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The actions of Greece over the past two decades with regard to its unwarranted demands from Macedonia to change its name, not only go against the fundamental right of a people to their native identity, but also expose Greece for the hypocritical state that it is. Since Greece was awarded the territories of southern Macedonia and Thrace after the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, the names of the 'new territories' (as they were commonly known) were altered several times, and all during turbulent times in the region. Greece's indecisive and impulsive nature with regard to the names of their 'new territories' demonstrates a complete lack of uniformity where it concerns the views and policies in relation to these areas and Greek-occupied Macedonia in particular.
Here is a chronology of Greek name games in the 'new territories' of their own state during the 20th century:
At some point it is no longer in existence, was this due to WWII or events prior?
Only three months later and a name change, why? No more entity known simply as 'Macedonia'.
Why were they abolished during the Greek Civil War?
So from three to two entities.
Northern Greece is officially back at the close of the Greek Junta.
Why the sudden urge to rename it after a good stable 14 years as Northern Greece? Could it be because of the imminent trouble and break-up in Yugoslavia which would result in a free Macedonian republic?
The above demonstrates that since the end of WWII at no time has there been one entity with a local government that has been called simply 'Macedonia' in Greece, instead we have a combination of GEOGRAPHICAL IDENTIFIERS to distinguish multiple regions at various times.
Take note also of when 'Northern Greece' is introduced as the general name of the area, in 1945 just prior to the Greek Civil War which was basically a battle between Macedonians and Greeks on many fronts, in 1974 when the Greek Junta concludes, and in 1988 prior to the independence of the Macedonian Republic only three years later. It seems that the conditions and lively state of the Macedonians coincided with and possibly even dictated at least two of these decisions.
Greece should keep using geographical identifiers, Macedonians will simply keep using Republic of Macedonia or Macedonia or MKD alternatively, as is our right.
Here is a chronology of Greek name games in the 'new territories' of their own state during the 20th century:
31 December 1914, General Government of Macedonia.
20 January 1945, General Government of Macedonia and General Government of Thrace reinstated.
21 March 1945, General Government of Northern Greece established, which includes;
- General Government of Western Macedonia
- General Government of Central Macedonia
- General Government of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace
18 March 1947, General Governments of Western and Eastern Macedonia are abolished.
26 August 1971, District Governments of Western and Central Macedonia, and, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, are established.
20 November 1974, Ministry of Northern Greece is reinstated.
19 August 1988, Ministry of Northern Greece is renamed to Ministry of Macedonia-Thrace.
The above demonstrates that since the end of WWII at no time has there been one entity with a local government that has been called simply 'Macedonia' in Greece, instead we have a combination of GEOGRAPHICAL IDENTIFIERS to distinguish multiple regions at various times.
Take note also of when 'Northern Greece' is introduced as the general name of the area, in 1945 just prior to the Greek Civil War which was basically a battle between Macedonians and Greeks on many fronts, in 1974 when the Greek Junta concludes, and in 1988 prior to the independence of the Macedonian Republic only three years later. It seems that the conditions and lively state of the Macedonians coincided with and possibly even dictated at least two of these decisions.
Greece should keep using geographical identifiers, Macedonians will simply keep using Republic of Macedonia or Macedonia or MKD alternatively, as is our right.
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