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Greek-Americans lobby Congress to refer to us as 'FYROM.' S. Res. 300 is inaccurate and inappropriate. Act Quickly: call/fax/e-mail/visit your Senator. Educate your Senator on this issue ASAP! BACKGROUND On August 3, 2007, Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Barack Obama (D-IL), and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced a resolution, S. Res. 300 , calling upon Macedonia to “stop the utilization of materials that violate provisions of the United Nations-brokered Interim Agreement between the FYROM and Greece regarding `hostile activities or propaganda” and “work with the United Nations and Greece to achieve longstanding United States and United Nations policy goals of finding a mutually-acceptable official name for the FYROM.” To read text of resolution, click HERE . IT IS UP TO US TO PROTECT OUR NAME Action Requested - Call, Fax, E-mail or Visit your Senator: 1. To not co-sponsor S. Res. 300 2. To withdraw support of S. Res. 300 if your Senator has co-sponsored Click HERE for a Sample Letter. Click HERE for information on how to contact your Senator. Please keep us posted as to any progress you make by e-mail at
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The United Macedonian Diaspora calls on all Macedonian-Americans to inform and educate every member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and their own Senator about the inaccuracies of S. Res. 300. For more information, please call (202) 294-3400, or e-mail
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Rebuttal to S. Res. 300 S. Res. 300 unfortunately makes three highly inaccurate claims with regard to Macedonia in its relations with their neighboring country Greece. Television Report The television report in question produced by a Greek television station, using the hospitality of Macedonian schools, is to say the least, controversial and may be a result of manipulating high school children, which is in direct contravention of international standards. In addition, the fact remains that children in the Republic of Macedonia are not being taught that parts of Greece are part of the Republic of Macedonia as purported by the television report. The clip of the report can be found on YouTube at the following address: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWIKDhhTvnU When you view this, you will realize just how confusing the identity issue is and why it should be left to historians, anthropologists, linguists, and others. Textbooks The resolution claims that a military academy textbook contains maps showing “Greater Macedonia.” The maps in question in the book are very old, originally drawn in the 1800s, by non-Macedonians, and are presented in a historical light. Nonetheless, to show good neighborly relations, the Macedonian Ministry of Defense removed the book from use at the academy. Please click HERE to read news article about this. The textbooks used in the educational system in the Republic of Macedonia do not contain any maps of this kind. Airport The resolution states that the Republic of Macedonia has violated the Interim Accord by renaming the Skopje Airport to Alexander the Great International Airport. The Enterprise for Airport Services “Macedonia”- Skopje, has recently renamed its two international airports, located in Ohrid and Skopje. The Ohrid Airport was renamed “St. Paul the Apostle” and the Skopje Airport was renamed “Alexander the Great.” Both individuals are historic figures, associated with the history of the region and therefore are part of our universal consciousness. -------------------------------------------------- MAKE A DIFFERENCE - UNITED, WE CAN! JOIN UMD TODAY! The United Macedonian Diaspora offers many ways for you to get involved, learn about the issues facing Macedonians, and help make a difference in the future of Macedonia and for Macedonians around the world! Click here to become a UMD member . |