in Macedonian

Attached: http://www.e-f-a.org/print.php?type=1&id=112

EFA-Rainbow, the Macedonians in Greece and all democratic European citizens stand for yet another time speechless towards the acts of a state that pretends to be a democratic one. Bulgaria, unfortunately soon to become a member of the European Union, continues the harassment of its numerous Macedonian minority, using methods that directly resemble those used by the worst totalitarian regimes Europe has ever experienced.

Encouraged by the European Parliament’s initial rejection of the amendment on the Macedonians in Bulgaria and the registration of their political party OMO Ilinden Pirin (as proposed by EFA/Greens), the Bulgarian authorities peaked their anti-Macedonian acts. State officials (police officers usually) visit every single citizen who had signed the application for registration of the party or call them at the local police stations. The Macedonians then are forced to fill in a so-called “Explanatory Form” (click to see attachment) with outrageous questions such as if they know their signatures were included or if they received any money for them!

These actions, only aiming to intimidate the Macedonians in Bulgaria, not only directly contradict European human & minority rights’ protection practices but also brutally violate basic personal data protection laws inside the European Union.

EFA-Rainbow and the Macedonians in Greece, as victims of similar violent assimilating measures in the recent past, urge the European Commission and all political parties in the European Parliament that voted against the above amendment to immediately act and stop these disgraceful incidents.

Furthermore, to apply pressure on both Greece and Bulgaria in order to respect at last the essential rights of their large Macedonian communities. The fact that Macedonians in the Balkans always pursued their human rights using peaceful and democratic means, unlike other minorities in our turbulent region, should be also accordingly appreciated.

The Press Office of EFA-Rainbow