Greeks Debate about Macedonia dispute, hope the country Ceases to Exist
Friday, 14 January 2011
Greece and Macedonia are both buying time and avoid any sort of solution. Athens hopes Macedonia would cease to exist, while Skopje is expecting a recognition only under its constitutional name - say Greek experts.
- Andreas Papandreou with the Interim Agreement and all steps taken during the Karamanlis and even the present Government, in reality are steps to buy time. Our neighbor to the north, we believe, we hope, naturally, that at some poing will cease to exist - says Petros Tatsopoulos, a writer.
"When Macedonia in the 90's agreed to a complicated name, the Greek side was against it, now when Athens is with a changed and softer stance, the other side led by nationalist Gruevski doesn't accept it", this was the consensus of the sides involved in the Athens debate.
Gligorov agreed to "New Macedonia", claimed Greek professor Tanos Veremis, "we agreed, lets close the problem, but of course one day we receive that fatal phone call. Not to ignite the flames, I won't tell you who was on the phone, well, I will tell you today he is a leader of a major party.. Samaras!
Greek analysts, writers and professors involved in the debate did not deviate at all from the well known stance by official Athens, however, the audience at the debate did not share the same opinions..
"Today 130 or 140 countries and counting have recognized our neighbor as Macedonia. It's only a matter of time when we say "Well, we are forced to accept Macedonia" said one audience member.
- I only want to say we are wrong...
- No, I won't explain anything to you, you should already know this...
- We'll never recognize them...
- Lower your voice lady, you don't scare me...
These were some of the things overheard among audience members as the debate got heated.
Surprisingly, the mic ended up in the hands of an ethnic Macedonian from Lerin (Anm.: Florina/Nordgrichenland) who was allowed to speak.
- All of my childhood, we were forbidden to say that we're Macedonians. I had a very tough time growing up because I didn't speak Greek, only Macedonian. I knew my language as Macedonian, but was told that was wrong, never got an explanation what was wrong about it? The word Macedonian was strictly forbidden in Greece, and just few years ago, all of Greece adopted the word as its own?!!!
The Macedonian question - the good the bad and the ugly, was part of the debate where the Athens debate had to decide which is which.
- The Balkans have a tendency that one is good, and that's usually us, the others are bad and the rest are boring. In our case, the ugly can be Nimetz, the mediator in this dispute - says Elina Makri, a coordinator of Athens CafeBabel.
The debate was organized by CafeBabel in Athens, with the hope to educate Europe's youth about the dispute with Macedonia. The debate will be translated into numerous languages and sent to all Cafebabel members
Greece and Macedonia are both buying time and avoid any sort of solution. Athens hopes Macedonia would cease to exist, while Skopje is expecting a recognition only under its constitutional name - say Greek experts.
- Andreas Papandreou with the Interim Agreement and all steps taken during the Karamanlis and even the present Government, in reality are steps to buy time. Our neighbor to the north, we believe, we hope, naturally, that at some poing will cease to exist - says Petros Tatsopoulos, a writer.
"When Macedonia in the 90's agreed to a complicated name, the Greek side was against it, now when Athens is with a changed and softer stance, the other side led by nationalist Gruevski doesn't accept it", this was the consensus of the sides involved in the Athens debate.
Gligorov agreed to "New Macedonia", claimed Greek professor Tanos Veremis, "we agreed, lets close the problem, but of course one day we receive that fatal phone call. Not to ignite the flames, I won't tell you who was on the phone, well, I will tell you today he is a leader of a major party.. Samaras!
Greek analysts, writers and professors involved in the debate did not deviate at all from the well known stance by official Athens, however, the audience at the debate did not share the same opinions..
"Today 130 or 140 countries and counting have recognized our neighbor as Macedonia. It's only a matter of time when we say "Well, we are forced to accept Macedonia" said one audience member.
- I only want to say we are wrong...
- No, I won't explain anything to you, you should already know this...
- We'll never recognize them...
- Lower your voice lady, you don't scare me...
These were some of the things overheard among audience members as the debate got heated.
Surprisingly, the mic ended up in the hands of an ethnic Macedonian from Lerin (Anm.: Florina/Nordgrichenland) who was allowed to speak.
- All of my childhood, we were forbidden to say that we're Macedonians. I had a very tough time growing up because I didn't speak Greek, only Macedonian. I knew my language as Macedonian, but was told that was wrong, never got an explanation what was wrong about it? The word Macedonian was strictly forbidden in Greece, and just few years ago, all of Greece adopted the word as its own?!!!
The Macedonian question - the good the bad and the ugly, was part of the debate where the Athens debate had to decide which is which.
- The Balkans have a tendency that one is good, and that's usually us, the others are bad and the rest are boring. In our case, the ugly can be Nimetz, the mediator in this dispute - says Elina Makri, a coordinator of Athens CafeBabel.
The debate was organized by CafeBabel in Athens, with the hope to educate Europe's youth about the dispute with Macedonia. The debate will be translated into numerous languages and sent to all Cafebabel members
