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Страници по тази тема: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | (покажи всички)
Тема
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History of Bulgaria, from Tatarstan web page
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Автор |
MAKEDONEC () |
Публикувано | 15.03.00 22:15 |
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Hmmmmm, ova jas go pisuvam ili ne? Pa neli ne ste tatari, ne znam sto vikaat ovie ovde. Ako ne ste tatari, togas ste Makedonci?
Kako i da e, uzivajte, i me interesira sto mislite.
Dali od sega moze slobodno da ve vikam Tatari ili ne?
Ke go pocituvam vasiot izbor.
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The historical fate of Tatar People, its culture, arising and development of Kazan - the capital of Tatarstan - are intertwining with the history of Volga Bulgaria, Golden Horde, Kazan Khanate, Russian State.
http://www.kcn.ru/tat_en/history/index.htm
Volga Bulgaria
"Black Chamber" Mosque in Bolgar
(XIV century) Volga Bulgaria - the feudal state formed on the verge of IX-X centuries in Middle Volga region. The main population was bulgars - immigrants from Azov region, who conquered the native Finno-Ugrians and Turkish-speaking tribes. The largest towns Bolgar and Buljar in area and population surpassed London, Paris, Kiev, Novgorod and Vladimir of that time.
Volga Bulgaria exported to Middle Asia, China, Vizantium, Russia the fur, timber, leather footwear, arms and other handmade goods. The capital of Volga Bulgaria town Bolgar in X-XIV centuries was built of stone and brick. Already the public water supply was here. Nowadays remained the ruins of "The Black Chamber" Mosque, Minor Minaret, Khan's Tomb, Northern Mausoleum, Cathedral Mosque.
Khan's Tomb (Eastern Mausoleum)
Smaller Minaret Bulgars were the pagans. In 922 the Embassy from Baghdad came to Bulgaria and the congress of Bulgarian tribes adopted Islam as the state religion. The ancient Turkish written language was substituted by the Arabic one. (In 1928 the Arabic alphabet was substituted by the Latin one; in 1938 the contemporary Tatar alphabet on the basis of Cyrillic alphabet was adopted).
In the beginning of the X century there were schools in Bulgarian villages.
Bulgars had their own scientists and poets. Jakub ibn-Nogman who wrote "The History of Bulgaria" lived in the first half of XII century. The scholar Burchan ibn-Bulgari wrote the book on rhetoric and medicine. The poem by Kul-Gali "Tale about Yusuf" (XIII century) was well known far from Bulgaria and greatly influenced the development of Bulgarian and Tatar literature.
"Shamahil" wall panel
with the text from the Holy Koran
Velvet "kalfak" headdress
worked with gold embroidery The characteristic elements of Bulgaria culture were the jewellery of gold, silver, bronze, copper; pottery with engraved ornament; metal open-work decorations; bronze locks in the form of animals; leather goods; clothes decorated with beads and silver.
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Тема
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History of Bulgaria, from Tatarstan web page
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Josif () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 03:29 |
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Makedonec da ti e alaf za ova ,zatoa ovie bile tolku po Makedonija, na ovi mislam Bugarite mu e stram da se kazat Tatari a Makedonij-nebese samostalna drzjava base so Jugoslavija kolku dae nemashe sila da muse suprostavi na lazjnata istoria shto chetirite komsinski volci nia kradele i si ja pisat kako mu odgovara .uste ednas bravo za ovoj izvestaj...
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Тема
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Those who forget their past are bound to repeat it
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Historian () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 03:39 |
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Dear Macedo-Bulgarian Friend, named MAKEDONEC,
Those who do not know their past are bound to repeat it.
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13. Съпротива на македонските българи срещу въоръжените пропаганди
А) Борбата на ВМОРО срещу сръбската и гръцката пропаганда
Опитите на отделните агенти на македонизма, изобретен в Белград, не оставиха никакви следи в поробена Македония. Всичко, което се кроеше в
тая насока, намираше само единични изяви вън от нея – в Сърбия, България, Русия и Цариград. Това явно говори за чуждестранния произход на
македонизма, без почва в самата Македония, където революционната организация стоеше на поста си като страж на българщината.
Затова както сърбите, така и гърците създадоха специални четнически организации за борба с тая българщина, която не познаваше никакъв
македонизъм. Гърците издигнаха лозунга "Вулгарос нами мини!" ("Българин да не остане") и извършиха жестоки изстъпления над невинното
българско население в Костурско, Леринско, Битолско, Марийово. Това бяха прочутите по своята безчовечност кланета: 1) в с. Загоричани,
станало на 7 април 1905 г. под лозунга "да не остане никой жив от 16 години нагоре" (ръководени от капитан Цонтос, андартите избили 50 души,
ранили 77 и опожарили 30 къщи); 2) в с. Зелениче (Леринско) избили цяла сватба; 3) в с. Смилево (македонското Оборище, опожарено и изклано
през време на въстанието) избити са 15 души, ранени други, опожарени къщи; 4) в с. Неволяни (Леринско) също била нападната сватба от 50
души селяни и избити голям брой сватбари; 5) тъй е в Бърник (Марийово), Кладораби (Леринско), където биват избити 17 души, в Айтос, Герман,
Арменско, Църничани – в Леринско и Костурско и къде ли не. В самата Битоля се водиха сражения между гръцки терористи и организационни
работници... Кървавите жертви от гръцки куршум и нож потресоха света. За настървението, с което андартите действуваха, достатъчно говори
следното Окръжно на гръцкия "Върховен македонски комитет" до гръцките андартски началници в Битоля:
"Изтребете и последния българин, който ще посмее да оскверни македонската земя. Дано скоро огрее тоя ден, когато слънцето не
ще срещне нито един българин в елинска Македония. Тогава мирът и законността ще царуват ще живеят спокойно гърци и турци в
тая страна. Да очистим Македония от звероподобните и кръвожадни българи – това да бъде вашият девиз! – По заповед на
Върховния македонски комитет, главен началник Мандрос".
С почти същия по дух лозунг и в пълно единодействие с южните български врагове действуваше от север сръбската терористична четническа
организация. В нейния устав намираме директиви от гръцки тип:
“... Вменява в дълг на революционерите:
- да избягват сблъсквания с турската войска;
- да ратуват срещу българските чети – враговете на сръбските исторически права в Македония;
- да покровителствуват ония славяни, които по независими от тях причини се казват българи;
- да спечелят за сръбската кауза всички, увлечени от българската пропаганда села, като им посочват величието на сръбската
нация...
В случай, че четите бъдат преследвани било от войска, било от властите или от населението, те са длъжни да си послужат с
оръжие.
Притеснителите на народа ще бъдат изтребвани. На същото наказание ще се подлагат и българите, които се отнасят
неприязнено към сръбската кауза..." [152]
Тези лозунги признаваха, че в Македония има също българи и единични чужди агенти, но не и някакви македонци. Като се има предвид, че както
андартите, така и сърбоманските чети бяха в съюз с турците и се бореха срещу Революционната организация при взаимодействие, можем да
разберем, че борбата стана особено кървава на три фронта. Организацията бе принудена да се бори срещу всички тези нашественици по планини
и поля, по села и градове, в защита на българщината. С това тя все по-ярко се очертаваше като български страж. Ще припомним няколко
вълнуващи събития в разни места по Македония във връзка с тая нейна роля. В Солун бе наказан със смърт сръбският агент Илия Пейчинович,
убиец на българския учител Ганов; в Прилеп бе съсечен от героя Стоян Лазов (възпят в народните песни) сърбоманинът Тоде Попантов; в Охрид
безсмъртният войвода Христо Узунов, подпомогнат от героя Методий Патчев (по-сетне прилепски войвода, загинал със славна смърт в Кадино
село) и от сина на Григор Пърличев – Кирил Пърличев, затри сръбския агент и турски шпионин Гърдан; в Костурско героят Лазар Поптрайков
унищожи сръбските агенти Цуцулот и Клянчето; в Скопйе бе наказан сръбският агент Яневич, в Гевгели – Наумович, в Бащино село – Ташевич, в
Дойран – Димитриевич, в Солун – Вангелович и пр. Но най-великото жертвоприношение в борбата срещу сръбската пропаганда и в защита на
нападнатите околии във Велешко и Прилепско е славната битка на "Ножот" край с. Ракле, Прилепско, през 1907 г., когато съединените чети на
организацията тръгнаха да очистят страната от четите на сръбската пропаганда, идващи от Сърбия, но, предадени от нейните агенти, бяха
принудени да се бият с многохиляден турски аскер при небивал дотогава героизъм и дадоха 67 млади жертви, все бойци от Костурско,
Прилепско, Леринско, Битолско и пр.
Б) Българското национално дело през време на Хуриета
Следващите три години през време на турския Хуриет (1908 – 1910) дават простор за мощна проява на българщината в Македония.
Революционната организация се е легализирала и цялата българска общественост в Македония се организира в две политически формации: Съюз
на българските конституционни клубове (с дясна идеология) и Българска народна федеративна партия (с лява идеология).
Въпреки техните идеологически различия неизменното в двете е българското родолюбие, грижата за единството на българската народност. Това
личи дори в самите им названия – "Български конституционни клубове" и "Българска народна федеративна партия". Така например в Устава на
Българските конституционни клубове четем:
"Българският конституционен клуб има за цел:. а) да даде гражданско и политическо възпитание на българския народ в духа на
конституционните свободи – областно самоуправление на Македония и Одринско; б) да пази и развива българската народна
култура."
В правилника на Българската федеративна партия пише:
"Член на българскаща секция на Народната федеративна партия може да бъде всеки българин, отомански гражданин, навършил 20
години..." и пр.
Във всички писания на печатните органи на двете организации – в. "Отечество", респективно "Народна воля" – пише постоянно за правата на
българския народ в Македония и Одринско. Нито мисъл, нито дума за някакъв национален сепаратизъм на македонска почва. Напротив, изрично
се застава върху почвата на целокупния български народ, като обаче се обяснява защо все пак обединението не може да се осъществи. В това
отношение забележителни са три статии във вестника на федералистите "Народна воля", където гласът на Сандански и неговите другари особено
се чува.
В първата, програмната статия на вестника, поместена в бр. 1 от 17 януари 1909 г., озаглавена "Нашите позиции", четем между другото:
"Единство" и "Конституционна заря" (излизащи преди "Народна воля", б.н.) имаха временни задачи, главната от които беше да
съдействува за ориентирането на обществено-политическата мисъл на българина в Империята след ненадейно настъпилите
вътрешни промени... В средата на българския елемент в Империята се извършва организирането на демократическите сили. От
една страна, имаше бързото изникване на Българската народна федеративна партия, от друга – наченките на Работническата
партия... Като орган на БНФП "Народна воля" застава върху почвата на интересите главно на оная част от българското
население, което съставлява подавляющото негово болшинство и най-главния елемент в тази партия – лишените от държавни
грижи дребни собственици, безимотните или малоимотните чифлигари, дребни стопани, занаятчии и търговци. Тия слоеве са,
чиито интереси днес са интересите на българската националност в Имиерията... Ние издигаме ония общи искания, около които ще
се групира в скоро време грамадното мнозинство от българския народ в Империята."
Във втората статия, поместена в бр. 6 на вестника от 21 февруари 1909 г. под заглавие "Национално обединение", изрично се застава на
национални български позиции по въпроса за обединението на българския народ, въпреки че в момента трудностите са непреодолими. Ето
по-същественото от нея в извадки:
"Против обединението на нациите нищо не може да се възрази. То е едно естествено стремление... И нашата партия стои
решително на идеята за националното обединение на разпокъсаните балкански нации. Стоейки на тези позиции, ние сме и за
обединението на българската нация." Но вестникът все пак прави уговорка в смисъл, че обединението не може да стане чрез
присъединяване на Македония и Одринско към България, защото се нанася "тежък удар на българското единство, за което ние
милеем, борили сме се сега и ще се борим за в бъдеще. Как бихме могли да присъединим Македония към България, когато в нашето
отечество не сме само ние българите?... Обединението на българите ... може да се постигне само като част от общото
обединение на балканските държави и Турция."
Последната фраза е вече тактика при оная действителност – турското ревниво бдение над целостта на Империята.
В третата статия, поместена във в. "Народна воля", бр. 19 от 25 април 1909 г., посветена на годишнината от смъртта на Гоце Делчев, за лишен път
се подчертана каузата на българщината в Македонии и националната ревност на нейните водачи. Ето съответните пасажи:
"Българското население в Македония и Одринско... поставено в невъзможни условия на съществуване и развитие, трябваше да
организира и да поведе борба на живот или смърт. В тази мъчителна и неравна борба българският народ в Македония прояви рядка
издържливост... Той даде неизброима плеяда от скромни работници, пропити със светъл идеализъм... Този между тях който
най-добре въплощаваше в себе си народните тежнения... – бе Гоце Делчев."
Тъй пишат Гоцевите другари в негова памет и с това най-красноречиво изобличават скопските автори, които кощунствуват с името на
безсмъртния син на Македония, правейки го идеолог на своя сепаратизъм. Тези Гоцеви другари и последователи, които свидетелствуват по
горния начин за кристалните български чувства на Гоце, носят имената Димо Хаджидимов, Яне Сандански, Д. Миразчиев, Г. Скрижевски, Стою
Хаджиев и толкова други учредители на Българската народна федеративна партия.
Както ще видим по-нататък, всички те се обявиха категорично срещу македонизма непосредствено след Първата световна война, подчертавайки
изрично българското си народностно съзнание.
В) Македоно-Одринското Опълчение - връх на саможертвата за българското име
Както е известно, младотурският преврат, т.нар. Хуриет, завърши с най-фанатични гонения на българщината в Македония. След две години
избухна Балканската война за освобождението на Македония, които всъщност доведе до нейната най-голяма трагедия. Главен израз на
родолюбието на македонския българин тогава цял свят видя в делото на Македоно-Одринското опълчение. Никога македонският българин не се е
надигал така спонтанно да служи на народното дело, както в тия велики дни на народна радост. Към Българии от цял свят са се стичали
емигрирали македонски българи със стотици и хиляди, като изоставяли всичко свое в чуждата страна, някои дори децата си, само по-скоро да се
присъединят към борбата с вековния български враг. Това са били хора от различен социален произход: учители, търговци, занаятчии, прости
работници – предимно бедни хора, които нямали пари дори да си купят дрехи, обувки и калпаци, но горели от желание да се поставят на
разположение на военното ръководство. Повечето от тях не са били служили във войската и не са знаели да боравят с оръжие, но имали
пламенни сърца. Развели българския трицвет, с бойни песни на уста и с пламък в очите, те бързали към сборните пунктове, нетърпеливи,
развълнувани, сякаш отивали на сватба. Ентусиазмът им е бил равен на оня на шипченските опълченци, доказан след това в боевете. Военната
литература, посветена на тия събития, ни дава най-вълнуващи редове. Класическо в това отношение е съчинението на подполковник Петър
Дървингов "История на Македоно-Одринското опълчение", т. I. София, 1919 година. Там на стр. 2 и 3 четем:
"Напливът от доброволци беше така извънреден още на втория ден от мобилизация (17.IХ. ст.ст. 1912), щото щабът, който се
разположи в зданието на изпълнителния комитет на македоно-одринските братства на ул. "Сердика", се явяваше блокиран от
тях. Всички нечислещи се във войската македонци и одринци се притискаха към него като към якор на спасението. Едни идеха за
войводи, други за четници, трети за доброволчески отряди и всички приидваха на такива тълпи, шото смело може да се каже,
улиците около щаба на отрядите бяха пълни от сутрин до вечер със свят, необозрим и невъобразим, от хора от разни положения....
вдъхновени... безсъмнено от най-силни чувства, между които чувството непременно да се вземе участие в борбата беше лудешко,
стихийно..." – И това говори очевидец, защото подполковник Дървингов, в качеството си на майор (тогава) е бил в самия щаб като
организатор.
"Между това – продължава разкава си Дървингов – не само в столицата, но и в цяла България македонската и одринската
емиграция беше в едно трескаво състояние. В щаба на партизанските отряди и изпълнителния македоно-одрински комитет на
адрес комитета или Протогеров (главен ръководител в момента на организирането на опълчението, б.н.) ежедневно пристигаха с
десетки телеграми, които очертаваха ясно извънредно високия дух на тая емиграция."
След това се цитират безброй телеграми от цяла България със следното или подобно съдържание:
– От Бургас: "500 души българи – македоно–одринци – емигранти, живущи тук, желаят да вземат участие в предстоящата война. Моля
разпореждането за формирането на особен отряд и изпращането му след въоръжаването, гдето трябва."
– От Варна: първа телеграма с дата 18.IX.: "Записаха се две хиляди доброволци. Дайте наставления. Средства нямаме никакви. Издействувайте
да се обучават тук до тръгване, да се въоръжат и облекат". Втора телеграма с дата 19.IX.: "Емиграцията – Варна, избра комитета 16
септември... Разполагаме само с хора до тоя момент 3 300 души. Очакваме отговор вчерашната телеграма."
– От Русе: записали са се 500 доброволци; Плевен – 200 души, от Ст. Загора – 120 души, от Видин – 200 души, от Враца – 125 души и т.н. и т.н. –
откъде ли не и в най-различен брой, воички нетърпеливи, а може би охридчани най-нетърпеливи. Те телеграфират от Русе, и то още на самия ден
на мобилизациита – 17 септември: "Всички македонци, живущи в Русе, способни за оръжие готови да тръгнат. Очакват минутата за тръгването.
От охридчани".
Оръжие не достигало, дрехи – никак, и – особено трагично – команден състав нямало: нищожен брой само запасни офицери, още по-малко
подофицери; обикновени войници трябвало да обучават необучените. Военното командуване не е допускало такова чудно жертвоприношение за
свободата и не било взело по-рано мерки. Телеграмата на запасния генерал-майор Генев, Шипченски герой, любим воин, способен ръководител,
назначен за командир на цялото Македонско – Одринско опълчение, зове: "Македонското опълчение е поставено в невъзможност да се формира
и обучава, защото е без всякакъв кадър. Моля от пристигащите запасни и допълващите дружини да се определят 50 офицери, 160 подофицери и
1000 редници за опълчението."
"Опълченците бяха лошо облечени и нямаха оръжие" – пише в книгата "Балканската война 1912–1913 година", София, 1961 г., стр. 181
– "Още по-лошо бе положението със санитарната подготовка. Трета бригада нямаше лекар, не достигаха коли, коне и др. Наложи
се опълчението да бъде въоръжено с трофейно турско оръжие, взето при първите сражения на българската армия." – По-нататък
четем:
"Но всички трудности бяха преодолени, тъй като доброволците горяха от желание да отидат на фронта, за да се бият за
освобождението на своите бащини огнища. Когато нямаше офицери, на тяхно място бяха назначавани подофицери; когато
нямаше вагони, с които да заминават, опълченците вървяха пеш."
Още преди военните действия се формират 57 чети с изпитани войводи, които преминават турската граница и започват саботажите в тила на
противника: вдигат мостове във въздуха, разрушават ж.п. линии, телеграфи и пр. Техният брой по статистика достигал още в началото 2174
четници, но четите с влизането си в Македония и Одринско нараствали от присъединили се пламенни българи от вътрешността.
Самото опълчение в България се оформя в три бригади, състоящи се от 15 дружини, две картечни роти и всички тилови служби. На брой достигат
14 670 души или общо с четите – 16 844 души, оформени в дружини със следните наименования: 1 Дебърска, 2 Скопска, 3 Солунска, 4 Битолска, 5
Одринска, 6 Охридска и 10 Прилепска – всички организирани в София; в провинцията: 7 Кумановска, 8 Костурска, 9 Велешка, 11 Серска и 12
Лозенградска.
Опълчението нямало артилерия и картечници, пушките не достигали; и все пак то тръгнало на бой без колебание, без страх, преодолявайки
всички трудности. Първа бригада тръгва още на 17.IX. пеш до Саранбей; оттам с влака стига на 22 октомври в Свиленград и се отправя пеш към
Лозенград. Другите две тръгват на 23 октомври и се съсредоточават в района на Търново – Сеймен. След това влизат в състава на
Кърджалийския отряд под командуването на генерал Никола Генев. В този състав те участвуват в боевете срещу Явер паша, предвождани от
бригадните командири: подполковник Ст. Николов от Прилеп (1 бригада), подполковник Пчеларов (2 бригада) и подполковник Ал. Протогеров (3
бригада от Охрид), с началник-щаб на отряда майор Петър Дървингов от Кукуш. Движейки се по посока на Гюмюрджина и Дедеагач, те
участвуват в победоносните боеве при Мастанлъ (днес Момчилград) и Балкан Тореси, като по пътя си очистват от башибозук целия тоя край на
Родопите (от Кърджали до Димотика); след това устремно вървят на югозапад и юг: превземат Софлу и Фере и стигат Дедеагач, като го заемат
временно, тъй като неразгромените сили на Явер паша още са в Гюмюрджина и напредват за пробив към запад.
Виждайки се пред обкръжение, Явер паша напуска Гюмюрджина и се движи към Марица, за да се спаси в Галиполския полуостров. Опълчението
е на предна линия. То участвува в боевете при Малгара (Малград), отбива турското нападение за пробив и върви по петите на врага чак до
морето, превземайки окончателно Дедеагач. С това корпусът на Явер паша бива притиснат между мочурищата на р. Марица, Фере, Софлу и
планинските гребени срещу Мерхамлъ. На 15 ноември той бива принуден да капитулира при Мерхамлъ, неспособен да се прехвърли през
пълноводната р. Марица отвъд. Тъй бива пленена най-голямата част от неговия корпус, състоящ се от 9 табора, две планински батареи, две
картечници и целия боен материал. И всичко това е постигнато само за едно десетдневие. За тоя устремен боен марш дава заключителни думи
полк. Дървингов в книгата си (с. 314) със следното обобщение: "Неприятелят, когото Кърджалийският отряд разби при Местанлъ, преследва
през Родопите, атакува на Балкан–Тореси, обърна го в панически бяг по Гюмюрджинското поле и без да му дава отдих, го гони по петите до
блатата на Марица, беше вече подписал потокол за предаване в момента, когато колоните дебушираха на няколко само километра от него и
след като на 13 ноември, със смелата атака на Фере, му се внуши, че той вече е обкръжен отвсякъде. Тая победа беше още по-ценна, защото за
обкръжаването и принуждаването на неприятеля да се предаде взеха участие 8 македоно–одрински дружини на десния бряг и две дружини от
същото опълчение от левия бряг на р. Марица."
Значението на ликвидирането на Яверпашовия корпус се състои в това, че бива осигурен тилът и флангът на втора армия, която е блокирала
Одринската крепост, а също така и тилът и флангът на българските войски, действуващи в Източна Тракия. Тая победа освободила три български
дивизии, необходими на българското командуване за действия в Източна Тракия (вж. "Балканската война 1912 – 1913" ДВИ. С., 1961, с. 308).
За възхвала на Македоно–Одринското опълчение пак е необходимо да припомним следните вълнуващи факти:
1) Мнозинството от македоно–одринските доброволци са неслужили, без всякакво военно обучение;
2) облечени са били лошо, предимно с гражданските си дрехи;
3) тръгнали на война без пушки и се въоръжавали постепенно с трофейно турско оръжие, като непрекъснато са се довъоръжавали след
победоноеннте боеве, използувайки дори пушките на ранените и убитите си другари;
4) при атака често пъти нямали ножове на пушките си;
5) командният кадър се състоял от низши чинове;
6) но главното им оръжие, водещо към победа, било тяхното високо българско родолюбие и готовност за саможертва за великото дело на
освобождението и обединението на българския народ.
За тяхната чутовна храброст говорят данните на техните командири. Например след победоносния бой при Саранлъ при устремното преследване
на врага и настигането му при вододела на Родопите, опълченците се увличат от неудържим устрем и надпревара кой пръв да отнесе победата.
Дори самото командуване се слисва от този устрем и бива принудено да ги въздържа, като дава разяснителна заповед. Върху това четем у
Дървингов (с. 213 – 214):
"За избягване на грешки и увлечения от 3 македоно–одринска бригада, без съмнение съставена и водена от смели хора, след внимателно
проучване на донесението... и взето предвид темперамента на опълненците и офицерите им, както и факта, че първи сборен полк беше
останал назад, намери се за необходимо да се изпрати следната заповед..." От нея забележително е особено следното:
"...Едно прибързване да се сграбчи победата само от трета бригада е една примамлива задача, но извънредно трудна... особено ако
противникът е по-силен от 3 дружини и 2 оръдия скорострелни."
На друго място четем (с. 222):
"При превземането на Малгара, когато навлизахме в с. Каливия, смутеното население беше наизлязло по улиците и акламираше
дружината с ръкопляскания и викове "ура", на което отговориха ротите с радостни викове "ура" и "да живее войната". Духът на
ротите беше много висок и с нетърпение чакаха момента да влязат в огъня."
Този дух на опълченците продължил да се проявява с еднаква сила и в по-нататъшните действия до края на войната. Особено ярко се чувствува
той при превземането на Шаркьой на 23 януари 1913 г., при отбраната на градеца след турския десант на 26 и 27 януари и при ликвидирането му
на 28-и същия месец. Цялата тая акция извършва Македоно–Одринското опълнение само, тъй като след пленяването на Явер паша
Кърджалийският отряд се разформирова на своите съставни части, които се прибират при главните си формации. Остават само трите
македоно-одрински бригади за охрана на морския бряг от Инджебурну до Лимнабурну. Десантът при Шаркьой е бил най-голямото изпитание за
опълченците, неподготвени за този род борба и изправени пред тройно по-мощен враг (цял корпус), без артилерия и под огъня на мощните
оръдия на турските крайцерн и броненосци. Тъкмо затова от значение е да посочим оценката на нашите военни историци:
"Действията на македоно–одринци – четем в "История на Балканската война 1912 – 1913", с. 400 – за ликвидиране на турския
десант в района на Шаркьой са светла страница в историята на войната. В тия действия бойци и командири проявиха масов
героизъм... Внимание заслужана и самоотвержената борба на изостаналите в Шаркьой ранени македоно–одринци, които
изпълняваха дълга си до последна капка кръв. Тяхната мъжествена борба (сражавали са се до последния куршум в санитарния пункт,
където били леглата им, б.н.) озвери турците, които при ликвидирането им извършиха нечувани зверства."
В доклада си до по-нисшето началство подполковник Николов по този повод пише:
"Те (опълченците, б.н.) се хвърлиха върху врага дръзко, презрително и не се установиха чак до неговото качване на лодките; те го
сметоха; не дадоха на врага да се закрепи, макар и да имаше добри позиции при с. Платана, подкрепен от силната артилерия на два
военни нарахода... Аз видях и битолци, и дебърци; тяхното самоотвержено настъпление е гордост за българското име и гордост за
нацията; велик пример за потомството" (вж. Дървингов, цит., съч., с. 435).
Дървингов като очевидец съобщава, че опълченците в устрема си дори не са се окопавали, за да не губят време, и вихрено настъпвали.
Със същия родолюбив пламък са действували и 57-те чети, разпръснати в тила на врага в помощ на съюзниците. Четата на Васил Чекаларов дори
решила изхода на боя в Леринско, явявайки се в тила на турската отбрана и в помощ на гръцките войски. Всички прославени войводи на ВМОРО
и техни по-млади възпитаници са били на първа линия – от Яне Сандански до Тодор Александров, от Михаил Герджиков до Петър Чаулев,
Павел Христов, Георги Попхристов, Михаил Чаков, Милан Матов и пр. и пр. – видни дейци, без разлика на политически убеждения.
Победата при Шаркьой осигури тила на фронта при Чаталджа.
След падането на Одрин и подписването на второто примирие македоно–одринци започват все по-силно да копнеят за родния си край, откъдето
взели да идват все по-тревожни вести за противобългарското поведение на сърби и гърци в окупираните от тях области. След дълга почивка в
Гюмюрджина към средата на май те започват да се прехвърлят към заетата от българските войски част на Македония – по маршрута Гюмюрджина
– Ксанти – Драма, Сяр, Демирхисар, Петрич, Струмица, Радовиш, Щип. На 23 май започват да се съсредоточават при Кочани в изходно
тактическо положение в зоната връх Китка – Кочани – отвъд Щип. При започването на Междусъюзническата война (16 юни ст. ст. 1913 г.), те са
на първа линия, с още по-голяма решителност да освободят родните си огнища от коварния довчерашен съюзник, на когото са помагали в
борбата. Известни са подвизите им при Султантепе, гдето завладяха две последователни укрепени позиции на сърбите с множество пленници,
при Каменица, връх Повиен, Редки буки, Падарли, а след 24 юни отбраняват линията Драмча - Баньо чуки.
Печалният за България изход от войната (след нападението на Румъния в тил на войските ни) покруси опълченците, но не уби освободителния
им устрем. Останали повечето от тия в емиграция, запяха новата песен: "Ей, нищо, нищо, не ще да жалим ний, че скоро, скоро Бай Ганю ще ги
бий". И наистина, две години след това опълченците се видяха отново в Единадесета пехотна македонска дивизия, вече с боен опит, за нови
подвизи в освободителната Първа световна война.
Величието на подвига на Македоно–Одринското опълчение през Балканската и Междусъюзническа война е изразено и в данните за кървавите
жертви: те възлизат на 3631 души или 25% от неговия състав. Ако към тази цифра прибавим и ония македонски българи, които са служили в
българската армия като войници и офицери, ще имаме всичко 46 844 души бойци от Македония, дали своя принос за нейното освобождение.
Това говори за висотата на българското съзнание и жертвоготовността за българското национално дело, без помен за македонизъм. Напротив, то
е негово порицание.
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Тема
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History of Bulgaria, from Tatarstan web page
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Historian () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 03:46 |
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Dear friend, named MAKEDONEC,
Those who do not know their past are bound to repeat it.
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Dame Gruev's Early Years
Damian (Dame) Gruev was born in 1871 in the village of Smilevo, district of Monastir (Bitola), the southwestern part of Macedonia.
He received his elementary education in his native village, Smilevo, and later studied in Ressen, Monastir, Salonica, and the
University of Sofia, Bulgaria. While still in the Gymnazium of Salonica, Gruev felt the unbearable Turkish oppression and
maltreatment of his fellow-countrymen-the Macedonians.
Soon after he graduated from the Gymnazium he went to Sofia and there, in 1889-1890, entered the University of Sofia to specialize
in history. Here Gruev found the opportunity to study the history of the Bulgarians and particularly the methods and deeds of the
Bulgarian revolutionists-Rakovsky, Karavelov, Levsky, Botev, and others-who had been greatly responsible for the freedom of
Bulgaria. Gruev now anticipated the idea of following the examples of the Bulgarian revolutionists and he soon endeavored to
form a similar organization in Macedonia for the deliverance of the Bulgarians that were still held in bondage by the Sultan.
He left the University and went to Macedonia to apply himself to the organization of the Macedonian people. In order to carry on his
scheme of work more successfully and to avert the suspicion of the Turkish authorities he decided to become a school teacher.
The first two years after his return to Macedonia he taught school, first in his native village of Smilevo, and later in the town of
Prilep. The two years of teaching served him, also, as orientation for the work of the great conspiracy in Macedonia, against the
corrupt and rapacious regime of Sultan Abdul Hamid.
Later, Gruev established himself in Salonica and here laid the foundation of the IMRO (The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization). With the cooperation of Dr.Christo Tatarchev, Peter Pop Arsov, and others he formulated the Constitution and
By-laws of the IMRO. It was to be a secret organization under the direction of a Central Committee, with local branches of
revolutionary committees throughout the Province of Macedonia and the Vilayet of Adrianople. These regions were to be divided
into revolutionary districts or rayons. In accordance with the provision of the Constitution, the first Central Revolutionary
Committee was organized in the summer of 1894, under the chairmanship of Dr.Christo Tatatrchev.
Dame Gruev -the Apostle
From 1894 to 1900, Gruev was an untiring apostle-a new Levsky-enlightening and recruiting adherents to the revolutionary
movement. In the summer of 1894, he organized in the town of Negotin the first local revolutionary organization, and soon after,
with the cooperation of Pere Toshev, he organized the first district committee in the city of Shtip. Gruev also visited the cities of
Ressen, Ochrid, and Struga, and found the field quite favorable for the acceptance of his revolutionary ideas. In the city of Shtip,
however, the conditions were even more favorable and here he remained as a teacher during the academic year 1894-1895. In the
fall of the same year Gotze Delchev, who independently conceived the same desire as Gruev-that of organizing the Macedonian
people into a secret revolutionary organization, arrived in Shtip in order to lay the foundation of a revolutionary movement for the
express purpose of emancipation of Macedonia. Here Gruev and Delchev met for the first time. Soon after their acquaintance they
found the similarity of their common mission, and as a result of this they became intimate friends. Delchev, with his gentle
character, sincerity, and honesty, made an excellent impression upon Gruev. However, Delchev accepted the plan of the work
which had been outlined already by the Central Committee of Salonica. After this, both Gruev and Delchev worked together in
Shtip and environs.
The growth of the IMRO was phenomenal, particularly after Gruev settled in Salonica during the years 1895-1897, in the quality of
an Exarchist school inspector. Gruev now became the soul and body of the Central revolutionary committee. Under the direction
of the latter they began to issue a secret revolutionary paper, introduced ciphers (secret writing), used pseudonyms or a nom de
plume, established channels for secret communication among the various local committees and also abroad-Bulgaria. A
representative of the Central Revolutionary Committee was to be sent to Sofia to take charge of purchasing and dispatching,
through secret channels, the necessary war provisions for the IMRO.
Gruev’s roaming from village to village , and from one city to another, resulted in a systematic revolutionary organization
throughout the Province of Macedonia and the Vilayet of Adrianople. Unfortunately, for purely political reasons and in order to
safeguard itself from complications, the Exarchy decided to dismiss Gruev in 1898. Soon after his dismissal Gruev moved to
Monastir and there, with the cooperation of Slaveico Arsov, Paskov, and others, he began to issue another paper, secretly, of
course. Sunday schools were begun, money was collected through a special "revolutionary tax", and a quantity of war materials
was purchased . Gruev was again appointed to the teaching staff now in the city of Monastir, and as such, he also assumed the
management of the revolutionary movement in the Vilayet of Monastir, while the active persons at the Committee in Salonica were
Dr.Christo Tatarchev, Pere Toshev, and Christo Matov.
The result of Gruev’s activities in the Monastir district was felt by the Turkish authorities. The numerous chetas (bands) which
infested the mountains began to terrorize the tyrannical Turkish malefactors. Gruev, being suspected as a major factor in fostering
this movement, was , as a consequence, arrested on August 6, 1900. He was held in the Monastir jail until May 1902. However, this
confinement did not check his revolutionary work. By means of secret writings, ciphers, etc., he was in constant touch with the
various local revolutionary committees, and from the prison he was able to direct the affairs of the revolutionary district of
Monastir.
Dame Gruev and the Ilinden Uprising
In the latter part of May, 1902, Gruev was condemned to banishment in the prison of Podroum-Kale in Asia Minor. There he found
Christo Matov and Dr.Christo Tatarchev, both sentenced to exile in January 1901. Gruev and his comrades were kept in
Podroum-Kale for ten months. Although he was away from Macedonia itself, Gruev managed to keep himself informed as to the
development and affairs of the IMRO. He kept up a steady correspondence, ciphers also, with Salonica, Monastir, and Sofia. On
Easter of 1903, at the instance of a general amnesty, he was released. Gruev hastened to Salonica and there he found the that the
Central Committee, which was in charge of the IMRO, had already resolved to declare a general insurrection which was to take
place during 1903.Although Gruev was not in accord with the Central Committee’s decision, primarily because of the IMRO’s lack
of preparedness, since it was too late to oppose or to follow any other method, he gave in to the decision of the central Committee.
He left Salonica and went to Smilevo where the insurrectionary Congress was to be held. The purpose of this Congress was to set
the date for the declaration of the general insurrection and to outline the methods and tactics in its prosecution. Here Gruev met
Boris Sarafov, who had just arrived from Bulgaria. Gruev was elected as chairman of this Congress, and the latter decided that the
day of the declaration of the insurrection was to be August 2, 1903. Gruev, Sarafov, and Alexander Lozantchev were elected by the
Congress as the three members of the General Staff, and empowered to direct the insurrectionary forces in the Vilayet of Monastir.
Dame Gruev's Heroic Death
Gruev lived to see the frightful flight of the Turkish asker (troops) from his native village-Smilevo. He was engaged, during the
course of the insurrection, in numerous skirmishes with the Turkish army and gallantly defended the temporarily freed Smilevo.
But with the arrival in Macedonia of over 300,000 Asatics, any progress of the insurrection was made impossible and in a period of
six weeks it was completely crushed. Gruev put himself to task now to tour the various revolutionary districts, disarm the
insurgents, and store up the war materials for future use. The years 1903-1904 were the most disastrous for the Macedonian
people. But Gruev and his fellow-workers kept up the spirit of the peasants and continued the work of organization and
preparation for another opportune time to strike once more. "For great affiars,"said Gruev, "are necessary great forces. Liberty is a
great thing: it requires great sacrifices." Gruev was an untiring worker. He rebuilt the temporarily wrecked organization, made it
more systematic and far more powerful. But unfortunately, on his way through the village of Rousinovo (Maleshevsko district),
Gruev and his cheta (band) were betrayed to the Turks. In a violent and heroic struggle with numerous Turkish troops he fell dead,
on December 23, 1906.
When the Turkish Central authorities heard that among the killed was Gruev himself, they immediately telegraphed to the local
Turkish governor to uncover the burried bodies and take a photograph of Gruev. The augurs of the autocratic bureaucracy of
Constantinople wanted to convince themselves of the fact that the great giaur-the disturber of the empire, Gruev-was really dead.
Thus ended the epic life of the great Macedonian apostle-Damian Gruev!
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He was a Bulgarian. He fought for Macedonia. For all the Bulgarians living in Macedonia. He spoke the language you speak, yet he called it Bulgarian - it was simply the Macedonian dialect, different from the Thracian Dialect (which was later on adopted as official), the Moeasian Dialect, the Dobrudjan Dialect, the Rhodopi Dialect, the Shop Dialect.
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Which Flag? Historic Amnesia
and the Macedonian Question
Funny things have been happening lately in cyberspace: instead of celebrating the recent Athens-Skopje agreement for
lifting the Greek embargo, people from the Republic of Macedonia are lamenting having to give up state symbols which
never belonged to their country anyway
On 25 Sep 1995 Bruce Smithoski wrote:
"So, I am not sorry that the Sun is gone, but I am VERY UPSET that it was done in this way. I cannot express my anger that the flag was sold. Only
people who don't care about nationality and tradition can shamelessly manipulate a national flag or ANY national symbol, like this. Regardless of how
this new flag was introduced to the Macedonians, and whether I like it or not, it is a shame to sell a national flag, and also play with the feelings of
those Macedonians who decided to bond with that symbol."
Now, now, Bruce: You cannot take something that belongs to other people, "bond" to it, and then, when asked to return the stolen goods, cry out that you have
been robbed. You explain clearly enough the story with the stolen state symbols:
"Frankly speaking, this new designer's creation for the official flag of RoM (combination of the communist and Yugoslav SR Macedonia's old red flag
with the Sun of Alexander the Great) as for practically all Macedonians a completely new thing... Without offending anyone, I know that there were my
fellow countryman (in Macedonia and abroad) who, "didn't know that they were Macedonians until 4 years ago". In my experience, they are the ones
who most strongly grasped the new flag. Among my friends those who were the biggest Yugoslavs before, and used to cry so loudly for Yugoslavia,
became biggest Macedonians in 1991. Interestingly but not surprisingly enough, they were usually also absolutely clueless about our history."
So, here is the crux of the matter: national amnesia. Amnesia caused by eighty-three years of cruel foreign domination over the people of Vardar Macedonia;
eighty-three years during which the occupiers first tried to make them part of the Serbian nation, and when this failed tried to create an appendage to the Serbian
nation called "Macedonia".
No doubt, Bruce knows some of the historic truth, although his knowledge, as he admits himself, goes back to the Berlin Congress, 1878. He explains to his fellow
countrymen:
"Traditional Macedonian flag has two equal horizontal parts.., the upper half being red and the lower black... This traditional Macedonian flag had also a
symbolic meaning - the same meaning as the slogan of the Macedonian fighters from the beginning of the century: "Freedom (red) or Death (black)".
During the 1903 Ilinden uprising and the Krushevo republic the formal flag of Macedonian fighters was black-and-red. However, local flags used by
different guerrilla groups (cheti) were more colorful. Usually they had a cross, a picture of a young woman (representing Macedonia) or a lion (also a
traditional symbol), on a red, or red and black background, with the words "Liberty or Death" - "SVOBODA ili SM'RT" written in golden letters
(needless to say, with the Cyrillic alphabet of Kliment Ohridski and not the one of Karadzich-Koneski)."
The trouble with partial knowledge is that being incomplete, it can be also misleading. The flag of the uprising in Macedonia and Eastern Thrace in 1903
(Ilindensko-Preobrazhensko Vustanie) has its own history, and you should know it, because it is yours.
It begins with a man from the Bulgarian town of Kotel, named Georgi Stoykov Popovich, better known as Georgi Sava Rakowski. In 1837 the 16- year old Georgi
enters the Greek Gymnasium in Kurucheshme, Constantinople. Four years later he is in Athens to become a free citizen of a free country. His Greek passport
(which later saves his life) carries the name of Georgios Savva Makedon. In Athens he forms his first revolutionary organization, the secret "Macedonian Society".
His dream is to unite the Christians of the Ottoman Empire, regardless of ethnicity, in revolt against the Sultan. He speaks of a "federation" of culturally autonomous
entities.
Twenty years later, disillusioned by general indifference to his proposals, he moves to Belgrade, where he forms his first Bulgarian legion, a paramilitary organization
intended to prepare future military leaders of an armed uprising of the Bulgarian people. The blue-green flag of the Legion bears in Bulgarian the motto of the Greek
revolution, 'Eleutheria I Thanatos' - "Svoboda ili sm'rt". Beneath the arching motto stands a golden lion rampant (the heraldic symbol of the last independent
Bulgarian kingdom).
Rakowski did not steal "Freedom or death" from the Greeks. Although the idea of individual freedom is a Greek one, the motto of the Greek revolution was first heard
in the New World almost a half-century earlier:
"Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God. I know not what course others may
take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"
Patrick Henry, Speech in Virginia Convention, Richmond [March 23, 1775]
Ideas cannot be stolen; they travel through time and space to whatever minds are ready to receive them. Patrick Henry had doubtless read, in the Agamemnon of
Aeschylus, "Death is better, a milder fate than tyranny."
The flag of Rakowski saw its baptism of fire in 1867, when Panayot Hitov and Filip Totyu led the first battles of the Bulgarians against the Turks. Vasil Kunchev, one
of Rakowski's legionnaires, assumed his nom de guerre, "Levski" from the lion on the flag. He later became not only the leader of the Bulgarian revolution, but the
ideal hero of Goce Delchev, leader of the Ilinden uprising.
In the spring of 1876, the 20-year-old primary-school teacher of the town of Panagyurishte, Rayna Popgeorgieva Futekova embroidered the revolutionary flag on a
piece of red silk, the best piece of cloth available. On the day of the April Uprising she carried the flag, for which she became known as "Rayna Knyaginya"
(Princess Rayna). When the Uprising was crushed, she was held in detention for three months (during which she was beaten and raped repeatedly), but then
released after international intervention and sent abroad to study.
The 20,000 fighters of the Bitola Vilaet did not suffer from historical amnesia.
They knew what flag they were carrying in the 150 battles against 300,000 Turkish soldiers. Nor were the leaders of the Krushevo Republic amnesiacs. It is their
great-grandchildren who do not remember, and who dig for their roots in the grave of Philip of Macedon. It is those descendents who have never heard of the
Krushevo Proclamation to the neighboring Turkish and Albanian villages:
"Bratja zemljaci i mili komshii ! Nie se bontueme protiv tiranijata i robstvoto, protiv predatelite, protiv zolumcharite, protiv nasilnicite na nashata chest, i
protiv tie, shto ni ja smukat nashata pot i ekspluatirat nashiot trud.. Elate, bratja muslimani, pri nas, da trgneme protiv vashite i nashite dushmani!
Elate, da gi skrshime sindjirite na robstvoto, da se kurtulisame ot maki i stradanie!"
[Brother countrymen and dear neighbors! We are rebelling against tyranny and slavery, against traitors, against rapists and violators of our honor, and
against those who drink our sweat and exploit our labor... Come, brother Muslims, join us as we attack our common enemies! Come, let us break the
chains of slavery, let us free ourselves from pain and suffering!]
Now, in FYROM, the "dear neighbors" have become "stinking Albanians" - their great-grandchildren are not allowed to enter the same school building as the rest of
the children. And you wonder to yourselves what the actual historical flag looked like.
I doubt if the parliament in Skopje is going to choose the Ilinden flag as the new national symbol of the country. Its heraldic meaning is too unsettling for people who
feel uneasy about their Bulgarian origins.
My grandfather, a simple carter from Prilep, fought in 1903 for the freedom of his people. My grandmother, his new bride, cared for the wounded and comforted the
orphans. The Ilinden uprising is part of my family history, and I do not suffer from amnesia.
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http://makedon.mtx.net/fe_maced.htm
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Serbian Geopolitics Nurtured Macedonism
In 1822 the Serbian folklorist and linguistic, Vuk Stefanovich Karadjich (1787-1864), published the first work containing grammatical facts about the Bulgarian
language. His primary aim was to point out that the Bulgarian language existed, even though it was absent in the dictionaries published in Russia during the late
18th century and which were deemed to contain all languages known at that time. Interestingly Karadjich's analysis of the Bulgarian language was based on the
Macedonian dialects.
Prior to formation of the Bulgarian Exarchate in 1870, there was a small, but influential group of Serbians, mainly politicians and some academics, who supported
the concept of a "Greater Serbia". However, this was not the popular view and most Serbians saw Bulgarians as their Slav brothers and foresaw a close future
relationship. For example in 1867 the Bulgarian emigrants in Bucharest had negotiated an agreement with the Serbians which included the following paramount
clause
The Yugoslavian kingdom will be composed of Serbians and Bulgarians, the latter comprising the territories of Bulgaria, Thrace and Macedonia
Ilija Garashanin (1812-1874) was a distinguished Serbian statesman and the main architect of Serbian state policy between 1843-1868. In 1844 he published a
blueprint, known as "Nachertanije" (Outline), describing future Serbian territorial ambitions. A plan modelled directly on Dushan's medieval empire - that is including
both Macedonia and Old Serbia. But, at the same time Garashanin also encouraged a diplomatic policy of strong support for Bulgarian revolutionary activity against
the Turks.
In fact it was 1848 Garashanin who arranged for the Bosnian Croat, Stefan Verkovich (1821-1893), on the pretext of completing Karadjich's linguistic research, to
tour Macedonia and covertly collect ethnographic data ultimately be used as support for long- term Serbian hegemony. However in 1860, when the Serbian
Academic Society published Verkovich's first volume of "Folk Songs of the Macedonian Bulgarian" awarding him the Serbian "Uceno Druzestvo" (Scholar's Society),
in his preface Verkovich said:
I call these songs Bulgarian and not Slavic, because if someone today should ask the Macedonian Slav "what are you?" he would be immediately be
told: "I am Bulgarian" and would call his language 'Bulgarian'.
Another champion of "Greater Serbia" was Professor Jovan Dragashevich who identified all Macedonians as latent Serbs. For example during the time of the First
Bulgarian Legion in Belgrade (1862-4), acrimonious debate erupted between the Bulgarians and their Serbian hosts, over Dragashevich's "teachings" that Salonika
was an integral part of "Old Serbia". It was also then that Georgi Rakvosky became conscious of increasing Serbian fanaticism and a desire by its politicians to
annex Bulgaria both politically and culturally. These issues, together with settlement of the 1862 dispute between Serbia and Turkey, contributed to the expulsion of
the Bulgarian Legion from Serbia.
Inspite of the close relationship between Serbians and Bulgarians, finance from the Serbian government for the "education" of the Macedonian Slavs was initiated in
1866. This led to the "Institute for Serbian Schools in Old Serbia and Macedonia" (1868), formed to coordinate both the building of schools and educational policy.
The Serbian Church had lent support to the Bulgarians in their struggle to establish the Bulgarian Exarchate in 1870; Serbs in general rejoiced at the success of
their southern Slav brothers. However when the limits of the Bulgarian Exarchate became defined in 1872, more Serbs began to reflect the long-term political
implications. Moreover the Serbian Church had always considered itself heir to the Bulgarian Archbishopric of Ohrid, because of its past subordination to the Pech
Patriarchate. Consequently the Serbian Church had requested in 1869 that Turkey only allow Serbian clergy to operate within Macedonia.
Milosh S Milojevich (1840-1897) was the first Serbian to publicly challenge the prevailing consensus concerning the Exarchate's boundaries and the ethnic
composition of the Macedonian territories. In 1873 he presented a paper to the Serbian Scholar's Society which characterised the Slavic population of Macedonia as
Serbian - a basic repetition of Garashanin's beliefs. Milojevich's thesis was severely criticised by two other Society members, Stoyan Novakovich (1842-1915) and
Milan Kujundjich. The latter described Milojevich as
..a cheap, mischievous chauvinist, ignominiously condemned by his fellow countrymen for having committed an unfriendly act against a good
neighbour.
Thus Milojevich's effort to publish a collection of 740 folk songs, gathered in Old Serbia and Macedonia, as examples of the Serbian language and culture, was
rejected by the Serbian Scholars' Society as being flawed.
Nevertheless, Milojevich still found strong support and instituted a society (called by Hristo Botev the 'gang of blackguards') which sent money, books and
teachers to Macedonia and parts of north- west Bulgaria. Editorials also appeared in Belgrade newspapers like "Istok", stating that the Exarchate was a chauvinistic
institution intent on 'bulgarizing' the Serbs of Macedonian. In answer to such accusations many eminent Bulgarians, including Hristo Botev (1875) and Liuben
Karavelov (1874), wrote scathing replies denouncing both the actions of Milojevich and his supporters as well as the Serbian government's surreptitious complicity.
The Russo-Turkish war of 1878 had a number of dire consequences for Serbian nationalistic goals. Because of its support for Russia, Turkey closed all Serbian
schools within Macedonia. The Treaty of San Stefano in 1878 demonstrated to Serbian politicians that there existed a strong and general acceptance that
Macedonia was populated by Bulgarians. Later in 1881 Serbian hopes to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina had to be abandoned, which meant redirecting its quest for
an outlet to the Aegean - via Macedonia. These setbacks led Serbia to instigate the Serbo-Bulgarian war of 1885, which ended in its convincing defeat. Thus to
accomplish, what it had failed to do militarily, Serbia now pursued two separate tactics to enhance its future claims to Macedonia. The first was based on proving
directly that Macedonia was actually populated by Serbs not Bulgarians; the second involved fostering nascent Macedonian separatism (Macedonism) as a counter
to Bulgarian influence.
In the late 1880s several Serbian academics, particularly Dragashevich, Milojko Veselinovich and Stojan Protich rationalised the seeming contradiction of the
Macedonian population's non- Serbian identity as follows. First, the term "bulgar" within Macedonia was in fact a generic term meaning a "common person", and as
such had no ethnographic meaning. The term "bulgar" had thus been misinterpreted by both the Greeks and European travellers to signify national affiliation, thus
leading to the erroneous conclusion that the people had a Bulgarian self- identity. Second, after formation of the Serbian state, the Turkish authorities were
anti-Serbian, therefore most Serbs preferred to call themselves "bulgars" to escape persecution. Third, in the post Exarchate era, propaganda forced people to
identify themselves as "bulgars" so that the necessary signatures would be available to establish a Bulgarian Church - that is the Exarchate had become an
"institution for the Bulgarization of the Serbs".
Spiridon Gopchevich, a Serbian diplomat and Milojevich adherent, made a brief to Macedonia in 1889 and on his return published an ethnographic map which
characterising the Macedonian population right up to Nevrokop, Salonica and the Grammos mountains, as Serbian. The renown scholar, Vatroslav Yagich
(1838-1923), editor of "Archiv fur Slavische Philologie" (1875-1923) made the following comment on Gopochevich's study -
to attack the tendentiously uncritical arguments of Gopochevich is unnecessary; his work condemns itself. It is a pity about the good paper and fine
printing, the two most admirable aspects of the book.
Nevertheless, Gopochevich's study was accepted, endorsed and promoted by the Serbian government as further vindication of their position on the Macedonian
Question.
While previously Stoyan Novakovich had criticised the chauvinistic policies of individuals like Milojevich, times had changed and now as an eminent Serbian
statesman he felt it his duty to support Serbian claims to the Macedonian territories. Therefore initially Novakovich attempted to show that Slavic dialects of
Macedonia were not part of the Bulgarian language but actually part of the Serbian language. However because his study was dismissed by noted academics of the
period, including Yagich, Miletic, Oblak and Derzhavin, he realised that this strategy could not succeed. Subsequently Novakovich advanced a thesis that in the late
9th century Macedonia had three ethnic Slavic groups - Bulgarian, Serbian and "Slovene" - and that these divisions still persisted and were identifiable in the present
population. He outlined his theory in "First Foundations of Slavic Literature Amongst the Balkan Slavs", a 300 page monograph published in 1893 by the Serbian
Academy of Sciences. What Novakovich had produced was a blueprint for "de-Bulgarization" of the Macedonian Slavs by their "Macedonianization", if direct
"Serbianization" could not be readily effected. The intent is explicitly confirmed by Novakovich's well known (and quoted) dispatch to the Serbian Minister of
Education in 1888
Since the Bulgarian idea, as it is well known to all, is deeply rooted in Macedonia, I think it is almost impossible to shake it completely by opposing it
merely with the Serbian idea. This idea, we fear, would be incapable, as opposition pure and simple, of suppressing the Bulgarian idea. That is why the
Serbian idea will need an ally that could stand in direct opposition to the Bulgarianism and would contain in itself the elements which could attract the
people and their feelings and thus sever them from Bulgarianism. This ally I see in the Macedonism or to a certain extent in our nursing the
Macedonian dialect and Macedonian separatism.
Novakovich's ideas were later amplified and extended, first by Iovan Cvijich, and later by Alexander Belitch. It is important to state that the theory of the three
Slavic groups, propounded by Novakovich, Cvijich and Belitch was considered unsubstantiated by the available evidence; a position held by most academics
including both Yagich and Niederle.
During the 1880s Novakovich effected several important plans to expand the concept of "Macedonism" (Macedonian Separatism) amongst the Macedonian
population. Although the Novakovich's strategy can only be described as a failure, its formulation and intent leads to some important historic conclusions regarding
the national consciousness (within that era) of the Macedonian people.
The Society of St Sava (founded in 1886) was the chief organ for dissemination of Serbian propaganda on the Macedonian Question and Novakovich was intricately
involved behind its agenda and policies. During the same year four members of a secret Macedonian committee in Sofia, went to Belgrade to secure support for their
proposed actions in Macedonia. Their plans included the restoration of the Ohrida Diocese, publication of a newspaper "Macedonian Voice" in Istanbul, opening
schools where teachers used the "Macedonian" language, and to have all educational literature printed in the Macedonian dialect. Shortly thereafter Novakovich took
up his appointment as Serbian consul in Istanbul, where he met with two members of the Macedonian committee to initiate the plan. Although this was only partially
successful, Serbian schools were opened in Macedonia, and books were printed in the Macedonian dialect. The latter were based on an increasing Serbian
language content as the educational standard increased. However in 1898 when asked with respect to the reprinting of these texts in the Macedonian dialect,
Novakovich recommended only the Serbian language should be used - the anticipated attraction of the Macedonian dialect had not eventuated.
The Society of St Sava also offered well-paid scholarships to Macedonians in the hope they could ultimately be turned against the Bulgarian idea. Between 1888
and 1889 quite a number of Macedonians accepted these scholarships and went to Belgrade. They soon became aware of the obvious underlying reasons behind
the program however, especially when they were forbidden to possess "Bulgarian" literature. Subsequently some 30 to 40 students left Belgrade to continue their
education elsewhere, mostly Sofia. Among that group were some later very well-known figures - Dame Gruev, Petar Pop Arsov and Krste Misirkov. It must be
considered more than coincidental that two of the latter individuals (PPA, and especially KM) shortly thereafter proffered views on the Macedonian Question that in
essence supported the covert intent of Novakovich's theory. However it was during Novakovich's appointment as consul at St Petersburg that the staunchest and
most dogmatic advocate of "Macedonism", Dimitur Chupovski, arose. Again we note that Chupovski and his small group of followers were directly supported by the
St Sava Society and had an almost identical agenda to that of the four Macedonians that met with Novakovich in Belgrade during 1886. It did not matter to
Novakovich that "Macedonism" was also essentially anti-Serbian, as long as it opposed or slowed the spread of Bulgarian influence within Macedonia.
An important historic issue is the reaction to both Serbian propaganda and Macedonism within Macedonia itself. First, it is known that one of the main reasons for
the establishment of IMRO by Dame Gruev in 1893 was to block the spread of Serbian influence into Macedonia, less it hinder the ultimate unification of the
Bulgarian people. Thus although IMRO's short-term goal was autonomy, its long-term goal was unification, as had occurred with East Rumelia. There can be no
doubt IMRO was a Bulgarian organization, protecting the Bulgarian national interest against the Serbs. Several other organizations also formed within Macedonia
(1897) to oppose Serbian propaganda - the Revolutionary Brotherhood and the Charitable Brotherhood - the latter to specifically undermine Serbian schools, a
strategy in which it was quite successful. Even earlier (1891), Gyorche Petrov, later a famous IMRO committee member, was so concerned by the obvious Serbian
schemes that he spent his time exclusively on ethnographic research in Skopje to ensure the availability of indisputable evidence to support the "Bulgarian"
character of the Macedonian population.
As for "Macedonism", the memoirs of Hristo Shaldev which discuss Dimitur Chupovski, plainly show how few adherents this concept had in 1903. We also have to
accept that Krste Misirkov only promoted the concept of "Macedonism" when he felt the Bulgarian position in Macedonia was irrevocably lost - as in 1903 after
Ilinden (when he wrote "On Macedonian Matters") and after WWI. At all other times he was a staunch advocate of the Bulgarian character of Macedonia. Misirkov's
pro-Macedonism arguments were resurrected and re-packaged by the Comintern in 1934 as evidence for a "Macedonian Nation". Novakovich did not live to see the
success of the strategy he first devised in the middle 1880s - a plan which undoubtedly has prevented the historic reunion of the Bulgarian people. Dame Gruev and
IMRO were correct in their assessment of the danger of Serbian influence.
In his memoirs (finished 18 Aug 1947) Hristo Shaldev speaks for all Macedonian patriots when he writes
I am saddened that I cannot spend the remaining years of my life in Gumendje, and at the same time I am indignant that the youngest generation of
Vardar Macedonia has disavowed both the achievements and self-determination of their fathers, grand-fathers and great-grand-fathers and has been
misled by the Serbian theories of Professors Novakovich, Cvijich and Belich.
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Тема
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Macedonian Day of Disgrace - 11th October 1941
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Historian () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 03:53 |
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http://makedon.mtx.net/rev0.htm
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Macedonian Day of Disgrace
Ljubisa Tancevski [ltancevs@celece.ucsd.edu] once attempted to enlighten us all regarding this auspicious date:
"In order to attract the Macedonian population for their causes they [Tito's Communists] promised independent Macedonian
Republic within the Yugoslavia. That is why the population supported the revolution and the partisans. To refresh your
memory the revolution started on the 9th of October 1941 in Prilep in Kumanovo. Attacked (and killed) were Bulgarian
soldiers..."
Here is the glorious event in Prilep to which Ljubisha refers as the beginning of the Revolution
(it actually took place on October 11th, 1941)
A crazy man from Prilep with an unprintable nickname received an order from the Tito's command to kill a Bulgarian soldier, so as
to prove that the Bulgarians were occupiers - not liberators - of Macedonia. Late in the evening of this October day he approached a
soldier on guard duty and started a small talk with him (and no translator needed!). Then he asked him for a match to light a
cigarette. The soldier reached in his pockets for matches, and that is when the crazy guy stabbed him. As it became known to all
later (and this includes Ljubisha) this poor soldier boy was a Macedonian, son of refugees from a village near Lerin, as most of the
Bulgarian soldiers in Vardar Macedonia in 1941-44 were volunteers, mainly - children of Macedonian families.
This was apparently the ONLY political killing in Macedonia by the much-sung N.O.B. (People's Liberation Struggle). If it
wasn't, the Titoist regime in FYROM wouldn't have made this Day of Disgrace, Oct. 11, into a national holiday for the Socialist
Republic of Macedonia, would they?
And yet, the story about the killing of the soldier boy from Lerin hasn't ended yet. The man who identified the killer to the
Bulgarian military authorities is still alive and in good health, in Prilep. It is said that everyone knows who he is and no one in the
past 50 years has stepped forward to point him out to the government. Doesn't that say something about where deep loyalties lie,
dear Ljubisha?
[I personally feel that Bulgaria's involvement in the war in 1941 was by itself not only a failure of the political system in the country but also a national disgrace.
But this is a different topic.]
but Ljubisha has even more words of wisdom for us
"Do you, likewise, imply that the 20 German Panzir divisions were expelled from Macedonia by the thought that Bulgarians
might attack them? You were never able to liberate yourself from anyone, let alone liberate other from someone, and
especially from the Germans. The truth is that all they wanted was to hastily move northwards for Balkans was of no
strategic meaning to them anymore. Do you likewise imply that they were fleeing Greece because of the great fear Greeks
might kill them?..
Germans were defeated by the Bulgarian Army!!! Good God, you are incredible."
Well, Ljubisha, as you have put it, you might be right: the Germans were NOT defeated by the Bulgarian Army. However, in the fall
of 1944, units of the Bulgarian Army expelled the retreating Germans from Vardar Macedonia and continued north to liberate
Belgrade. I would not bother you with extensive bibliography from the history of the war. Here is a small excerpt from a reputable
military encyclopedia:
"1944, October 20 - December 31. The Balkans. Russian efforts to block movement of General von Weichs' Army Group F,
moving from Greece into Yugoslavia to bolster the German right, were nearly successful. Tolbukhin's Third Ukrainian Front,
with a Bulgarian army assisting on its left, took Belgrade (October 20), with Tito's (Josip Broz's) partisans fighting beside
them..."
Dupuy, R. Ernest and Trevor N. Dupuy, "The Harper Encyclopedia of Military History From 3500 B.C. to the Present", 4th Edition, 1993, p.1221
Of course, this is a very, very brief account. However, within the framework of military history spanning close to 5,500 years the
authors saw fit to mention the participation of the Bulgarian Army in the liberation of Belgrade, and characterizes Tito's partisans as
auxiliaries "fighting beside" the Soviet and Bulgarian forces. Note that, coming from the east, the Bulgarian Army was to the left of
Tolbukhin's main force, which puts it squarely in Vardar Macedonia. By the way, the word "Macedonia" appears exactly twice in
this military encyclopedia: first in connection with Philip of Macedon, and then in connection with the Balkan Wars of 1912-13.
So you see, it is not the western historians who have never heard of Bulgaria's role in the liberation of Yugoslavia, but the
Yugo-Macedonian "istorichari" - the same ones who don't like to go to international conferences. However, you should not limit
your universe to the areas illuminated by them. You are floating in a sea of books, so Reach Out and Touch Reality.
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The Sleeper Has Awakened:
The Truth about Tito, Dimitrov
and the New Macedonia
Before a people can know who they are, they must first know who they were.
This question, which can he answered by any Macedonian by mere reflection on parentage, is the continuing focus of a 45-year-old
propaganda campaign of falsification and misinformation aimed directly at the obliteration of the history of the people of Macedonia
and its replacement by a sanitized Yugoslav version.
As an example, I call attention to the contents of the Macedonian Cultural magazine, Iskra, published in Adelaide, Australia [1].
The editorial draws attention to an article entitled New Macedonia. It is based, we are told, on Stoyan Christowe's "inspiring
speech" delivered in 1945. Within the text of the story, an attempt is made to suitably motivate the reader by statements such as
"...The new Macedonians must think of themselves as Yugoslavs first
and as Macedonians afterward..."
and it just gets better
"...Tito is the father of Yugoslavia. Tito is Macedonia's godfather..".
Based on available objective evidence, nothing could be further from the truth. Yet such matter continues to be published. Compare
the ideology of the modern Iskra to that of the first Macedonian newspaper, Makedonska Iskra, published in Australia from
1946-1957. In one particular front page story the headline read [2]
"...TITO TRAITORS, ENEMIES OF SLAV-MACEDONIANS..."
It thus appears that time has allowed a "new Tito" to be recycled from his original components. A brief but accurate resume of the
careers of Tito, and his Bulgarian companion Georgi Dimitrov, during the 1940s, is here provided as a counterbalance.
Josip Broz Tito joined the Yugoslav Communist Party (YCP) in 1923. After some early set-backs, including a lengthy prison term
(1928-34), he was appointed, in 1936, as the organizational secretary of the YCP Politburo. In the following year, 1937, Stalin
ordered the liquidation of several hundred Yugoslav Communists living in Moscow. Tito, however, survived the purge of
"undesirables." [3]. How he achieved this is open to speculation. The most credible account is that Tito was in fact Stalin's
informant against the YCP. Not only did he wish to ingratiate himself further with Stalin, whom he adored, he also removed those
who stood between him and final control of the YCP[4]. Not unexpectedly, in late 1937 the Comintern appointed Tito as Secretary
General of the YCP.
Georgi Dimitrov at that time was Secretary General of the Comintern. The Tito-Dimitrov clique had been established. In future years,
Dimitrov, first through his role on the Comintern, then later as Prime Minister of Bulgaria, would support Tito's policies even when
their consequences were detrimental, not only to the interests of the Bulgarian Communist Party, but also to the Bulgarian nation.
Tito and the YCP had minimal support among the local population. Tito was so intent on accommodating Stalin's policies that he
steadfastly refused to resist or disrupt the German invasion of Yugoslavia while the non-aggression pact between Russia and
Germany was operative. Even when the call to arms came, he extolled the defense of Russia and its Communist ideals rather than
Yugoslavia itself. Furthermore, as Beloff notes in her book, Tito's Flawed Legacy [5]
"But Tito was fighting for a communist Yugoslavia and during most of the fighting the principal enemies were not the
Axis troops but his own compatriots.."
In November 1942, fearing that an allied invasion would rally the people to support Mihailovich, Tito offered the German command an
arrangement to serve their mutual interests [6]:
1.All prisoners would be exchanged
2.A truce would be entered into to allow the Partisans to fight the Chetniks
3.The Partisans would oppose any Anglo- American landing on the Adriatic coast.
The Germans refused the offer. In an ensuing operation, they destroyed the majority of the Partisan force, which in expectation that
an agreement was imminent, became exceptionally complacent. This, therefore, is the ultimate hypocrisy of Tito. The fact that he
could urge the general populous to fight to the death against fascism, while simultaneously attempting to make a pact with that
same enemy, is the clearest example of this person's true character and tainted patriotic spirit.
Tito also was having major problems with the Macedonian Communist Party (MCP). Their leader, Shatorov, refused to have
anything to do with the YCP. Satorov preferred to deal with the Bulgarian Communist Party. Furthermore, Satorov supported an
autonomous Macedonia[7]. In response, Kolishevski, a Macedonian lackey of the YCP, was dispatched to reorganize the MCP.
Unfortunately for Kolishevski, devotion to Tito and the YCP were not quite the correct credentials to inspire the MCP membership.
In late 1941, he found himself languishing in a Bulgarian prison for the rest of the war. It was not until 1943 that Tito had managed
to infiltrate and corrupt the MCP to the ideals of the YCP. He accomplished this mainly by the elimination of "so-called" misguided
leaders and their followers. In all his efforts to bring the BCP and MCP into line, he was well supported by the Comintern.
Perhaps the most farcical issue of the war was the YCP's contention, at the 1943 conference, that the people of Yugoslavia, by
their very armed resistance against fascism, had unambiguously accepted the establishment of a Yugoslav nation. The issue of
self-determination promoted in the 1942 conference had now vanished. The question of the YCP and self-determination is
succinctly presented by W. Connor [8] in his book, The National Question in Marxist-Leninist Theory and Strategy There Conner
wrote:
"the Communist party had the power to determine when and how self-determination had been exercised. There was
simply no need to hold a plebiscite or otherwise try to determine public opinion on the issue. A proper exercise of right
was whatever the party said it was..."
Connor's thorough and lucid discussion of the "National Question" with respect to overall communist strategy is highly
recommended.
Tito's final split with Stalin may be directly attributed to an egotistic perception of his role to direct global communist revolution. This
split came at a time when Stalin was desperately attempting to consolidate the communist position. He did not want to provoke the
militarily superior allied forces. Stalin also had discussed and summarily agreed with Churchill on certain "spheres of influence"
with respect to European territory. The following passage from McCagg's book [9], Stalin Embattled 1943-1948, is most pertinent to
highlight the true basis of the confrontation between Stalin and Tito:
"...Stalin's provocation of Tito in October stemmed from heightened fear of the West; exasperation that a 'peanut.' such
as the Yugoslav leader should endanger the interests of the Soviet Union.."
On June 28, 1948, the Cominform labeled Tito a person of "counter-revolutionary" inclination and expelled the YCP from their
organization. The form of socialism subsequently established in Yugoslavia was appropriately termed "Titoism." Today we may
clearly witness the pathetic results of its long-term application.
Dimitrov, as leader of the BCP, first came to prominence in Bulgaria during the abortive September, 1923, uprising against the
Tsanov government. It should be noted that the Communist leaders Dimitrov, Kolarov and Genov situated their headquarters quite
close to the Yugoslav border, a facile escape route in event of failure. By September 28th the revolution was over and the
Communist leaders were long gone. Dimitrov would not be seen again on Bulgaria soil until 1945.
In early 1924, however, Dimitrov and other leaders of the BCP made a final desperate attempt to foment revolution in Bulgaria
through the Agrarian Union. The BCP had little, if any, popular support and badly needed an ally. Dimitrov met the exiled Agrarian,
Kosta Todorov, in Vienna and proposed that the two parties work together to overthrow the Tsanov government [10]. The Agrarian
leaders, however, quickly perceived that the BCP had little to offer. It was in fact attempting to use the Agrarian union's large
following. Consequently the Agrarians only offered the Communists the right to freely participate in elections once a provisional
Agrarian government had been established. The BCP dismissed this submission and all negotiations were terminated.
Reconciled to his exiled fate, Dimitrov, both through the BCP and his position on the Cominterm, worked tirelessly to undermine
and weaken all attempts of IMRO to succeed in its goal of an autonomous Macedonia. On the occasion of the 4th congress of the
Macedonian National Union (USA), an organization established to oppose the MPO, Dimitrov sent from Moscow a letter dated May
13, 1934. While the letter was hostile to IMRO, Dimitrov used it to offer his own solution to the "Macedonian" problem [11]. That
solution linked the salvation of Macedonia to the acceptance of Communism.
Dimitrov was, therefore, as early as 1934, preparing and initiating a continuous chain of events which would ultimately attempt to
justify and rationalize the denationalization of the Macedonian Bulgarian people. Although he consistently and vociferously
characterized IMRO as a terrorist organization, working directly against the interests of the people of Macedonia, it was, in fact, the
BCP which perpetrated terrorist acts such as the April 16, 1925, bombing of the Sveta Nedelya Cathedral. Dimitrov vehemently
denied this accusation at his infamous 1933 Leipzig trial. However, he admitted to it quite freely in 1948, when as Prime Minister of
Bulgaria, he felt beyond reproach [12] In that same letter to the MNU, he falsely emphasized the cathedral bombing as a prime
example of IMRO's cruel and utter disregard for human life.
By 1944, Dimitrov faced a number of serious factional issues within the BCP. Traycho Kostov, who ran the party within Bulgaria in
Dimitrov's continuing absence, and a large number of BCP members, were opposed to Dimitrov's leadership [13]. By 1949, Kostov
had been tried, sentenced and executed as a fascist agent and for committing numerous other imaginary crimes against the state.
When Dimitrov finally returned to Bulgaria in November 1945, he quickly liquidated all his adversaries, showing little distinction
between Communists and non-Communists. He ensured that he would have absolute control of the BCP for his ambitious social
reforms which loomed ahead.
In July 1947, Tito and Dimitrov met, at the Bled conference, to discuss the concept of a Yugoslav-Bulgarian Federation and in
particular the secession of Bulgarian Macedonia to Yugoslavia. There are also suggestions that the Greek Communist Party
participated at the Bled meeting. The popular view, although exact details of the Bled conference have never been released, is that
in a frenzied lust for power the Communist leaders decreed that the following events should occur [14]:
1.Yugoslavia was to receive Aegean as well as Pirin Macedonia
2.Bulgaria would receive West Thrace as compensation for the loss of the Pirin region
3.The Greek communists would receive unlimited backing from both Bulgaria and Yugoslavia in return for their territorial
concessions.
Tito and Dimitrov's egocentric ambitions are poignantly stated by Crampton [15]:
"...for of what importance were state boundaries in the bright new dawn of proletarian internationalism.."
Dimitrov was able to convince the upper echelon of the BCP of the necessity for the above program in the context of a South Slav
federation to ensure strong Yugoslav support for Bulgaria at the peace conferences being conducted in Paris. He also desired to
promulgate the global communist revolution.
Tito and Dimitrov agreed that as a first phase, 93 Yugoslav "cultural" workers would enter the Pirin region to reeducate the people.
This reeducation translated into the Titoists removing pictures of Bulgarian revolutionary heroes from schools and other buildings
and replacing them with portraits of Tito and Kolishevski. BCP members were asked to take oaths of loyalty to Tito [16]. A
groundswell of opposition began to erupt among BCP members, whose emotional comments may be summarized as follows (with
apologies to Chomsky and Jesus Hernandez [17])
"...Bulgarian Communist leaders acted more like Serbian subjects than sons of the Bulgarian people. It may seem
absurd, incredible, but our education under that brief Serbian tutelage had deformed us to such an extent that we
were completely denationalized; our national soul was torn Out of us and replaced by a rabid chauvinistic
internationalism..."
By the end of 1948, Dimitrov began to realize that Tito's main aim was acquisition of territory to build a greater Yugoslavia rather
than any Federation which might involve any sharing of power. Subsequently, Dimitrov attacked Tito's Macedonian policy as
anti-Bulgarian, particularly as he and the BCP had acted in "good faith."[17] Stalin's final intervention against Tito and the YCP
ended any further negotiations on the Pirin region between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. Dimitrov immediately attached responsibility for
the fiasco to Traycho Kostov and several other members of the BCP who were duly branded as agents of Tito and the YCP. It is an
incredible irony that Stalin, often bungling the "Macedonian Question," was in fact largely responsible for the final salvation of the
birthright of the people of Macedonia and the prevention of their assimilation into the Yugoslav state.
Many Macedonians, particularly those in and from Yugoslavia, view Dimitrov as a legendary figure who had the strength and
tenacity to proclaim the existence of a Macedonian nationality. The details presented herein establish that Dimitrov, in fact,
attempted to use the Macedonian Bulgarian people to further his own narrow views of Communist internationalism. Towards this
end, nothing else mattered. He was prepared to sacrifice not only the heritage of the Macedonian Bulgarian people, but the actual
soil of his ancestors.
Among Communist parties, Dimitrov and the BCP were the only group which would actually countenance such an undertaking. The
fact that Dimitrov on his death was embalmed and placed in a mausoleum in Sofia is incomprehensible. (Dimitrov's body now has
been removed from the heart of Sofia. He was cremated recently.) Dimitrov was the man who delivered the very bones of Gotse
Delchev and the literary works of the people of Macedonia collected and preserved by IMRO and other patriots to their vilest
adversaries.
The Macedonian and Bulgarian people are a single entity. They are indelibly linked through a millennium of time and history. The
fact that the people of Macedonia were separated by artificial boundaries in 1878 (Treaty of Berlin), 1913 (Treaty of Bucharest), and
1919 (Treaty of Neuilly) cannot change their heritage or their rights. Nor can the YCP simulate a new Macedonian race with its own
language, culture and history. The Communists themselves have repeatedly acknowledged, then conveniently forgotten, the true
status of the people of Macedonia. Consider the contents of the Manifesto to the Communist parties of Bulgaria, Rumania, Serbia
and Turkey prepared and delivered in April, 1920, by the Comintern [18]:
" ..The Macedonian Bulgarians. the Albanians, the Montenegrins, the Croats and the Bosnians are rising up against the
rule of the Serbian bureaucratic and landowning oligarchy.."
Dimitar Vlahov, one of the main leaders of IMRO (United), a de facto extension of the YCP, in 1946 was elected a vice-president of
the Yugoslav presidium [19]. However, his views on Gotse Delchev published in a jubilee issue of Makedonsko Delo (May 4, 1928,
Vienna)to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Delchev's death must be noted:
"...Gotse was a Bulgarian by nationality. he was educated in Bulgarian schools. Kukush, Salonica. Sofia. Although in
the last two his education was in a spirit of narrow nationalism, Gotse regarded all Macedonians as his brothers. He
struggled for the liberation of all Macedonians, not just the Macedonian Bulgarians. He did not struggle only for the
Bulgarians in Macedonia to become the ruling nation, but rather that they and the other ethnic groups all be free..."
Such beliefs are totally inconsistent with the Yugoslav concept of a unique Macedonian nationality. Yet Vlahov accepted one of the
highest positions in the Yugoslav state.
Can the sincerity or statements of such individuals continue to have any credibility? While people such as Vlahov succumbed to
the intrigues of power and self-glorification and allowed themselves to be used as window-dressing by the Yugoslav state, others
like Metodi Antonov-Cento took a firm stand on the basic principles of truth. As the President of the Anti-Fascist Council of National
Liberation of Macedonia, he resigned in 1946, citing the lack of self-determination afforded the Macedonian Republic. This denial
foreshadowed the denationalization of the Macedonians' Bulgarian heritage with respect to their language and the dependence of
Skopie on Serbian administrators and experts [20] Cento was quickly arrested as a "reactionary" and an IMRO member.
In their excellent and objective appraisal of the Yugoslav state and Macedonia, Professors Palmer and King provide the true
reasons for Belgrade's continuing falsification of the Macedonian question.
A forgotten generation of the people of Macedonia and their children are only now awakening to the massive fraud perpetrated
against them and their heritage. The unbiased facts are steadily emerging and gathering momentum as the collapse of the
totalitarian Bulgarian government is witnessed. The sleeper has awakened.
Reference
1.Christowe S. New Macedonia in "Macedonian Cultural Society lskra", (Michael Radin, ed), Macedonian Orthodox Community of Adelaide and South
Australia, Inc., 1985, Vol. 5, p35-41
2.Anonymous. Tito's Crodocile Tears for Greek Macedonia. "Macedonian Spark", 1953, 7(9):1
3."The New Encyclopedia Britannica" (Goetz PW ed.), 15th ed., Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., Chicago, 1988, Vol. it, p. 804-805
4.Beloff N., "Tito's Flawed Legacy, Yugoslavia & the West: 1939-84", Victor Gollancz, Ltd., London, 1985, p. 54
5.ibid., p 59
6.ibid., p. 81-83
7.Clissold, S., "Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union, 1939-73: a documentary survey", Oxford University Press, London, l975,p. 153-156
8.Connor, W., "The National Question in Marxist-Leninist Theory and Strategy", Princeton Univ. Press, Princeton, NJ, 1986, p. 161
9.McCagg, Jr., W.O., "Stain Embattled, 1943-48", Wayne University Press, Detroit, 1978, p. 53
10.Moser, C.A., "Dimitrnv of Bulgaria: A Political Biography of Dr. Georgi M. Dimitrov", Caroline House Publishers, Ottawa, IL, 1979, p. 33-34
11.Petrovski, T., "Macedonian Emigration to the USA", Macedonian Review, Skopie, 1981, 11(1)102-110
12.Moser, C.A., ibid., p. 37
13.Moser, C.A., ibid., p. 198
14.Palmer, Jr., S. E. & King, R.R., "'Yugoslav Communism and the Macedonian Question", The Shoe String Press, Inc., Hamden, CT, 1971, p. 125
15.Crampton, R.J., "A Short History of Bulgaria", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1987, p. 171
16.Barker, E., "Macedonia: Its Place in Balkan Power Politics", Royal Institute of International Affairs, London, 1950, p.105-107
17.Chomsky, N., "The Chomsky Reader", Peck, J, ed., Serpent's Tail London, 1988, p. 92
18.Connor, W., ibid., p. 132
19.Andonovski, H., "Revolutionary Work of Dimitar Vlahov", Macedonian Review, Skopie, 1978, 7(2):177-181
20.Palmer, Jr., S.E. & King, R. R., ibid., p. 137
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State Sponsored Revisionism
The Bulgarian Cultural and National Revival (Until 1978)
described on the pages of
Glasnik Na Institutot Za Nacionalna Istorija
(Voice of the Institute of National History)
Skopje (1957-1980)
Anna Melamed
Bulgarian Academy of Science, The History of Dobrudja, Thrace and Macedonia
The Bulletin of the Institute of History", 1988 v30, pp238-303
The subject of this historiographic study is the impact of the revival (until 1978), both cultural and national themes, connected with
the Southwestern Bulgarian lands, as noted in the contemporary historical writings in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia. The
works mentioned in the Glasnik na Institutot za Nacionalna Istorija, which began to appear in 1957, have been taken as the basis of
the present research work. In order to draw a clearer and more exact picture of the manner in which the scientific - cognitive studies
are carried out, and the means by which the reality of the National Revival is described in the historical science of the Socialist
Republic of Macedonia, a brief review is given of its characteristics sides since the emergence of this science and up to the
founding of Glasnik as a periodical published by the Institute of National History in Skopje. Aside from Glasnik, separate
publications of a more conceptual and programmed nature are drawn upon or often used by the contributors to the periodical as a
basis for conclusions.
From its very first steps, historical science in the People's Republic of Macedonia set itself the task of constructing, developing and
substantiating the political and historical thesis, that from remote times the population of Macedonia came into being as an
independent historical ethnic and linguistic community within the frame-work of strictly defined territorial boundaries. This
community gradually began to differentiate itself in the period of the National Revival as an independent national unit, with
differentiated characteristics dissimilar to the Bulgarian ones. The Bulgarian ethnonym, which was predominantly used by the
Bulgarian population in Macedonia during the National Revival period, has found a different and sometimes contradictory
explanation in the studies of contemporary Skopje historians. The principal factors for the delayed "national differentiation" of the
"Macedonians" from the Bulgarian community were explained in the following manner
the delayed capitalist development of Macedonia in comparison with the remaining Balkan peoples; the ethnic variety in the
region; the alien denationalization strivings --of the Greeks, the Serbs and chiefly of the Bulgarians. The Russian consuls in
Macedonia, the Slavophiles in Russia and their policy in the Balkans, the European travelers and scholars, who usually
served one Balkan policy or another and in most cases knew neither the population in Macedonia nor its language, also had
a negative impact. The Bulgarian circles in which they moved, as well as the Bulgarian national institutions in
Constantinople, were of special importance for the Bulgarian orientation of the "Macedonian intelligentsia" and of part of the
"Macedonian bourgeoisie"
According to the Glasnik, the church movement in Macedonia appeared and developed independently. Its basic aim was the
restoration of the "Macedonian" Archbishopric of Ohrid as a "Macedonian National" organization. The identical tasks and situation
determined the striving of the "Macedonian intelligentsia" to seek an ally among the Bulgarians against the Greek Patriarchate. The
Bulgarians bourgeoisie, however, being economically stronger and having greater political possibilities, usurped the leadership and
began to subject the struggle of the "Macedonian people" to its own expansionist aims. The secular in form and "Macedonian" in
content movement for education and enlightenment also sprang up independently, but in the '60s it clashed with intensified
"Bulgarian penetration" in Macedonia. The "Macedonian intelligentsia" reacted against this with efforts aimed at the publication of
several textbooks for the first grades in a "Macedonian-Bulgarian dialect", as the authors of these books called them themselves,
and by expressing several opinions at the time in the Bulgarian periodicals on the introduction of the South-western Bulgarian
dialects into the literary Bulgarian language then being formed. According to the authors in Skopje, the struggle of the Macedonian
people for independent national expression was particularly intensified after the creation of the "Bulgarian Exarchate, which became
the principal coordinator and leader of "Bulgarian propaganda" in Macedonia. In the early 1870s a "Macedonian national program"
was fully and independently formed, as well as an "organized Macedonian National Movement", whose chief ideologist was the
'semi-literate Serbian nationalist' [according to the S. Novakovich's comments in his Report to the Serbian Ministry of Education]
Georgi Pulevski, who published two dictionaries in Belgrade with the financial support of the Serbian chauvinists - P. Srechkovich
and M. Miloevich. Pulevski's two dictionaries are
1.The 4-language Dictionary: Serbian/Albanian - Albanian/Arumanian -Turkish - Greek (1872)
2.The 3-language Dictionary: S.-Macedonian (Serbo-Macedonian) - Albanian -Turkish (1875)
The consolidation of the "Macedonian nation" continued until the creation of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia (1944), and,
according to some authors, even after that.
The conclusions and formulations in Glasnik, as well as in other Skopje publications, are built on an exceptionally poor collection of
excerpts from documentary sources and of memoir literature, whose treatment suffers from subjectivism and bias. At the same
time, in the use and publication of the sources in Skopje, some essential words, expressions and whole passages are frequently
omitted, which changes their original meaning. The documentary material is falsified. Contemporary studies, whose conclusions
are not to the taste of the authors in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, are not quoted or are criticized from subjectivist
positions. The development of themes is contradictory to the fundamental laws of contemporary gnoseology. In the process of their
research, the authors in Skopje precede from the contemporary historical and political anti-Bulgarian thesis in the Socialist
Republic of Macedonia about the Revival processes in Macedonia, which is turned into a dogma. From such a viewpoint they select
material which is necessary to them, and formally and factionally change its essence in order to make it suit their initial positions.
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Тема
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Why are Macedonian names ending with -SKI???
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Historian () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 03:58 |
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What's in a Name?
I was attending this meeting of self-professed Macedonian activists, when one of the speakers complained that we urgently needed
to redress the Government's major underestimation of the number of Macedonian citizens. As a start, he explained, his group had
methodically surveyed the Sydney telephone directory and made a list of all the Macedonians. I asked how could he possibly
decide who was Macedonian and who was not, from the telephone directory? He answered that Macedonians, have names ending
in -SKI. Therefore all people listed in the telephone directory whose names end in -SKI are bone fide (chisti) Macedonians.
In the Socialist Republic of Macedonia after 1944 an extensive campaign was set in motion to
systematically change family names by adding the -SKI suffix. This plan was one of many ordered by the
Yugoslav Communist Party aimed at directly erasing any vestige of the people's Bulgarian identity. Thus
after 1944, to receive any benefits or privileges within Socialist Macedonia, politically "correct" names were necessary. Of course
when any new identifying documentation was issued, the name was automatically altered.
Therefore in 1944 we saw a process initiated which affected people in different ways. Some accepted these happenings in the
context of change and conforming to the requirements demanded by the new political ideology. Others, predominantly communist
party supporters, viewed it as the institutionalization of a new and necessary Macedonian "ethnic" identity. However for most
people it was perceived exactly for what it actually was, an attempt to erase their very self-identity.
Accordingly their were many personal tragedies regarding this issue, and these remain generally unknown and unpublicised to this
day. People were executed in 1944 for not accepting the -SKI addition to their last name - individuals like Gligor Georgiev of Skopje.
Countless others were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, and some of them while in prison, refused for many years to
receive letters from their wives (who in the meantime were forced to add -SKI to there last names) since the letters were addressed
with the surname addition -SKI. At the graveyards, the workers who engrave names of the deceased on tombstones, would
deliberately add -SKI after the persons last name. This occurred at Butel, near Skopje, as late as 1975. Also, in the late 1940s and
1950s many fighters from the 1903 Ilinden insurrection were still alive in the USA . One of them, Naum Hristov, originally from
Bitolya, (he was a part of the Naum Bufcheto's revolutionary group in 1903), would return unopened, his brother's letters from
Bitolya because they were addressed to Naum Hristovski, with an explanation "that cannot be from my brother, he knows my
name". There are endless other examples.
It has to be clearly understood, that in Macedonia, there is simply no evidence for the existence of surnames ending in -OSKI or
-ESKI prior to 1944. Nor is there any justification for the establishment of these names based on any historical, linguistic or custom
antecedent. Such contentions merely seek to disguise a 1944 political decision as some form of cultural continuation.
For example there is not a single folk song that mentions a last name with an -OSKI or -ESKI ending. Not a single one. And
there are thousands of folk songs with personal names in them - names like Mile Pop-Ordanov, Hristo Uzunov, Goce Delchev,
Lenka Pingova, Georgi Sugarev, Vasil Chakalarov, Nevena Georgieva, Epsa Dimusheva, Metodi Patchev, Vasil Z'mbov, Stoyan
Mandalov, Vaska Evgova, ...ad infinitum,
The names of the most prominent writers from Macedonia in the last two centuries almost all had the -ov and -ev endings:-
Konstantin Miladinov (Struga, born 1829), Dimitar Miladinov (Struga, 1810), Raiko Zhinzifov (Veles), Yordan Hadzhi
Konstantinov-Dzhinot (Veles), Grigor Parlichev (Ohrid), Kuzman Shapkarev (Ohrid), Dimitar Matov (Veles, 1864), Naum Sprostranov
(Ohrid), Iosif Kovachev (Shtip), Arseni Kostencev (Shtip), Georgi Dinkov (Salonica), Georgi Gogov (Voden) etc
The names of almost all the organizers and participants in the Ilinden resurrection in 1903 had the -ov and -ev endings. Here there
are a few examples:
Goce Delchev, Dame Gruev, Pere Toshev, Hristo Matov, Mishe Razvigorov, Todor Aleksandrov, Boris Sarafov, Ivan Garvanov, Traiko Kitanchev, Todor Lazarov,
Lazar Traikov, Vassil Chakalarov, Pando Klyashev, Toma Davidov, Hristo Tatarchev, Hristo Uzunov, Lazar Moskov, Slaveiko Arsov, Kolyo Rashaikov, Todor Saev,
Nikola Karandzhulov, Georgi Sugarev, Luka Ivanov, Metodi Patchev, Hristo Chernopeev, Angel Sprostranov, Aleksandar Panov, Andrei Dimov, Alekso
Turundzhov, Angel Andreev, Atanas Karshakov, Aleksandar Stanoev, Alekso Dzhorlev, Andrei Kazepov, Andon Zlatarev, Apostol Petkov, Atanas Lozanchev, Argir
Manasiev, Boris Drangov, Boris Sugarev, Vasil Popov, Vasil Diamandiev, Velyo Markov, Vasil Monchev, Vladimir Slankov, Grigor Manasiev, Georgi Korubinov,
Georgi Churanov, Georgi Muchitanov, Gono Yanev, Georgi Nikov, Georgi Kiosev, Georgi Peshkov, Grigor Popev, Deyan Dimitrov, Dimitar Gushtanov, Dimitar
Vladev, Dimche Tsvetanov, Dobri Daskalov, Dicho Andonov, Dimitar Dalkalachev, Dimche Matliev, Dzhole Gergev, Dime Fildishev, Ekaterina Simitchieva, Efrem
Miladinov, Efrem Chuchkov, Evtim Karanov, Ivan Naumov, Ivan Dulev, Ivan Dukov, Ilyo Kotev, Ivan Tsonchev, Yordan Varnaliev, Ivan Pop Kostadinov, Kuzo
Dinov, Kosta Mazneikov, Kuzo Stefov, Krsto Asenov, Konstantin Nunkov, Lazar Madzarov, Lecho Gioshev, Mirche Atsev, Milan Delchev, Mitse Tsitskov, Mihail
Mladenov, Maksim Kostov, Mihail Daev, Nikola Kokarev, Nikola Petrov, Nikola Ivanov, Nikola Andreev, Naum Petrov, be!ikola Ivanov, Petv'qar Atsev, Pesho
Radev, Petar Samardzhiev, Petar Yurukov, Pandil Shishkov, Pavle Naumov, Pavel Hristov, Panayot Konstantinov, Petar Nachev, Petar Pogonchev, Parashkev
Cvetkov, Psaltir Antonov, Petar Mihov, Petar Hristov, Petar Vaskov, Sando Kitanov, Stefan Petkov, Stoyan Lekov, Simeon Molerov, Spiro Kalemanov, Stefan
Dimitrov, Spiro Dzherov, Stoyan Lazov, Sofroni Stoyanov, Sava Mihailov, Stamat Georgiev, Stefan Malchankov, Stefan Nikolov, Tane Stoychev, Todor Milev,
Tase Milosov, Simeon Denkov, Tarpena Dimitrova, Trendafil Dumbalakov, Tushe Deliivanov, Hristo Silyanov, Hristo Dimitrov, Hristo Kuslev, Hristo Velyov, Hristo
Sarakinov, Cvetko Panov
While some family names did end with -SKI (-SKA for women), it has to be clearly understood that this suffix relates to its special
use as either an adjective or as a place of origin or activity. The following examples illustrate this aspect explicitly: Makedonski m,
Makedonska f - a person from Macedonia; Dobrudzhanski - from Dobrudja; Berkovski - from the town of Berkovitsa; Vodenicharski -
son of a miller; Zidarski - son of a mason. Benkovski was a name of Polish origin assumed by Gavril Gruev Hlutev, the leader of the
April Uprising in 1876 in Central Bulgaria. The name of the Bulgarian national hero, Vasil Levski, is an adjective form meaning
lion-like. Arzhentinski - Argentina; Frantsaliiski - one who wears "French" (modern) cloths; Italiyanski - Italy, Persiiski - owner of a
factory for Persian rugs; Ruski - Russia; Yaponski - Japan. Stambolov or Stamboliiski - one who visited or lived in Stambul
(Bulgarian pronunciation of Istanbul, known to the Western world as Constantinople).
We can understand that under Yugoslavia it was hard to address many things, particularly the changing of ancestral names. While
numerous Macedonians may now be proud of their present family name and all it entails, it still does not alter events and policies
that took place in the past. We only ask that the historic truth be known and respected. Macedonians deserve something better
than Marxist-Leninist fabrications about their history.
That is why after 1913 the Serb invaders in Vardar Macedonia changed all the last name extensions to -ICH, to show even by the
names of the people,
that the population in South Serbia IS NOT Bulgarian but Serbian
And, that is why after 1913 the Greek state changed the personal names in Aegen Macedonia to ones with -IS extension or similar.
To show that the population there IS NOT Bulgarian but Greek
And, that is why after 1944 the Yugoslav Communists in Vardar Macedonia forced -SKI and introduced -OSKI and -ESKI
extensions.
To show that the population there IS NOT Bulgarian but ethnic Macedonian
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http://makedon.mtx.net/rev0.htm
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The Conditioning is Strong!
120 yrs later we still hear
the same OLD Propaganda
Recently an inspired Macedonist sent the "Oracle" a lengthy, rambling criticism of one of our articles. Expectedly it was bereft of
any logic or knowledge but contained the following most interesting statement
"Poleka no sigurno, tezite za etnogenetskite razlioki megju Makedoncite i Bugarite kje doprat do svesta na sekoj
Makedonec vo Bugarija i sekoj Makedonec, porano ili podocna, kje sfati deka nema nikakva vrska so turko-bugarskiot
rod Dulo."
These are EXACTLY the same points the Serbian imperialists used over 120 years ago. Read the following article by Hristo Botev,
written in 1875, to realise where these "Macedonists" are coming from and who their real tutors and role models are (and the sad
irony is that they have no idea of this very fact - the bell is gone but they just keep salivating).
Hristo Botev's Letter [June 20th, 1875]
to the Editor of the newspaper "Istok" (Belgrade),
about the Serbian chauvinistic propaganda in Macedonia
After our answer to your article entitled "Bulgarian Espionage and Inquisition", we thought that you would be silenced or would at
least change the tone of your trash. You have tried to do this with the few lines published in the 53rd number of your paper directly
aimed at us. However, we do not think that in our answer we "have been striking the air", but that we have been "striking" you and
your government, that is why it will be tactical to answer your lines again.
We do not avoid polemics and explications; we are democrats, that is why we can step into the quagmire and see what you are
doing there, trampled by the public opinion of the Serbian intelligentsia. Listen. You say that in the article "Bulgarian Espionage
and Inquisition" you have been adducing facts, while we have been swearing and, at the same time, attacking Serbia, Russia and
everything the people themselves desire. (Which people? Our people?) We do not have enough room here to quote all the
philological and ethnographical vomit in which your article abounds, and all the abominations and slanders you heap not only on the
Exarchate, but on the whole Bulgarian people, and to show you who has been swearing you or we. Just for a second, we shall
accept one of your accusations, just to prove to you that, for the above mentioned article, you deserve not only to be cursed, but
even to be sent to a madhouse.
You adduce facts with which you accuse the Bulgarians and their Exarchate of using espionage and inquisition to Bulgarize the
poor, unfortunate Serbians in Turkey, and you say we do not answer your facts but swear instead. Well, how are we to answer
facts which you yourselves base on the philological madness of Milos Milojevich, i.e. that Serbians have lived in the Balkan
Peninsula since time immemorial, that only a handful of 200,000 Bulgarian-Tartars came here and, in a short time, Bulgarized all
these Serbians? How are we to answer these facts when their philological madness is clad in political tendencies, i.e. when you
and your government are striving to ensure that there will really be only 200,000 Bulgarians, or, to use your words, Tartars, while
the rest are Serbianized, i.e. Slavicized? Wise people respond to philological madness with laughter and scorn, while to your
political charlatanism we respond with curses and indignation: the Bulgarian people have no other weapon. But even in this respect,
we have proved to be much more tactful than you.
We did not swear at the Serbian people (as you did at Bulgarian people), or the Serbian intellectuals or at the decent Serbian
patriots, but attacked only this patriotic slum in whose noddles the horses of Dushan keep kicking around and whose aim is to act
with a high hand wherever the Serbian (Dragasevich's) "God bless you" is heard. We are not to blame that your government and a
great part of your "saintly" men belong to this patriotic scum. And we did that only to show you that our emigrants know the
reasons why you raised such an uproar against our Exarchate and flung so many slanders against our people. It was pretty
pleasant for you, on the one hand, to sing your methodist song about brotherhood and unity and to cheat us with the good
intentions of "the South-Slavonic Piedmont" and, on the other, to sow proselytism in the western parts of our country and to weave
your ethnographical and political web. But the Exarchate, at which from the very beginning, you looked at skeptically and the
emigrants whom you have been exploiting ever since 1862 up till now, have through their long and bitter experience come to realize
who you are and what you are, while the Bulgarian people, whom you have been deceiving since the beginning of your liberation,
have turned their eyes, as well as their hopes, away from you. It is natural, of course, after all this that, for you, the Exarchate
should have become a den of spies and inquisitors, the emigrants a band of millet-ale venders and vagabonds, and the Bulgarian
people (who according to you are not more than 200,000) are Tartars, who, in order to be liberated from the Turks, should first be
Serbianized. Prove to us that neither you nor your government think so.
Why then do you say that we swear and do not answer your facts? In order to answer and refute your facts, you should first of all
explain to us how far your ethnographic boundaries stretch to the south and which places come within the boundaries of your
Old-Serbia; because, judging by your geographical and ethnographical ideas, we see that the facts you adduce speak in our favour
rather, i.e. that it is not the Exarchate that is forcing the Serbians to accept Bulgarism, but that you and your government are doing
this to the Bulgarian element in Macedonia. Thus, for example, we cannot understand this complaint of yours: "In May this year
Bishop Damaskin with the consent of the mudur closed the school (Serbian, of course) in Veles and drove away the pupils." Is
Veles a Serbian town? Is Veles within the boundaries of your Old Serbia? We are stupid enough (and so are Hilferding [1], Kanitz
[2], and Grigorovich, and Liprandi [3] and many other ethnographers) to think that Veles is a Bulgarian town and is situated in
Macedonia: consequently it is not you who should complain that bishop Damaskin has closed your school but we, because your
propaganda has poked its nose into other people's affairs.
Is it not you, who keep saying that "it is in the interests of both Serbians and Bulgarians not to exercise pressure, but to leave
everyone to think, work and study, as he finds it best?" What free thinking people! What then is your propaganda doing in Veles?
And why do your teachers incite the people not to acknowledge the Exarchate? Or is this also a curse? And have you forgotten the
scandal in Tetovo? But while you try to answer these questions, we shall sum up our other curses in a few questions . Tell us, if
you please, is there not in Belgrade a society of patriots (which society we called "scum") under the chairmanship of the
"philological ass" Milos Milojevich, and does that society not send money, books and teachers to purely Bulgarian villages and
towns in Macedonia and to some parts in North-western Bulgaria? If it does, what stands behind these enormous sacrifices, is it to
enlighten their brothers, or to sow proselytism among them? Tell us is this society not founded by the Tempter, and is it not, both
morally and materially supported by your "Piedmont" government? If it is so, is not its purpose to prove in action that only Serbians
live on the Balkan Peninsula?
Answer all these vital questions, and then we shall prove to you in the next number of "Zname" [4] why we attack "Serbia, Russia
and everything that the people themselves desire", and we shall prove to you that the people do not want what you your government
are doing to them, and no longer listen to those who but yesterday cheated them.
Notes
1.AF Hilferding (1831-1872), a Russian historian and Slavophil. Author of "Letters on the History of the Serbians and the Bulgarians", etc.
2.Felix Kanix (1829-1904), a Hungarian ethnographer, archeologist and geographer.
3.Ivan Petrovich Liprandi (about 1790-1880), a Russian general and scholar.
4.A newspaper edited by Botev
Hristo Botev, Works, Authentic Edition, vol. II, Sofia, 1960; p. 219-222.
(the original is in Bulgarian)
--------------------
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Тема
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Miladinov Brothers - First Bulgarian Martyrs
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Historian () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:02 |
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The Miladinov Brothers
Among the first Bulgarian martyrs, who gave their liberty and then their lives for the Bulgarian people were the Miladinov brothers, Dimitar
and Konstantin. The two brothers were imprisoned because they taught their people to love their nation and advised the people to drive
out the Greek clergy and to demand an independent Bulgarian Church from the Sultan. The Miladinov bothers were born in Strouga,
Macedonia and like our first apostles, Cyril and Methodius, they taught our brothers, the Macedonian Bulgarians, to love and respect
their nationality and faith....
L Karavelov in Svoboda, Bucharest, No.11, March 13 1871
Of all the great men that Macedonia gave to the Bulgarian Revival, perhaps the greatest, and certainly the most interesting are the two
Miladinov brothers. Talented and versatile, these two men were educators, poets, folklorists and advocates for Bulgarian cultural
freedom. Their efforts effectively prevented the total assimilation of our people and as a result left us with a history and culture we can
take pride in. Perhaps the height of their achievement was reached in June 1861 when their "Collection Of Bulgarian Folk Songs" was
published.
Sadly, they did not find it easy to complete their task. Dimitar and Konstantin came from a large and impoverished family. Their father,
Risto, a poor pottery maker, had six sons and two daughters. Both struggled to earn a living. Dimitar had the additional responsibility of
supporting his wife and five children. To make matters worse, they were pursued by the authorities, often at the instigation of the Greek
clergy, who opposed the use of any language but Greek by the Christian population. Finally, they paid with their lives for their dedication
to their people.
They did not live to see the great success of their work or the progress of the Renaissance in Macedonia. In her memoirs ("An Era and
a People", page 49), Tsareva Miladinova, Dimitar's youngest daughter recalls with pride the activities of her generation. Some of its
members, such as Grigor P'rlichev and Kouzman Shapkarev were students of her father.
Konstantin Miladinov
After his graduation from the Greek institute at Yanina and the University of Athens, where he studied literature, at the instigation of his
brother, Dimitar, and following the example of many young Bulgarians of that period, in 1856, Konstantin went to Russia. Reaching
Odessa, and short of money, the Bulgarian Society in that city financed his trip to Moscow. Konstantin enrolled at the University to
study Slavic philology.
In the early days of the 19th century, Russia was the richest well from which a young Bulgarian intellectual could derive knowledge in a
language close to his own and among people who sympathized with the sufferings of the oppressed Bulgarians.
While at the University of Athens, he was exposed, exclusively, to the teachings and thinking of ancient and modern Greek scholars. In
Moscow, he came in contact with prominent Slavic writers and intellectuals, scarcely mentioned in any of the Greek textbooks. For
young and impressive Konstantin, this was like stepping from one world into another. It did not take long for him to make friends with
some of the most prominent Slavists and to plead with them for help to publish the huge collection of Bulgarian folk songs which he had
brought with him.
But while Moscow captivated him with its ancient beauty and its history, he could not suppress the burning desire to see the River
Volga. At the time of his youth, the universal belief in his homeland was that the Proto-Bulgarians had camped on the banks of the
legendary river, had crossed it on their way to the Balkans and the origin of their name had come from the Holy Russian River - Volga.
Reaching its shores, Konstantin stood before it in awe, fascinated and almost hypnotized, unable to utter a word, his eyes following the
flowing waters. A poet at heart, he poured his exaltations in a letter to one of his friends:
O, Volga, Volga! What memories you
awake in me, how you drive me to bury
myself in the past! hi your waters,
Volga. I, and my friend, also a
Bulgarian, we dived and proudly told
ourselves that, at this very moment,
we received our true baptismal. Do
not laugh if I tell you that my
friends washed their heads in the
Volga and one of them picked up a few
rocks, just like the pilgrims brought
home little stones from the River Jordan.
Volga! How many different tribes
have passed each other on your shores!
How many great events have taken place
around you. And from all the other
people who have tasted your waters, only
we (meaning the Bulgarians) are the only
ones who have preserved your name
(The Russian Journal "Rodnoe Plemya II", page 287)
If Konstantin Miladinov had never uttered a single word proclaiming his Bulgarian nationality, this letter alone is an undisputable proof of
his strong national feelings to place him in the pantheon of those heroes and martyrs who devoted their entire life to the struggle for the
Bulgarian National Revival.
His efforts to find a sponsor for the publication of the songs failed. Some attribute this failure to the fact that all of the songs were written
with Greek letters. This failure prompted him to seek help elsewhere and he approached the Croatian Catholic Bishop of Djakovo, Joseph
Strossmayer (1815-1905), well known for his generosity and devotion to Slavic culture. A well-educated man, the Bishop was a Croatian
patriot and highly respected by the church and civil authorities.
Konstantin established contact with Strossmayer and early in 1860, when he heard that the Bishop would be in Vienna, he left Moscow
and headed for the Austrian capital to meet his future benefactor. At the very first meeting, Bishop Strossmayer was favourably
impressed with the young Bulgarian patriot and intellectual. Holding the collection of songs in his hands, the Bishop looked at Miladinov
and said:
Miladinov, let me tell you one thing: If you want me to publish your songs, you must, once and for all, disavow the
Greek letters. The Greeks have caused you, the Bulgarians, so much harm and misery: Cast away these foreign letters
and use the Slavic (Cyrillic) alphabet
(The above quotation is from a letter by Bishop Strossmayer sent to "Slavyanska Beseda" in Sofia in 1885)
During all this time when he was dealing with Bishop Strossmayer and getting the book ready for the printer, Konstantin did not know
that his brother, Dimitar, was brought in chains to Istanbul and thrown into the underground dungeon of the police station.
The book, dedicated to his benefactor, Bishop Strossmayer, was printed in Zagreb. It was ready in June of 1861 and Konstantin left the
Croatian city a month later. On the way to Strouga, he stopped for a few days in Belgrade. Rakovsky, with whom he wanted to confer,
was not there, but from other Bulgarian patriots, he learned of the arrest of his brother. In his desire to see him and, if possible, free his
brother, he headed for Istanbul. Denounced by the Greek Patriarchate as a dangerous Russian agent, he was arrested on August 5,
1861. It is not clear whether he was placed in the same cell with his brother, or whether the two brothers saw each other.
Dimitar Miladinov
His father having worked for a short time in Austria, and exposed to the system of universal education and freedom, returned home with
the burning desire that at least one of his sons should receive a solid education, so that he could educate others. With the assistance
from friends, Dimitar was sent to Yanina, at that time, a prominent Greek educational center. The talented youngster accounted himself
well. He had absorbed a lot of the Greek culture, a lot of their classics, and became proficient in the Greek language.
But the hopes of the Hellenes were dashed. Like most of the active participants in this struggle for national revival, once back home, he
translated prayers into the local Bulgarian language using Greek letters. As teacher in the local schools, or wherever he happened to be,
he used the same system to teach the children the history of the Bulgarians, to instil in their young hearts, love and devotion for their
own national heritage. In his spare time,he visited the surrounding villages to write down old folk songs which he considered as one of
the most precious treasures of the people.
His fame had gone far and wide all over Macedonia. Contracts and invitations to teach in other cities poured in. For the Greek Bishop in
Ohrid, it had become quite evident that Dimitar Miladinov represented a great obstacle in his plans for Hellenization and was, therefore, a
dangerous man.
In 1857, D. Miladinov was invited to teach in the town of Koukoush, some 30 kilometers from Soloun, which the Greeks considered their
bastion in Macedonia. In spite of the proximity to this Hellenic centre, Koukoush had already cast away the Greek language and books
from their school and substituted them with Bulgarian textbooks, some of which they had received from Constantinople. Miladinov
accepted their offer with pride and joy and his arrival in this strong Bulgarian fortress was an occasion for jubilation.
Taking over the school, he immediately revised the program to accelerate the teaching of the Bulgarian language and history. According
to some reports of that time, the schools stayed open until midnight to accommodate the young men coming from the surrounding
villages and those of the local people who were working at various trades. At least once a week, he held open meetings at which he
lectured on the past history of the Bulgarian nation and the need to open schools in as many places as possible.
One market day, when the town was crowded with people from all around Koukoush, the students from the upper classes gathered
groups and lectured on the need to fight Hellenism in using the Bulgarian language in their schools and churches. For all practical
purposes, Koukoush had cast away the Hellenic spiritual and educational yoke.
At the instigation of Dimitar Miladinov, and with the full approval of the city fathers, in 1858, the use of the Greek language was banished
from the churches and substituted with the old Bulgarian Slavonic. The jubilation of the people was indescribable. Many cried because of
joy.
In 1859 when he received word that Ohrid had officially demanded, from the Turkish government, the restoration of their ancient Bulgarian
Patriarchate, the throne of St Clement, Dimitar Miladinov left Koukoush and headed for Ohrid to help. He became one of the leaders in
this fight.
Despite his preoccupation, he felt the necessity to keep the leaders in Istanbul informed of the situation and struggle in Macedonia. In a
letter to "Tsarigradski Vestnik" of February 28, 1860, he reports:
In the entire country of Ohrid, there is not a single Greek family, except three or four villages of Vlahs. All of the rest
of the population is pure Bulgarian
Angered by this bold act of the citizens of Ohrid and their leader, the infamous Greek Bishop Milletios denounced Miladinov as a
Russian agent and on February 16, 1861, he was arrested, put in chains and sent to Istanbul. A few months later, he would be joined in
the underground police dungeon by his younger brother, Konstantin.
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Тема
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Writings of Krste Misirkov that were kept secret
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Historian () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:04 |
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K Misirkov, in the preface to his review text
"Notes on South Slav Philology and History"
B'lgarska zbirka (1907)
The readers of this statement will surely be surprised by the great contradictions which they will see in it compared to that which
they read or will read in On Macedonian Matters (Za Makedontskite Raboti).
To explain this contradiction it is sufficient to remember that there I erred as an improvised politician. This policy was needed to
neutralise the Macedonian claims of the Balkan countries and to prove the ethnic and historic individuality of the Macedonians. And
because within this policy a theme of the Bulgarian government could be discerned, I added extra and sharp criticism to obscure it.
These extra arguments that suggested my opinion was not that of the Bulgarian government but of an improvised politician on the
Macedonian Question, made the whole contents of the brochure so far removed from objective knowledge, that I found it quite
inappropriate, during my 2 month stay in Sofia, to meet any of the philologists and historians. With this of course, I caused a major
blow to my scientific standing and knowledge.
K Misirkov - A Personal Letter
6 Aug 1908 [Odessa]
Letter sent to Dr A Teodorov-Balan, secretary of Bulgarian Exarchate in Istanbul, seeking a teaching position at the Bulgarian school
in Salonika
The letter below was accompanied by an introductory letter (that is a reference) by the Bessarabian Bulgarian G Zanetov. In that
letter Zanetov describes Misirkov as an "energetic" but somewhat "unrealistic" person. Zanetov also states
Drawn by the desire to help his Fatherland Macedonia, he had pursued a false path, which he now completely refutes and
apologises for publicly
Misirkov's own letter follows
Five years ago I was faced with events which forced me to stop teaching Greek and Bulgarian literature and language at the
Bulgarian Classical Male Gymnasium in Bitolia, and to leave the general Turkish domain. The Ilinden Uprising of 1903 had a
pronounced effect on me and caused me to make some mistakes which completely isolated me from the Bulgarian cause in
Macedonia.
With great respect I was forced to temporarily renounce completely working for the realization of the Bulgarian national ideals and
devote myself to lecturing duties in Russia, first in Berdyansk and afterwards in Odessa. In both cities my work secured me a good
life with which I could have been fully satisfied if it was not for the annoyance and difficultly I experienced, together with an inability to
concentrate on the questions of my main interest, South Slav philology and history. What these questions are you are probably
already aware, particularly description of the Morava dialect. You will be more familiar with my scientific pursuits, when reading my
Notes on South Slav Philology and History.
Hampered with lessons, not favourably welcomed by the Russian steeped in outdated patriotism, I had a difficult struggle to prepare
and print my Notes while doing master's exams on Old- Bulgarian and the Slav languages and literature at the Kiev University. The
problems experienced in my scientific pursuits are so great that at one time I suspended numerous studies of direct interest to me,
and was only made aware of my actions by Mr G Zanetov; in recognition of whom I have dedicated my Notes.
The same Mr Zanetov gave me the idea to appeal to you and ask for a lecturing position at the Bulgarian Male Gymnasium in
Salonika. I agreed with satisfaction to Mr Zanetov's proposal, since in this way I would receive the opportunity, anew, and according
to my ability to serve the Bulgarian national interest and ideals. In view of the latter, I plead with you, respected Sir, to inform
me as soon as possible whether the Holy Exarchate might reinstate my teaching rights within the teaching establishments under its
jurisdiction, and appoint me, even within this year, as a lecturer on Bulgarian and general history or Bulgarian literature, at the
Bulgarian Male Gymnasium in Salonika, so that I can arrive in Salonika in time to commence my duties. On receiving your answer I
will send the documents to the Holy Exarchate. Accept honoured Sir, my sincere respect towards you.
Krste Misirkov in the newspaper
"Mir" - Sofia, 30 Apr 1924
If the question of racial similarity and difference between Bulgarians and Macedonians comes to be resolved on the basis of the
national name, language and history, there is no doubt that we should resolve it as a Greek priest did in 1804; author of a
four-language dictionary Greek, Bulgarian, Rumanian and Albanian and who regarded as Bulgarian the Western Macedonian dialect.
Therefore when in Macedonia and Bulgaria there was no mention of the Bulgarian Exarchate, the Greeks, obviously well acquainted
with the Balkan nationalities, do not make any distinction between a Bulgarian, a Macedonian and a Macedonian Slav. We the
Macedonians, cannot, and have no reason to ignore this and similar facts, which can be quoted by the hundreds. We cannot ignore
them because to do so means to distort our history, to hide the truth and to deceive ourselves.
The Archbishopric of Ohrid for the whole of Bulgaria is ours, it is our historic inheritance and ideal for the religious freedom from the
hateful Serbian slavery of St Sava. Against the Bulgarian name, as our national name, by which we have been christened by the
Greeks even before we entered the boundaries of the Bulgarian state for the fist time in the beginning of the 9th century; a name
given to us by the Greeks for the racial union of the Slavs of Bulgaria, we, Macedonians have nothing and this national name of ours
is no less respected by us than the Bulgarians of Bulgaria.
The Nationality of the Macedonians
published in the newspaper
"20 July" Sofia, No. 5, May 11th, 1924
The article by Mr. Arseny Yovkov "Bulgarians in Macedonia" published in issue No. 1 of "20 July" raises again the problem of the
nationality of the Macedonians and solves it with irrefutable proofs in favour of the Bulgarians. The author of the above mentioned
article published in the latest issue of the newspaper "Pirin" says that there will be a Macedonian problem until there are Bulgarians
and Bulgarian national consciousness in Macedonia and that it was in the interests of the other nationalities in Macedonia for
Bulgarians to live in Macedonia. In his latest article Mr. Yovkov even said that we, the Macedonians, should be more Bulgarian than
the Bulgarians themselves.
These two interesting articles by Mr. Yovkov give us the opportunity to dwell on the problem of the nationality of the Macedonians and
on the role of this problem in the past and future history of Macedonia.
At the beginning of the XlXth century in Macedonia there were Greek priests and Bulgarian national consciousness among the more
energetic Macedonians who hand in hand with the Bulgarians from Bulgaria and Thrace started the fight for national education and
national church. This spiritual and national unity of Moesians, Macedonians and Thracians came before and after the creation of the
Bulgarian Exarchate and the liberation of Bulgaria.
The Serbians envied the Bulgarians and due to some theoretical and practical considerations began to object to some European,
Macedonian and Bulgarian contentions that the Macedonians were Bulgarians and in this way they were the first to set before the
men of science the problem of the nationality of the Macedonians.
It would not be wise to deny that the task set by the Serbians is not unimportant and that the successes they achieved due to their
exceptional tenacity and strict systematics are great. The Serbians did not underestimate any possibility offered by contemporary
science general linguistics, comparative grammar of the Slav languages, history and archeology, spoken and written popular
language, geography and diplomacy were not under-estimated by the Serbians in their attempt to refute the assumption of the
Bulgarian character of Macedonia. As a result they conquered the major part of Macedonia which they were given as a land
populated by Serbians; they were given this land by those who up till the last moment unanimously acknowledged the Bulgarian
national character of Macedonia.
But the problem about the nationality of the Macedonians was not settled yet.
The Serbians achieved only half of their task: they succeeded in misleading the west Europeans and to take possession of
Macedonia. But the Macedonians themselves, occupied by them, are not spiritually conquered and they feel as a nation different
from the Serbians and they want to preserve their individuality.
This is the weak point for the Serbians, this is the force of the Macedonians, this is the historical role of the problem of the nationality
of the Macedonians which it has to play in the future.
The role of Bulgarians and Serbians in the solution of this problem now is completely different from before the Balkan and world wars:
today theoretically this problem is non-existent for the Serbians just as there is no Macedonia within the boundaries of Yugoslavia;
as far as Bulgaria is concerned there is a Macedonia just like there is the problem of the nationality of the Macedonians, a problem
which the Bulgarian science could follow with more success than the Serbians in order to give it its proper meaning.
But the Bulgarians do not favour philology and history, they do not like to be pointed at as being chauvinists and they are ready to
live in peace with their neighbours at all cost even when the latter aim at taking half of their house, or their yard.
As far as Macedonia goes, many "enlightened" people couldn't care less. They do not know it. To them it is a land of stones and wild
apples. That is why the Bulgarian opposition is not dangerous for the Serbian domination in Macedonia. This the Serbians had half
guaranteed by international treaties and by treaties with Bulgaria.
But now cries from the Macedonians can be heard: we are Bulgarians, we are more Bulgarians than the Bulgarians themselves.
........ You could be victors over Bulgaria and impose on it all sorts of treaties but this cannot change our conviction, our
consciousness that we are not Serbians, that up till now we have called ourselves Bulgarians and this is what we are today and this
is what we want to be called in the future.
Do you want any concessions from us? Do you want us to be less Bulgarians than the Bulgarians themselves? - Shall we concede ?
We shall not be indifferent towards our national interests like some others. We cannot and should not follow the Moesians in
everything because their logic, their ways to act lead to Bulgarian-Serbian treaties and agreements concerning Macedonia, they lead
to treaties like the Serbo-Bulgarian in 1912, like the one at Neuilly. We shall be more Macedonians than Bulgarians, but
Macedonians with a national consciousness different from your Serbian consciousness a national self-consciousness based on our
history, on our literary language common with the Bulgarian, with our Macedonian-Bulgarian schools, with our own national church in
which the national and religious feelings of the Macedonians will not be hurt by the presence and spirit of the Serbian saints like St.
Sava.
The Serbians know very well the significance of this problem now just as before, the problem of the nationality and the national feeling
of the Macedonians and that is why through assimilation of the Macedonians they want to get rid of this consciousness as soon as
possible.
But all is in vain.
No matter whether we call ourselves Bulgarians or Macedonians we shall always feel as a nationality with a Bulgarian
national consciousness, separate from the Serbians and we shall know how to impose our will in the struggle for human rights of
the Macedonian.
Dimiter P Chupovski
Slav-Macedonian Student Society (St Petersburg)
The Memoirs of Hristo Shaldev - ISBN 0646149067
When in the autumn of 1902 the Vrhovists and in defiance of IMRO, launched the Gorna Dzhumaia Uprising which was restricted
merely to the Gorna Dzhumaia and Petrich districts, the Russia press unanimously declared it an act of Bulgarian Macedonians
against the Turkish rule and their miserable life. The newspapers also noted that the people were preparing for an even larger rebellion
in the near future which would include the whole of Macedonia.
Then after celebrations to commemorate the battle of the Shipka Pass the two Russian foreign ministers, Counts Lamsdorf and
Ignatiev, met in Sofia representatives of the Macedonian immigrants, the Macedonian intelligentsia, social workers and
representatives of IMRO who handed each of the two distinguished guests their exhibitions and maps of Macedonia and the
Adrianople district. It was then that several students, sons of Serbomans from NW Macedonia, who had completed their primary and
secondary education in Serbia and were pursuing their higher education in St Petersburg, inspired by hatred for everything
Bulgarian decided to form a "Slav-Macedonian Student Society" (SMSS). The aim of this society was to promote through
conversations with Russian public figures, journalists and Slavophiles that the Macedonian Slavs are not Bulgarian but
represent a separate South Slavic people.
I regard the originator of this thesis as being Professor Stoyan Novakovich, who as the Kingdom of Serbia's diplomatic representative
to St Petersburg publicised this view among the members of the Slavonic Charitable Society. Perhaps that is why this latter
society allowed its premises to be used by the small Slavomacedonian group of students to hold meetings along similar lines to
those by Serb, Bulgarian and Czech students. This theory of Professor Novakovich was later scientifically presented by Professors
Cvijich and Belich to advance Serbian propaganda in NW Macedonia, where it actually succeeded in influencing a certain part of the
population within the sub-districts of Porochieto, Gorni and Dolni Polog, Azot and the regions about Kumanovo.
Being aware of the position of prominent Russian and other Slavists and Historians on the question of the language and ethnicity of
the Macedonian Slavs, and as secretary of the Macedonian group in St Petersburg, I did not attach any particular importance to the
establishment of the SMSS. This lack of concern was influenced by the very small number of individuals involved and the limited
scholastic abilities of the instigators with respect to an understanding of questions of a historic and linguistic nature.
However, I subsequently pressured Milan Stoilov, a first year in the Military Medicine academy, to attend the second meeting of the
SMSS and obtain information on both its aims and number of members. He went and was actually elected temporary secretary of
the meeting. Stoilov reported his findings to a branch meeting of the Organization of Macedonian Societies and left a written report for
the archives. His report stated that the second meeting of the SMSS was held on 29th December 1902 and included the following
agenda items:
1.Election of a vice-president (G Konstantinovich) and librarian (Rusalenchich) to the Executive committee; both proposed and
elected by the meeting.
2.Defining the borders of Macedonia as based on the ethnographic map issued several years previously by the Slavonic
Charitable Society.
3.To send a letter of thanks to the Slavonic Charitable Society for allowing its premises to be used for the meeting.
4.To inform by letter the Bulgarian, Serbian and Czech student associations concerning the formation of the SMSS.
5.Each member was to select several characteristic Macedonian words to be forwarded to the secretary of the SMSS, who
would enter them in a special note-book comprising four column headings - Macedonian, Bulgarian, Serbian and Russian.
This report highlights several salient features. The SMSS was established in St Petersburg in December 1902 and had so few
members present at its inaugural meeting that an election of an Executive committee was deferred to the second meeting.
Furthermore at that second meeting it was decided to compile in a special note-book specific Macedonian words existing in every
speech and ethnic community, which the promoters of the SMSS would use to influence Russian academics and public figures that
the language of the Slav Macedonians is closer to Russian than Bulgarian or Serbian.
Although small in number, the members and activities of the SMSS became subject to the private concerns of members of the
Macedonian Liberation Society (MLS) because the SMSS represented a new group which directly opposed the national unity of the
Macedonian Slavs. The same Slavs who a century before had re- awaken to reject the Phanariot spiritual and Turkish political
bondage, relying only on their own efforts and paltry material means to build and support national schools, and to arm for a final
struggle against the centuries old political and economic oppression. Furthermore on its inception the SMSS hastened to conspire
with the Turkish government, in particular the policies of the chief inspector of Macedonia - Hilmi Pasha - who was quick to support
any enterprise which had a divisive potential towards the activities of the Bulgarian Macedonian community represented by IMRO.
And later I shall detail how the creators of the SMSS led by its president D Chupovski, colluded with the Turkish embassy in St
Petersburg to be given the right to travel freely throughout Macedonia as provocateurs, and to also have contacts within Sofia in an
attempt to recruit devotees to their idea amongst the Macedonian Brotherhoods.
However at that time our group was completely preoccupied planning and preparing an important fund-raising Macedonian social - for
example tickets, artists, musicians, conducting and drawing two lotteries before the end of May, collecting old items and selling
them to pawnbrokers. We also constantly searched for old rifles to forward to IMRO, collected voluntary donations for the same as
well as recruiting and training volunteers for the imminent uprising in Macedonia. Naturally under these circumstances the MLS has
little time to dwell on the SMSS. However when the Ilinden Uprising commenced and had continued for several months the Russian
newspapers, written by the editors and their special correspondents described the rebel activities as the dissatisfaction of Bulgarian
Macedonians and Macedonians in general at Turkish rule. Thus these articles effectively countered any activity of the SMSS with
respect to their verbal national-separatist preachings.
It was one year later that the true underlying ideology of the SMSS and especially that of its president Dimiter P Chupovski and his
5-6 followers was uncovered. Near the end of February 1904 a student member of the Moscow MLS came to St Petersburg and
showed us a letter that Chupovski had sent to Nikola Nichota, a Moscow University student and a Kutsovlach by ethnicity. I made a
copy, returned it to the student with strict instructions that it be delivered to the addressee by whatever means were most
appropriate. Chupovksi's letter is of interest not only for its contents but also because its style is comparatively correct Bulgarian
literary language and not the author's Myak speech. The full text of the letter is reproduced below:
St Petersburg, 17 February 1904
Dear Kolio,
When I found a free minute after receiving your letter (from 15/02/1904) I decided to answer you straight away. Firstly I am glad for your success as regards the
scholarship and secondly about your gratefulness to me and your commitment to our common idea. Be assured that on my part for everything that you wrote steps
will be taken for your benefit. Your self-realization in the Slav Macedonian nationality (as far as it is sincere) can only bring gladness to me and every sincere patriot
and nothing else. I will be very pleased if you successfully fulfil the assigned task concerning the Serbian propaganda in Macedonia and its destructive influence
amongst the people.
I cannot accept the contention that in Moscow there is no basis for the SMSS idea to develop. I think it is inertia, mainly because you as a student of only two
months could not meet or become acquainted with all circles amongst whom our idea could evolve. Also because you had associated with Serbs, Bulgarians and
Macedonians who are fanatical with their own ideas and Russians who have become accustom to viewing a Macedonian as a Serb or a Bulgar and not as a
representative of a different tribe. However when you begin to move within the Russian Slavophile community and cultivate in them the notion that the Slavs of
Macedonia are not the same as Serbs and Bulgars but a separate tribe representing something different from them both, then the people and many representatives
of its intelligentsia will come to recognize themselves as sons of a Slav Macedonian tribe which has closer links to the Russians than to the Serbs and Bulgars. Then
we may be assured that many Russian activists will change their first impressions to support a Slav Macedonian identity. The same strategy should be used to
influence the Macedonian, but do not reveal this idea to everyone. Initially raise it as an obscure concept and then let develop under its own momentum.
As regards myself, as you say they both (Bulgars and Serbs) have a bad opinion about me but it does not concern me as they detest the idea and its adherents. And
tell me who likes me here from the mentioned idiots.
You ask about my visit to the Turkish embassy. We had an audience with the first secretary, who is also an adviser to the Consul, and expressed our views regarding
Macedonia - that we want to be delivered from the mercy of the Serbs, Greeks and Bulgars and to live in peace under the protection of the PadiShah. He thanked
us for such consideration and recognition for the Turkish Empire ideas. He also advised us to describe in detail our aims regarding the Macedonian Slavs - in a
written submission as a petition or memorandum to be presented before the Sultan. We decided to follow that course, but because of the unexpected news from the
Far East we postponed in time so that the Bulgarians and Serbs did not find out and rebel against us.
At the last meeting I read a composition on About the centuries-old identity of the Macedonians and on Sunday will read Filcho (now he is not Nikolich but
Nikolovski), under the title What reasons have the Russians and travellers or ethnographers in general to confuse the Macedonian Slavs with the Serbs and
Bulgars. He became friendly with me and now regularly attends our meetings. The same also applies for Mr Jolevski.
Today I received a letter from Marko, his address is - 33 Liulin Planina, Sofia, c/- Mrs Donka Stanisheva. See that you become acquainted with Nikola N Durnovo, a
Serbo-Grecophile and Bulgarophobe. I think he lives in Moscow and agrees with our idea. You only have to tell him that in Macedonia there are no Serbs or
Bulgars. Give him the encouragement that the pure, real Slav Macedonians thank him for his impartiality.
D Chupovski
On the last page of the copy (p8) dated 10/06/1904 I scribbled the following
To Filip Nikolich from the village of Bukovo (Bitolia district) the Turkish Embassy has issued a travel document for unrestricted
travel throughout Macedonia.
And later under this note the reply to my question to Chupovski on what he wanted at the Turkish Embassy and why he slandered
me, he answered
I do not want you to think that I spied on you for the Turkish ambassador. I like idealistic people, I respect them and I would
not allow such a thing to occur.
However he could not readily conceal his inner emotions, expressed by his paled face.
Dimiter Chupovski is originator of the SMSS in St Petersburg, its president and the main exponent of the theory on
Slavomacedonism by Professors Cvijich and Belich. Chupovski was born in the Kichevo district, son of a Serboman family of the
Myak tribe. He had his primary education within his native village, and his secondary schooling in Serbia from where he left for
advanced studies in St Petersburg. There he was awarded a scholarship in the St Petersburg Theological Academy about a year
before I arrived. He lived with the academics and not in the dormitory (Schilseburg No. 4) specifically reserved for the South Slav
students. Amongst the latter was Peter Rosich, the future Debar-Kichevo Bishop Varnava and later patriarch of the Serbian church,
who in many arguments about Macedonia categorically insisted its people were Serbian. Chupovski was of medium build with a thin
gaunt face which resembled that of a Tatar. He had a thin short moustache, a short thin dual beard and a characteristic sly smile. He
kept his distance from both us and the Serbs and led a somewhat isolated existence. His academic prowess was only average but
he was a hard and diabolic man. The Serbian propaganda had instilled in him hatred for everything Bulgarian. He maintained a totally
biased knowledge of history and ethnography although he expressed himself in essentially correct literary Bulgarian. Concerning the
nationality of the Macedonian Slavs he flatly declared that foreign propaganda had made them into Bulgars, Serbs and Greeks -
whereas they are Slav Macedonians with their own identity and language.
Chupovksi completed his studies one year before me and disappeared and I had no knowledge of his whereabouts. The society he
established in St Petersburg represented only a small group of 5-6 individuals, former Serbian students divested of any ethnic sense.
Faced with the fact that Russian journalists and academics highlighted the Bulgarian nature of the Macedonian Liberation Movement
and above all the power of IMRO, this group proceeded to preach an opposing view that the Slavs of Macedonia have for centuries
their own identity and language. And in their zeal to promote this cause this small group of intellectuals, led by their inspired leader,
dedicated themselves to directly serve the Turkish Embassy in St Petersburg (see D Chupovski letter). Chupovski and his fellow
members of the SMSS presented themselves to the first secretary of the Turkish Embassy, declared their allegiance to the
PadiShah, and asked for deliverance from the Bulgars, Greeks and Serbs.
Our colleagues in Kiev had warned us that two Macedonians with Turkish passports, who they considered as Turkish spies, regularly
commuted between Odessa and St Petersburg, stopping in Kiev and Moscow and always asking for assistance from the local
Slavonic Charitable Organizations. However we knew that those two individuals were non-student members of the SMSS in St
Petersburg. One was called Trayko and the other was the brother of Chupovski who I had seen several times as a guest at meetings
of the organizations of Bulgarian students. From Chupovski's letter we knew that he had had correspondence with a Marko living in
Sofia as well as Donka Stanisheva. As a reward for the SMSS's service to the Turkish Embassy, we are aware that Filip Nikolich
from Bukovo had received a passport to travel throughout Macedonia.
All this information prompted the MLS to prepare a detailed report on the St Petersburg SMSS's activities for IMRO's Central
Committee, and requested any necessary action, if required, to be taken. The report was sent to Salonika and a copy to the
Exarchate for information. Unfortunately the carbon copy was not preserved in the MLS archives. As far as I may recall within it was
detailed - the formation of the SMSS, its aims and composition, the connections with the Turkish Embassy, the sending of their
followers into Macedonia to promulgate the notion of Slavomacedonism, their decision to print 1500 primers in the local dialect with
which to teach the children of the 34 villages working for the establishment of an independent Macedonian Church and the willingness
to work for the protection of the Turkish Empire. We received a reply from Salonika that we should collect information about the
SMSS individuals travelling to Macedonia - names, places of birth and to intercept their letters and be wary they do not do the same
to us. In their letter, our Salonika brothers amongst other things state the following
It appears your Slavomacedonians are real Turkish spies
The members of the SMSS, or more specifically its president D Chupovski, had described me to the secretary of the Turkish
Embassy in such a manner that when in September 1905 I arrived in Istanbul to secure a teaching position in Macedonia I was
arrested and after questioning by the head sergeant sent onto Salonika. There I was kept more than two weeks before being sent to
my native village, Gumendje, without any rights to travel to any of the neighbouring villages or towns. These ordeals refute
Chupovski's claim to me that he was not a spy. The situation was now such that my return to my Fatherland meant that contact with
my colleagues in St Petersburg was no longer possible.
Surveillance of the SMSS's activities however continued by my colleagues in St Petersburg and predominantly by the Central Bureau
of the Federated MLSs in Russia. That bureau under its administrative powers not only could view the actions of the
Slavomacedonians but also could influence Russian Slavists, historians and journalists to write about the ethnic picture of Macedonia
and the national belonging of the Macedonian Slavs, to discuss the
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Macedonians Prohibited from
Speaking their Native Language
1959 - Village of Atrapos, Aegean Macedonia
people forced to swear the following oath
"I do promise before God, the people, and the official state authorities, that from this day on I shall
cease to speak the Slav dialect which gives ground for misunderstandings to the enemies of our
country - the Bulgarians - and that I will speak always and everywhere the official language of our
fatherland, the Greek language, in which the holy gospel is written."
During the period 1936-1940 about 5250 Bulgarian-Macedonian were prosecuted for using Bulgarian
language in public places. Such practices continued well after WWII and are still prevalent in Greece today. The newspaper articles
(with the accompanying translations) and the above photograph show how desperate and determined Greece is to eradicate any claim
of a "minority".
Greek newspaper Eliniki Phon (8 Aug 1959) published in Florina (Aegean Macedonia) which
reads
"Tomorrow the inhabitants of Atrapos (original Bulgarian name Krapeshina) will swear
before God and the people in an official ceremony that hence forward they will promise
not to speak the Slav dialect, which in the hands of the Slav propagandists, has become
a weapon pointed at the national consciousness of the Macedonians. The proud people of
Atropos will take an oath to speak Greek only, so that in this way they may stress their
Greek origin and the Greek consciousness"
Greek newspaper Phoni tis Kastorias (4 Oct 1959) reprints an article from the Salonika
newspaper Makedonia which reads
"During the last two months the inhabitants of some villages in northern Greece
(Macedonia) in official mass ceremonies proclaimed that they will cease to use the Slav
dialect and that in future they will only speak Greek. The first ceremony took place in the
village of Trebeno, district of Kojani, which has, according to the census of 1952, 692
inhabitants. It was followed by other villages such as Breshcheni, Kostour district, (41
inhabitants), Atropos (Krapeshina), Florina district, (466 inhabitants) and so forth."
Macedonians Persecuted in Greece
The Greek position on basic human rights for non-Hellenic ethnic groups within its state has been, and still is, quite outrageous.
However we continually have to listen to the Greek government and the Greek "Holy" Synod's charges of oppression and maltreatment
with respect to the Cypriot-Greeks. The factual record therefore indicts the Greeks as hypocrites. Although Greece signed the Treaty
of Sevres (Aug 10, 1920) for the "Protection of Minorities in Greece", and ratified obligations under Article 46 of the Treaty of
Neuilly (1919) she has failed to honour both of these legal and international commitments.
Within the Greek schools, Macedonian-Bulgarian children from the earliest age were indoctrinated with negative Bulgarian imagery
which portrayed the Bulgarian race as evil and barbarous. Children, as young as 4 and 5, who inadvertently spoke in their native
Slavonic tongue, were sadistically beaten The policy of Greek rule has been to affect the cultural genocide of Macedonian-Bulgarians
living in Aegean Macedonia (In Vardar the Serbs practised just plain genocide).
So common was Greek maltreatment of its non-Hellenic population that in 1924 the League of Nations, in one of its rare coordinated
actions, found the Greek government guilty of violating the human rights of the Bulgarian minority. The particular incident involved a
Greek officer, Doksaniks, who after seemingly ordering the detention and transfer of 19 local villagers to the town of Ser, gave further
orders that they be executed on the road between Turnlis and Gorno Bordo. What then followed were Bulgarian executions en masse
for their refusal to be expatriated to Bulgaria. Following the subsequent international uproar, protests, and threats of sanctions, a
meeting between Politis (Greece) and Kalkoff (Bulgaria) was held in Geneva on 29 Sep 1919 in which the Greek government
agreed to fully acknowledge the existence (for the first time) and respect the rights of the Bulgarian minority in Greece
This latter agreement (the Politis-Kalkoff Protocol) was also counter-signed by Sir Eric Drummond as secretary-general of the League
of Nations.
Under direct scrutiny of the League of Nations, a special education department for the minorities was opened. However Greece
insisted that the "minority" it had just acknowledged as "Bulgarian", should not be educated in their native Bulgarian language,
but rather in a "local" idiom, which used a Latin instead of a cyrillic alphabet
The end result was publication of the primer ABECEDAR (1925). It has been said by some that ABECEDAR was an honest attempt by
Greece to meet the requirements of their local population. This is untenable by any form of objective linguistic analysis. Thus Miletich,
an expert on Slavic languages referred to the ABECEDAR as a document of
levantine carelessness, demi-culture and analphabetism
More recently Hill, another authority on Slavic linguistics, points out that many dialects used north of the border were also incorporated
in the Greek "experiment" possibly aimed at the Macedonians in Yugoslavia. In fact it was Yugoslavia which pressured the Greek state
to finally abandon the project.
Meeting the religious needs of the "minority" was also an obligation, but one for which the League of Nations released Greece, as in
the end it did for everything else. Unfortunately for the Macedonians the League of Nations was no more than a bureaucratic body
which merely catalogued their cries for human rights and dignity. This was well illustrated by the so-called right of minorities to directly
petition the League of Nations on human rights violations. However in the Macedonian case it is well documented that the League
chose to deliberately disregard such petitions to avoid re-opening the Macedonian question (see comments in CA Macartney -
National States and National Minorities - London - 1934). The persecution and hardship the Bulgarians of Aegean Macedonia faced
in this time was vividly described by the Englishman W Child, in a letter he sent from the very region
The Greeks not only persecute all alive Bulgarians, whom they alternatively call Bulgarian speaking or Slavonic speaking, but
they also search for the graves of deceased Bulgarians, which are spread throughout Macedonia. They would not let them rest
in peace even in the grave: they erase the Bulgarian inscriptions on the crosses, dig the bones from the graves and throw them
out
In a particularly banal statement on 11 Oct 1930 the Greek Prime Minister Elefteros Vanizelos said
The issue of the Macedonian minority in Greece will be solved and I will be the first in Greece, who will engage himself to open
Macedonian schools if that is requested by the people
Of course anyone who made such a "request" earned themselves a one-way ticket to prison or worse. The following examples provide
a truer perspective on Greece's commitment to this issue. On Jan 26 1926, Eliniki Makedoniki Pigmi, an organization fighting
against Bulgarians, published the following directive
As from today we ban use of the Bulgarian dialect in all public places, in institutions, in trade relations, in meetings and
gatherings, in festivities, receptions, weddings etc. We order that the Greek language be spoken in all the above stated cases.
Police officers, authorities and government officials are not to speak with citizens in any other language but Greek
During the dictatorship of Metaxas a law was passed that banned the use of the dialect (the term used to refer to the Bulgarian
language). Here is an example:
Writ of Summons - The public prosecutor in the village of Kato Idruza (Dolno Kotori), based on the Articles 143-145 of the
Criminal procedures, summons Georgus Jovanis Mitrusis, citizen of Polipotamos village (Nere) to appear personally in the court
hall on May 15th, 1939, Monday, at 9.00am to be put on trial because on February 19, this year was caught speaking with
another person in Slav language - thus violating Article 697 of the Criminal Law and in reference to the instruction of the police
No.15/36. In case the person named above doesn't come he will be tried in absentia - Public prosecutor - Polipotamos, April 4,
1939
Foreword
When looking at the fate of the enslaved Bulgarians in Aegean Macedonia and at what they
have suffered during the last 9O years, two curtains that tightly screen their past have to be
opened.
The first curtain has been lowered by our own totalitarian regime (ie Bulgaria) which in the
name of misguided foreign policy and trade economics declared that our relations with their
enslaver "Greece" were perfect and that "there were no problems between the two nations and
countries".
When one speaks their mother tongue at home or in a public place and for that utterance they
are subject to imprisonment - this is no problem. When children are told every day that they
are ethnic Greeks and are made to swear before a priest that they will never again say a word
in their mother tongue - "the language of our enemies, the Bulgarians" - this is still no
problem. When the Phanariot priests preach God's Word in an unintelligible language - again
this is no problem. When one madly brave village priest reads a sermon in his mother
Bulgarian tongue and for that he is goaled - this is also no problem! When your compatriots
are denationalized, assimilated and then eliminated - this is, of course, no problem!
The second curtain has been lowered by the Greek State. It is an equivalent of the Berlin wall, but unlike the latter, it still remains in
place. This "wall" also posseses some amazing features. From Greece to Bulgaria it allows any Greek to pass undisturbed whenever
they wish. They may go to Nessebar or Pomorie and pay respect to their grandparents as often as they desire. This "wall" is certainly
no barrier to the teachers from the Greek Ministry of Education who come to organise Greek language courses for Greek emigrants. It
is no barrier to Greek entertainment groups which regularly perform in Bulgaria. It is definitely no barrier for the hundreds of Greeks who
travel to Sofia for tourism and business. From Bulgaria to Greece however, the "wall" has very different characteristics. If you travel by
luxurious tourist bus on a journey to visit the Acropolis there will be no problems.
But if you, as a descendant of Bulgarians driven from Macedonia, attempt to visit Voden, Lerin, Kostour or want to see and know how
your relatives left there fare, the wall is impenetrable. If the hounds from the Greek consulates become aware that you were born in that
region or that you have relatives there, the "wall" becomes more like the Majino line. Nobody will ever grant you a visa. Seeking
permission to open a shop, company or any other business is futile. While the Greek Church in the centre of Sofia resounds with
chants of the Greek liturgy, no-one is granted permission to conduct a single liturgy in the Bulgarian language at the Bulgarian Church
in Lerin.
Our aim is to see these curtains pulled aside so that the light may enter and our unhappy compatriots may indeed feel that they are at
the threshold of the 21st century. We want to see Greece fulfil, honestly and publicly the obligations it accepted with the international
contracts and conventions it signed, and require it upholds the human rights of its citizens - our compatriots. We ask for nothing more
than the Greek state asks for its people in Albania or elsewhere. Our people should have the right to speak in their mother tongue, the
right to have their own school and to worship in the Bulgarian orthodox church.
We do not seek any territory, but merely human rights for our own brothers in Macedonia. We want democracy in Greece to be valid
for all its citizens, including our countrymen who live there. The sooner this happens and the "wall" that separates us falls, the closer
we come to a lasting peace built on mutual trust and respect.
Massacre and Barbarism at Zagorichane
Greek Clergy and their cut-throats claim "God is on our Side"
The burning of the village of Zagorichane (Kostur district) and the massacre of its inhabitants was done by 7 Greek andart bands (lead
by the so-called "kapetans" Vardas [Lt Georgios Tsontos from Crete as chief commander], Kaudis, Karavitis, Makris, Kukulakis,
Pulanas, and Melios) on 25th of March 1905.
It is also important to state that at the time of the Greek attack on Zagorichane, there were no Bulgarian revolutionaries in the village.
Also, just a few days before the attack, the Turkish asker (commander) came to the village to search for arms. Before he entered, the
asker had his troops blow military horns, an act which frightened the village population. However, the Turkish officer explained to the
peasants, that this sounding of horns was simply a military protocol, and whenever they heard it they should remain calm and realise it
meant no danger.
Not uncoincidently the Greek attack on Zagorichane began with the same blowing of military horns as used by the Turks. If we consult
the account given by the Greek historian Stamatis Raptis in "O kapetan Poulakas - Captain Pulakas. All Macedonian Struggle.
Heroic Battles. Avengers Bulgarian-Killers. Most Patriotical Reading. With the True Images of the Heroes." (Athens, 1910,
2520p) on page 990 he writes
"When Bulgarians hear the horn, they will think, that it is an asker, and will hurry to hide their weapons, where they can. So that
we shall have time."
The massacre at Zagorichane was documented afterwards by the Italian gendarme officers Manera, Gastoldi and Albera, Russian
consul Kol, Austro-Hungarian consul Prohaska, and many others. In his report the Bulgarian diplomat A. Toshev (No. 447, from 30th of
March, 1905) wrote
"They - Russian and Austrian consuls, and Italian officers Albera, Gastoldi and Manera - were horrified at all that they saw and
found. The streets, and around the church, was strewn with corpses, many of which had been sadistically mutilated. There were
5-year-old children with their stomachs cut-open and their intestines ripped out; murdered women with their arms hacked off.
Some of the dead had their skulls smashed and their brains removed, others had eyes gouged out, many had severed limbs.
The body of the 60 year old priest was covered with wounds. An entire family had been killed by bombs thrown through the
chimney, and from two holes in the roof. The bodies of the father, mother, and two children were appalling disfigured by the
bombs. The youngest child, a 5 year old girl, had tried to escape through the door, but was killed by Greek bayonets. Russian
consul Mr Kol was weeping. Austrian consul Mr Prohaska also had tears in his eyes. They both claimed that they had not
witnessed such horrors and barbarities even in the time of the rebellion (1903)."
Bishop Germanos Karavangelis
The Devil's Disciple
The leaders of the Greek Orthodox Church were the most crazed supporters of the Greek state's plan to eliminate the Bulgarian
element from Macedonia. This allegiance to a program of human genocide is typified by the actions of the Metropolitan Bishop
Germanos Karavangelis.
Information on Karavangelis's psychotic behaviour is available directly from his very own autobiography "Pinelopa Delta", published in
1959 by the Salonica Institute for Studies. In that work we note the following (and many more) admissions and comments by
Karavangelis
He was the first and most fervent champion of the emergence of the andarts' (Greek cut-throats, murderers etc) movement in
Macedonia.
For seven years (1900-1907), as Metropolitan Bishop of Kostur, he maintained the slogan "let no Bulgarian remain alive".
Together with Vardas, a Greek army officer, he inspired and helped organise the massacres at Zeleniche (Lerin) and
Zagorichane (Kostur). Massacres which shocked the international community by the level of depravity and sadism which
occurred.
Karavangelis regularly used assassins to eliminate people he had pre-selected. These killers were paid 5 pounds by
Karavangelis, on delivery of the person's severed head. So proud was Karavangelis of his actions, that he had one of these
"trophies" photographed and displayed in his office.
As the level of andart activity increased, he writes in his autobiography
"I kept regular contact with them through the consulate in Bitola and the Metropolitan bishops. I personally met
them and instructed them to kill all priests and Bulgarian teachers."
It is surprising that the Greek Church has not sought to canonise Karavangelis for his unswerving duty to God and country. But then
perhaps they already have.
The Sadistic Murder of Lazar Pop Traykoff
just normal cleric duties for the Greek Archbishop Germanos Karavangelis
a personal account by
Dr HN Brailsford
in Macedonia: Its Races and their Future
Methuen & Co., London, 1906, p193-194
I remember well our first meeting. We began our conversation in Greek, but in a few minutes we discovered that we had been at a
German University together and the man I had taken for a Byzantine assumed the guise of a Berliner. Education is rare among the
Greek bishops and I had never met a man among them who spoke a western tongue. His Beatitude seemed a modern of the moderns.
Could this be the fanatic who persecuted Bulgarian peasants to force them into his church? Could this be the raging partisan who
massed his people to drive the schismatic Bulgarian bishop from the town? In five minutes he had professed himself a philosopher. In
ten minutes he had avowed himself a free-thinker.
But there, above my head, on the wall, in a conspicuous place hung the photograph of a ghastly head, severed at the
neck, with a bullet through the jaw, dripping blood. And then I remember the tale. That head belonged to a Bulgarian
chief. A band of bravoes in the Archbishop's pay had murdered him as he lay wounded in hiding. And the tale went on
to tell how the murderers carried the bleeding trophy to the Palace and how the Archbishop had had it photographed
and paid its price of fifty pieces of gold. And there, over my head, hung the photograph. Somehow, we stopped talking
moral philosophy.
We met once again, and this time in the Konak of the Turkish Kaimakam and once more a
photograph caught my eye. It showed the Turkish authorities standing in full-dress round a
Turkish cannon and in their midst, handsome and conspicuous with an air of mastery and
command, was the Archbishop himself. And then I remembered another tale which told how his
Grace had sent his bravoes to guide the Turkish troops in their work of massacre and blessed
the cannon that was to batter the Bulgarian villages to dust.
Lazar Pop Traykoff
The photographed head which Dr. Brailsford refers to was that of Lazar Pop Traykoff, a well-known leader and
organizer of the revolutionary movement in the Kostour district. Pop Traykoff was born in 1877 in the village of
Dembeny, district of Kostour.
At the head of a large cheta during the insurrection of 1903, Pop Traykoff was engaged in a number of battles with the
troops of the Sultan. During the latter part of the insurrection, when the Kostour district became infested by hordes of Turkish troops
and bashi-bozouks, Traykoff, at the head of a cheta of 485, departed for the Morovo district in western Macedonia. There they were
engaged several times with the Turks. After the cheta was dispersed, Traykoff, with a detachment of 108 men, entered the village of
Tchanista.
"Upon the arrival in Tchanista," states the late Mr. Palcheff, a veteran of the insurrection of 1903 who lived in Madison, Illinois, "Pop
Traykoff, myself, and several others were quartered in the village priest's house. To our surprise, the priest, who happened to be a
convert to the Greek Patriarchate, had already betrayed us to the Turks, and as a result a battle ensued early in the morning, the ninth
of September" It was in this skirmish that Traykoff received a bullet wound through his jaw.
Soon he returned to his district to treat his wound. Unfortunately, he was promised medical attention by one of his subordinates in the
district - the Voyvoda Kote Christoff of Rula. The latter had been a brigand before he joined the lMRO. As a member of the latter, he
became very active in the Kostour district. When the insurgents began to lose ground, Kote, possessing the instinct of a brigand,
became a renegade by selling his services to Karavangelis, the Greek bishop of Kostour. Kote notified the Greek bishop that the most
hated Bulgarian chief, Lazar Pop Traykoff, was under his care. The bishop immediately ordered that at any cost Traykoff's head be
delivered to him. For the consideration of fifty gold pieces, Kote murdered Traykoff, severed the head and sent it to Karavangelis, the
bishop. The latter delivered it to the Kaimakam and Traykoff's head was exhibited before the rejoicing Greek and Turkish crowds.
Such was the tragic end of Lazar Pop Traykoff. He was not killed by the Turks with whom he battled in numerous skirmishes, but by a
renegade at a time when he was in an utterly helpless physical condition. This tragedy occurred early in 1904. So was the youthful
revolutionist, at the age of twenty-seven, treacherously slain at the instigation of the Phanariote "soldier," the Greek Bishop of Kostour.
http://makedon.mtx.net/gk0.htm
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Тема
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History of Bulgaria - Encyclopaedia Britannica
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Tuk () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:11 |
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ulgaria, history of
The beginnings of modern Bulgaria
Slavic invasions
The story of the modern Bulgarian people begins with the Slavic invasions of the
Balkan Peninsula in the 6th and 7th centuries AD, a time when Byzantium was
absorbed in prolonged conflict with Persia and could not resist the incursions from the
north. Ancient sources refer to two Slavic tribes north of the Danube at this time, the
Slavenae and the Antae. Evidence suggests that the Slavenae, to the west, were the
ancestors of the Serbs and Croats, while the Antae moved into the regions of Bulgaria,
Macedonia, and northern Greece. The Slavic tribes tilled the soil or practiced a pastoral
way of life and were organized in patriarchal communities.
Arrival of the Bulgars
The name Bulgaria comes from the Bulgars, a Turkic people who are first mentioned in
the sources toward the end of the 5th century AD. Living at that time in the steppes to
the north of the Black Sea, the Bulgar tribes were composed of skilled, warlike
horsemen governed by khans (chiefs) and boyars (nobles). The Bulgars were subdued
by the Avars in the 6th century, but in 635 Khan Kubrat led a successful revolt and
organized an independent tribal confederation. After Kubrat's death in 642 the Bulgars
were attacked by the Khazars and dispersed. According to Byzantine sources, the
Bulgars split into five groups, each under one of Kubrat's sons. One of these, Asparukh
(or Isperikh), moved into Bessarabia (between the Dniester and Prut rivers) and then
crossed to the south of the Danube, where his people conquered or expelled the Slavic
tribes living north of the Balkan Mountains. The Byzantine emperor Constantine IV led
an army against the Bulgars but was defeated, and in 681 Byzantium recognized by
treaty Bulgar control of the region between the Balkans and the Danube. This is
considered to be the starting point of the Bulgarian state.
The first Bulgarian empire
Asparukh and his successors established their court at Pliska, northeast of modern
Shumen, and a religious centre at nearby Madara. Archaeological evidence suggests
that the Bulgars kept their settlements distinct from those of the Slavs, from whom
they accepted tribute. They maintained a mixed pastoral and agricultural economy,
although much of their wealth continued to be acquired through warfare. Asparukh's
successor, Tervel (701-718), helped to restore Emperor Justinian II to the Byzantine
throne and was rewarded with the title "caesar." On the whole, however, relations
with Byzantium were hostile, and the 8th century was marked by a long series of raids
and larger campaigns in which the Byzantine forces were usually victorious. Bulgaria
recovered under Khan Krum (803-814), who, after annihilating an imperial army, took
the skull of Emperor Nicephorus I, lined it with silver, and made it into a drinking cup.
Under Krum's successors Bulgaria enjoyed an extended period of peace with
Byzantium and expanded its control over Macedonia and parts of what is now Serbia
and Croatia.
Assimilation of Bulgars by Slavs
Internally, the 8th and 9th centuries saw the gradual assimilation of the Bulgars by the
Slavic majority. There are almost no sources that describe this process, but it was
certainly facilitated by the spread of Christianity, which provided a new basis for a
common culture. Boris I of Bulgaria (852-889) was baptized a Christian in 864, at a
time when the conflict between the Roman church and the Eastern church in
Constantinople was becoming more open and intense. Although Boris' baptism was
into the Eastern church, he subsequently wavered between Rome and Constantinople
until the latter was persuaded to grant de facto autonomy to Bulgaria in church affairs.
The spread of Christianity was facilitated by the work of Saints Cyril and Methodius,
who had invented an alphabet in which to write the Slavic language (known as Old
Church Slavonic or Old Bulgarian) and who had developed a Slavonic liturgy in Moravia.
When Moravia committed to Rome and expelled the disciples of Cyril and Methodius,
many of them resettled in Bulgaria, where they were welcomed by Boris and undertook
the translation of church books and the training of priests. St. Clement and St. Naum
are credited with preparing more than 3,000 priests, and they established an
important church and educational centre on the shores of Lake Ohrid (Okhrid) in
Macedonia.
Bulgaria's conversion had a political dimension, for it contributed both to the growth of
central authority and to the melding of Bulgars and Slavs into a unified Bulgarian
people. Boris adopted Byzantine political conceptions, referring to himself as ruler "by
the grace of God," and the new religion provided justification for suppressing those
boyars of Bulgar origin who clung to paganism and the political and social order with
which it was linked. In 889, Boris, whose faith apparently was deep and genuine,
abdicated to enter a monastery. When his eldest son, Vladimir, fell under the influence
of the old boyars and attempted to reestablish paganism, Boris led a coup that
overthrew him. After Vladimir was deposed and blinded, Boris convened a council that
confirmed Christianity as the religion of the state and moved the administrative capital
from Pliska to the Slavic town of Preslav (now known as Veliki Preslav). The council
conferred the throne on Boris' third son, Simeon, and Boris retired permanently to
monastic life.
Reign of Simeon I
The reign of Simeon I (893-927) marked the high point of the first medieval Bulgarian
state. Educated in Constantinople and imbued with great respect for the arts and
Greek culture, Simeon encouraged the building of palaces and churches, the spread of
monastic communities, and the translation of Greek books into Slavonic. Preslav was
made into a magnificent capital that observers described as rivaling Constantinople.
The artisans of its commercial quarter specialized in ceramics, stone, glass, wood, and
metals, and Bulgarian tile work in the "Preslav style" surpassed its contemporary rivals
and was eagerly imported by Byzantium and Kievan Rus.
Simeon was also a gifted military leader. His campaigns extended Bulgaria's borders,
but he ultimately dissipated the country's strength in an effort to take Constantinople.
When he died he was master of the northern Balkans, including the Serbian lands, and
styled himself "Tsar of the Bulgars and Autocrat of the Greeks," but his country was
near exhaustion.
Under Simeon's successors Bulgaria was beset by internal dissension provoked by the
spread of Bogomilism (a dualist religious sect) and by assaults from Magyars,
Pechenegs, the Rus, and Byzantines. In the campaign of 1014 the Byzantine emperor
Basil II won a decisive victory, after which he blinded as many as 15,000 prisoners
taken in the battle. (For this act he became known as Basil Bulgaroctonus, or Basil,
Slayer of the Bulgars.) Bulgaria lost its independence in 1018 and for more than a
century and a half, until 1185, remained subject to Byzantium.
The second Bulgarian empire
With the collapse of the first Bulgarian state, the Bulgarian church fell under the
domination of Greek ecclesiastics who took control of the see of Ohrid and attempted
to replace the Bulgarian Slavic liturgy with liturgy in the Greek language. Bulgarian
culture was by this time too deeply rooted to be easily removed, and the Byzantine
Empire, beset by the attacks of the Seljuq Turks and the disturbances of the
crusaders, lacked the power to support a more forcible Hellenization. In 1185 the
brothers Ivan and Peter Asen of Turnovo launched a revolt to throw off Byzantine
sovereignty. The Asen brothers defeated the Byzantines and forced Constantinople to
recognize Bulgarian independence. Their brother and successor, Kaloyan (reigned
1197-1207), briefly accepted the supremacy of Rome in church affairs and received a
royal crown from the pope. But when the patriarch at Constantinople again recognized
the independence of the Bulgarian church, Kaloyan reverted to Orthodoxy.
The second Bulgarian empire, with its centre at Turnovo, reached its height during the
reign of Tsar Ivan Asen II (1218-41). Bulgaria was then the leading power in the
Balkans, holding sway over Albania, Epirus, Macedonia, and Western Thrace. During
this period the first Bulgarian coinage appeared, and in 1235 the head of the Bulgarian
church received the title of patriarch.
The successors of Ivan Asen II could not match his ability. Moreover, Bulgaria was
beset by Mongol attacks from the north and by internal upheavals brought on by the
growing burdens placed on the peasantry by the powerful nobles. The great peasant
revolt of 1277-80 briefly allowed the swineherd Ivaylo to occupy the royal throne at
Turnovo before he was defeated with the aid of the Byzantines. The Asen dynasty died
out in 1280 and was followed by two others, both of Cuman origin, neither of which
succeeded in restoring central authority. The declining state reached its nadir in 1330
when Tsar Mikhail Shishman was defeated and slain by the Serbs at the Battle of
Velbuzhd (modern Kyustendil). Bulgaria lost its Macedonian lands to the Serbian
empire of Stefan Dusan, which then became the dominant Balkan power. Bulgaria
appeared to be on the point of disintegration into feudal states when the invasions of
the Ottoman Turks began.
Ottoman rule
The Ottoman Turks first entered the Balkans as mercenaries of Byzantium in the
1340s, and they returned as invaders in their own right during the following decade.
Between 1359 and 1362 Sultan Murad I wrested much of Thrace from Byzantine
control and captured Adrianople (modern Edirne, Tur.), commanding the route up the
Maritsa valley into the heart of the Bulgarian lands. In 1364 the Turks defeated a
crusade sent by Pope Urban V to regain Adrianople, but not before the crusaders
committed so many atrocities against the Orthodox Christians that many Bulgarians
came to regard Turkish rule as preferable to alliance with the Roman Catholic West.
Although Ivan Shishman, Bulgaria's last medieval tsar, declared himself a vassal of
Murad in 1371, the Ottomans continued to seek complete domination. Sofia, in the
west, was seized in 1382, and Shumen, in the east, fell in 1388. A year later the
defeat of the Serbs at the Battle of Kosovo sealed the fate of the entire Balkan
Peninsula. In 1393, after a three-month siege, Turnovo was taken and burned. Ivan
Shishman died in Turkish captivity three years later. With the capture of a rump
Bulgarian kingdom centred at Bdin (Vidin) in 1396, the last remnant of Bulgarian
independence disappeared.
The "Turkish yoke"
The five centuries from 1396 to 1878 are engraved in Bulgarian consciousness as the
era of the "Turkish yoke," traditionally seen as a period of darkness and suffering. Both
national and ecclesiastical independence were lost. The Bulgarian nobility was
destroyed--its members either perished, fled, or accepted Islam and Turkicization--and
the peasantry was enserfed to Turkish masters. The "blood tax" took a periodic levy of
male children for conversion to Islam and service in the Janissary Corps of the Ottoman
army. The picture was not entirely negative, however. Once completed, the Turkish
conquest included Bulgaria in a "pax ottomanica" that was a marked contrast to the
preceding centuries of war and conflict. While Ottoman power was growing or at its
height, it provided an acceptable way of life for the Bulgarian population. It was only
when the empire was in its decline and unable to control the depredations of local
officials or maintain reasonable order that the Bulgarians found Ottoman rule
unbearable.
Bulgaria did not change radically in its religious or ethnic composition during the
Ottoman period, for the Turks did not attempt forcibly to populate Bulgaria with Turks
or to convert all Bulgarians to Islam. With the exception of the people of the Rhodope
Mountains who did convert (and thereafter were called Pomaks), the Bulgarian
population remained within the Orthodox church. Although Turkish administrators were
established in the towns and countryside, Turkish peasants were not settled in
Bulgaria in large numbers, and those who did immigrate were concentrated in the
southern and eastern parts of the country and in some of the valleys of Macedonia and
Thrace. In the 15th and 16th centuries Turkish authorities permitted the immigration of
Jewish refugees from the Christian West. While the majority were resettled in
Constantinople and Salonika, most Bulgarian towns acquired small Jewish
communities.
Ottoman administration
At the time Bulgaria was conquered, the Ottoman Empire was divided into two parts
for administrative purposes. Bulgaria was part of the European section, called Rumelia,
headed by a beylerbey ("lord of lords") who resided in Sofia. As the empire expanded,
this system proved inadequate, and in the 16th century it was replaced by territorial
divisions called vilayets (provinces), further subdivided into sanjaks (districts). The
borders of these units changed many times over the centuries. Bulgarian lands were
assigned as fiefs to Turkish warriors, or spahis, who could impose taxes and other
obligations on the subject population. Fiefs were also given to governors and other
officeholders to provide their income, and lands in the form of vakifs--designated for
the support of religious, educational, or charitable enterprises--were assigned to
specific institutions. The spahi had no right of lordship or justice over the peasants
living in his fief, and the Bulgarians frequently retained their traditional village
administration and the customs of local law with regard to issues in which Turkish
interests were not involved.
Decline of the Ottoman Empire
The decline of the Ottoman Empire was marked by military defeats at the hands of
Christian Europe and by a weakening of central authority. Both of these factors were
significant for developments in Bulgaria. As the empire was thrown on the defensive,
the Christian powers, first Austria and then Russia, saw the Bulgarian Christians as
potential allies. Austrian propaganda helped to provoke an uprising at Turnovo in
1598, and two others occurred in 1686 and 1688 after the Turks were forced to lift the
siege of Vienna. Under Catherine II the Great, Russia began to assert itself as the
protector of the Orthodox population of the Ottoman Empire, a claim that the Sublime
Porte (as the government of the empire was called) was forced to recognize in the
Treaty of Kьзьk Kaynarca in 1774. Of greater significance, however, was the inability of
the central government to keep the spahis and local officials under control. During the
17th and 18th centuries the spahis succeeded in converting their fiefs to зiftliks,
hereditary estates that could not be regulated by the government. Owners of зiftliks
were free to impose higher obligations on the peasantry or to drive them off the land.
Turkish refugees from lands liberated by Christian states were frequently resettled on
зiftliks in Bulgaria, increasing the pressure on the land and the burden on the
peasantry. Occasionally, Turkish refugees formed marauding bands that could not be
subdued by central authority and that exacted a heavy toll from their Christian victims.
One response among the Bulgarians was a strengthening of the haiduk tradition. The
haiduks were guerrillas--some would say bandits--who took to the mountains to live
by robbing the Turks. Although the haiduks lacked a strong sense of national
consciousness, they kept alive a spirit of resistance and gave rise to legends that
inspired later revolts.
The national revival
In the 19th century growing Bulgarian discontent was given direction in a movement of
national revival that restored Bulgarian national consciousness and prepared the way
for independence. The social foundation of this movement was produced by the
quickening of economic life in the late 18th and early 19th centuries and by the
influence of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, echoes of which, however
faint, were heard among the people. A growing demand for cotton cloth and other
products stimulated urban development. Many Bulgarian merchant houses were
founded, and artisans in the towns began to form guild organizations (esnafi). The
latter played an important role in sponsoring schools and providing scholarships for
young Bulgarians to study abroad.
The monk Paisiy of the Khilendar Monastery on Mount Athos is recognized as the
founder of the national revival. Little is known of his life except that he came from a
merchant family in Bansko, a town in southwestern Bulgaria that maintained
commercial relations with Vienna. In the 1760s Paisiy used texts preserved on Mount
Athos to write his "Slaveno-Bulgarian History." It reminded Bulgarians of the greatness
of their past empires and called on them to foreswear foreign tongues and customs
and to take pride in their race. Sofroniy, bishop of Vratsa, helped to spread Paisiy's
influence. In his own writings he stressed the importance of education, without which
his people would remain, in his words, "dumb animals."
Spread of education
The spread of education was in fact the centrepiece of the Bulgarian national revival.
In 1835 Vasil Aprilov founded a Lancasterian school, based on the monitorial system of
instruction, in Gabrovo. With the monk Neofit Rilski (Neophyte of Rila) as its teacher, it
was the first school to teach in Bulgarian. Its work was facilitated by the appearance of
a Bulgarian publishing industry and a small but influential periodical press. By the
1870s the guilds, town and village councils, and wealthy groups and individuals
founded some 2,000 schools in Bulgaria, each providing free education. The school was
supplemented with the chitalishte, or "reading room," an institution that first appeared
in Svishtov in 1856 but soon spread throughout the country. More than just a small
library, the chitalishte staged lectures, meetings, plays, concerts, debates, and social
events. It was of immense importance for those who did not acquire formal education.
Cultural movement against Greek influence
The cultivation of Bulgarian national consciousness was initially a cultural rather than a
political movement. Consequently, it was directed more against the "cultural yoke" of
the Greeks than the "political yoke" of the Ottoman Empire. After the Turkish conquest
of the Balkans, the Greek patriarch had become the representative of the Rum millet,
or the "Roman nation," which comprised all the subject Christian nationalities.
The desire to restore an independent Bulgarian church was a principal goal of the
national "awakeners." Their efforts were rewarded in 1870 when the Sublime Porte
issued a decree establishing an autocephalous Bulgarian church, headed by an exarch,
with jurisdiction over the 15 dioceses of Bulgaria and Macedonia. Although the Greek
patriarch refused to recognize this church and excommunicated its adherents, it
became a leading force in Bulgarian life, representing Bulgarian interests at the
Sublime Porte and sponsoring the further expansion of Bulgarian churches and
schools. After the liberation of 1878 it provided a powerful means of spreading
Bulgarian national feeling in Macedonia.
National revolution
The creation of the Bulgarian exarchate was the high point of the national revival as a
cultural movement. The inability of the Sublime Porte to maintain order or to carry
through its program of reform known as Tanzimat (1839-76), combined with the
examples of Greek and Serbian independence, engendered an explicitly revolutionary
movement among the Bulgarians. Inspired by the haiduk tradition, Georgi Rakovski
formed a Bulgarian legion on Serbian territory in 1862 to send armed bands to harass
the Turks in Bulgaria. In 1866 Lyuben Karavelov and Vasil Levski created a Bulgarian
Secret Central Committee in Bucharest to prepare for a national uprising. It dispatched
"apostles" into Bulgaria to spread the message among the people. Levski was
captured during one such mission and was hanged in Sofia. He is considered to be the
greatest hero of the revolutionary movement.
Against the background of a wider Balkan crisis, the Bulgarian revolutionary
committees laid plans for a nationwide uprising in 1876. The April Uprising (beginning
April 20 [Old Style], May 2 [New Style]) broke out prematurely and was violently put
down. The atrocities committed against the civilian population by irregular Turkish
forces, including the massacre of 15,000 Bulgarians near Plovdiv, increased the
Bulgarian desire for independence. They also outraged public opinion in Europe, where
they became known as the Bulgarian Horrors. A conference of European statesmen
proposed a series of reforms, but when the sultan refused to implement them Russia
declared war. In the ensuing campaign Bulgarian volunteer forces fought alongside the
Russian army, earning particular distinction in the epic battle for the Shipka Pass.
Treaty of San Stefano (1878)
Advancing to the outskirts of Constantinople, the Russians dictated the Treaty of San
Stefano, which called for a large independent Bulgaria stretching from the Danube to
the Aegean and from the Vardar and Morava valleys to the Black Sea. The boundaries
stated in the treaty, signed on March 3, 1878, represented the fulfillment of Bulgaria's
territorial aspirations and remained for generations the national ideal of the people.
But the creation of a large Bulgaria, perceived as an outpost of Russian influence in the
Balkans, was intolerable to Austria-Hungary and Britain, and they forced a revision of
the Treaty of San Stefano a few months later at the Congress of Berlin. The new
Treaty of Berlin (July 13, 1878) created a much smaller Bulgarian principality,
autonomous but under the sovereignty of the Sublime Porte, in the territory between
the Danube and the Balkan Mountains. To the south, the treaty created the
autonomous province of Eastern Rumelia, subject to the sultan but with a Christian
governor. Macedonia was returned entirely to the Ottoman Empire. The treaty also
stipulated that Bulgaria would elect an assembly of notables to meet at Turnovo to
prepare a constitution and to choose a prince who would be confirmed by the powers.
The liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish rule also functioned as a land reform, for Russian
occupation authorities and subsequent Bulgarian governments confiscated the Turkish
estates and sold them in small parcels to the peasantry. Bulgaria began its
independence as a nation of smallholders with one of the most egalitarian land
distributions in Europe.
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Тема
|
Macedonian Church In Australia
[re: Historian]
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Автор |
Tuk () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:15 |
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Why are all "Macedonians" in Australia claiming to be of Bulgarian origin???
----http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/8095/
History of the First
Macedonian Church
Community in Australia
27 September 1950
The first Reverend
Petre Georgi Phillipoff
1894 - 1959
MacedonoBulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church Community
"St. Kiril & Metodi"
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church Diocese
of North and South America, and Australia
After those so many remembered traditions, the song "Mila Rodino" was
sung. All - old and young were singing and there were many tears in the eyes,
and most of all - in the eyes of the Bishop. The melody had not yet gone
while another one was started - "Planino Pirin". After the end of the song,
Rev. Peter Phillipoff said:
"I can't be a silent spectator of what is going on here at this very
moment, and I am telling you all that we are only Bulgarians,
blood from Your blood, flesh from Your flesh, we are Bulgarians
from Macedonia. Please understand me - let us not divide from
each other. And if other ways for the liberation of Macedonia are
sought at present, it is because there is not another way".
Adelaide, South Australia, 22 October 1950
On 27 Sep 1950 at a meeting of Bulgarians and Macedonian-Bulgarians in
Melbourne, Australia, the constitution and formation of the MacedonoBulgarian
Eastern Orthodox Church Community "St. Kiril & Metodi" was unanimously
accepted. Two-thirds of those present were Australia citizens. All in attendance
on this historic occassion signed the constitution, which contained the following
pertinent clauses
Clause 8 - Irrespective of their place of birth, membership of the Church
Community St Kiril & Metodi is open to all Eastern Orthodox Bulgarians,
who apply and are accepted by the Committee.
Clause 9a - Foundation members are those who signed this inaugral
constitution, however they will not attain full rights until six months have
passed.
Clause 9b - All Orthodox christians may be members, however they will
not have the right to be elected to the Church Committee.
Clause 17 - Any changes to this constitution have to be ratified by Bishop
Velichky and cannot change the intent of this protocol.
Clause 18 - Changes to the constitution require a two-thirds majority and
cannot change any aspect pertaining to the canonical protocol.
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Have a look at Ivan Vasov's uncensored work: Where is Bulgaria.
From the end of the 19th century:
http://www.angelfire.com/ak/762mm/images/deebg1.gif
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Тема
|
Christo Matov - A VMRO Ideologist
[re: Josif]
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Автор |
Tuk () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:24 |
|
http://members.tripod.com/~dimobetchev/matov.html
-------------
The Life of Christo Matov
Christo Matov was born in March 1872, in the city of Struga, in western Macedonia. Upon receiving his education in the Bulgarian
schools in Macedonia, he chose as his career the profession of teaching. In 1895, while in Salonica, Matov was initiated into the
IMRO by Gruev. His education warranted his appointment as director of the Bulgarian pedagogical school of Skopie. As head of
this important school he attained the unusual influence in the entire district. With the cooperation of Petar Matsanov, Stefan Petrov,
and Vladimir Boyadjiev, he established the local revolutionary committee of Skopie. Matov's influence and activity in the Skopie
district was of great consequence upon the growth of the IMRO. In less than a year as head of the Bulgarian school of Skopie, he
succeeded in organizing, with the cooperation of other men from various localities, a revolutionary committee in each and every
town and village in the district of Skopie. In 1898 he was elected as member of the Central Revolutionary Committee in Salonica. As
such he was the first to suggest the organization of armed revolutionary bands for each district in Macedonia. His idea was
accepted and applied by the Central Committee and its results have been astounding. With the organization of the armed
revolutionary chetas in the various districts thruout Macedonia , the IMRO became a fighting and retaliative force. Matov is also
credited with formation of the village chetas or militia. The latter became, as we shall see below, an indispensable force and by the
cooperation with the active bands of the IMRO many daring undertakings were carried out.
As director of the Bulgarian pedagogical school and as inspector of the other Bulgarian schools of the Skopie Exarchy, Matov
had, virtually, complete power in the appointment of teachers in the various grades of schools in the Exarchy of Skopie. It was
primarily due to this fact that the progress of the IMRO particularly in the Vilayet of Skopie, during the years of 1895-1896, and
1897-898, was markedly great. As regional leader of the revolutionary movement in Skopie, and as member of the Central
revolutionary Committee in Salonica, Matov was subjected not only to numerous imprisonments but also was marked to be killed
"In Skopie and Salonica," he wrote,"by the Servians and Greeks (1895-1900), and in Sofia, during 1912, by the Turks."
While in Skopie, Matov was almost invariably put under arrest and kept as prisoner in Kourshoumly-Hann, the local Skopie jail, for
every political disturbance in that district. In 1901, when the Salonica outrage occurred, he was imprisoned in Edy-Koule, the
famous fortress-prison of Salonica, the Bastille of Macedonia. He was exiled to Podroum-Kale, Asia Minor. There he found Gruev
and Toshev both also in exile. In 1902, as a result of a general amnesty, he was released and allowed to return to Salonica. Soon
after, he left Macedonia and went to Sofia as representative of the Central Committee of the IMRO abroad.
All thru the period of his revolutionary activity, Matov did not neglect his literary work. He was acknowledged constitutionalist of
the Macedonian movement. All of his literary works are concerned about the Macedonian struggle for freedom and independence.
He is the author of several books and a number of pamphlets, the following of which are the most important: (1) Za Oustroystvoto
na Vatreshnata Organizatsiya, (2) Vostanicheski Deystvia, (3) Za Oupravlenieto na Vatreshnata Organizatsiya , (4) Osnovi na
Vatreshnata Revolutsiona Organizatsiya, (5) Shto Behme -Shto Sme, (6) Repressaly Protiv Gratskata Propaganda, etc. , etc. He also
wrote a number of poems while in prison. His best poem is the Vinishkata Pesen , which became the marching-song of the
Macedonian Revolutionary chetas. While in Edy-koule, the Salonica prison, Matov composed the following famous poems:
Zatochenik (The Exile) and Mayka i Sin (Mother and Son). Besides the above literary works he wrote several olemics and delivered
numerous lectures. Because of the development of political conditions in Macedonia, particularly under the Young Turks' regime,
he was compelled to emigrate to bulgaria. Matov died in sofia on February 10, 1922. He was the last of the original leaders that
brought about the organization and development of the IMRO. He lived to witness the vicissitudes of the struggling Macedonian
people during and after the cataclysms of 1912-13 and 1914-18. His name will figure in the annals of the Macedonian revolutionary
movement as one of the greatest exponents of a free and independent Macedonian State.
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Тема
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Human Rights Violations in Macedonia
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Tuk () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:26 |
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1. Introduction
On September 8th, 1991 the citizens of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in a referendum, expressed their desire for independence. On December 19th,
1991 the Macedonian Parliament passed a written declaration calling for international recognition of the Republic of Macedonia.
Ljubco Georgievski, chairman of VMRO-DPMNE [1], the largest opposition party in the Republic of Macedonia points out:
"The Macedonian people in its long history had only twice the right of a free self-determination by a referendum: in 1991 when we voted for an
independent Macedonia and in 1871 when with a decree the (Ottoman) sultan allowed an equally free referendum and when the Macedonian people
with a majority of over two thirds accepted the Bulgarian Exarchy as their own."[2]
The referendum of 1991 was formulated deviously: Voters were asked to declare whether there were for an Independent Macedonian Republic which would have
the right to enter into (a possible future) Union of Sovereign Yugoslav States. According to the recently adopted constitution [3] the:
"Republic of Macedonia is constituted as a national state of the Macedonian people with established complete equality for its citizens and permanent
co-existence of the Macedonian people with the Albanians, the Turks, the Vlahs, the Gypsies and other nationalities living in the Republic of
Macedonia" .
Apparently, the authors of the constitution did not regard the Albanians, the Turks, the Vlahs et c. as parts of the 'Macedonian people' whose national state the
Republic of Macedonia was supposed to be, but as only minorities who have the right to co-exist with it.
To understand better the current situation in the Republic of Macedonia, it is necessary to analyse the meaning given by the authorities to the term 'Macedonian
people' and the processes that are developing among the main ethnic group - the descendants of the people who by the first free referendum of 1871 seceded from
the (Greek) Patriarchy of Constantinopol and adopted the Bulgarian Exarchy as their own national church.
The present Republic of Macedonia was established as an autonomous state within the boundaries of Tito's Yugoslavia in 1944. Communism was proclaimed to be
the dominant social ideology while the adopted national doctrine was supposedly derived from the ideas of the left-wing fraction of the Macedonian liberation
movement (if the so-called VMRO(united) could be considered to be a part of the Macedonian liberation movement). Nevertheless a number of deviations even
from the Macedonian left-wingers' party line were made. For example, according to VMRO (united):
"the Macedonian people" consists of "all the nationalities that used to live and still live there, and in behalf of whom we speak of: Bulgarians,
Albanians, Turks, Jews, Vlahs, Greeks, Gypsies."[4]
If we compare the definitions given even by the most leftist fraction from the early XX century and that of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia we shall see
that the political and the geographical content of the meaning to the term 'Macedonian people' was replaced with an invented ethnical one.
The concept of the Macedonians as an ethnic group, approved by the Comintern in the 30s and adopted by the Yugoslav regime in Macedonia after 1944 was
NOT a home grown one! It was first formulated by the 19th century Serbian politician Stojan Novakovic. In a report to the Serbian Ministry of Education he
wrote in 1887:
" Since the Bulgarian idea, as it is known to everyone has grown deep roots in Macedonia I think that it is almost impossible for us to shake the
believe in it by opposing to it only the Serbian idea...That is why the Serbian idea could use an ally, which could be sharply opposed to the
Bulgarianness and could contain the elements that could attract the people and the peoples' sentiments while deviating them away from the
Bulgarianness." [5] Such a policy he called Macedonism.
The Yugoslav authorities in Macedonia after 1944 spent much more efforts to promote Macedonism as an anti-Bulgarian and a pro-Serbian ethnical
doctrine, than for the imposition of communism as a social ideology. Unless we keep this fact in mind, the nature of the processes going on at the moment
among the people in the Republic of Macedonia will remain obscure.
As in all emerging communist states the 'class enemies of the people' were brutally persecuted, but in Macedonia the 'enemies of the people' were invariably accused
of being Bulgarophils, Vanchovists' or 'Mihailovists' [6] and 'vrhovists'[7]
The policy of spreading Macedonism did not change in any fundamental way after the proclamation of the Macedonian Republic as an independent State in 1991.
Some Orwellian practices continue to be implemented. Presently in the Republic of Macedonia we can find schools named: Miladinov Brothers, Rajko Zinzifov,
Kuzman Sapkarev etc., while the students who study in them do not have the access to the literary works of the patrons of their schools in original, for the
simple reason that those people not only wrote in literary Bulgarian, but also participated in the codification of the Bulgarian literary norm on the basis of dialects
spoken all over the Bulgarian lands, including of course the Macedonian region.
The main political party in Macedonia that sought and brought about the Republic's independence was VMRO- DPMNE (Democratic Party for Macedonian
National Unity). The drive for independence was opposed by the former communists and by a group known as the Union of Fighters from the War of Liberation
(UFWL).
For example, on March 6, 1991, the structures of UFWL in Bitola, Tetovo, Ressen and other areas, declared that the demands for independence launched by
VMRO-DPMNE were "in service of the plans for assimilation made by the neighbouring States". At a 'protest' meeting held in a pensioners hall in
Kichevo, a declaration which branded the statements of VMRO-DPMNE as "positions of Vanchovism and Bulgarianism" was promulgated.
Nevertheless VMRO-DPMNE did not officially declared itself as an ethnic Bulgarian organisation.
On August 11th, 1991, that party organised a memorial service in Strumitsa for five students from that town who were killed in 1951 by the Communist regime. This
students had declared that they were ethnic Bulgarians (Liuben Topchev, the brother of Stefan Topchev, one of the executed students, today is a political emigrant in
USA and as a member of the Macedonian Patriotic Organisation (MPO) is active in supporting the Bulgarian ethnic consciousness in Macedonia [8]). In the
memorial service, however, the students were presented as 'Macedonians'. Why this was so remains unclear, and is not an object of our analysis.
| |
Тема
|
Human Rights Violations in Macedonia - 2
[re: Tuk]
|
|
Автор |
Tuk () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:27 |
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2. Violations of Human Rights of Macedonian Citizens with a Bulgarian Ethnic Consciousness 1990-1997
There were many manifestations of Bulgarian ethnical awareness in Macedonia in the recent years, but those sentiments were brutally persecuted.
On June 2nd, 1991, Mr.Ilia Ilievski, chairman of Human Rights Party in Macedonia was arrested by the Yugoslav authorities at the Bulgarian - Yugoslav border.
His party was registered on December 14th, 1990 in accordance with decision No 23-4029/ 1-90.
Bulgarian literary language books and other Bulgarian materials were confiscated from him. In the beginning of September, 1991, he was deprived of his passport. In
this way he was prevented from taking part in the International Conference on Human Rights in Moscow. According to a memorandum promulgated on September
12th, 1991
"The Party for Human Rights has gathered, relying only on its own sources, information for over 23000 people killed or missing and over 150 000 cruelly repressed,
most of whom were people with Bulgarian sympathies".
At the time of the referendum for independence, the Bulgarian national television showed an agent of the secret service beating up a Macedonian citizen merely
because he had declared in an interview that there was no difference between Bulgarians and Macedonians.
On November 29th, 1991, the secretary of the Municipal Committee of VMRO-DPMNE in the town of Veles, Georgi Kalauzarov, burned an Yugoslav flag
hanging from the terrace of an office building of the Socialist Party of Macedonia. He declared that his act was "a protest against the fact that Macedonian
soldiers were decaying for the interests of Great Serbia"[9]. Meanwhile, on December 19th, 1991, the Republic of Macedonia proclaimed its independence
and less than a month later, on January 16th, 1992, Bulgaria became the first country in the world to recognise the new state. The government of Macedonia
officially began to regard the Yugoslav army as an occupying force. Despite of all that, on June 12th, 1992, the so called Veles trial was set up against G.
Kalauzarov and eleven of his followers for the burning of the Yugoslav flag.
In order to prepare the public opinion for the outcome of the trial which was decided in advance, the defendants were branded as Mihailovists and
Bulgarophils[10]. In New Macedonia, a newspaper close to the regime , in an anonymous article it was announced that the defendants could not be Macedonians,
since they possessed Bulgarian and 'vrhovist' literature, found with them during their detention[11]. G. Kalauzarov was deprived both of his identity card and of his
passport. One night the windows of his house were broken with stones. He also received an anonymous threatening letter with a warning that he would be punished
because of his struggle for the disintegration of the (already non-existent) Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The families of the arrested were not informed for
more than 10 days that the detained had been taken to a prison in Skopje. During the preliminary inquest the defendants suffered physical and mental torment. The
indictment was handed to them only few days before the beginning of the trial. Although the trial was declared open to the public, the Macedonian police did not
allow several buses carrying members of VMRO-DPMNE, who intended to offer moral support to the defendants to arrive. In front of the court house hundreds
of citizens gathered, but none was admitted to the trial. During the first recess, the two journalists from Bulgaria attending the trial were evicted. At the trial the
group was accused of being Mihailovists and Bulgarophils. During the questioning the prosecutor called the defendant Zhivko Petrushev from Tetovo, by the family
name Petrushevski. The defendant objected: "My name is not Petrushevski, my name is Petrushev and I am a Macedonian Bulgarian[12] ". (IIM has a taped record
with the statements of one of the defendants). One of the defendants, sent a letter to the Bulgarian president Zhelio Zhelev, signed with the alias K. Veleshki, (His
name is known to IIM) where he stated:
"In Macedonia the cause of the Bulgarian ethnic awareness is not lost. On the contrary - it is reviving again now, and we want this revival to be felt
by all of the Bulgarian people". [13]
The campaign against the defendants continued during the following years. The only accusation was that the activity of the group:
"could have caused great bloodshed at the hands of the then Yugoslav National Army, especially when the dangerous terrorist, in the face of SFRY
(Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) burned the Yugoslav flag on 29.11.1991". [14]
In fact this charge was made three years after the secession of the Republic of Macedonia from Yugoslavia. The methods used in the propaganda campaign were
similar to the ones used by the frequent anti-Bulgarian propaganda campaigns during Tito's times: "Krum Chushkov (one of the defendants) as a student and
as a disciple of the occupying royalist Bulgaria, entered the 'Brannik' organisation, in about 1945, with a group of intellectuals he was under trial for
allegedly preparing to commit acts of terrorism. Later he became friends with Kalauzarov".[15] The devious deviousness is evident from the fact that in
1945 the 'Brannik' organisation was already disbanded, and so could not have been active in Macedonia.
On June 22 Th., 1992, another defendant, Gotse Chushkov, made a statement in front of Radio Free Europe's correspondence post in Belgrade about "the most
cruel methods of physical tortures, beatings and maltreatment's", suffered by the detained during investigations.
On October 20th, 1995, the trial in Veles was re-opened. The defendants had to spend 43 months under investigation. The main prosecutor in the trial was an
ex-officer with 30 years of experience in the Yugoslav secret services.
It is still a common practice of the Macedonian police to confiscate all kinds books and other materials written in Bulgarian literary language from Macedonian
citizens.
According to protocol N 239-01/339 from December 28th, 1991, many documents and photocopies in Bulgarian literary language were taken from Slavtcho
Cekovski.
What is ironic is that in the supposedly independent Republic of Macedonia, these confiscations are carried on the grounds of article 14 of the Yugoslav Law for
Import and Dissemination of Foreign Mass Media, passed in 1974 (see appendix No 1). In 1992, Slavtcho Cekovski tried to establish an association of the
Bulgarians in Republic of Macedonia. He even managed to publish one issue of a bulletin called "All- Macedonian Movement for the Rights and Freedom of
the Bulgarian Christians and Muslims in the Republic of Macedonia". The authorities banned is activities.
According to protocol 71-01/91 from March 18th, 1992, many Bulgarian literary language books, booklets and badges with the image of Todor Alexandrov printed
on them, were confiscated from the Macedonian citizen Angelko Mitrev (see appendix No 2). On November 16th, 1992, the police conducted a search of his
home and according to the protocol, found booklets with the image of Ivan Mihailov, issues of the Bulgarian newspapers "Macedonia" and "Zora" (Dawn), issues of
"Macedonian Tribune", published in USA, and the book "VMRO" (IMRO) - written by Ivan Mihailov, published in Brussels, Belgium; all were taken from him.
Specifically in the police protocol was written: "REMINDER: all the magazines are printed in Bulgarian" (see appendix No 3). As if using Bulgarian is a
horrendous crime! Of course by the term "Bulgarian" the Macedonian police understands the Bulgarian literary norm, which for the displeasure of the Skopje regime
remains easily legible and understandable even for Macedonians who come in touch with it for a first time and who by no stretch of imagination could honestly
regarded it as a completely foreign language.
That is how the victim describes the reasons for the search:
"Few days earlier I met with some friends. We talked about Macedonia. I took out one of the badges with the image of Todor Alexandrov and told
one boy: have it and wear on your chest the image of Todor Alexandrov because he is the eagle of Macedonia. These words were heard by a man
who used to be an officer in the Serbian Army. We began to argue. Later he went to the police office and told them about me. So they cane home".
[16]
Angelko Mitrev handed to the government of the Republic of Macedonia a written objection, protesting the confiscation of his materials. But according to decision
28/11- 409/ 1-92, his complaint was rejected because: "As he admitted, he was going to spread them among his friends" (see appendix No 4).
The Macedonian authorities have taken some measures in order to prevent their citizens from visiting Bulgaria. For that reason on April 26th, 1992, it was decided
to charge with a fee of 30 DM every Macedonian citizen who was leaving Macedonia for Bulgaria. No such fee was asked from the Macedonian citizens who
visited other neighbouring countries.
All attempts of ethnic Bulgarian organisations to obtain legal registration register continue to be brutally suppressed in the Republic of Macedonia.
On June 7th, 1993, documents for the registration of organisation called VMRO were launched in the branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ohrid.
According to article 1, of the proposed party statute, the organisation was defined as a "democratic, independent, national and political organisation of the
Macedonian Bulgarians". According to article 11 of its proposed statute: "VMRO will strive to save the traditions and to revive Bulgarianness (the
Slavic traits of the Macedonian Bulgarians) in Macedonia".
A protocol describing the events of the constituent assembly that took place on June 5th, 1993 was produced. From the conference protocol it is evident Vladimir
Paunkovski was elected as chairman and that the constituents rejected the ethnic implications of the term "Macedonian people". They declared:
"We consider that all the nationalities that inhabit Macedonia have a consciousness that they belong together, so that all of them share the common
name "Macedonian people".
However, the authorities in Skopje refused to register the newly created organisation. After a decision of the Supreme Court of Macedonia in the same sense, the
organisation self-disbanded, but entrusted the members of the Central Committee (CC) to continue with the attempts to obtain a registration.
The leader of VMRO, V. Paunkovski, has left Yugoslavia for political reasons in June 1986 and settled in Switzerland. Optimistic about the democratic processes
going on in the Republic of Macedonia, he returned in December 1991. In 1995, V. Paunkovski became a chairman of a committee, which on August 2, intended to
conduct a commemorative service at the grave one of the voivodas (leaders) of the historical VMRO - Toma Davidov in the Village of Ozdoleni near Ohrid. For the
occasion the committee printed posters and sent invitations to sympathisers in the Republic of Macedonia and abroad. Invitations were also sent to the ambassadors
of the USA, Germany and Russia, to the Macedonian president Kiro Gligorov and to the Human Rights Office in Skopje. Notice of the commemoration, along with
copies of the posters, were handed by the organisers to the office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ohrid on July 18, 1995. On July 25th, 1995, two policemen
went to V. Paunkovski's apartment and personally let him know that the conducting of the commemoration was forbidden. All the posters were seized. At the same
time they refused to present a written decision of that prohibition and a confirmation that the materials had been confiscated.
On July 27th, 1995, Vladimir Paunkovski was called by the telephone to come to the police office and was detained there from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. He was made to
sign a declaration that he had been informed about the prohibition of the commemoration service, but he was not given a copy of it. He was told that every attempt
to visit the grave of Toma Davidov will trigger a ruthless reaction of the police. Paunovski was beaten by the ethnic Serb Atsa Chancharevich, an officer in the MIA
in Skopje. Because of all that, Paunkovski's Action Committee decided to commemorate the event in a motel called 'Kotsare' near Ohrid. On August 2nd, Mr.
Paunovski was arrested in his apartment and detained by the police at 8 p.m. and kept in the police until 9 p.m. He was told that they had to hold an 'important
conversation' with him but no conversation took place. At the same time his lawyer Savo Kotsarev from Skopje, inquired at the police office about Paunkovski but
he was told that they didn't know anything about him.
On the same day the Macedonian police prevented the Bulgarian Member of Parliament Evgeniy Ekov (an co-chairman of VMRO-SMD) from visiting Ozdoleni by
car, in spite of his diplomatic immunity. He was told that he might go there only alone and on foot. At the same time his car had to be returned to Ohrid, because as it
was parked by the road it supposedly hindered the traffic.
On October 25th, 1995, Mr. V. Paunkovski was arrested at the Skopje Airport and his Macedonian passport was confiscated. He was detained for 5 days and
cruelly maltreated. All these steps were taken to impede his visit to Austria, at the invitation of professor Otto Kronsteiner from Salzburg University. There he was to
read a report about the Bulgarian character and on the dialectical basis of the literary norm used in Skopje called Macedonian language. While Mr. Paunkovski was
detained, his apartment was robbed. There were no signs that the door had been forced (at that time Mr. Paunkovski's keys were held by the police). Signs written
in a non-standard Macedonian dialect with a mixed Serbian Latin and Cyrillic script: "Bulgarians get out of Macedonia", and "All Bulgarians that live here
will die" appeared on the wall. The losses from the theft and the stolen plane ticket amounted to more than 10 000 DM.
On that occasion, on November 8th, 1995, professor Otto Kronsteiner sent the following open letter to the president of the Macedonian Academy of Science -
Professor Bozhidar Vidoeski, to the rector of Skopje University, and to the dean of the Philological Department of the same University:
" We just learned that a Macedonian scholar, who did not refuse to participate (in the Slavistic dabates in Salzburg university), was detained by the
authorities at the airport in Skopje, just before his departure for Salzburg... If you consider it imperative by such measures to save and inspire live
into the Macedonian nation and assert the Macedonian as a national language , then your actions only confirm that in your Republic, there is a reign
of terror over the convictions of the citizens and that a suppression over the open expressions of their opinions is exerted. This way, your Republic
and your Macedonian language will only become a symbol of injustice. You counter the struggle for spiritual and intellectual freedom, waged by
scholars and students from other countries with a meaningless old ideology, which you try to preserve by pseudo-scientific means".
In order to turn the public opinion against Mr. Paunkovski, the Macedonian authorities accused him of not paying alimony for his daughter Natasha. According to
decision No 9/96 of the City Court in Ohrid, Paunkovski was imprisoned for 30 days. The execution of the sentence began on March 4th, 1996. After he was
released from prison, a representative of the International Institute for Macedonia met V. Paunkovski on April 5th, 1996. During a walk along Ohrid's quay, around
noon, the group met by chance with one of Paunkovski's interrogators, who told him: "For one thing or another you will be back in prison".
Because of those brutal repressions, Paunkovski presented his grievances to the Minister of Internal Affairs at that time, L. Frchkovski, and renounced his
Macedonian citizenship. He declared:
"I, who by ethnical origin am a Macedonian Bulgarian, a citizen of Republic of Macedonia, in a clear conscience voluntarily renounce my
Macedonian citizenship. The reason for my denouncement is the violation of my human rights on the part of the country" (appendix No 5).
In an interview to "Fokus" newspaper Mr. Paunkovski decleared:
"I accept the concept of a Macedonian nation but only in its implication of statehood. According to us, Macedonia is a territorial unit inhabited by
ethnic Bulgarians, Serbs, Vlahs, Albanians, Greeks, Turks and Gypsies, but with no ethnic Macedonians. That is a category fabricated by the
communists...I confirm that everything that the official history or literature promotes throughout the country is false and is a robbery of the cultural
and historical inheritance of Bulgaria... I guarantee that in Ohrid alone there are from 10.000 to 15.000 people who privately admit that they are
Bulgarians and feel like Bulgarians, but they are afraid of saying so in public".[17]
On December 21st, 1995, at 7.30 a.m., another member of VMRO-Ohrid - Riste Manev, was arrested. He was taken away by a police car, but the police
denied any knowledge of the whereabouts of the arrested man in front of his family. Furthermore, such repressive acts were taken against Georgi Nastevski,
Stavre Temelkovski, Pipilevski and others, all members of VMRO-Ohrid.
On May 1st, 1996, V. Paunkovski addressed the Bulgarian president Z. Zhelev with a request for a Bulgarian citizenship, since his own Macedonian identity
documents had been confiscated the previous year and he could not leave the Republic of Macedonia. In his request he emphasised that as a patriot, he would
continue to live in Ohrid. Mr. Paunkovski also requested to restore his surname to Pankov - the surname used by his forfeitures before they were forced to alter it to
'Paunkovski' after 1944.
On November 8th, V. Paunkovski was detained at the Ohrid airport for a sixth time. The Macedonian police took away his new Bulgarian passport, on the grounds
that they "suspected that it was forged."
During that period, the activity of other legally registered organisations was also hindered. The chairman of the Party for Human Rights, Ilia Ilievski, was not given a
new passport so he could not visit the Conference for human rights that took place in Vienna, Austria. On that occasion, the party, in its own memorandum No 180
from June 17th, 1993, while defending the rights of the Bulgarian ethnic nationality, declared that notwithstanding its new name, in power was still the old communist
party. Because of this action and the statements of its leader published in some Bulgarian newspapers, the activities of the Party for Human Rights in Macedonia
ware forbidden at a session of the Regional Court in Shtip on December 9th, 1993. As reasons the court stressed that:
"In fact, the chairman Ilia Ilievski, taking advantage of the name of the party, often acts against the interests of the Macedonian nation and country,
renounces the existence of the Macedonian nation and statehood and insists on the "Bulgarian" character of the Macedonian Republic" (see
appendix No 6).
It is significant that articles and statements of Mr. Ilievski published in Bulgarian newspapers were presented as evidence against his party. These materials used in
court were not rewritten to conform to the Macedonian written norm. This way the Shtip court and after that the High Court of Macedonia admitted that the literary
Bulgarian was totally understandable to them. [18]
After the attempted assassination of the Macedonian president K. Gligorov on October 3th, 1995, a wave of arrests swept over the Republic of Macedonia. Mainly
persons showing interest in Bulgaria, were prosecuted. Dragi Karev, one of the defendants of the trial against the Veles Bulgarians (Veleshki Bugarashi) in 1992,
was arrested by the police in Veles.
On January 18th, 1996, the Macedonian journalist Stefan Sharovski was badly beaten by an army officer in Skopje. He adds to the picture of the arbitrary misrule
of the Skopje regime:
"In that context I would like also to mention Dimitar Delevski. He was a journalist for the Bulgarian newspaper "Macedonia", an organ of
VMRO-SMD and irrespective of his deposition and positions of the newspaper, the fact remains, that he was prevented from corresponding from
Macedonia. In Ohrid Delevski was beaten in a similar way".[19]
The case of Dimitar Delevski and its repercussions is indicative of the nature of the Macedonist regime in Skopje. In 1992. Delevski addressed the Macedonian
president with an open letter:
"This attack launched by the MVR (Ministry of Internal Affairs), against my personality and my journalistic activities, will cease, I hope". [20]
On December 11th, 1992, the Macedonian Patriotic Organisation based in USA and Canada wrote a letter of support of Mr. Delevski's activities, to the president
K. Gligorov:
"It comes to our attention that the human rights of those who consider themselves Bulgarians are often violated. This is true, despite of the fact that
Bulgaria is the only neighbouring country showing an amicable attitude and which immediately recognised Macedonia... We are disturbed about
Dimitar Delevski, a Macedonian correspondent for a newspaper published in Sofia, whom the police has ordered not to write for the Bulgarian
newspaper any more". [21]
In spite of that interference, the circumstances of Delevski did not improve. He asked for Bulgarian citizenship and such was granted to him by a decree of the
Bulgarian president Dr Z. Zhelev in 1995.
According to protocol n. 71-01/127 from March 27th, 1993, two calendars with inscriptions "100 years VMRO, with images of turn of the century revolutionaries
and cover of the statute of the historical Bulgarian Macedono-Odrin Revolutionary Committee of VMRO" printed on it, were confiscated from Delevski ( see
appendix No 7).
In Bulgaria, Delevski studied journalism and continued to publish articles against the excesses of Macedonism. On November 13th, 1996 in the well in his own
property, the corpse of Gerasim Delevski, the father of D. Delevski, was found. A number of facts indicate that he was first killed and then thrown there. The
medical authorities refused to make an autopsy or offer a medical conclusion. Close friends of the Delevski family insist that the murder of Delevski was intended to
frighten his son.
The repressions over Mr. Vancho Veskov, leader of the United Macedonians Party were closely connected with his friendship with Delevski In the summer of 1992
Veskov gave an interview to Delevski, which due to the difficulties in passing the information to Bulgaria, was published at last on November 20th. Says Veskov:
"The biggest mistake at the moment is that the help of the Macedonians from all over the world and especially of those from Bulgaria, whose
consciousness is Bulgarian has been eliminated, I think that in the Republic of Macedonia a discrimination is practised against those people due to
their Bulgarian identity. Even the people who feel themselves Bulgarian in Vardar Macedonia are persecuted. The Republic of Macedonia has to
respect the rights of those Bulgarians living on its territory".[22]
Right after that interview the police began to terrorise Vancho Veskov. On September 15th, 1992, his two-year-old son was killed with a hunting gun in front of his
house. The father declared that he was anticipating such an incident to happen to him. The police did not find the killer and the attacks on Veskov continued. He was
forced to leave Macedonia and now he lives in Australia.
Beside the cases with Delevski and Veskov, some other death cases happened in Macedonia, for which it is supposed that pro-Serbian circles of the police, have
something to do with. These are the murders of Minister of Internal Affairs Jordan Mijalkov, the officer of MVR Mile Milevski, the leader of VMRO-DPMNE
in Kumanovo Mile Ilievski and the journalist from the editorial office of "Glas", organ of VMRO-DPMNE, Ljupcho Atanasovski[23].
On March 8th, 1995 the chairman of VMRO-Tatkovinska (Country's) Party - Dr Dimitar Tsarnomarov was arrested for more than three days and nights in
Bitola. After a search, all the documents of his party, literature in Bulgarian literary language have been confiscated. The police refused to give any information to his
wife Marina, as to the reasons for his detention and about his physical condition. During the detention he was interrogated again and again about his contacts with
some Bulgarian social circles. He was beaten with a butt-stock of an automatic gun over his head and as a result of that his eyesight was non durably injured. In the
press close to the regime Dr. Tsrnomarov was continually accused of being a "Bulgarophil" . As a result of all the harassment, on January 3th, 1996, Dr. Tsrnomarov
suffered a heart attack.
On October 18th, 1995, Dr Tsrnomarov and the active members of VMRO-Country's Party - Hristo Petsev and Grigor Tsurev were detained in the prison of
Strumitsa.
On March 6th, 1996, the 25 years old Trajan Godev - a member of -the VMRO-Country's Party, was also detained for examination. On the same day, he was
taken home, under police escort, where literature in Bulgarian literary language was confiscated. Godev complained to his close friends that he had suffered cruel
mental torment while in custody.
On the following day, the 30 years old Tihomir Jajnaliev and the 36 years old Dimitar Nicolov were arrested in Strumitsa. The latter was also sacked from his
work, all because of his Bulgarian consciousness. The independent Macedonian press described the occasion
"In a classic Stalinist style they were put to mental maltreatment for many hours (from 6 o'clock am, to 2 o'clock p.m.) by the police, while being
injured and threatened. However, apart from treating them as enemies of the state, they all were threatened with regard to their rights of free travel,
religion and political determination"[24]
On November 6th, 1996, the Macedonian citizens Liljana Stoimenova and Traian Godev were called to the police office for an "informative conversation" and
were detained for more than 10 hours. They were interrogated about their contacts with Bulgarian citizens and organisations, and at the same time they were
maltreated.
A number of Macedonian intellectuals were put to particularly humiliating harassment. On March 1st, 1996 Professor Dimitar Galev was arrested. He is an author
of a number of books containing unfalsified historical documents about Macedonia. Two of them : "Beliot teror vo Jugoistochna Makedonija" (The white Terror in
south-east Macedonia)" (Shtip 1991) and "Todor Aleksandrov - od avtonomija do samostojna drzhava" (Todor Alexandrov - from an autonomy to an Independent
State)" (Skopje 1996) were really outstanding. He is also a chairman of the Agrarian Party and of the unregistered for almost two years Movement for Friendship
and Co-operation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria. On that occasion he addressed the Macedonian public, whit an open letter
containing the following:
"I was called to the police for an official conversation, which according to me, was an examination of the loyalty for the Macedonian cause, and by
the way I was asked about the book about Todor Alexandrov, about the memorandums addressed to the European Union and to the Organisation of
the United Nations in 1992 and 1993, about my stay in America for the congress of MPO (Macedonian Patriotic Organisation) in 1993, about my
conversation with the secretary of the Russian embassy in Sofia, about my participation in the session of a forum in R.of Bulgaria in 1993, where the
topic "Macedonia today and tomorrow" was discussed."[25]
In a panoramic interview, professor Galev, in an very discreet way, expressed his views on the language spoken in the Republic of Macedonia:
"It is true that at the congress (of the Macedonian Patriotic Organisation in USA and Canada) they were speaking in English and in Bulgarian. But
we, who were from Macedonia excused ourselves and said: let us speak the language that our mothers speak, because we understand Bulgarian but
we can not speak literary Bulgarian".[26]
As a result of his activities, professor Galev was fired.
Another intellectual, who was put to an enormous mental harassment, was the Macedonian writer Mladen Srbinovski. The reason for the campaign against him
were his brave articles in which he openly maintained the idea of the Bulgarian ethnical nature of the Macedonian people. The following are some examples of the
qualifications of him written in a single article in a supposedly respectful newspaper:
"On Bulgarian payroll; an alienated Macedonian; Srbinovski (read Bugarinovski); incurable patological case and an oathbraker; proved to be paid
by the Bulgarians and callous fighter the for spread of Bulgarian vrhovist ideas; vrhovist of a high rank in his native country; callous Bulgaromaniac;
Srbinovski the Macedonophob; one of the most reliable Bulgarians; mad Bulgarian dog;...his occupator-like macedonophobia and distorted
spirituality..."[27] This quotations are indicative of the atmosphere in which the Macedonian intellectuals have to work.
A very interesting case was the arrest on October 6th, 1995 of the Skopje resident Marija Stoimenova and her husband Georgi Stoimenov. She had the courage
to describe the methods of maltreatment used by the Macedonian police (appendix No 8). The reason for her arrest was that she wa
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Тема
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Human Rights Violations in Macedonia - 3
[re: Tuk]
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Автор |
Tuk () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:28 |
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Infringement of Rights of Citizens of Other Countries in Connection with the Issue of Macedonian Ethnical Character.
In its struggle against the Bulgarian consciousness, the Macedonian authorities often encroach upon Citizens of other countries.
On January 21st, 1991, in Skopje, the Bulgarian citizen Nedka D. Ivanova was arrested, only because she announced that ethnical Macedonian Nation did not
exist and in fact the Macedonians were ethnic Bulgarians. At the moment of her arrest she was physically maltreated by the Security authorities.
From August 18th, to 22nd, 1992, two Albanian citizens of Bulgarian origin (their names are well known to IIM) visited VMRO-SMD. When they were passing
over the Albano- Macedonian border at Kafasan, they told the Macedonian authorities that they were ethnic Bulgarians. The authorities charged them with an
unusually big fee 110 DM for the car and 25 DM for each of them for a transit visa valid for 5 days. Usually transit visas are issued for one month. The aim was to
prevent the visit of the two Albanians to Bulgaria. The sum of 160 DM was equal to one year payment at that time in Albania.
According to protocol No 1 from January 26th, 1996, an album called "Kiustendil and the Liberating Fights in Macedonia" had been confiscated from Andrea
Shtika, an Albanian citizen of a Bulgarian origin (See appendix No 9).
According to the Macedonian authorities, the Slav minority of Albania consisted only of ethnical Macedonians and not Bulgarians. Each attempt for a declaration of
a Bulgarian ethnic consciousness in Albania is pursued in a very brutal way by the authorities in the Republic of Macedonia. Very indicative is the following article in
the independent Albanian newspaper "Koha Jon" for destruction of Albanian passports by the Macedonian frontier authorities:
"The rage of Macedonia perhaps was caused by the reporting of the Bulgarian National Television, made with the participation of the residents of 10
villages with Macedonian national minority in the region of Likenas. The citizens of this zone declared in front of the cameras of the Bulgarian
Television that they should not be called Macedonian, but Bulgarian national minority. Among those, who took part in the interview was the ex-
headmaster of the Town Hall in Likenas, George Kaslari, who said that the population calls itself Bulgarian and asked for the help of the Bulgarian
state for it to acquire a status of a minority. The sharp reactions of Skopje about the national minority in Likenas became stronger after the reporting
was shown by the 1st channel of the State Macedonian TV... The Macedonian national minority is a victim of this position. One of its representatives
declared in front of "Koha Jon": Now we have got a lot of problems with the (Macedonian) Custom Office and we were told that as long as we call
ourselves Bulgarians, we should take visas from the Bulgarian Embassy. The Macedonian authorities made invalid the visas of those who have been
caught in various cities in Macedonia and took them back to the border". [28].
The Macedonian police encroached on the rights of the political emigrant of long standing in Belgium - Alekso Stoimenov. From the protocol No 3 from May 17th,
1996, it shows that his Belgian passport was temporarily taken in (see appendix No 10).
The authorities meet with hostility the Macedonian emigrant from Bitola Metodi Dimov, and many times have worn him to leave the Macedonian Republic. M.
Dimov living also in Belgium, together with A. Stoimenov published a number of books about the Macedonian Liberation Movement in Bulgarian literary language.
M. Dimov is an ex-speaker in the broadcasts of Radio Madrid, intended for Macedonia.
The Macedonian Secret Services show a particular interest in the activity of emigrant organisations such: VMRO- SMD in Bulgaria, MPO in USA and Canada, the
editorial office of "Macedono-Bulgarian Review "Vardar" in Toronto, Canada and others that stand up for Bulgarian ethnical positions. A person, wished to be
anonymous but known to the editors of "Macedonian Tribune" newspaper, announces:
"Knowing the history and the character of MPO and its strong position for many years, I know that people from the Macedonian UDBA (Secret
Services) have infiltrated MPO and even its governing body. I know a case when an UDBA officer from Skopje during his visit in Columbus was
boasting that: "UDBA had its own people in MPO and knew everything that happened there". Each step of Ivan Lebamov (ex-chairman of MPO)
had been followed at the time of his visit in Macedonia. The activity of MPO in Fort Wayne, no doubts was under surveillance".[29]
On September 18th, 1992, a member of the Central Committee of MPO Pando Mladenov and his brother Georgi Mladenov a chairman of MPO "Liuben
Dimitrov" in Toronto, met the Macedonian president K. Gligorov and made a request for a permission to publish a Bulgarian literary language newspaper in Skopje.
After K. Gligorov's refusal, they declared:
"We do not intend to waste money (investing) in such unsafe situation in the country".[30]
On August 26th, 1996, the Macedonian border authorities did not permit the Bulgarian citizen Andon Traikov Spasov from the village of Rupite (Pirin Macedonia)
to visit the Republic of Macedonia because he was carrying Bulgarian Literature. In his passport seal: "Forbidden to enter Republic of Macedonia on the basis
of article 17" was placed. On September 22nd, and October 28th, 1996, again he was not allowed to visit Macedonia. The mother and the sister of A. Spasov
were Macedonian citizens and were living in Skopje. His father Trajko Atanasov, died in 1990, was from village of Gabrovo, Strumitsa region (of Republic of
Macedonia). Among his neighbours in Skopje he was well known as Trajko Bugarinot (the Bulgarian). In 1996 his grave was desecrated. As a result of that
outrage, on October 31st, 1996 Andon Spasov addressed an appeal to the minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria:
"I am writing these lines with pain and outrage because these actions were typical for former Yugoslavia. In my capacity of a Bulgarian and a
Bulgarian citizen, I had been declared "persona non grata" three times".
During my previous visits to my family I had to undergo humiliating and illegal treatment in the hands of the Macedonian authorities. I was forced by
the police authorities at the time of my arrival to go to the Regional administration of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for address registration and
then again for disregistration at the time of my departure. Twice, being late for two or three hours, uniform police-officers came home and forced me
immediately to go to the police office for registration. In my visits to the Republic of Macedonia, I was regularly followed by civil officers of the
Macedonian police, at the time of my travelling and my stay in Skopje. During my last visit on November 8th, 1996, after I was denied for 3
consecutive times to be allowed in the country, while the house of my sister and my mother (Davcha Spasova and Ilinka Atanasova) was surrounded
and watched over by civil persons for some hours at the time of my departure... With the present request I address you as a Bulgarian and citizen of
the Republic of Bulgaria, hoping that my human and citizen rights would be defended, as well as those of my relatives".
Conclusion
At the moment some very complex processes of identity search are occurring among the main ethnic group of the Republic of Macedonia.
Right now, in the Republic of Macedonia
"On the pages of the newspapers, on the TV screens, every day we come across with the condemnation of at least one fascist Bulgarophil enemy of
Macedonia.[31]
As one of the well known Macedonian authors, Alexandar Bonev sais, the period of 1988-1989:
"was called the Macedonian spring, but it turned out to be more of a Macedonian variety of a Hrushchev-like charade, rather than an honest,
objective and unprejudiced dismantling of the fabricated cult of Tito".[32]
According to professor D. Galev
"By the end of 1989 and throughout 1990 there was more democracy than now, because in 1990 (when we were lying the first stony fundaments of
the independent Macedonian state) we did not face any obstacles".[33]
If the authors of these statements are to be believed it means that in the already established independent Republic of Macedonia, the civil and political rights are
violated more often and more brutally than during the last months of the disintegration of Yugoslavia.
By promoting the theory of Macedonism in a most brutal way and by not permitting a free and open discussion on the complex and contradictive
questions about the origin and the ethnical character of the Macedonians, the former communist authorities of the Republic of Macedonia create the
preconditions for future destabization of the entire Balkan region.
The honest attempts made by the chairman of VMRO DPMNE to begin a national reconciliation between the Macedonians with preserved Bulgarian ethnical
identity and the Macedonians that have developed a Macedonian ethnical identity, was interpreted by the regime as an act of treason .
Yet the reconciliation between those two groups has no alternative, if Macedonia is to become a free and democratic country.
The reconciliation is also needed to the people with Macedonian ethnic identity, because they themselves are also deeply divided on 'Slavic Macedonians' and
'Descendants of the Ancient Macedonians'.
Unfortunately, some circles of the regime still believe that they could eradicate an ethnical consciousness that has existed in Macedonia for more then one thousand
years. In a interview on Channel 1 of the Macedonian Television on July 22th, the Macedonian president Kiro Gligorov expressed the opinion that the Bulgarian
consciousness was preserved only by:
"...few individuals who for family or other reasons still carry some heritage from the past...those are just few people...and few parties that are trying,
unclearly and indecisively to find room for doubt if we could view differently those key questions on which depends the existence of this nation as a
Macedonian one "
THIS IS A DANGEROUS SELF-DECEPTION.
In order to overcome the inevitable conflict, an efficient international pressure and control must be exercised in order to make the Macedonian
government respect the human rights of the Macedonians with preserved Bulgarian ethnical consciousness.
Now it is impossible to tell what percentage of the main ethnic group supports one or the other view since no freedom of expression is allowed. Also it must be kept
in mind that between the Macedonians who feel as ethnic Macedonians and the Macedonians feeling as ethnic Bulgarians, there are no ethnic or cultural
differences. They speak the same variety of dialects; they have the same folk songs, traditions and customs. Often members of a same family disagree on the
issue! Within the two groups we can find both Orthodox Christians and Moslems. The relation between those two groups could not be compared with the relation
between them and the minority groups - Albans, Serbs, Greeks, Turks, Gypsies with whom they TOGETHER form the people of the Republic of Macedonia.
Since the concept of what is Macedonian is a very flexible one and has geographical, political and only to some people ethnical aspects and is understood differently
by the different citizens, there is not real problem for the people with a Bulgarian ethnical consciousness to identify with the Republic of Macedonian as far as the
statehood is concerned.
By no means the people who have preserved their Bulgarian ethnical identity could be regarded as traitors or renegades.
Since they are not territorially concentrated and since Bulgaria first recognised the independence and the territorial integrity of Macedonia, only paranoid minds could
consider the very existence those people as danger to the peace, security and stability of Republic of Macedonia and the region.
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БРАТЯ МИЛАДИНОВИ И ТЯХНОТО ДЕЛО
THE MILADINOV BROHTERS AND THEIR PLIGHT
Названието "Български народни песни" достатъчно красноречиво показва, какво е било националното самосъзнание на Константин и
Димитър Миладинови, великите български възрожденци от град Струга. Днес тяхното име се цитира в Скопие като име на македонски
национални будители. Интересно е защо техният епохален труд "Български народни песни" там излиза под всевъзможни заглавия, никога не е
претърпял фототипно издание, а оригинално копие на книгата стои в къщата-музей на братята отгърнат, за да не се види заглавната страница.
Що се отнася до съдържанието на самата книга, ето какво пише Константин Миладинов:
"Песните започнахме да ги събираме от секакви страни на Западна Болгария, т.е. от Македония например от Охрид, Струга, Прилеп, Велес,
Костур, Кукуш, Струмица и други места още и от Източна Болгария"
В сборника влизат много песни и от български краища извън Македония ( Софийско, Панагюрско и др.).
The name Bulgarian Folksongsis eloquent enough to demonstarte what the national consciousness of Constantine and Dimitar Miladinov was.
Today, the name of the great Bulgarian National Revival figures from the town of Struga is oftentimes quoted in Skopje as a name of pioneers
of the "Macedonian national awakening". It is interesting though why their epoch-making work Bulgarian Folksongs has been constantly
edited there under titles of all kinds, has never been edited in its original version, and the authentic copy of the book found in the museum of the
Miladinovs in Sturga is opened so nobody can see its frontpage.
As far as the contents of the book is concerned, this is what Constantine Miladinov himself writes:
"We have begun to gather the songs from various places in Western Bulgaria, i.e. from Macedonia -the regions of Ohrid, Struga, Prilep,
Veles, Kostur, Kukush, Strumica, and other places, from Eastern Bulgaria too."
A considerable number of songs from Bulgarian parts outside Macedonia, such as the regions of Sofia and Panagjurishte.
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Тема
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Macedonia & Bulgarian Exarchate
[re: Tuk]
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Автор |
Tuk () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:31 |
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The Bulgarian Exarchate was established on 28 February 1870 with a Firman from the sultan as a result of the long struggle of the
Bulgarian people for church independence from the Greek Patriarchate. This struggle began in 1824 in the towns of Vratsa, Skopje and
Samokov, but most active in it was the Bulgarian community in Constantinople, a great part of which were Macedonian Bulgarians.
The Firman granted the Exarchate the following eparchies: Ruschuk, Silistra, Tirnovo, Lovech, Vratsa, Vidin, Sofia, Samokov,
Kjustendil, Nish, Pirot and Veles. It also decided that other eparchies could acknowledge the Exarchate if 2/3 of their Christian
inhabitants demanded this. A plebiscite was conducted in Ohrid, Bitola and Skopje eparchies where the overwhelming majority of the
population chose to join the Exarchate. There was also a demand for a plebiscite from the Salonica Bulgarians but it was not carried out.
The Exarchate was pressing for a plebiscite in the Debar, Strumitsa and Kukush (Poljanino) eparchies when the Bulgarian insurections of
1875 and 1876 broke out. They and the Russo - Turkish war of 1877-78 exposed the Bulgarians in the eyes of the Turks. Therefore the
vote could not be completed in Southern Macedonia and, where it had been completed, bishops were not appointed to all of those
eparchies (only Skopje and Ohrid). In the course of the war the Bulgarian Exarch Antim I was exiled in Asia Minor and replaced with
Josif (1877). The bishops of the eparchies that remained in Turkish hands after the war (Skopje, Veles, Ohrid) were driven away by the
authorities.
The attemp to restore them in 1884-85 failed on account of the resistance of the Patriarchate, of Greece and of Serbia. Only in 1890
bishops could be appointed in Skopje and Ohrid. Then followed Veles and Nevrokop (1894) and Bitola, Debar and Strumitsa (1897).
The other nine Bulgarian eparchies in the Ottoman empire (Adrianople, Salonica, Drama, Serres, Melnik, Kukush, Vodena, Maglen and
Kostur) never saw Bulgarian bishops but only Exarchate deputies who looked after the schools and represented the Bulgarian population
of the region before the authorities.
More prominent Bulgarian bishops who came from Macedonia were Partenij Zografski of Poljanino (born in Galichnik near Debar),
Panaret of Plovdiv (born in the village of Patele near Lerin), Natanail of Ohrid and Plovdiv (born in Kuchevishta, Skopje), Meletij of
Sofia (born in Strumitsa) and Metodij of Stara Zagora (born in Prilep).
We have not discussed the struggles of the Bulgarians in Macedonia against the Greek clergy here, but the fact that they equally
participated in them together with the Moesians and the Thracians and that they willingly joined the Exarchate testifies to their national
self-identification.
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Тема
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Prominent Bulgarians Born in Macedonia
[re: Tuk]
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Автор |
Tuk () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:33 |
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Prominent Bulgarians Born in Macedonia
Members of Parliament
Metropolite Meleti
Strumica
Constituent Assembly, I and II National Assemblies
D.P.Karanphilov
Veles
Constituent Assembly
Vasil Diamandiev
Ohrid
Constituent Assembly
Ivan Karanov
Constituent Assembly
Josiph Kovatchev
Shtip
Constituent Assembly
M.Mishaikov
Patele (district of Lerin)
Constituent Assembly
Konstantin Pomianov
Prilep
Constituent Assembly, IV, VII, XV National Assemblies
A.Georgov
Veles
I National Assembly
Angel Tachikmanov
Gorna Djumaia (Blagoevgrad)
IV National Assembly
Mihail Makedonski
IV and IX National Assemblies
Petar Mishaikov
Patele (district of Lerin)
IV National Assembly
Traiko Kitanchev
Podmochani (district of Resen)
V National Assembly
Danail Georgiev
Kratovo
VII National Assembly
Alexandar Arseniev
Veles
VII, VII, X, XII, XII National Assemblies
Andrei Bachev
Resen
VII and XIV National Assemblies
Hristo Dogramadjiev
Krushevo
VIII, XIII , XIV National Assemblies
Ilia Georgov
Veles
X, XI, XII, XIII, XVI, XVII National Assemblies
Hristo Popov
Stoiakovo(district of Gevgeli)
XI, XVI, XVII National Assemblies
Nikola Genadiev
Bitola
X, XI, XII, XII, XV, XVI, XVII National Assemblies
Slavcho Babadjanov
Ohrid
X and XIV National Assemblies
Georgi Stoikov
Libiahovo (district of
Nevrokop, nowadays Goce
Delchev)
XI National Assembly
Alexandar Radev
Bitola
XI and XII National Assemblies
Dimitar Rizov
Bitola
XI National Assembly
Etienne Arseniev
Veles
XI and XII National Assemblies
Dimitar Blagoev
Zagorichani(district of Kostur)
XII, XVI, XVII National Assemblies
Hristo Varbenov
Embore(district of Kailari)
XII National Assembly
Anton Strashimirov
Bania(district of Razlog)
XII and XIII National Assemblies
Nikola Apostolov
Patele (district of Lerin)
XIII,XV, XVI, XVII National Assemblies
Dimitar Achkov
Prilep
XII National Assembly
Pavel Genadiev
Bitola
XIII and XVII National Assemblies
Nikola Deikov
Prilep
XIV National Assembly
Vasil Zdravev
Prilep
XIV National Assembly
Lazar Ivanov
Bansko
XIV National Assembly
Andrei Liapchev
Resen
XIV, XVI, XVII National Assemblies
Ivan Nevrokopski
Nevrokop (Goce Delchev)
XIV National Assembly
Ilia Palikrushev
Veles
XIV National Assembly
Krum Tchaprachikov
Gorna Djumaia (Blagoevgrad)
XIV, XVI, XVII National Assemblies
Nikola Davidov
Veles
XV National Assembly
Dimitar Strashimirov
Bania(district of Razlog)
XV National Assembly
Ivan Tolev
Bitola
XV National Assembly
Petar Djidrov
Shtip
XVI and XVII National Assemblies
Dimitar Arnaudov
Libiahovo (district of
Nevrokop-Goce Delchev)
XVII National Assembly
Shterio Atanasov
Snichani(district of Kostur)
XVII National Assembly
Milosh Valchev
Bansko
XVII National Assembly
Georgi Golov
Bansko
XVII National Assembly
Stoian Georgiev
Strumica
XVII National Assembly
Doncho Zlatkov
Palat(district of Petrich)
XVII National Assembly
Ilia Karanov
Strumica
XVII National Assembly
Nikola Naumov
Shtip
XVII National Assembly
Konstantin Nikolov
Hrsovo(district of Melnik)
XVII National Assembly
Vasil Paskov
Osikovo (district of Nevrokop
- Goce Delchev)
XVII National Assembly
Toma Penkov
Mechkul(district of Melnik)
XVII National Assembly
Georgi Petzkov
Vrania(district of Melnik)
XVII National Assembly
Georgi Stoilov
Gorna Djumaia (Blagoevgrad)
XVII National Assembly
Ministers
Constantine Pomianov
Prilep
Public Construction, Justice
Liberal
Alexandar Radev
Bitola
Public Construction, Justice
Progressive Liberal
Andrei Liapchev
Resen
Commerce & Agriculture, Finance, War
Prime Minister 1926-1931
Democrat
Nicola Genadiev
Bitola
Commerce & Industry, Foreign Affires
National Liberal
Gen.Kliment Boiadjiev
Ohrid
War
Nikola Apostolov
Patele (district of Lerin)
Public Construction, Posts & Telegraphs
National Liberal
Hristo Popov
Stoiakovo (district of Gevgeli)
Justice
Liberal
Petar Djidrov
Shtip
Justice
Socialist
Diplomats
Panche Hadjimishev
Veles
Minister Plenipotentiary
Athens, London, The Hague
Dimitar Rizov
Bitola
-----------
Belgrade, Rome, Berlin
Simeon Radev
Resen
-----------
Bucharest, Berne
Stefan Chaprashikov
Gorna Djumaia
-----------
Belgrade
Georgi Radev
Bitola
Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign
Affaires
Zhivko Dobrev
Plevnia (district of Drama)
General Consul
Cairo, Adrianople
Todor Pavlov
Skopie
General Consul and Charge d'Affaires
Dures
Dimitar Vlahov
Kukush
General Consul
Odessa
Panche Dorev
Bitola
-----------
Budapest
Professors in the Sofia University "St.Clement Ohridski"
Yosif Kovachev
Shtip
Pedagogy
Dimitar Matov
Veles
Ethnography of the Slavs
Ivan Georgov
Veles
Philosophy
Lubomir Miletich
Shtip
Slavic Languages
Alexandar Balabanov
Shtip
Greek and Latin Literature
Nikola Milev
Mokreni (district of Kostur)
Bulgarian History
Konstantin Stefanov
Bansko
English
Atanas Iaranov
Kukush
French
Nikola Chervenivanov
Kukush
Chemistry
Ilia Rashtanov
Veles
Chemistry
Stoian Tilkov
Karchovo (district of Demir
Hisar)
Turkish
Nikola Blagoev
Rakita (district of Kailar)
Ancient Bulgarian Law
Bishops of the Bulgarian Exarchate
Name
Place of Birth
Bishopric
Genadij
Ohrid
Veles
Panarete
Patele (district of Lerin)
Plovdiv
Nathanail
Kuchevishta (district of Skopje)
Ohrid and Plovdiv
Meletij
Strumica
Sofia
Cosma
Orlanci (district of Kichevo)
Debar
Theodosij
Tarlis (district of Nevrokop)
Skopje
Methodij
Prilep
Stara Zagora
Parthenij
Galichnik
Nish
Methodij
Zarovo (district of Salonika)
Ohrid
Meletij
Bitola
Veles
Neophyte
Ohrid
Skopje
http://members.tripod.com/~dimobetchev/poli.html
| |
Тема
|
From the first statute of the IMRO
[re: Tuk]
|
|
Автор |
Arek () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:34 |
|
From the first statute of the IMRO
1.(1) The IMRO is an all-Bulgarian national organization.
(2) The IMRO is the successor of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization, the Macedonian National Committee and the
IMRO - Union of the Macedonian Societies, whose legacy and ideals it struggles to fulfil within the provisions of the Constitution of the
Republic of Bulgaria.
2. The IMRO as an all-Bulgarian national movement has as its aim the complete solution of the Macedonian question, the spiritual unity
of the Bulgarian nation and the building of a strong and constitutional state.
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ОТКЪС ОТ МЕМОРАНДУМА, ИЗПРАТЕН ДО БЪЛГАРСКОТО ПРАВИТЕЛСТВО ОТ ВОДАЧИТЕ НА ИЛИНДЕНСКОТО ВЪСТАНИЕ
АN EXCERPT FROM THE MEMORANDUM SENT TO THE BULGARIAN GOVERNMENT BY THE ILINDEN UPRISING'S LEADERS
"... Пред вид на критичното и ужасно положение, в което изпадна българското население от Битолския вилает след извършените
опустошения и жестокости от турските войски и башибозук ... пред вид на това , че тук всичко българско рискува да загине и да се затрие
без спомен от насилия, глад и настъпващата мизерия, Главният щаб смята за свой дълг да обърне внимание на почитаемото Българско
правителство върху гибелните последици за българската нация, ако то не изпълни своя дълг спрямо своите еднородни братя тук по един
внушителен начин, което се налага по силата на опасността, заплашваща общобългарската Татковина днес...
Ни едно българско училище не е отворено, нито ще се отвори... Никой не мисли за наука, когато е поставен вън от законите на страната, защото
носи името българин...
Поставени начело на народното ни движение тук, ние апелираме към Вас от името на роба Българин да му се притечете на помощ по
най-ефикасен начин - чрез война. Вярваме, отгласът е същий у народа в свободна България.
Ожидавайки вашето патротическо вмешателство, приятно ни е да Ви съобщим, че държим на разположение въпръжените ни сили, които сме
щадили до сега.
От Главният щаб "
( Дамян ГРУЕВ, Борис САРАФОВ, Атанас ЛОЗАНЧЕВ)
Меморандумът е връчен на д-р. Кожухаров, консул на Княжество България в гр.Битоля, който го препраща на правителството в София с
доклад N441 от 17 септември 1903г.
Част от текста е публикувана на стр.451 в първия том на книгата "Освободителните борби на Македония" (София, 1933, издание на
Илинденската организация), дело на Христо Силянов - един от водачите на ВМРО ,а по-късно един от най-изтъкнатите мемоаристи и
историци, пишещи за национално-освободителното движение на българите в Македония и Одринско.
" Considering the critical and terrible situation that the Bulgarian population of the Bitola Vilayet found itself in and following the ravages and
cruelties done by the Turkish troops and irregulars, ... considering the fact that everything Bulgarian runs the risk of perishing and
disappearing without a trace because of violence, hunger, and the upcoming misery, the Head Quarters finds it to be its obligation to draw the
attention of the respected Bulgarian government to the pernicious consequences vis-a-vis the Bulgarian nation, in case the latter does not fulfill
its duty towards its brethren of race here in an imposing fashion which is necessary by virtue of the present ordeal for the common Bulgarian
Fatherland...
...Being in command of our people's movement, we appeal to you on behalf of the enslaved Bulgarian to help him in the most effective way -
by waging war.We believe that the response of the people in free Bulgaria will be the same.
... No bulgarian school is opened, neither will it be opened... Nobody thinks of education when he is outlawed by the state because he bears the
name Bulgar...
Waiting for your patriotic intervention, we are pleased to inform you that we have in our disposition the armed forces we have spared by now.
The Head Quarters of the Ilinden Uprising"
Damian GRUEV, Boris SARAFOV, Atanas LOZANTCHEV
This memorandum was handed to Dr.Kozhuharov, the Bulgarian consul in Bitola, and transmitted by him to the government in Sofia with
report N441 from September 17th, 1903.
A part of the text is published on p.435 of Macedonia's Struggle for Liberation (Sofia, 1933, edition of The Ilinden Uprising Veterans'
Organization) by Christo SILJANOV - one of the leaders of IMRO and one of the most eminent historians and memoirists that have ever
written on the national liberation movement of the Bulgarians in Macedonia and the district of Adrianople.
| |
Тема
|
What foreigners had to say about "Macedonians
[re: Arek]
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|
Автор |
Arek () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:36 |
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ORRESPONDENCE OF THE FOREIGN CONSULS IN
MACEDONIA
From the report of the Austro-Hungarian consul in Bitola August Kral (27 August 1903)
"...The only earlier attempt at a revolt which can be taken into account was the one undertaken in a state of complete blindness last
autumn by the committee of Tsonchev in the region of Razlog, near the Bulgarian frontier, which, however, was limited to several
villages and for this reason ended quite disastrously.
Quite different is the state of affairs, however, here in the vilajet ot Bitola. Here real preparations for a revolt are taking place, the first in
Macedonia, from the beginning of the Bulgarian movement, which must be truly regarded quite seriously as a very dangerous uprising...
...The uprising here is almost general, it embraces almost the whole Bulgarian part of the population in the vilajet, i.e. the district of
Bitola with its five counties (Kicheve, Ohrida, Bitola, Prilep, Lerin), Part of the county of Kostur in the district of Korcha, and some
vilages in the county of Kajlary in the district of Selfidje. In this region the Bulgarian population amounts to more than 250, 000 people,
the majority of whom sympathises with the revolution and supports it openly or secretly."
D. Zografski, Information of the Austrian representatives in Macedonia 1903 - 1904, Skopje, 1955, pp. 86-89; the original in German
From the report of the Russian consul in Salonica Giers about the terror against the Bulgarians in Macedonia (28 August 1903)
"...Observations on the spot have convinced the Russian consul general in Salonica that the Turkish authorties direct their efforts not so
much to crush the uprising than to exterminate completely the Bulgarian nationality in the vilajet...
...The population of the district, very sensitive to every rumour about the influence of the other countries on the Ottoman government,
was deeply stirred by the announcement published in "Neue Freie Presse" about the advice professedly given by the ambassadors of the
different countries in Constantinople to crush the uprising as soon as possible. This announcement was interpreted as giving the Turk the
green light to crush the uprising by means of total extermination of the Bulgarians."
Archive of the Russian Foreign Policy, Politarchive, 1903, g. 1145, pp. 311-317; the original in Russian
| |
Тема
|
What LJUPCHO GEORGIEVSKI has to say!!!
[re: Tuk]
|
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Автор |
Arek () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 04:39 |
|
"IF GOTSE DELCHEV WAS ALIVE IN 1945 HE WOULD
HAVE FINISHED UP IN IDRIZOVO"
LJUPCHO GEORGIEVSKI
President, VMRO-DPMNE Political Party
Republic of Macedonia
published in the Skopje newspaper "Puls"
7 July and 14 July 1995
"is it not scandalous for Macedonian history that the two great awakeners, the Miladinov Brothers,
proclaimed themselves everywhere as Bulgarians and their language as Bulgarian?"
At the moment when Macedonia is inundated with the daily "Lepa Brena" concerts and a dozen other musical
and theatre groups from the north - at the moment when only Yugoslavian hit tunes are heard in all clubs and the
Macedonian song cannot be heard anywhere - at a time when the 'State', in the spirit of neutrality, has merely a
1% custom duty and carries on intricate business only with our northern neighbour, to which we have already
become an obedient country - at a moment when Macedonia is flooded with printed matter only from a single
neighbouring country and when the whole cadre structure is the one which was loyal to Yugoslavia - at a moment
when changing the flag and constitution is only a matter of days - at a moment when we await a new law for
self-rule which will initiate the canonisation of Macedonia - at a moment when the Vlach lobby unmercifully
privatises Macedonia's wealth, impoverishing the Macedonian people who now don't have a voice in their own
country, a group of well known Macedonian intellectuals and politicians, portrayed as fearless and valiant men,
like Gane Todorovski, Krste Bitovski, Kole Mangov, Blazhe Ristovski, Atanas Vangelov, Vancho Nikoleski,
Yovan Pavlovski, Ivan Katarjiev, the editors of "Nova Makedonia", "Makedonsko Vreme", "Puls" or ministers
like Mr Andov, once more, and for who knows how many times in the past, indicate that in their judgment the
most serious danger for the independence of Macedonia is, as a foreign enemy, Bulgaria, as a domestic enemy,
VMRO-DPMNE.
In connection with these issues I would like to elaborate on two points. First, the decision of VMRO to continue
the traditions of our historical VMRO and declare our congress as the 10th. Second, Kiro Gligorov's explanation
as to the meaning of national reconciliation, which now becomes quite apparent had little to do with national
reconciliation, but was rather an exercise in defining for us with who we could or could not have reconciliation.
From the previously named individuals I have read so many lies, misinformation, historic untruths and political
pamphlets that I have to ask myself, is it conceivable that men in their 40's, 50's or 60's know so little of their
own history? Is it possible that they have not read a single book from the revivalists of the 19th century or from
the national heroes of the Macedonian revolutionary struggle? While the latter regretably did not write many
books, articles and letters so that there could be no doubt as to what their beliefs were, we the future generations
must now read them with deletions or in a Macedonistic language as practiced by the likes of Gane Todorovski. I
ask the question - is it possible the Dean of the Philological Faculty, Mr Atanas Vangelov, has never read
Miladinov or Shapkarev and understood what the authors were saying about our historic roots? As regards
knowing their own history, it becomes self-evident that these intellectuals primarily serve their own career path,
and fall over each other to secure accolades from the authorities. Is it that difficult to realise that the totalitarian
wall surrounding Macedonia could last several more years?
For VMRO, Bulgaria is one of the four neighbouring countries with which we must have friendly relations. For
the last five years her foreign policy has been the only correct one towards Macedonia. She did not place any
conditions nor create difficulties in the international arena. Something more - she was the strongest advocate for
recognition of Macedonia, and President Zhelev twice rejected the proposals of Miloshevich and Mitsotakis to
effect the partition of Macedonia as part of a new Balkan Agreement.
The decade after 1945 is a period of brutal killings without trial, cruel suffering and torture in the prisons and
unparalleled intimidation, as could only have been devised by Tito's communist State. I am disgusted by the
barbarity and power of the post 1945 oppressors who now relax comfortably in their villas. Some of them still
continue to command at a distance and shout "We don't want any reconciliation". As regards Mihailov and
Alexandrov, labelled murderers by our historians, I challenge them to produce a verifiable figure for the number
of people killed by the latter two, and not to just rely on supposition. Our history also lacks other important facts.
Until this very day the total number of victims resulting from the 23 years of Serbian occupation is unknown, as is
the number killed during WWII. However you can learn exactly how many Macedonians were lost during the
Bulgarian and Albanian occupations, as well as at the Srem Front. It is time we knew how many were killed by
the Macedonian Communist murderers, who went berserk after 1945 with the support of their Yugoslav friends.
Until this is done I am convinced that the number killed by Mihailov and Alexandrov is at least ten times less than
the people liquidated by comrade Tito and his co-workers, Lazar Kolishevski, Vera Atseva, Kiro Gligorov.
The Macedonian people in their long history have only twice had free expression through referendum; in 1991
when we voted for an independent Macedonia and in 1871, when by decree of the Sultan a referendum was held
whereby if the Macedonians achieved a two-thirds majority of votes cast they were entitled to establish and
choose the Bulgarian Exarchate. What shall we do with these people? Shall we erase them from our history and
scream "no reconciliation". Why are we ashamed to admit, and attempt to evade the fact, that what we deem as
the most positive aspect of the Macedonian revolutionary tradition grew from the Exarchist part of the
Macedonian people! I would not be revealing anything new if I remind you of the fact that Gotse Delchev, and
Dame Gruev, and Pere Toshev, and Giorche Petrov - must I continue to mention all of them - were Exarchist
teachers in Macedonia, paid by and carrying out its educational program. I am not revealing any secret if I say
that our Ilinden heroes and the mass of the revolutionary organisation was recruited only from the Exarchist part
of the Macedonian people.
According to historic sources, both the Vrhovists and Centralists ignored any language question, and simply
accepted the beliefs of the Macedonian revivalist leaders. Thus if we must apportion "guilt" because some of them
spoke in "Bulgarian" or wrote in "Bulgarian", the "guilt" should be undoubtedly assigned to those figures for who
today we make no "comments", but simply recognise them as the most sacred, outstanding characters of
Macedonian history. And when we examine their works closely, reading them without the deletions and
additions, or even just glancing at their major works, we uncover an important truth, namely that Parteni
Zografsky, Kiril Peichinovich, Teodosig Sinaitsky, the Miladinov Brothers, Grigor Prlichev, Kuzman Shapkarev,
Marko Tsepenkov and many more, whenever they wrote for their mother tongue or about the revision of this
language, they only declared for a Bulgarian language. And so again we return to Mihailov and Alexandrov. Why
do we "accuse" them of things of which they are not guilty? Instead, is it not "scandalous" for Macedonian history
that the two great awakeners, the Miladinov Brothers, proclaimed themselves everywhere as Bulgarians and their
language as Bulgarian?
Gotse Delchev, undoubtedly the greatest and most prominent son of the Macedonian Liberation struggle, within
his plans reasons, as a final solution, the concept of an autonomous Macedonia. The idea for an independent
Macedonian state and its adherence within the framework of the historic VMRO appears in the time of Todor
Alexandrov and is confirmed by Vancho Mihailov. I'll mention only a few facts from the life of Gotse: All his
education is entrusted to the Bulgarian Exarchy by his parents. After he completes primary school his father sends
him to the Bulgarian "Salonica Men's Gymnasium" and thereafter he travels to Bulgaria to become a Bulgarian
military officer; discontinuing his studies he returns to Macedonia as a Bulgarian Exarchist teacher, a role, where
amongst other duties, he teaches the Bulgarian language to his pupils as their mother tongue. In 1893 or 1894 he
joins an organisation called the "Bulgarian- Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Committee" and in a short
time becomes one of its main leaders. Later he is assigned to act as the foreign VMRO representative stationed in
Sofia, where he regularly attends the Supreme Committee (Vrhovists) meetings, and together with Giorche
Petrov organises Boris Sarafov's election as its president. Assuredly, if Gotse Delchev was still alive in 1945
when the Serbo-communists left Macedonia in Yugoslavia, he would have found himself in "Idrizovo".
The brutal campaign being waged against VMRO-DPMNE, aimed at diverting attention from the total cultural,
then political assimilation by the Serbian side, as well as the cruel exploitation of the Macedonian people,
establishes a new tragic scenario in our land which compels me to describe so frankly the Macedonian position,
and to elaborate on some truth and lies, with which we should familiarise ourselves as quickly as possible, if we
are to progress. Otherwise we are destined to sink further into the quicksand, in which we are already up to our
necks. Every vacillation causes us to sink deeper and deeper into this quagmire.
I'll give you an example. Recently in Sofia, due to an American initiative, the anniversary was celebrated of the
"Carnegie Report's" publication, a document describing the conduct of the Balkan Wars. Many historians,
intellectuals and politicians from all over the globe participated in this event which was chaired by the American
State department official Zbeignev Bzhezhinsky. The Macedonian bureaucratic intelligentsia however declared the
event a new conspiracy against Macedonia. But what does this report actually contain? Prepared in 1914 by ten
or so prominent historians and politicians from Europe and America in the immediate aftermath of the two Balkan
Wars it only depicts the evidence accumulated by the International Commission detailing all the atrocities
committed against the Macedonian people during the Balkan Wars. This is an important document which we
should make available, free of charge, to all European countries and to every important politician. However the
quicksand in which we continue to sink, causes us to criticise, and even burn this document, thereby rejecting it
and thereby destroying the only internationally acknowledged document concerning the Balkan Wars and the
partition of Macedonia. Why I ask? Why do we flee from that which we should confront? Just because the
International Commission in its report only speaks of Macedonian-Bulgarians in Macedonia? It is fortunate that
neither the Alexandrovists or Mihailovists were prominent in 1914, otherwise it is certain we would have accused
them of bribing the International observers.
Finally, as regards national reconciliation, I must once again advance the position that in Macedonia national
reconciliation between the present living and the past dead is more than essential. National reconciliation within
any country arises from circumstances where there existed prior fighting and bloodshed between two factions.
There is no national reconciliation necessary in the absence of killing. Importantly we need this if we hope to
support the concept of an independent Macedonia, Macedonian Nation, and Macedonian Church. This is
absolutely what we have to do if we posses the courage to unflinchingly face some undeniable historic truths
without seeking to assign "guilt" to just two or three historic personalities so that we may manufacture a false
ideology. This is the only way we can escape from the 'dead-end street' in which we currently find ourselves.
| |
Тема
|
Ako mozesh da chitash Anglijski, ke razberesh...
[re: Josif]
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|
Автор |
B v l g a r i () |
Публикувано | 16.03.00 05:49 |
|
...deka Bulgari i Tatari nemat nishto obshto (zaednichko).
Vo stranata koja ni naveduva MAKEDONEC Bulgarite se pobedile i gospodarstvali nad Fino-Ugarski i Turkski plemena kaj Volga. A po toa vreme svetot ne i duri chuel za "Tatari". Tatari ima vo Bulgaria okolu 5 000 vo Istochna Bulgaria, site se Muslimani i zboruvat Turski.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Koj ima ochi, neka gleda. Koj ima ushi neka chue"
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citaj tema, :))))
Se se, ama nikako da dokazat deka ne se tatari.
Ushkum bum, Tatar Bulgar, chum gum.
E sega sum prav Bugar, cim nauciv Tatarski.
| |
Тема
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Sum trefnal nekoj zulj, hehehehehehehe
[re: MAKEDONEC]
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Автор |
Dobrin () |
Публикувано | 20.03.00 04:59 |
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Prav si che se otkloniavat ot temata i az sum razocharovan. Ta kakvo tochno iskash da ti obiasnia za Tatarite. Tia tatari za koito govorish te nemat nishto obshto nito s suvremennite bulgari nito s prabulgarite. Tatarite sa Mongolci te dori ne sa bili Turki i sa bili vposledstvie Turkizirani. Vseki shte ti kazhe che te sa bili horata koito sa unishtozhili Volzhska Bulgaria, te sa opustoshili Ungaria i dori Dunavska Bulgaria e bila napulno razorena ot tehnite napadenie sled koito veche nikoga ne uspiala da se vuzstanovi. Taka che az prosto ne moga da razbera kakvo izobshto ni gubite vremeto s tia Tatari. Tezi tatari koito zhiveiat po Volga se schitat ednovremenno naslednici i na Tatarite i na Volzhskite Bulgari /puk i na drugi narodi/ i to si e taka. Nie po sushtia nachin sme naslednici kakto na prabulgarite taka i na slavianite. Kakvo tolkova trudno ima za razbirane.
Eto procheti i tova za Chuvashite shtoto istoriata s tiah e sushtata. Vsichki se nadprevarvat koi e po-goliam Bulgarin za razlika ot vas koito ste gotovi vsichko ot slavnoto si minalo da zalichite.
http://www.chuvsu.ru/chuvashia/chuvashi/history.htm
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