Post by Wayne Hall on Feb 18, 2009 6:52:04 GMT -5
The following news item from the FYROM is important. It would be very good for some Americans and Western Europeans to take an interest in what could be a genuine human rights issue. Americans are free of the stigma that is attached to Europeans, and particularly Greeks, who think that what appears to be happening with Vasco Gligorievich could be a problem. To take an interest in Vasco is to be cast as an extreme right-wing nationalist.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is the only part of Tito’s former Communist state that still tries to cling to some “left-wing” credentials, despite having been subjected to the same neo-con “reform” process as the rest of former Yugoslavia.
The reason for this is that there are no really strong historical roots for right-wing nationalism in FYROM. The relevant right-wingers have been Greeks, Serbs and Bulgarians. Then there are the Albanians of course, a very very large minority in FYROM. Right-wing Albanians often agree with right-wing Greeks that “Macedonia is Greek” (but of course they also want a slice of it for themselves).
Concocting a national identity for this state that is really very largely a creation of Tito’s brand of multinational Communism is a big headache for the politicians that are trying to do it. It was never necessary in Tito’s Yugoslavia for the comrades to take these issues of national identity very seriously.
The problem is complex, and will not be solved by the American and Western European political “elite” coming down heavily on the side of local nationalist politicians who find it so hard to stand on their own feet.
In the meantime, the problem should not be an excuse for human-rights violations.
Wayne Hall
VASCO GLIGORIEVICH appeals to Greek bloggers:
nikos63.blogspot.com/2009/02/bloggers.html
The following information is translated and reproduced from the abovementioned blog, without any cross-checking. The most tendentious turns of phrase in the Greek text have been modified and softened.
VASCO GLIGORIEVICH has condemned the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) for anti-Greek propaganda. He started a blog and made the claim that the citizens of FYROM are not Macedonians but a Slav nation.
He also protested about a poster to be seen in Skopje with the Greek flag including a swastika. This philhellene was arrested by the FYROM authorities, who closed down his blog. His present whereabouts and situation are unknown.
He is said to have been placed in a psychiatric clinic, as an insane person.
Further information:
The Greek extreme-nationalist political party Democratic Renewal has sent a committee to visit Vasko Gligorievich (an item of news which appears to contradict the assertion that his whereabouts are unknown) . The well-known psychiatrist Cleanthes Grivas will participate in the mission to Skopje, to the Bardovsky clinic. He proposes to conduct a psychiatric examination of Mr. Gligorievich.
Greek bloggers are advised to be on the ready on 18th February, the day of the mission. Given the silence of the Greek media (with the exception of the ALTER and ET3 [state] channels, the role of bloggers in support of this mission will be important.
The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is the only part of Tito’s former Communist state that still tries to cling to some “left-wing” credentials, despite having been subjected to the same neo-con “reform” process as the rest of former Yugoslavia.
The reason for this is that there are no really strong historical roots for right-wing nationalism in FYROM. The relevant right-wingers have been Greeks, Serbs and Bulgarians. Then there are the Albanians of course, a very very large minority in FYROM. Right-wing Albanians often agree with right-wing Greeks that “Macedonia is Greek” (but of course they also want a slice of it for themselves).
Concocting a national identity for this state that is really very largely a creation of Tito’s brand of multinational Communism is a big headache for the politicians that are trying to do it. It was never necessary in Tito’s Yugoslavia for the comrades to take these issues of national identity very seriously.
The problem is complex, and will not be solved by the American and Western European political “elite” coming down heavily on the side of local nationalist politicians who find it so hard to stand on their own feet.
In the meantime, the problem should not be an excuse for human-rights violations.
Wayne Hall
VASCO GLIGORIEVICH appeals to Greek bloggers:
nikos63.blogspot.com/2009/02/bloggers.html
The following information is translated and reproduced from the abovementioned blog, without any cross-checking. The most tendentious turns of phrase in the Greek text have been modified and softened.
VASCO GLIGORIEVICH has condemned the government of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) for anti-Greek propaganda. He started a blog and made the claim that the citizens of FYROM are not Macedonians but a Slav nation.
He also protested about a poster to be seen in Skopje with the Greek flag including a swastika. This philhellene was arrested by the FYROM authorities, who closed down his blog. His present whereabouts and situation are unknown.
He is said to have been placed in a psychiatric clinic, as an insane person.
Further information:
The Greek extreme-nationalist political party Democratic Renewal has sent a committee to visit Vasko Gligorievich (an item of news which appears to contradict the assertion that his whereabouts are unknown) . The well-known psychiatrist Cleanthes Grivas will participate in the mission to Skopje, to the Bardovsky clinic. He proposes to conduct a psychiatric examination of Mr. Gligorievich.
Greek bloggers are advised to be on the ready on 18th February, the day of the mission. Given the silence of the Greek media (with the exception of the ALTER and ET3 [state] channels, the role of bloggers in support of this mission will be important.