MHRMI Response to Times Article Referring to Macedonians as "Slavs"

Source: http://www.mhrmi.org/press/06/times.html

Macedonian Human Rights Movement International

July 7, 2006

read this page in Macedonian | read this page in Greek

In the July 6, 2006 article "Former boxer becomes Macedonian Prime Minister" (www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,13509-2258934,00.html), Anthony Browne describes Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski as "A Slav nationalist former boxer and amateur actor", describes the conflict between the "Slav majority and Albania minority", and states "Peace between Slavs and Albanians in Macedonia..."

There is no ethnic group in Macedonia that refers to itself as "Slav". The Macedonian population in the Republic of Macedonia is simply that, ethnic Macedonian. Any other term is insulting. In an effort to question the legitimacy of the Macedonian nation, and to deny the existence of its large Macedonian minority, Greece refers to Macedonians as "Slavs" and pressures the international community to do the same. Unfortunately, the Times has followed suit. We sincerely hope and expect that the Times will not make this error again.

Bill Nicholov, President
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International
Address: 157 Adelaide St. West, Suite 434, Toronto, Canada M5H 4E7
Tel: 416-850-7125 Fax: 416-850-7127
e-mail: info@mhrmi.org website: www.mhrmi.org

(European Free Alliance) Map showing the Cultures and Languages in the E.U.

Abecedar