SKOPJE, Bul.Jane Sandanski 87/II-8 91000 Skopje Republic of Macedonia tel./fax 389 91 163 639 dignity@soros.org.mk
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
First of all, allow me to extend my expressions of respect for your chairing the Council of Europe, as an institution where the most sublime civilization values are incorporated, uniting people of different profiles in mutual respect, understanding and tolerance with the purpose of mutual cooperation.
I would inform you, with delay, of the reason of my letter. It concerns the usage when denoting my country, the Republic of Macedonia, of the unnatural, never presumed, insulting and hurting reference - "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" - by the highest forums of the international community and a certain number of countries.
As much as they who use this preference (almost all maintain high degree of reservations during the intonation), accepted under pressure of the Republic of Greece in the United Nations during the acceptance of the Republic of Macedonia as its member on 8 April 1993, insist on this formality, so much, and even more, every Macedonian as an individual and a person belonging to the Macedonian nation, and Macedonians collectively regardless of their residing throughout the world, as well as the Republic of Macedonia itself, regard it as deeply insulting. This reference chokes the Macedonian deeply in its intimacy when freely expressing his own individual and national identity. This reference excludes the Macedonian as an individual from a complete and sovereign expression of his personality. Such a reference represents suffering of every Macedonian as an individual, and of the Republic of Macedonia as a country, by the Greek sovereignty as one form of a colonial relic in the heart of Europe. This relic is conveyed through its usage by the highest political forums of the international community and a certain number of countries. This reference denotes the Macedonian as " former Yugoslav Macedonian". However, we are not "former Yugoslav Macedonians". We, the Macedonians, do actually exist, as opposed to the absurd and the "temporariness" of the reference attached to our country.
Because of its nonsense, the very Greek projection - according to which the word Macedonia in the name of our country presumes its territorial claims toward the Republic of Greece, and because of which the reference "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" has been imposed - has already been forgotten. However, the unnatural, never presumed, insulting and hurting, and for those using it unpleasant and imposed reference is still being used when denoting our country, although most of the countries have recognized its independence using its constitutional name - Republic of Macedonia - and are still using it in relations with it.
When accepting this reference, it was intended to be of a temporary usage in one evidently short period, and of usage only within the United Nations. However, its usage has been extended and still lasts for the 5th consecutive year, expanding in the indefinitely wide and undefined circle of subjects in the international community. At that, the decisive factor for the expansion of its usage is the Republic of Greece through the offending and arrogant interference of its representatives, thus making unpleasant and especially hurting episodes for the Macedonians, and discomfort for the others participating in those episodes.
Dear Madam, Dear Sir,
The Council of Europe is an institution that, even before the very appearance of democratization and political pluralism in the countries of Eastern Europe and following my contacts with it, has been regarded by me as an agent for achieving freedom, as opposed to the totalitarian system in which I had lived. Enriched with those freedoms and the freedoms acquired following the appearance of political pluralism and democratization in my country, in connection with the subject matter of my letter, I would like to be free on behalf of the members of the association "Dignity" and in my own name to tell you. To undertake an initiative and procedures within the frameworks of your authorization and competency for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to make a brave, honest and dignified decision to call our country by its constitutional name - Republic of Macedonia.
Thank you.
Sincerely Yours,
Kole Mangov President of Association "Dignity"