HUMAN RIGHTS FOR THE MACEDONIANS

HUMAN RIGHTS FOR THE MACEDONIANS

Today, on the threshold of the twenty-first century, when the Berlin Wall collapsed, when the civilized world is moving forward with a message of peace among nations, when Europe has found the answer to human rights, the Balkans are again threatened with the fear of war. There has been no peace in the Balkans for decades, one of the reasons because the national and human rights of the Macedonian people have not been recognized. We can assure you that there will be no peace in the Balkans, as long as the rights of the Macedonian people are not recognized! We are convinced that if Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia maintain the same policy of not recognizing the Macedonian people in perpetuity, Macedonia will remain a bone of contention, an arena of bloody dramas for all the Balkan people. Greeks claim that “Macedonians are Greeks” and that “There is no Macedonian nation”. Serbs claim that “The Macedonians are Serbs” and that there are “No Macedonians”. The Bulgarians have repeated thousands of times that “Macedonia is part of the western Bulgarian empire”. The Bulgarians carry banners with the inscription “Moesia, Thrace, Macedonia”. They have this absurd longing for access to the three Seas: the Black, the Aegean and the Adriatic; a longing which has created so many victims from all the Balkan people, but mostly from the Macedonian people.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Even today, six months after Todor Zhivkov fell out of favour in Bulgaria, after democracy was embraced, after a multi-party system was adopted and after the rights of the Turks, Pomaks and Gypsies were recognized… official authorities and the newly created parties still deny the existence of the Macedonian people in Bulgaria. They say: “There are no Macedonians in Bulgaria!”, they say “The population in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia is Bulgarian!” In today’s Bulgaria, if someone claims to be Macedonian they will be automatically placed on the list of “unfit” and they will be persecuted to the nth degree. We, the Macedonians of OMO “Ilinden”, demand that: “Our national and cultural rights, awarded to us by the Bled Agreement on August 1, 1947, when the Pirin part of Macedonia was granted cultural

autonomy, be reinstated! With these rights we were granted education in the Macedonian language and the right to study Macedonian history etc.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today Macedonia is divided into three parts. Its fate is the most tragic in Europe. The Macedonian people are the most unfortunate people in Europe. These Macedonian people have struggled for centuries for their rights. Unfortunately they are surrounded by states with big appetites, which have always been an obstacle to the realization of their rights. I addition to enduring Bulgaria’s decades long extremely repressive policies, we the Macedonian people here in Pirin Macedonia also had to endure the loss of our basic human rights afforded to us in 1948. Being stripped of our human rights we began our long and arduous journey to regain them. In our struggle we were, and still are, cruelly persecuted by the Bulgarian government. We are persecuted because we are Macedonians and because we feel Macedonian; a natural and legitimate human right. Only because of these “feeling”, thousands of us were sent to prison camps and prisons in Socialist Bulgaria. I ask you ladies and gentlemen, is it a crime for a person to feel Macedonian? Is it a crime for a person to be Macedonian? In Greece and in Bulgaria, I am afraid to say, that even today it is a crime! We came here, before this forum, with the belief that during the next ten years, before we cross the threshold of the twenty-first century, there will be much hope for all the nations of Europe and for the Macedonians to achieve their rights. We believe that the Balkan nations will follow the European road and will recognize the rights of all peoples, including those of the Macedonian people, because “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights” as stated by Article 1 of the Human Rights Declaration. Our Macedonian forefathers and freedom fighters from the Ilinden Era used to say that the people of the Balkans, be they Serbs, Greeks, Gypsies, Turks, Bulgarians, Albanians, or others, need to live like brothers, and for the world to be a field of cultural competition among nations (G. Delchev and Y. Sandanski). We rightly expect that Europe will not remain indifferent to our pleas for our rights as Macedonians because Europe is responsible for our current fate. As president of OMO “Ilinden”, on behalf of all our members and supporters, I would like to ask the respected representatives of the non-governmental delegations and the Honourable President of CSCE to

demonstrate an understanding and take appropriate action to address our lifelong problem. I hope, Mr. President, we will not remain a lone voice in the wilderness!

IMPRESSIONS

My talk with my sister Elena about Macedonia

One evening when we were returning from the village Dolno Spanchevo visiting Atanas Gadzhenov – Tandzhuro, a very good friend of mine, my wife and I decided to pass by my sister Elena in Petrich. She was only a couple of kilometres out of our way. When my sister saw us coming out of the car she said: “You must have read my mind. If you hadn’t come today I was going to come and see you tomorrow.” I could see that something was bothering her because she looked concerned so I asked her: “What’s the matter sister? What seems to be the problem? Please tell me!” “Come inside and I will tell you,” she said. Then as soon as we stepped inside she said: “Oh, Stoian, Stoian, the entire city is talking about you saying that you are back again involved in your Macedonian matters!...” “Dear sister,” I said. “If you want to know, I never stopped being involved in Macedonian matters! The difference now is that since Bulgaria is becoming more democratic, we Macedonians are coming out and are openly working on political matters regarding Macedonia. We no longer hide; we openly announced who we are and what we are fighting for.” “Then please tell me dear brother,” she said. “What is it that you want? You have a car, you have a house, you have a wife, you have children and you even have nephews and nieces? What more could you possibly want?” “My dear sister,” I said. “It is not like you to talk like that. You are a woman of pension age, so please tell me why do you still go to work and breathe the poisonous fumes in the “Greenhouse Complex”? You have money so what is it that draws you there? What are you missing?” “My dear brother,” she said. “I do have money but I go there to get some peace. If I stay home all the time with my grandchildren they will drive me crazy. I love them but I can’t take too much of them all at once.” “Well, my dear sister, you have your justification,” I said. “Now you will get to hear mine. Yes I do have a house, a car, a wife, children and nephews and nieces and I love them all but at the same time I also love Macedonia!” “And who is going to take Macedonia from your heart?” she asked. “No one, but if you can’t freely say ‘I am Macedonian!’ what kind of a Macedonia do I have?” I asked. “Okay, you made your point!” she said but I could see that she was not going to give up that easily so she took a different approach. She

said: “Our mother is sick and if not for me, then give up this crusade for mother.” “My dear sister,” I said. “Our mother, our father God bless his soul, our children, and our grandchildren are not going to be here forever. We are here today, we will be gone tomorrow. Macedonia on the other hand is timeless and has lasted for ages and ages.” “Am I to understand that you love Macedonia more than our mother?” she asked. “Yes, my dear sister! I love Macedonia above all! A person deserves to live, suffer and die for her, for Mother Macedonia!” I replied. When my sister realized that it was pointless trying to convince me she turned to my wife and said: “And you Maria, do you remember how much you suffered when Stoian was in prison, why don’t you talk to him and convince him to abandon this crusade about Macedonia?” My wife Maria then turned to her and said: “Look Elena, he did not give up when our children were very young, don’t expect him to give up now. I am not getting in his way. He can do what he wants!” “Bravo! You are both mad!” replied my sister in a disappointed tone of voice. “My dear sister, you do know that everyone must follow the destiny that has been preordained for them, right? So please let’s talk about something else. You, Natse, how are you doing in your retirement?” I asked my brother-in-law who until now had not taken part in our conversation. “I am fine, thank you for asking,” he said. “But I think your sister is right. Why does it have to be you? Why does it always have to be the same people? The same people going to prison?” he added. “My dear Natse, because everyone wants to protect their own morsel and no one wants to think about the people. And do you know the fate of our people and how many sacrifices were made for our freedom?” I asked. “Yes I know!” he said. “My own father was a freedom fighter in the Ilinden Era, I have many photos of him in arms as a fighter, but now the times are different,” he added. “Perhaps you are right, but do you think that there is no need for us to participate in these times? Do you think we should passively stand on the sidelines doing nothing for our miserable Macedonian people? The Bulgarians won’t even let us sing a single Macedonian song! They won’t let us have a single Macedonian newspaper to read. They won’t let us have any of the things the people in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia enjoy!” I replied. “Yes you are right Stoian, it is exactly as you describe it!” he said. “But then at the same time can’t you see what the Bulgarian government is doing to people like you?” he added. “Yes I see, but I also see our sleeping Macedonian consciousness. I see thousands of

people just like you and that hurts me! That’s why I wrote an article entitled “Macedonians awaken!” I replied.

1990 MAKFEST Festival in Shtip

I had the opportunity and good fortune of attending one of this year’s most important musical events in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia; the “1990 Makfest Shtip Festival” which took place on October 11, 12 and 13 in the House of Culture in Shtip. This was my first visit to the beautiful Macedonian city where Gotse Delchev met Damian Gruev and began to work as a teacher and as a leading revolutionary. I was expected to leave with Ilia Stoianov on Friday, October 11 to go and pick up my wife at the border but he was busy with other urgent matters that day so our trip was moved to the next day. Ilia Stoianov was Director of the private bookstore “Vezilka” in Bitola. He was also one of the sponsors of the festival. The next day something else came up and Ilia could not make it so he sent his car with a couple of his workers to take me to the border. He said we would be leaving at 1 pm and heading directly for the Zlatorevo border. I got there half an hour late because the car that was supposed to take us there broke down near Strumitsa and I had to find another car to get me there. When I arrived at the border my wife was already there waiting for me at the Macedonian customs, where we had previously agreed to meet. I apologized to my wife for my delay and explained my situation. We then left immediately and went to the place where I had left our friends. By the time we got there the car was fixed and we all left together for Shtip. We arrived in front of the Cultural Centre ten minutes before the program started. Our friends only had two tickets to the festival but it was not hard to get two more, one for me and one for my wife. I had been to the Socialist Republic of Macedonia eight times since February this year. During my visits I attended many important meetings but this was the first time that I attended a “live” music festival. I was astonished by the scenery and décor the moment I entered the building, which was packed with many young and beautiful people. I have never been to or seen anything like this in Bulgaria. Our brothers and sisters in Macedonia have come a long way in developing their experience in organizing such festivals. I said “live” earlier because I watched “Folkfest Balandovo 90” on television from a video cassette. That too was well done. I particularly liked “Makfest - Stip 90” because of the international composition of performing artists and the songs that were sung exclusively in the Macedonian language. I also liked the melodies themselves, especially when they were performed by experienced

performing artists who engaged the attention of the audience and received tumultuous applause. I particularly enjoyed the song “Zvonat, Zvonat” as sung by the talented Liupka Dimitrovska. The lyrics of that song were strong and sensitive, ringing like a “bell” for all Macedonians everywhere in the world. Listening to it, I thought the song was “ringing” for all the divided Macedonians everywhere. All throughout the song my wife Maria shed tears uncontrollably. It seemed like she was reflecting on the years 1973 to 1976 when we were apart, separated by my jail sentence, her having to worry about our two children and me locked up in Starozagorski Prison behind steel bars unable to help her. Or perhaps she was crying because at any moment the Bulgarian authorities would not hesitate to separate us again for God knows how long! And how beautifully that wonderful Liupka sang: “Barem da se javeshe, barem nadesh da mi dadashe, jas pak bi plachela, jas pak bi te dobro chekala”… The song brought tears to my eyes because my heart has been filled with pain and I too felt the pain of separation from my family. But such is the fate of the Macedonian people! To be separated their whole lives and to shed tears. Oh, mother, mother, Macedonia! How much I want you! How much I love you! Mother Macedonia, I suffer for you and for your miserable torn apart Macedonian people! That is why I believe there is no other country in the world about whom so many songs are written and sung. Around 11pm the same evening during cocktail hour, held in honour of the winners of “Makfest – Stip”, two beautiful women, around the age of forty-three or forty-four years old, came over to our table. They said that they recognized me from seeing me on television and wanted to talk to me in person. I promised that I would see them on Sunday, October 14th at 10 o’clock in the morning. I asked them to come and see me at the hotel where we could talk longer and uninterrupted. Later, as per our agreement, the lovely Liubica and her husband Pance Nastev were kind enough to come and visit with us. Unfortunately Panche had to go because he had other guests to attend to. He apologized and went but he left Liubica, that wonderful woman from Shtip, to keep us company. Panche is very lucky to have such a kind and wonderful wife. I have never met such an outspoken, knowledgeable and sensitive woman anywhere. I believe Liubica has all the goodness, all the sadness and all the humanity of all Macedonians put together.

When I told her about my life in prison and my wife’s life trying to cope without me, she cried and cried as if wanting to take away all our pain and suffering. I truly believe that Liubica is the kind of dignified woman who will give her life for mother Macedonia if asked. But I hope to God she never has to! Strong women like Liubica give us Macedonians in Pirin the courage to fight to the end for our human and national rights! I am writing my final lines of this book here in Bitola, just one day after our happy two day experience in Shtip. My heart is beating fast like it wants to escape out of my chest. Where has the relentless energy, the “Perpetua Mobile” come from in me without me having to run, without me physically exerting myself? The thought of something sacred starts my heart beating, bouncing like crazy, so hard that I have to hold it back from escaping with both hands. Is it because a while ago I thought I would die from a heart attack? I am not saying all these things to make myself sound interesting, I am saying these things because they are true and that is the truth, the whole truth. Generally I don’t want to think about dying because I think I still owe Macedonia a great deal more. There is still plenty to pay and to sacrifice for Macedonia!