On June 4, 2002, a delegation from the RAINBOW Party met with The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Mr. Alvaro Gil-Robles. The meeting took place in Athens.

At this meeting representatives of RAINBOW had an opportunity to inform Mr. Gil-Robles of the difficulties faced by the Macedonian minority in Greece. The subject of the Macedonian political refugees was also discussed. These refugees suffer under a Greek system of Apartheid and to this day are not permitted to return home. The same stance is also applied against Macedonian emigrant communities (economic, etc.) from Greece.

For background on the Macedonian political refugees see:
• Greece - The only European country which still has political refugees
• Open Letter to Prime Minister Simitis
• Conference on Refugees - 1998

The subject of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (Council of Europe) was also brought up. Specifically, it was pointed out that while Greece signed this treaty in 1997 the Greek parliament has, to this day, refused to ratify it. See: Helsinki Reaction to Request for Greek Recognition of Minorities

The problems surrounding the use of the Macedonian language were also discussed. See: Who Says There Are No Minority Languages in Greece

Mr. Gil-Robles also met with representatives of other minority organizations, namely from the Turkish, Rom and Vlach communities as well as with members of Greek Helsinki Monitor and Minority Rights Group - Greece.

RAINBOW-Vinozhito will continue to present the problems faced by the Macedonian minority in Greece at every opportunity, be it domestic or international.