EFA-Rainbow :: News 2008

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ΕFA-Rainbow supports the right of the Catalan people to decide on their future and joins the EFA campaign "Catalonia decides"

Catalonia decides

MAKEDONSKI.ORG

INTERNET RADIO

A selection of Macedonian blogs in Greece

Abecedar
Aegean Macedonian Culture
Antimakedonismos
Mladini-Makedonci

Anti-macedonian policy during the elections for the European Parliament against Rainbow by the Greek state and the Greek mass media

A scandal by the Parliamentary committee

Greek TV stations sabotage EFA-Raibow

Ultra-nationalists want "borders with Serbia"!

"Hellenic Post" sabbotages EFA-Rainbow Campaign

Typical example of censorship of Rainbow

Attack of the Greek Neo-nazi party

A Greek - Macedonian dictionary by Vasko Karatza printed with the support of EFA - Rainbow
Greek Macedonian

D. Lithoxoou

lithoksou.net/home.html
"Extracts of Letters"

Τι έλεγε κάποτε το ΚΚΕ για τους Μακεδόνες

Denying Ethnic Identity:
The Macedonians of Greece, by Human Rights Watch

Linguistics and politics II:
Macedonian Language

Greece's stance towards
its Macedonian minority
and the neighbouring
Republic of Macedonia.

Lawed Arguments
and Omitted Truths

R. Nikovski: Memorandum to the European Parliament
Facts behind the Greek politics towards Macedonia
English Macedonian

"Proposed disciplinary measures to stamp out the Macedonian minority in Greece by the National Security Service"

Center Maurits Coppieters

Greek Anti–Nationalistic Movement

Macedonian Forum for politics and history

European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI)

Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR)

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)

Joint statement on the occasion of the International Day
for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination � 21 March 2008

March 18, 2008

Today we commemorate the tragic events of 1960 in Sharpeville, which led to the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.[i] On this symbolic day, we - the OSCE�s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the Council of Europe�s European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) and the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) � stand united in calling on political parties to combat racism. In the words of Nelson Mandela, we call on political leaders to build �a society of which all humanity will be proud�.

Our organisations jointly condemn all discourse that spreads ideas of superiority on grounds of race, colour, language, religion, nationality, or national or ethnic origin. Racist discourse is opposed to the basic equality of all people.

Public perception of different minorities, cultures and religions as well as attitudes towards issues such as immigration, integration and the fight against racism are to a great extent influenced by political discourse. By speaking out against racist acts and incidents, political representatives can play a positive role in the promotion of mutual respect and understanding in society, and can have a significant impact in defusing tensions.

Racist political discourse contributes to dehumanising individuals, denigrating certain ethnic, religious or cultural groups, perpetuating stereotypes, and creating a climate in which racist violence may flourish. Racist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic political discourse is no longer the sole preserve of extremist political parties, but is to be found in the overall political environment in many states. Such developments may lead to the legitimisation and trivialisation of this type of language. Concern over the increasing use of racist discourse in politics has been expressed in numerous reports, statements and documents adopted by the Council of Europe, the European Parliament and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Based on the existing standards and commitments of our organisations and, in light of the Charter of European Political Parties for a Non-Racist Society[ii], which could serve as a blueprint for other similar initiatives, we call upon all political leaders for continued leadership in the fight against intolerance and discrimination. We:
o Call on political leaders to defend basic human rights and democratic principles and to reject all forms of racist violence, incitement to racial hatred and harassment and any form of racial discrimination;
o Call on political parties to deal responsibly with sensitive issues related to race, ethnic and national origin and religion;
o Encourage political parties to adopt concrete policies against all forms of racism and xenophobia in their party programmes;
o Encourage political parties to strive for the fair representation of racial, ethnic, national and religious minorities within and at all levels of their party system;
o Urge political representatives to act responsibly and refrain from providing simplistic explanations with racist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic connotations to complex social, political and economic problems or phenomena;
o Recommend political parties to work closer with civil society to combat racism and xenophobia and form partnerships in order to reach this goal.

Notes to editors

[i] The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the UN�s General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

[ii] The Charter of European Political Parties for a Non-Racist Society was signed on 25 September 2003 by the President of the Council of Europe�s Parliamentary Assembly and the President of the European Parliament. The Charter calls on political parties to act responsibly when dealing with issues related to race, ethnic and national origin and religion. The EUMC, the Fundamental Rights Agency�s precursor, worked on promoting the Charter. ECRI in March 2005 adopted a Declaration on the use of racist, antisemitic and xenophobic elements in political discourse, making reference to the Charter.

European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
Communication and External Relations Unit
Rahlgasse 3 AT-1060 Vienna
Tel: +43(0)1 58030-633 - Fax: +43(0)1 58030-693

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to read the Abecedar!

Promotion of the
Macedonian Language
Primer at the OSCE HDIM

Greek irredentism and expansionism officially sanctioned by the Greek Parliament

Letter to Carla del Ponte,
Chief Prosecutor for the UN International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

The Yugoslavian Crisis

Document of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs
Related to the article - The obvious linguistic particularity - Eletherotypia, 18/11/2006

The ten Greek myths
on the “Macedonian issue”
By IOS team – Eletherotypia, 23/10/2005

Who says there are no
minority languages in Greece?
The "secret" census
in north Greece, in 1920

Map showing the Cultures and Languages in the E.U.

Council of Europe
Framework convention for the Protection of national minorities

Συνέντευξη: Ευάγγελος Κωφός, Έλληνας ιστορικός
Δημοκρατία της Μακεδονίας - Σκόπια είναι όνομα που εκφράζει την ταυτότητά σας

Ο Παύλος Φιλίποβ Βοσκόπουλος απαντά στον Ευάγγελο Κωφό.
«Το Μακεδονικό ζήτημα είναι η αχίλλειος πτέρνα του ελληνικού μύθου».

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