On February 7 2014, Eugenia Natsoulidou, Administrator of the Educative and Cultural Movement of Edessa, and UMD Greece Representative, sent the Prime Minister of Greece Antonis Samaras a petition that calls for the protection of the Macedonian language and culture of the Macedonian community in Greece. The petition urges for the ratification of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in Greece and stands as a reminder to the Greek government that they have a legal obligation under international law to preserve the native Macedonian language and culture in Greece.
Since May 3, 2013, the petition has received more than 900 signatures in support of the Macedonian population in Greece. The petition will further urge Greece to fulfill not only its obligation under international law, but also its obligation to its citizens. As explained in the preamble of the petition, the Macedonian-speaking population is indigenous to Greece, and has their own language, identity and culture. Unfortunately, efforts have been made to stifle the native Macedonian community in Greece.
The petition explains that Greece has a legal obligation to protect this cultural and linguistic population. As stated in the Article 22 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, “The Union shall respect cultural, religious and linguistic diversity.” Now, after this charter became legally binding in 2009, Greece has a responsibility to protect and preserve the language and culture of the native Macedonians in Greece.
For more information or to sign this petition supporting the Macedonian community, please visit: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ratification-of-the-european-charter-for-regional-or-minority-languages-in-greece.html