European Free Alliance
Right to self-determination: Only Macedonians can define themselves as Minority
Press Release
Brussels, 29th of November
Following the debate in the Foreign Affairs Committee on the progress report of Bulgaria towards EU membership the European Free Alliance (EFA) has emphasised that every community has the right and prerogative to define themselves as a minority if they choose. The state of Bulgaria has no role to play in defining minorities but has an important role in recognising and respecting these minorities.
"I Call on the Bulgarian authorities to recognize, respect and protect the rights of all self-identified ethnicities and minorities within its borders, including Macedonians, Pomaks, Roma, Turks, and other minorities, and to implement all decisions of the European Court for Human Rights (ECHR). I am a Macedonian, I am a member of the Macedonian community living in Bulgaria, and I exist. The state denies my existence and that of thousands of other peaceful Macedonians."
"Bulgaria, as all member states, must respect the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, including the one regarding the registration of OMO IlindenPIRIN."
"It is also the right and prerogative of the organisation OMO IlindenPirin to enjoy the freedom of association as the ECHR concluded last year and therefore we request the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to oblige Bulgaria to take all necessary initiatives to register the party."
The right to self-identification is enshrined in international law (Framework Convention on National Minorities [FCNM], Art. 3). This right has individual and collective dimensions. Each person has the right to identify themselves with a minority group (or not), and each group has the right to decide whether it would like to preserve its own group identity; including customs, traditions, language and religion. It is not up to the state to decide whether a minority group exists.
EFA headquarters. info@e-f-a.org , Tel. 003225133476/4851.
www.e-f-a.org
EFA supports European unity and the creation of a European union of free peoples based on the principles of self-determination, diversity and subsidiarity. EFA believes in and promotes solidarity with each other and other peoples of the world; The defense of human rights and the rights of peoples, in particular the right to self-determination; Protection of the environment and sustainable development; The creation of a fair society based on solidarity, with policies which favour progress, social cohesion and equal opportunities for all citizens and the principles of parliamentary democracy.
The European Free Alliance (EFA) Group in the European Parliament includes MEPs from Scotland, Wales, Catalonia and Latvia, who promote the cause of Europe's stateless nations, regions and minorities. They together with the Greens constitute the Greens/EFA group www.greens-efa.eu
EFA, European Free Alliance,
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