidis, «Οι Αλβανοί και το μέλλον αυτών εν τω Ελληνισμώ - Μετά παραρτήματος περί των Ελληνοβλάχων και Βουλγάρων», υπό Θ. Πασχίδου [Shqiptarët dhe e ardhmja e tyre në helenizëm - Me shtesë mbi grekovllehtë dhe bullgarët] Th. Paskidu, 1879 [The Albanians and their future in Hellenism -With an appendix on Grecovlachs and Bulgarians]. Reprinted by Karavias Publishers, Athens, 1981 http://www.rarebooks.com.gr/book.asp?catid=356
http://www.shqiptarortodoks.com/tekste/albanologji/Paskidu_1879.pdf
15. Mihail Lambrinidis, «Οι Αλβανοί κατά την κυρίως Ελλάδα και την Πελοπόννησον (Ύδρα-Σπέτσαι)», υπό Μιχαήλ Λαμπρυνίδου, 1907[Shqiptarët në Greqinë qendrore dhe në Peloponez Mihail Lambrinidou, 1907] [The Albanians in Mainland Greece and Peloponnese (Hydra-Spetsae)]. Reprinted by Karavias Publishers, Athens, 1981 http://www.rarebooks.com.gr/book.asp?catid=357
http://www.shqiptarortodoks.com/tekste/albanologji/Lambrinidu.pdf
16. See analysis by Dr. Evangelos Kofos of the ICG Report “Macedonia’s Name: Breaking the Deadlock” http://blogs.eliamep.gr/en/kofos/analysis-icg-report-macedonia’s-name-breaking-the-deadlock/#more-92
Also, see essay by the same author entitled 'The Unresolved “Difference over the Name”: The Greek perspective'. In: Kofos E, Vlasidis V (Eds) Athens-Skopje: An Uneasy Symbiosis, 1995-2002. Research Centre for Macedonian History and Documentation at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle, Thessaloniki, 2005 http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/InterimAgreement/Downloads/Interim_Kofos.pdf
17. See claims about the ‘Sub-Saharan origin of the Greeks’ in state-sponsored ethnogenetic studies.
http://www.makedonika.org/processpaid.aspcontentid=ti.2001.pdf
18. Kofos, ibid
19 Vance Stojcev. Voena Istorija Na Makedonija: Skici. Sojuzot na drustvata na istoricarite na RM i Voenata akademija General Mihailo Apostolski, ISBN 9989776075 (9989-776-07-5)/ Military History of Macedonia. Military Academy General Mihailo Apostolski, ISBN 9989134057 (9989-134-05-7)
20. Excerpted from the letter of Dr. Rouman to the New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson (dated 2002). Dr. Rouman was for five years, both at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and at the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton, research assistant during Professor Charles F. Edson's protracted and difficult project, focusing on the editing of all the inscriptions of ancient Thessalonica from the third century B.C. to the seventh or eighth century A.D. for the German Academy of Berlin. For his meritorious contribution Dr. Edson was awarded the prestigious Charles Goodwin Award of Merit of the American Philological Association.
21. Brian Joseph (1999), Ancient Greek in: J. Garry, C. Rubino, A. Faber, R. French (editors), Facts About the World's Languages: An Encyclopedia of the World's Major Languages: Past and Present, New York/Dublin, H. W. Wilson Press, 2001
22. See article by Aristide D. Caratzas titled Oi nazistikes rizes tou VMRO (the Nazi origins of VMRO) published in the Athens newspaper Ethnos (2.8.2009)
http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=11378&subid=2&tag=8334&pubid=1370687
Also, see article by the same author entitled “Why the Greek People Cannot Easily Accept FYROM’s Claims” published in The National Herald (30.8.2009)
http://rieas.gr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=739&Itemid=41
23. See commentary by Evangelos Kofos titled “Unexpected Initiatives: Towards the resettlement of a Slav-Macedonian minority in Macedonia?” (Originally published in the Athens newspaper To Vima on June 25 , 2003) http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/Opinion/comm_20030710Kofos.html
SIGNATURES
Martis, Nikolaos, Former Minister of Macedonia/Thrace.
Agathos, Spiros N., Professor, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BELGIUM.
Albrecht-Piliouni, Effie, Professor of Linguistics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA.
Albrecht, Ulrich, Professor of Mathematics, Auburn University, Auburn, AL USA.
Anagnostopoulos, Stavros A., Professor of Civil Engineering, Head, University of Patras, 26500, Patras, GREECE.
Anastassiou, George, Professor of Mathematics, University of Memphis, USA.
Anastassopoulou, Jane, Professor, NTUA, GREECE.
Andreadis, Stelios T., Ph.D., Professor, Bioengineering Laboratory, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, New York, USA.
Antoniou, Antonios, Dr. Dent., D.M.D., Dental Surgeon, Lemesos, CYPRUS.
Arkas Evangelos, Ph.D., CEO Prometheus Technology Inc. London, UK.
Aroniadou-Anderjaska, Vassiliki, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, Dept. of APG and Dept. of Psychiatry, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Athanassouli, Georgia, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Physics, University of Patras, GREECE.
Baloglou, George, Associate Professor of Mathematics (retired, SUNY
Oswego), Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Balopoulos, Victor, Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Thrace, GREECE.
Barbas, John T., Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA, USA.
Billis, Euripides, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Bitros, George C., Professor of Economics, Emeritus, Department of Economics, Athens, University of Economics and Business, Athens, GREECE.
Botsas, Lefteris N., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Economics Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA.
Boundas, Constantin V., Professor Emeritus, Department of Philosophy, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, CANADA.
Bouros, Demosthenes, MD, Ph.D. FCCP Professor of Pneumonology, Chairman, Dept, of Internal Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Bronstein, Arna, Associate Professor of Russian, Dept. of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
Burriel, Angeliki R., DVM, MSc, MSc, PhD, MRCVS, GREECE.
Bucher, Matthias, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, ECE Dept., Technical University of Crete, Chania, Crete, GREECE.
Cacoullos, Theophilos, Emeritus Professor, University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Caratzas, Aristide D., Historian, Academic Publisher, Athens/New York.
Chaniotakis, Nikos, Professor of Chemistry, University of Crete, Crete, GREECE.
Christodoulou, Chris, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Cyprus, 75 Kallipoleos Ave, P.O. Box 20537, 1678 Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Christodoulou, Manolis A., Professor of Control Laboratory, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Crete, GREECE.
Chrysanthopoulos, Michael, Ph.D., Historian, Hagiographer, Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Cladis, John B., Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics, Lockheed Martin Space Physics Lab, Palo Alto, California, USA.
Clairmont, Richard, Dr., Senior Lecturer of Classics, University of NH, USA.
Constantinides, Christos, Professor Emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Wyoming, USA.
Constantinou, Philip, Ph.D., Professor, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering. National technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Constantopoulos, Yannis, Professor, GREECE.
Coucouvanis, Dimitri, Professor of Chemistry, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.
Daglis, Ioannis A., Ph.D., Research Director, Institute for Space Applications National Observatory of Athens, Penteli, GREECE.
Damianou, Pantelis, Professor, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Cyprus, 1678, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Danginis, Vassilios A., Ph.D., Director of Engineering, SMSC, Hauppauge, NY 11788, USA.
Deltas, Constantinos, Professor of Genetics, Chairman of Biological Sciences, Head, Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Genetics, University of Cyprus, Kallipoleos Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Demetracopoulos, Alex C., Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, 265 00, Patras, GREECE.
Demopoulos, George P., Ph.D., Eng., FCIM, Professor and Gerald Hatch Faculty Fellow,
Associate Chair and Graduate Program Director, Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University, Wong Building, 3610 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B2, CANADA.
Dimopoulos, Nikitas, PhD, PEng, FEIC, Professor and Lansdowne Chair in Computer Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Victoria
PO BOX 3055, Victoria B.C. V8W 3P6, CANADA.
Dokos, Socrates, Dr., Senior Lecturer, Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales Sydney, AUSTRALIA.
Doulia, Danae, Professor of Nat. Techn. University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Dritsos, Stephanos E., Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, 26500, Patras, GREECE.
Economou, Thanasis, Senior Scientist, Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research, Enrico Fermi Institute, University of Chicago, IL, USA.
Efthymiou, Pavlos N., Professor, Dr. ret. nat., Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR - 541 24 THESSALONIKI, GREECE.
Episcopos, Athanasios, Associate Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business, Athens, 10434, GREECE.
Eriotis, Nikolaos, Associate Professor of Accounting, University of Athens, Philothei, GREECE.
Fleszar, Aleksandra, Assoc. Professor of Russian, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
Flytzani-Stephanopoulos, Maria, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
Fotopoulos, Spiros, Professor, Electronics Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Patras, GREECE.
Foudopoulos, Panayotis, Ph.D., Electrical Engineer, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Fthenakis, Vasilis, Director, Center for Life Cycle Analysis, Earth and Environmental Engineering Department, Columbia University, 926 S.W. Mudd, 500 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA.
Gatzoulis, Nina, Supreme President of the Pan-Macedonian Association (USA) and Professor, Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, University of New Hampshire, USA.
Gavalas, George, Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, USA.
Gavras, Irene, MD, Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
Georgakis, Christos, Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering,
Bernard M. Gordon Senior Faculty Fellow of Systems Engineering, TUFTS University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA.
Georges, Anastassios T., Professor, Department of Physics, University of Patras, GREECE.
Georgiou, Demetrius A., Associate Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Giannakidou, Anastasia, Professor of Linguistics, Dept. of Linguistics, University of Chicago, USA.
Grammatikos Theoharry, Associate Director, Methods and Processes Improvement,
European Investment Bank, 100, blvd Konrad Adenauer, L-2950, Luxembourg.
Groumpos, Petros P., Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, GREECE.
Halamandaris, Pandelis, Ph.D., Ed.D. Professor Emeritus, Brandon University, Deputy Director, University of Manitoba Centre for Hellenic Civilization, CANADA.
Hassiotis Sophia, Ph.D., Civil Engineering Program Director, CEOE, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N.J. 07030, USA.
Horsch, Georgios M., Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering
University of Patras, Patras, GREECE.
Ioannou, Petros, Ph.D., Professor, Electrical Engineering-Systems, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Iliadis, Lazaros S., Associate Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Kakouli-Duarte, Thomais, Ph.D., President, Hellenic Community of Ireland, and Lecturer, Environmental Bio-Sciences, Dept. of Science and Health Institute of Technology, Carlow, IRELAND.
Kamari, Georgia, Professor, Division of Plant Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, GR-265 00, Patras, GREECE.
Kambezidis, Harry, Dr., Research Director, National Observatory of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Karabalis, Dimitris L., Professor, University of Patras, GREECE.
Karageorgis, Demetris, Information Science Teacher, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Karagiannidis, Iordanis, Ph.D., Assistant Researcher, Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Karakatsanis, Theoklitos S., Ph.D., Electrical Engineer N.T.U.A, Assistant Professor D.U.TH., Dept. of Production Engineering & Management, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Karatzios, Christos, M.D. C.M., FRCPC, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, McGill University Health Centre, Division of Infectious Diseases, Montreal Children's Hospital; Associate Member, Special Immunology Division, Centre Universitaire Mere-Enfant de l'Hopital Ste Justine, University of Montreal, Quebec, CANADA.
Karayanni, Despina A., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Marketing, University of Patras, Department of Business Administration, GREECE.
Karpathakis, Anna, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Sociology, CUNY, New York, USA.
Katsetos, Christos D., M.D., Ph.D., FRCPath, Professor of Pathology, Drexel University College of Medicine and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Katsifarakis, Konstantinos L., Ph.D., Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Katsifis, Spiros, Ph.D., FACFE, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Biology, University of Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT, USA.
Katsoufis, Elias C., Associate Professor of Physics, School of Applied Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.Katsouris, Andreas, Professor of Ancient Greek Philology, Division of Classical Philology, University of Ioannina, GREECE.
Kitridou, Rodanthi C., MD, FACP, MACR Professor Emerita of Medicine (Rheumatology), USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Komodromos, Petros, Lecturer, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering University of Cyprus, CYPRUS.
Konstantatos (Kostas), Demosthenes J., Ph.D., M.Sc., M.B.A., Telecommunications, Greenwich, CT, USA.
Kottis, George C., Emeritus Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business Science, Athens, GREECE.
Kugiumtzis, Dimitris, Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computational Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Koussis, Antonis D., Ph.D., Research Director, Institute for Environmental Research, National Observatory of Athens, Metaxa & Vassileos Pavlou, GR - 152 36 Palaia Penteli, Athens, GREECE.
Koutroumbas, Konstantinos, Ph.D., Researcher, Institute for Space Applications & Remote Sensing, National Observatory of Athens, Palea Penteli, 15236 ATHENS-GREECE.
Koutselini, Mary, Dr , Department of Education, University of Cyprus, CYPRUS.
Kouzoudis, Dimitris, Lecturer, Engineering Sciences Department, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, GREECE.
Kritas, Spyridon K., DVM, Ph.D., Dipl. ECPHM Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Macedonia, GREECE.
Kritikos, Haralambos N., Professor Emeritus, Department of Systems and Electrical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA, USA.
Kyriacou, George A., Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Kyriakou, Anastasia, Plant Pathologist, Agricultural Research Institute, Lefcosia, CYPRUS.
Ladikos, Anastasios, Professor, Department of Criminology and Security Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA.
Lagoudakis, Michail G., Assistant Professor, Technical University of Crete, Chania, GREECE.
Lambrinos, Panos, Professor of Mathematics, School of Engineering, Democritus, University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Lampropoulos, George A., Ph.D. Adjunct Professor, ECE Dept., University of Calgary, CANADA.
Lampropoulou, Venetta, Professor of Deaf Education, Deaf Studies Unit, Department of Education, University of Patras, GREECE.
Lazaridis, Anastas, Professor Emeritus, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013, USA.
Leventouri, Theodora, Dr., Professor, Department of Physics, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
Lialiaris, Theodore S., BSc, MD, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor of Medical Biology and Cytogenetics, Medical School of Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Lolos, George J., Professor, Physics Department, University of Regina, CANADA.
Lymberopoulos, John Ph.D., Leeds School Summer Dean, Professor of International Business & Finance Leeds School of Business, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA.
Manias, Stefanos, Professor, National Technical University of Athens, Dep. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Electrical Machines and Power electronics Laboratory, Athens, GREECE.
Manolopoulos, Vangelis G., Assoc. Professor of Pharmacology, Democritus University of Thrace, Medical School, Alexandroupolis, GREECE.
Maragos, Petros, Professor, National Technical University of Athens,
School of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Athens , GREECE.
Melakopides, Costas, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Mermigas, Eleftherios, Professor, ASCP, Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University at Buffalo NY, USA.
Metallinos-Katsaras, Elizabeth, Ph.D. RD, Associate Professor, Nutrition Department,
Simmons College, Boston MA, USA.
Michaelides, Stathis, Ph.D., P.E. Professor and Chair, Mechanical Engineering University of Texas at San Antonio One UTSA Circle San Antonio, TX, USA.
Michailidis, Dimitri, M.D., Gen.Surgeon, President, ELEFI (Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Physicians), President, Auditors Committee, Hellenic Society of Pharmacology, Member, EB IFAPP, GREECE.
Michopoulos, Aristotle, Dr., Greek Studies, Hellenic College, Brookline, MA, USA.
Miller, Stephen G., Professor Emeritus, Classical Archaeology, University of California, Berkeley CA, USA.
Mylonakou-Kekes Iro, Assistant Professor, Department of Educational, Sciences, Faculty of Primary Education, University of Athens, 13A Navarinou, 10680 ATHENS, GREECE.
Milonas, Nikolaos, Professor of Finance, University of Athens, Marousi, GREECE.
Moulopoulos, Konstantinos, Dr., Associate Professor of Physics, University of Cyprus, CYPRUS.
Mourtos, Nikos J., Ph.D., Professor, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, San Jose State University, One Washington Square San Jose, CA, USA.
Nasis, Vasileios T., Ph.D., Adjunct Professor, Drexel University College of Engineering, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Nenes, Athanasios, Associate Professor, Schools of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA.
Newman, Constantine, Reverent Dr., Classics Professor-University of New Hampshire, USA.
Newman Anna, Professor of Classics-University of New Hampshire, USA.
Nikolakopoulos, Konstantin, Professor, Institute of Orthodox Theology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, GERMANY.
Panagiotakopoulos, Chris T., B.Sc., Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Educational Technology, University of Patras - School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Department of Education, Archemedes Str., 265 04 Rio Patras, GREECE.
Panagiotakopoulos, Demetrios, Professor of Civil Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Panagiotopoulos, Dimitrios P., Assoc. Professor, University of Athens, Attorney-at-Law, President of International Association of Sports Law, GREECE.
Papadopoulos, George K., Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Epirus Institute of Technology, Arta, 47100, GREECE.
Papadopoulos, George, Professor Emeritus, Applied Electronics Laboratory, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Patras, GREECE.
Papadopoulos, Kyriakos, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
Papamarkos, Nikos, Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, School of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, GREECE.
Papavassiliou, Dimitrios P., MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Pediatric Cardiology, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian
Columbia University Medical Center. New York, NY, USA.
Papazoglou, Georges, Professor of Palaeography, Chairman - Department History and Ethnology, Democritus University of Thrace, KOMOTINI, GREECE.
Patitsas, Steve, Ph.D., Assoc. Professor, Physics Department, University of Lethbridge,
4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3M4, CANADA.
Patitsas, Tom Athanasios, Professor Emeritus, Department of Physics and Astronomy Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, CANADA.
Pelekanos, Nikos, Professor of Materials Science and Technology, University of Crete, Heraklion-Crete, GREECE.
Pelides, Panayiotis, Ph.D., Consultant Anesthesiologist, American Heart Institute, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Persephonis, Peter, Professor, Physics Department, University of Patras, GREECE.
Phufas, Ellene S., Professor, English/Humanities SUNY- ECC Buffalo, NY, USA.
Pintelas, Panagiotis E., Professor of Computer Science, Dept. of Mathematics, University of Patras, Patras, GREECE.
Pittas, Stamatios, Head of Marketing Dept., KOSTEAS GROUP OF COMPANIES, Chalkis, GREECE.
Plionis, Manolis, Ph.D., Research Director, Institute of Astronomy & Astrophysics, National Observatory of Athens, GREECE.
Pnevmatikatos, Dionysios, Assoc. Professor, ECE Department, Technical University of Crete, GREECE.
Polychroniadis, K.E., Professor, Department of Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Poularikas, Alexander D., Professor Emeritus (University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama), Houston, Texas, USA.
Pozios, John LL.B., MBA, Director, Desautels Centre for Private Enterprise and the Law, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, CANADA.
Psaras, GK, Ph.D., Professor, Section of Plant Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Patras, GR 265 00, GREECE.
Psyrri, Amanda, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
Rantsios, Apostolos T., Ph.D., Dipl., Past President, World Veterinary Association, Marousi, GREECE.
Rapsomanikis, S., Ph.D., Professor, Director, Laboratory of Atmospheric Pollution, Control Engineering of Atmospheric Pollutants, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Raptis, Aristotle, Professor, University of Athens, GREECE.
Rigas, Fotis, Ph.D., Associate Professor, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Roilides, Emmanuel, MD, PhD., Assoc. Professor, 3rd Dept. Pediatrics, University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Romanos, Michael, Ph.D., Professor of Economic Development, School of Planning, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Rontoyannis, George P., Professor, Dept. Phys Ed Sports, Science University of Thessaly, GREECE.
Rouman, John C., Dr., Professor Emeritus of Classics.
Sarafopoulos Dimitrios, Associate Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Samaras George, Professor, USA.
Samothrakis, Periandros, Ph.D., P.E., Hydraulic Engineer, Frederick, Maryland, USA.
Sapatinas, Theofanis, BSc, MSc, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Statistics, Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Savvas, Minas, Professor Emeritus, San Diego State University, SanDiego, CA, USA.
Siafarikas Panayiotis, Professor, Department of Mathematics, University of Patras Patras, GREECE.
Sideris, Kosmas, Ph.D., Civil Engineer Lecturer, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi, GREECE.
Simitses, George J., Professor Emeritus of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Siolas, John G., Ph.D., Educator, New York, USA.
Sivitanides, Marcos P., Ph.D., CCP. Associate Professor, Information Systems, McCoy College of Business, Texas State University San Marcos, Texas, USA.
Skias, Stylianos G., Assist. Professor, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Skodras, A. N., Professor, Head of Computer Science, School of Science & Technology
Hellenic Open University, 13-15 Tsamadou, GR-26222 Patras, GREECE.
Sotiropoulou, Georgia, PhD, Assoc. Professor, Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Rion-Patras 26500, GREECE.
Staikos, Georgios, Assoc. Professor, Laboratory of Organic Chemical Technology
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, University Campus – Rion, GR - 265 04 Patras, GREECE.
Stamatoyannopoulos, George, M.D., Dr., Sci., Professor of Medicine and Genome Sciences, Director, Markey Molecular Medicine Center, K-240 Health Sciences Building, Box 357720, Seattle, WA 98195-7720, USA.
Stamboliadis, Elias, Associate Professor, Mineral Resources, Engineering Dept, Technical University of Crete University, Campus Chania, Crete, GREECE.
Stavrou, Esther, Ph.D., Associate Clinical Professor, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Bronx, New York, USA.
Stephanopoulos, Greg W.H., Dow Professor, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Syrimis, Michael, Assistant Professor, Department of French and Italian, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
Tassios, Dimitrios, Professor Emeritus, National Technical University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Tavouktsoglou, Athanasios N., Ph.D., Professor, Concordia University, College of Alberta, CANADA.
Templar, Marcus A., M.A., M.S., Balkans expert, Illinois, USA.
Thramboulidis, Kleanthis, Assoc. Professor, Software Engineering Group (SEG) - Electrical & Computer, University of Patras, PATRAS, GREECE.
Triantaphyllopoulos, Demetrios D., Professor, Department of Archaeology and History,
University of Cyprus, CYPRUS.
Tryphonopoulos, Demetres P., A/Dean, School of Graduate Studies, Professor, Dept. of English, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, N.B., CANADA.
Tsakiridou, Cornelia A., Ph.D., Associate Professor, Philosophy, Director, Diplomat-In-Residence Program, La Salle University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Tsatsanifos, Christos, Ph.D., Civil Engineering MSc., D.I.C. M.ASCE. Athens, GREECE.
Tsigas-Fotinis, Vasiliki, Ph.D., Professor of Education, Caldwell College, Caldwell, New Jersey, USA.
Tsihrintzis, Vassilios A., Ph.D., P.E., P.H., Professor of Ecological Engineering & Technology, Director, Laboratory of Ecological Engineering & Tehnology, Chairman, Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi 67100, GREECE.
Tsaroucha, Alexandra, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Democritus University of Thrace, Xanthi 67100, GREECE.
Tsinganos, Kanaris, Professor, Department of Physics, University of Athens, Athens, GREECE.
Tsohantaridis, Timotheos, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical Studies and Greek, George Fox University, Newberg, Oregon, USA.
Valanides, Nicos (visiting scholar at DePaul University, Chicago, USA), Associate Professor (Science Education), Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Velivasakis, Emmanuel E., PE, FASCE, President, PANCRETAN ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA & HELLENIC AMERICAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, New York, USA.
Vardulakis, Antonis, Professor, Department of Mathematics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, GREECE.
Varkaraki, Elli, Ph.D., Senior Researcher, Centre for Renewable Energy Sources, GREECE.
Vasilos, Thomas, Professor Emeritus, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, Massachusetts, USA.
Velgakis, Michael, Professor of Physics, Engineering Science Dept., University of Patras, Patras, GREECE.
Vlavianos, Nickie, Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Calgary, Calgary, CA, USA.
Vomvas, Athanassios, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, University of Patras
26500 Patras, GREECE.
Voudrias, Evangelos A., Professor, Department of Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace, GREECE.
Vrongistinos, Konstantinos, Ph.D., Biomechanics Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, 18111 Nordhoff St., California State University, Northridge, CA, USA.
Yannopoulos, Panayotis C., Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Patras, GREECE.
Yiacoumettis, Andreas M., Assoc. Professor, Plastic Surgery, Democritus University of Thrace, Secretary General ESPRAS ExCo, President 11th ESPRAS CONGRESS, President UEMS Section Plast. Rec.& Aesthetic Surgery, GREECE.
Ypsilanti, Maria, Assistant Professor of Ancient Greek Literature, University of Cyprus, Dept. of Classical Studies and Philosophy, PO Box 20537, 1678, Nicosia, CYPRUS.
Zavos, Panayiotis, Professor Emeritus, Reproductive Medicine & Andrology, Lexington, KY, USA.
Zervakis, Michalis, Professor of Electronics and Computer Engineering,
Technical University of Crete, Chania, GREECE.
Zervos, Nicholas A., Ph.D., Director, Adv. Multimedia ALGOSYSTEMS, Athens, GREECE.
Zotou, Vassiliki, Ph.D., Language and Linguistics, University of Thessaly, Volos, GREECE.
* Hellenic Electronic Center (HEC) www.greece.org is a non-profit (IRS 501 (c )3 (51-0377653) US organization with 38,000 members and 90 forums. The Professors' and PhDs' forum has a membership of 5,000 academics from 18 countries. One of the objectives of HEC as well as the Professors' forum is to defend Hellenic history, language, and culture and inform the global community on these issues.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
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