Vienna, 9 October 1997: The International Helsinki Federation (IHF) appeals to the international community to give due attention to the trial of four leaders of "Rainbow," the Macedonian minority party in Greece, in Florina, northern Greece on 14 October.

The members of this legal political party are charged under Article 192 of the Greek Penal Code concerning incitement to violence or peace disturbance, for hanging a sign in the party's office displaying the words "Lerinski Komitet."

The indictment alleges that the use of these words, "in combination with the fact that they are written in a foreign language, in the specific Slavic idiom, provoked and incited discord among the area's citizens," adding that one can justifiably identify these words with "an old terrorist organization of Slavic-speaking alien nationals . . ."

The IHF is concerned about the charges brought against these individuals. A verdict of guilt of the accused on such grounds would put Greece in the position of violating its international obligations under the recently signed "Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities" of the Council of Europe, and its commitments undertaken as a member of the OSCE with regard to freedom of expression and minority rights.

The IHF will send a mission of observation to the trial and will report to the international community further about this worrisome case.