Macedonia is not Greek entity

"Interview with Grigoris Vallianatos"


Valianatos: Greece should recognize the Macedonians
Grigoris Valianatos, the advisor of the PASOK leader Papandreu, removed from the party because of his "promacedonian" stance, in an exclusive interview for A1, on the margins of the Rainbow's congress, called on Greece to recognize both the Macedonian minority / nation and the constitutional name of Macedonia.
"We have to understand that Macedonians live outside of Greece" - says Valianatos, who is also the head of the Greek Helsinki Committee.



A1: In a way, you became a victim of the Greek - Macedonian name dispute, which lasts for about 17-18 years now. What do you think about the future of this dispute? Is there a capacity in Greece to overcome this issue?

GV: First of all, a human rights activist can not be a victim. We sometimes achieve small victories. It is not easy, but we are ready. I think that the time will resolve the problems which are generated through the education in my country. The Greek Macedonians will understand that by the end of the XIX century a new nation was profiled, a new entity in the region, known as "Macedonia", and this is not a Greek entity.

A1: As you can see, a lot of people are afraid to do that.

GV: I believe that the Macedonians without any additional attribute, during time, will be understood, but the Greek Macedonians who consider themselves as Greek, should make an effort, as well as the international factors, I think.

We are now in a phase when we should read the human rights conventions of the EU. I think that many other nations and many minorities should form an alliance and to teach the Greeks what it means to be a minority, and how rich is the life which includes minorities.

A1: You are one of the people under pressure for your public statements that there is a Macedonian minority in Greece. Is there in Greece a capacity, or a relevant intellectual or political force that could persuade the Greek authorities to recognize this situation?

GV: I have written about this in several occasions. I am afraid that the Greek intellectuals are asleep in this context. I call upon them to wake up. I think they will, one way or another. The other way is, unfortunately, the international courts for human rights.

A1: Do you think that Republic of Macedonia did right by initiating proceedings against Greece in the International Court of Justice in Hague, for a violation of Article 11 of the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995?

GV: Considering that I am not a judge, I think that Macedonia has the right to go to that court. Of course, you are Europeans.

A1: And in the end, what is your comment on the Greek veto in Bucharest, and the position that EU took by saying: "first establish good neighborly relations with Greece, and then maybe enter the Union"?

GV: Our position is that both EU and the European political forces are very reluctant, very loose when the issue is about the implementation of the human rights in Greece. I think that this will change.

Link: Валијантос: Грчките Македонци ќе сфатат дека се оформи нова нација (A1, in Macedonian language).


PS: Not too long ago, the Greek Ambassador to Macedonia, Mrs. Dora Grosomanidou was promptly fired after making a statement that official Athens should acknowledge the fact that there are Macedonians living there. Fortunately, there are still Greeks that think with their own head, instead of what is being served to them by their political leaders. Like the two users who gave the following answers to the question "Why Grigoris Valianatos was dismissed from PASOK?": Akatonomos - "I am Greek and I am ashamed of our politics towards Macedonian minority" and anastaci - "That shows us how deep democracy in Greece... sank down", obviously criticizing the lack of public debate and suppressing different opinions on the existence of minoritie