Given the country's very short history of statehood, the citizens very new concept of nationhood and the insecurity in around Serbia Macedonia would most deserve the stability provided by NATO and EU. The Greek policy not only destabilized this fragile country, but it also stabbed the EU enlargement policy in the back. After the tie in the Serbian elections, the lingering situation in Kosovo, the only sign of commitment to a European integration would be a quick acceptance of Macedonia into NATO and EU. Otherwise the not well endorsed compromise between Albania, Kosovo and the Western Powers might evaporate, and Macedonia might as well break apart as Bosnia or Kosovo lately. That would make the Central Balkans a highly instable part of the world with ill-defined polities, nationalist movements and a fighting ground for Russian, Greek and EU influence.

Dániel Antal

is somehow a catalyst toward enmities among Slavs and Albanians is so laughable. That level of distrust would exist quite apart from any name considerations.

... Because you see, our northern neighbors are trying to "have a case" for more than half of a century. Until 1944, the FYROM region, then part of Serbia (Yugoslavia), was known as Vardar Banovina. It was at this time that Marshall Tito invented the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, and from this area that he supported the communists in the Greek civil war, which cost over 100,000 Greek lives, in his quest of an outlet to the Aegean via the northern Greek province of Macedonia!

Of course, today is today and unfortunately many people are not aware about the real elements that this dispute is all about. Name issue, is just the "front cover". Skopjan people for many years are trying to "survive" as a nation (a nation consists by 4 or 5 different ethnic groups), by steeling some of our history, some of our tradition and so on and on...

For many, a name expresses little more than a right to self-determination. This, I am afraid, is an oversimplification, as this is a complex issue, interwoven with a rich historical background — as is always the case in our part of the world — and with the sensitivities of the peoples living in the area.

The term "Macedonia" defines a wider geographic region, only a part of which is in FYROM. One might wonder whether FYROM has territorial claims to the entire region. Its leaders claim they have no such plans, and we want to believe them.

Yet, we wonder why official FYROM maps and other state documents depict the region of Macedonia in Greece — which they call "Aegean Macedonia" — as "occupied" territory belonging to FYROM that will one day be "liberated."
And why are such maps and documents widely used? Why are these geographic and historical inaccuracies found in their school textbooks, propagating a distorted reality?

To give you another example, recently they started to circulate a video clip (one of many) of a song where some "documentary scenes" are presented from the so called "macedonian ethnic cleansing" from greeks during the greek civil war in 1946. Well the truth is that those documentary scenes are a compilation from the Greco-Turkish War in Asia Minor (1919-1922) and from the Yugoslavian War in 90's! And I wonder: That is how someone can rewrite history or support his case to the international community? This is "stability" and Greece's foreign policy causes "instability"?

Yes name issue is an important issue to us, but not that important as the rest of the claims from the Skpojan side. We tried again and again, to talk about it. We tried to assist Skopje in every possible way. All doors were closed. Greece is not the reason for instability in the region but FYROM is and we can also talk about Albanians in Skopje if you like.

No matter what Lure Lou or antaldaniel says FYROM will never enter EU or NATO as long as they do not seriously work with us to find a solution that will be confortable to both sides. That is what our efforts is all about and we will continue like that, because we do believe that every country has the right to survive and its people to enjoy benefits like those we have in EU or in NATO.

Dear Boris, I really don't hate you. I really don't! As a matter of fact I believe to your right to survive and to live in a very difficult environment as Balkan region is and I do understand that modern history has never been fair to your country. Also your leadership is not fair to you! You see... you say you are Macedonian; you come from the Macedonian region so you are Macedonian as I am Peloponnesian since I was born and live in the Peloponnisos region. But that is one thing and another one is to have territorial claims against a neighbor country as well as historical claims upon another's nation history, tradition, culture and heritage.

So, being not invited to join the Alliance, something that unfortunately might happen in the case of EU, you should blame your leadership and not Greece. Isn't your President the one who says that FYROM must work with Greece in the name issue (which again I say is only the front cover)? Isn't your Prime Minister who rejects the dialogue among us? We have said many times that as things are today, you cannot have the exclusive right about the name and we do support a name that includes a geographical determination. In addition, do not forget that at least more than 50% of Macenonia is body-part of Greece and not an "occupied" territory as many of your people claim by any chance.

What we propose, I really don't believe that can be considered a defeat to your foreign policy, but a fair - not compromise - but deal, in order for our two countries to continue to work for the benefit of the Balkan countries and Balkan nations in whole.

If I say my opinion freely: Please do not doubt the democratic structure and tradition of my country, as I do not do the same about yours. Do not forget that the word "democracy" is a greek word.

About Albanians: Yes we do have Albanians; the majority of them are Greeks from Albania! Albanians (not the Greek Albanians who state that they are Greeks and not Albanians) are not citizens of Greece like the Albanians in FYROM. So they are not a minority in a way you mean it, but immigrants, some of them political refugees, who have found a social or an economical shelter in Greece.

About Cyprus: First of all, Cyrpus is an independent and sovereign country... you should ask a Cypriot. But to tell you my opinion Turkey is the main reason for the situation on the island (because still occupies 30% of the land) and not the Greek Cyrpiots or the Turkish Cypriots. Don't confuse things like that and so easily. That at least would have been funny or ridiculous.

... this turns to be a matter of quality... because you mention a point here, that makes me glad. The issue of generations,ancestors, biology etc... Tell me something: were not perhaps Skopjan "let's hope" scientists who came up recently with some extra-large "scientific" outcome which "certifies" that the greek DNA is not a European one, but a mixture of African and Asian? Was not that "scientific research" that made the whole scientific community laugh at the faces of those so called scientists?

Regarding Kingdoms and ancient history... everybody knows that there was only Greek people and Greek ruling in the area. Macedonians were one more greek tribe, a doric one, like Achaians or Ionians and they were called "Macedonians", by the other greeks in order to be distinguished. Your Nation, has nothing to do with that past. So, that also rejects your thesis that your language is "macedonian language". If you visit Vergina, you will read only Greek. Of course you have a language and that is Slavic. I don't see something bad to that.

I could also bring you ancient texts, but I think that would be boring to the rest of the readers, because we are missing the point here. The issue that we were kindly allowed to comment is the EU and NATO future of your country and how things will work out with FYROM and Greece. Not ancient history. I suppose the readers of our comments are educated enough to know history... and you know pretty well that there are no question marks in history!

So, I do insist that - in order to asnwer to your question - we can live and work together and have a fruitful future despite of our dispute and with no cost at all, as long as we will cooperate. Take under serious consideration that many people from FYROM are visiting Greece as tourists or work in Greece. Many students receive education in our schools and Universities and many Greek corporations are established in Skopje and other cities, were FYROM citizens work with no problems at all. Secondly we do wish the dialogue among our leaderships (Dimitrov also says so), so... I wonder for what cost you talk about.

Regarding sophism, I think you should take a look at wikipedia (if not to a greek dictionary). And as far as I am concerned, even though my English are not excellent, I am able to understand that English is about direct speech. So what I say, is what I mean.

Now, you also wanted to know about minorities. Yes we have minorities. I already noted that. Religious, not ethnic minorities. And as far as Albanians are concerned, they have Albanian citizenship. Not a Greek one (I think you understand the difference). And according to filoxenia they are free to speak their language, to practice their religious obligations freely, to work, to live, to study, to enjoy... If they wish to stay here, they are free and with exactly the same rights with greeks, but as you may understand they do have some more additional obligations, because citizenship is not a toy to anyone's hands. Besides, Greece, regarding immigration policy and refugees, follows the European Law. If some adjustment must applied then that is an issue for EU to deal with. There are some common principals in EU respected by all member-states.

Once again you choose to bring Cyprus on the table. Once again, let me tell you that Cyprus is an independent and sovereign country. And about the island's up to present occupation... You cannot blame Greeks and Greece. Why? Because we all know what jounta was and we all also know that the situation on the island is the outcome of the British arrogance, jounta's stupidity and Turkey's vanity. Would I have been right if I accuse you for the communist crimes committed during the Yugoslavian era? Isn't that stupid? That is how it seems, when you bring up the Cyprus issue.

Maybe at this point we should show some more respect to the readers of our comments. I am not going to teach ancient history neither you are. I am not participating to this dialogue for minorities or about irrelevant issues, like Cyprus. If you wish to talk with me, let's stick to the subject in order for all the readers to understand better why FYROM's future within the Alliance and EU is subject of dialogue among our countries. Also, I would expect from you to justify and to make clear why FYROM's stability is useful and necessary to the Balkans! By taking this opportunity, I wish you the best outcome to the coming electional process and thank you for assisting me in having a dialogue with respect to each other.

Dear Mr.Moissidis,

If you noticed, I avoid insulting anybody. I am trying to use facts supporting my claims. Sentences like “…everybody knows…” and “… we all know…” doesent clarify the actual issues.

About DNA: I know for shure that this was whider project . Please oppen . "IBM and National Geographic to launch DNA database project " ...
I will be glad if you try to avoid use of insulting words toward someone, and at list use Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia instead FIROM.
Concerning that concrete project I already told you the stupidity of misuse of ancestors for political purposes. Speculations about our ancestors from present perspective are worthless. It would be maybe interesting to know how many present nations could be identified in my 1267650600228229401496703205376 ancestors?

About Cyprus: Australian governement has recently shown thear humanity, asking appologise from Aborigians no mather the fact that this governemen never participated in conduction of discriminative measures ageinst them. “Melbourne Law School Professor Cheryl Saunders, also a participant in today's constitutional reform discussion, said that for a preamble that recognised the rights of Aborigines to be effective, other parts of the Constitution must first be addressed.”
We or anyone else can not be abolished for wrongduings that happened during our lives. At least we are guilty becose we didn’t try to stop them or to try to correct obvious errors.

Thank you for your wishes. I think there is no need to explain why having my country in the EU and NATO is very important for stability of the region. It is sufficient to remember that there were many wars, suffering and graves in the last hundred years in this part of the world.

I guess, the British Commonwealth is one of your favorite topics; isn't it?

I am glad that you dropped the "Cyrpus issue", eventually. But, you come up with the "Australian issue"? Unfortunately, I am not sure I could contribute with any information. Maybe another example? But please, let that not be about French Revolution or American-Indian War.

I started commenting in this post, because (as the title describes) I am interested about FYROM's (possible) future entrance to the Atlantic and European families. I am interested to talk and to learn more about the obstacles and the challenges of this process and how country's political situation contribute in a positive or negative way.

The point is that you talk about anything except from that! And this is not a coincidence. Some well known propaganda techniques (some internet search is very helpful) are: a)refusing to answer difficult questions, b)victimising yourself (or your case) to attract sympathy, c)spreading false information, d)generalising by talking about other things, e)simplification, f)confusing, g)observational sellection... just to name some of them.

Seriously, do you really believe that is the most useful way to confront with the... "other side"? And, as I am the... "other side", please call me Christo. We are talking for a few days now, so there is no need for formalities among us.

Dear Christo,

I am neither politician nor expert in propaganda. Unfortunately, we became "first side" and "second side" lately even if we newer wanted so.
If we tray to talk honestly there are no taboos. We can talk about any issue, I personally prefer "solutions about global warming treat", but, French revolution or American-Indian War will do if we try to preserve each other dignity. I am not satisfied with the fact that you still use FIROM instead Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, witch to be onset, is Greek's invention!
As far I know the only unsolved issue is disagreement of Greek's politicians to our entrance to the Atlantic and European families, where we belong. I doubt that the name issue is the main problem. But, current uncertainty opens the way for malicious intentions from many others.
Let’s talk trough facts: I was born in the "Peoples Republic of Macedonia" - as part of "Socialistic Federative Republic of Yugoslavia", later lived in "Socialistic Republic of Macedonia" and finally "Republic of Macedonia". Twenty five years a go was my first visit to Greece. Then, the northern part of the Greece was called "Northern Greece". As far as I remember the name Macedonia was not used at all.
Maybe ten years later I visited Greece for the second time and I was surprised with the changes about the same issue.
It is hard to understand that Greece politicians are so reluctant to keep Republic of Macedonia insolated and causing as match as possible damage to his northern neighbor.
The stories about territorial claims and other issues are only used (as you mentioned in your text) to confuse those who are not well informed about real situation. I might only say that, as far I know there was no border between Greece and Macedonia before 1913! So called "liberation from Ottoman’s slavery" was replaced by other kind of slavery for Macedonians.
It is obvious that "negotiations" under UN mandate are just a way to keep the "second side" out of all international institutions, because the "first side" with no circumstances will agree. Why not? There is noting to loose! For the Europeans is hard to understand that!

Best regards!

.. if you consider our dialogue reasonable enough. Now, by starting answering, believe me, your dignity is not in danger from me. Why the acronym FYROM makes you feel not pleased and uncomfortable? FYROM means Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Acronyms are widely used in many cases and have the same significance: e.g. EU, UN, NATO, ASEAN...

As I have noted in a previous comment and I am glad that we agree, the name issue is just the top of the iceberg, is just the front cover, with a very (important) symbolic significance though.

Mentioning your first visit to Greece, you brought in my mind some very wonderful memories of that period of time, when I was still a student at high school and I had my very first speech about Macedonia, Alexander the Great and Thessaloniki, on the occasion of celebrating the 2300 years from the founding of its very first stone! Really! Still I think it was a great speech, even though my classmates would prefer to listen to the radio:)

As for the geographical determination of a region, in a common sence we use terminology that is easily understood to everyone. We are not the only ones. The whole world does the same. So, when we are reffering to the mainland of a country, it is very useful to “devide” it in Southern and Northern part, because that's how things are. Southern Greece is Southern Greece (consists from Peloponnisos and Continental Greece). Central Greece is Central Greece (consists from Thessalia region). Northern Greece, is Northern Greece (consists of Macedonia, Thrace and some part of Epirus). Of course, there is also Western Greece and Eastern Greece as well as the islands either of Ionian or Aegean Sea and let me not forget Crete. As you may presume, this argument of yours has no practical basis.

It is true. After of 400 years of Ottoman occupation it was about time to liberate our homeland. And we succeeded. I would also like to mention that our late President of the Republic, was from Macedonia. The present Prime Minister, Kostas Karamanlis, as well as half members of our Government comes from Macedonia. I never heard any of them inside or outside the country, calling themselves as slaves, as a minority or feeling less Greeks than the rest of us.

Do you know why? Because the “Macedonian issue” consists of 3 very specific elements, that we are able to distinguish without any fear. a)Macedonia and its history, b)Macedonia as geographical territory and c)Macedonia as a vivid idea... as a blended heritage. Regarding Macedonia and its history, that is 100% Greek, that is an undoubtful fact, not negotiable; a fact and a reality that you cannot touch, you cannot even approach, no matter what you do... no matter how many efforts you might pay in order to obtain some of it.

BUT:

Macedonia as geographical territory and as an idea and as a heritage that we ought to preserve for the next generations, is not “devided” and “seperated” as your Government says, but shared and a common ground for all the people of the region. Slavs and Greeks!

That is why you cannot have the exclusive right in the use of term “Macedonia”.

This fact, this way of thinking, also proves that the allegations of the so called “archibishop” of the “Orthodox Church of Skopje” (and I say “so called” because your church and this “archibishop” is not recognised by any Orthodox Church around the world, thus with no ecclesiastic validity), from the recent formal visit to the Vatican, are obsolent, without any logic basis and irrational that confirms and justify the Greek arguments, attitude and policy regarding the name issue; because without a solution such behaviors will continue on and on, promoting hostility and instability and eventually, there will be no European or Atlantic future for your country. And that will be sad, because Greece as strongly committed to European and Atlantic principals and ties, does not wish your isolation as you say and does not wish to cause any damage. So any accusation such as this, simply cannot stand.

The Balkans can be an excellent place for cooperation, development and integration among all nations of the region! Greece works towards that belief and have proved it again and again as the most correct one, with its investments and support in Albania, in FYROM, in Bulgaria, in Serbia, in Montenegro, in Bosnia, in Romania...

Thank God, priests don't practice foreign policy but such allegations can cause only negative emotions and second thoughts about the quality of this kind of talking...

Finally, you doubt about the UN intentions and efforts to assist both of our countries... Well, if you don't trust UN, you may leave the Organisation at any time... but then, don't blame anyone for “isolation”.

Dear Christo,

About acronyms:
It is OK if we both agree about some standard or convention. Let us say ISO3166. Otherwise...

Mentioning my first visit to Greece, it brought in my mind some very sad, but thru memories of that period of time.
I was there with my fiancé, and we where trying to find some clouts at the Ignatia street. (The very same that a couple thousands of years was the shortest connection between two capitals of the Roman Imperia and occationaly goes thry my town allso). After shopping, we take a rest at the park near the Opera. On the next bench there was an old women sitting alone. Few minutes after she approached us, she asked us if it is okay just to speak with us. She told us that she and her husband are Macedonians. But, they don’t have often the opportunity to speak Macedonian language, because some time ago it was strongly forbidden to talk Macedonian (during the junta period?). Now, it is not the case, but their two sons married GR women and they mostly use GR language. She can’t even be with her grandchildren as they are all day at the school. But, that is all right, if they are happy.

About your very first speech about Macedonia, Alexander the Great ...

Really! I hope that it was a great speech, too. I am disappointed that your classmates prefer to listen to the radio:)...
It was maybe because you are not Macedonian? Who knows?

As for the geographical determination of a region,...
You did not get the message! It was not allowed to use name Macedonia! The region is named Macedonia instead of "Northern Greece" - lately!

About Presidents from Macedonia...

I can add that Kemal Attaturk, (the creator of modern TR, comes from Macedonia, the ex-prime minister of BG as well).
But, the individual determination whether they are Macedonians, Turks, Bulgarians or Greeks or have any other national feelings is their, and only their choice!

About who wants to have the exclusive right in the use of the name “Macedonia”?.

This is your comment, do you still believe that it is correct?

"...Regarding Macedonia and its history, that is 100% Greek, that is an undutiful fact, not negotiable; a fact and a reality that you cannot touch, you cannot even approach, no matter what you do... no matter how many efforts you might pay in order to obtain some of it. "

Greece volatiles European and Atlantic principals. No one has the right to give the name to others. There is no principal about the name issue. This is solely GR invention. European politicians wants to avoid constant and unpleasant argues from GR politicians who are extremely aggressive. Similar situation was many times seen.
You might remember the case in "Sudeten Crisis" with Sudeten Germans, many decades a go. This example shows the stupidity of conflicts addressed to national feelings, territory… I believe that now, in the 21-th century taking into account that Germans and Czechs has excellent relations and as there is no border to divide them, people could freely go, work and live where they want. Isn’t that the EU principle? You might consult FP7 grant policy, where there is strong support of this approach. The interest of GR and MK is to find solution for this issue as soon as possible, avoiding escalation.

I agree that the Balkans can be an excellent place for cooperation, development and integration among all nations of the region! But, GR doesn’t work towards that goals and it is not correct, with its coordination of money which EU intends to invest in AL, MK, BG, RS, CG, BH ...

I agree with you!
" Thank God, priests don't practice foreign policy because such allegations can cause only negative emotions and second thoughts about the quality of this kind of talking.. "

Finally, I agree that the Sun looks a bit bigger from the GR point of view, but, I insure you that it is the same Sun and belongs equally to us and you.

... don't judge so hard 13 / 14 years old kids! It is normal at that age not to be occupied with... "hardcore" politics or history or any other school assignment. That's what nature is all about...

Now, the story I promised you. You can find the origins of my family in Turkey. Yes, my late grandparents were greeks from Asia Minor... meaning greek natives, but turkish citizens. My late grandfather was adopted by a turkish since he was an orphan. Unfortunately, in that particular area they were living were not many greeks, so you can undrestand that the only language my granfather could speak, was turkish.

This turkish step-father was also a high rank turkish official. Even though he had no interest to this, he tried to raise my grandfather with a lot of care and love and as greek as possible, because that was the right think to do! So just before the war, he asked from him step-son to leave Turkey and take his wife (he was married at that time) to Greece, in order for them to be safe among their people... probably because he knew what was coming and he wanted to protect his son...

Imagine: He asked from his step-son to leave his homeland for a new unknown homeland in order to be safe among the people of his origins and to do that, even though my grandparents couldn't speak any greek at all! At that time, they were about 16 / 17 years old... kids; just kids!

They left Turkey. As greeks, they could move to Greece freely. First they went to Chios island; from there to Thessaloniki, then back to Chios then to Athens and eventually to Patra... All that journey, in order to decide which place could be better for them to live.

But of course, they were speaking only tuskish! They were greeks, they were Christians and yet, all they could speak was turkish! The good thing about them, was the fact that they managed to learn greek very soon but still, between them, as a couple, they were speaking turkish. That was about 1920's. And that was normal and inevitable.

They were speaking turkish to each other. Then during 30's , 40's , 50's , 60's they were speaking turkish to their children. During jounta time they were speaking turkish (My grandfather died in 1972 and never had the chance to meet him). Then in 80's and in 90's my late grandmother(died in 1996) she was speaking turkish to her grandchildren. Still, I understand some amount of turkish if I listen to a dialogue.

And I wonder: How is it possible for someone to be allowed to speak turkish freely in Greece (considering the fact that Turkey and Greece were great enemies in the past decades) and yet, greeks or slavs not to be allowed to speak freely slavic... Pardon me, but in response to your story, I do not believe it is a true one. I think you invented that story of that old woman, in order to try to set your personal point of view about Greece as a... "fact"... But, instead of critisising my country, I would suggest you should demand from your leadership to give more democracy to the people of FYROM.

Yesterday's electional process, have proved how far away your country is from Europe! You see, being member of NATO, being member of EU, means that you have to agree and follow very specific principals. Principals of quality, strong and undoubtful! Apparently, your leadership does not respect such principals. Let me name a few: Free will of the people, Solidarity, Understanding, Tolerance, Respect, Equality, Support, Rights and Obligations...

Within NATO, within EU, no country dominates the others. All countries are equal. For example, do not forget that during the Bucharest Summit of NATO, practically Greece did not have the chance to excersise its legal right to veto. Our PM expressed our point of view... a point of view eventually shared by other member states as well... some others not though. Let me also remind you that the outcome of the summit has been agreed and signed by all member states and not by some of them.

So when you speak about principals, try to be more careful, because terrorism, violence, killings, injuries, manipulation... such as those you had yesterday, have no place in European Union or in NATO.

As for the "sun" and what to expect in the future, I have to tell you this: Being part of Europe or NATO, practically, is a decision in your hands and only! Greece is not interested to give a name to your country. You have to fix that. You have to secure democracy. You have to convince the international community that you are able to provide stability, peace and long lasting cooperation to the region. You are obligated to give a better future for your people.

So, yes! The sun is always shines here, but you prefer (up to now) to live in the dark... and that is sad, because from our dialogue I understand that many people like you are willing to work hard for your country's integration to the European and Atlantic institutions, while some others are trying their best to destroy that. The danger does not come from "outside", but from "inside". I think you will make it at the end. But till then, you need sometime and a lot of efforts.

Dear Cristo,

I could also understand Turkish linguage no mether the fakt thata all my known ancestors where born and lived in my town. Today, I have many frend in Turks population i my town. About your findings:

In the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923,...
...Kontogiorgi represents Macedonia as a microcosm of the meocratic Ottoman Empire with its rich melange of religious, ethnic, and linguistic groups. Nationalist pressures, however, ultimately tore the region apart. Serbia, Bulgaria, and Greece divided it among themselves after the Balkan War,s and voluntary and forced population transfers quickly followed. For Venizelos, the liberal Greek prime minister who engineered the victory, the acquisition of Macedonia was a crucial step in achieving similar success in Asia Minor. At the end of World War I, the Entente granted Greece the port of Smyrna and its hinterlands in Asia Minor, but Greek political and military incompetence, the shifting interests of the Great Powers, the deteriorating Ottoman Empire, the growing strength of the Turkish nationalist movement under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and atrocities committed by Greeks and Turks alike all contributed to the Asia Minor disaster of 1922 and the panicked mass exodus of 900,000 Greeks from Turkish territory. The League of Nations, hoping to avert further carnage and future conflicts between Greece and Turkey, helped craft the agreement that called for the compulsory exchange of populations...

...Kontogiorgi explores the impact of refugee settlement on Macedonian politics, society, and demographics. Most of the refugees had little problem integrating, owing to a shared language and religion with the native population. Integration became problematic when there was competition over limited land resources and when the refugee population spoke no Greek. The overwhelming majority of refugees in Macedonia, not surprisingly, supported Venizelos and the Liberal Party. The influx of Greek refugees coupled, with the departure of Muslims and pro-Bulgarian Slav Macedonians, produced a radical ethnological impact: whereas Macedonia was 42 per cent Greek in 1912, it was 89 per cent in 1926.

I think this explains a lot. Onestly, I didnt invent the story. This dont even suprise me. During the Serbian occupation of my town as well during the Bulgarion occupation to the local citisen was forbiden to use their own linguage. My mother is stil alive and she remembers well about that time.

I dont belive to single source of information. No mather who is teling the story. There is a need for many sources becose the "truth has many faces". Try to make your own view to the universe. Finaly, everything is in our minds!

I told you before that it is not in my intentions to "lecture" about history and I am sure it is not to your intentions either... that would be very easy... besides, history is a little bit different from what you describe here and I would suggest to read Kontogiorgi's book to find what she is talking about. Don't copy and paste; because also Gregory Bruess does the same in order to make the presentation.

Nevertheless, I think you already know your comment is irrelevant to the topic we are discussing.

Let's talk about it. The topic is about what keeps you out from NATO and apparently will keep you out from EU.

I am sure you are informed by now, regarding NATO's Secretary General statement, which says: "...Countries working towards NATO membership must make every effort to meet the democratic standards of the Alliance..."

And just to make a comment: there is only one truth but many different ways to approach. Therefore it does not mean
that each and every approach is part of this truth or the truth itself...