UMD Global Conference Resolution: Macedonia’s Constitutional Name

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 15, 2009 – On June 13, 2009, on the occasion of the 1st United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) Global Conference, the UMD Board of Directors passed a resolution offering unwavering and consistent support for the protection of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia. The text of the resolution is as follows:

OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OF THE
UNITED MACEDONIAN DIASPORA
DATED: JUNE 13, 2009

The Board of Directors of the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD), on the occasion of UMD’s First Global Conference, affirming UMD’s unwavering and consistent support for retention of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia and UMD’s rejection of attempts to impose any name contrary to the Republic of Macedonia’s constitutional name, hereby declares:

WHEREAS, the Republic of Macedonia peacefully and democratically declared its independence from Yugoslavia on September 8, 1991, and

WHEREAS, the Macedonian people, upon peacefully securing their independence, rightfully chose their historic and ancestral name for themselves and their state, and

WHEREAS, the Republic of Macedonia’s constitutional name is central to the identity and self-determination of the Macedonian people, their Macedonian language, culture and heritage, and to the creation of a stable, prosperous, and tolerant democratic society; THEREFORE BE IT,

RESOLVED, that the United Macedonian Diaspora, reiterates its unwavering support for retention of the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia, rejects attempts to impose any name contrary to the historically accepted and democratically affirmed name of the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian people, and urges the full membership of Macedonia in NATO and a date certain for negotiations for membership in the European Union.Founded in 2004, United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) is the leading international non-governmental organization addressing the interests and needs of Macedonians and Macedonian communities throughout the world.