Macedonian-Greek argument?

So whats it all about? I got a bunch of Macedonian friends that dislike and argue with Greeks alot but i have no clue what the argument is exactly. I know this is a touchy subject so please be respectful about both sides of it, no bias.

I wish a good fight, at least, as good as what greeks doing in greece.

Originally posted by Akolouthos Basically, after the disintegration of Yugoslavia, one of the breakaway republics took the name "Macedonia", which also happens to be the name of a historical region in Greece. The Greeks responded by naming the new country "FYROM", or "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (I believe this is what the acronymn stands for). The dispute is over whether or not, and to what degree, a people has the right to self identify when its self identification appears to infringe upon the cultural heritage of another people. The Greeks also claim to fear that the name of the country is part of a plan to claim rights over the Greek province -- which appears to be unlikely, but is not out of the question. This is the dispute, as I understand it, in a nutshell.   -Akolouthos

That is the gist of it I believe.

Thanks for the summary Akolouthos.

Edited by Husaria - 18-Dec-2008 at 05:24

We do not just call the FYROM thats there multilateral name (eg UN/EU) until one is agreed on. Until then they will be stuck with a fugly acronym. Now if they want to qualify their name with 'northern' or 'upper' etc it would be fine with Greece, instead they insist on being THE Macedonia which is not fine.

Also, many Macedonians feel irritated that the Hellenistic civilisation that arose after the classical period is regarded as Greek, rather than Macedonian, which was the name of the ancient state from which the Diadochi and Alexander III "The great" came from. Thus, there have been several attempts (which Flipper excellently destroyed!) to prove that the culture and language of the Diadochi was actually slavic. It's an ongoing debate, but since Macedonians are essentially Slavic, they feel that their cultural identity is being given to someone else because of the very use of the word "Hellenistic". Someone else said the basic jidst of it, but this is personally the bit that I find interesting.

First of all, thanks Aster Thrax Eupator for the credits. 

Second, I believe most of the people analysed the issue very well here. There's a slight line that could be decide good or bad relations of the two countries.

If the inhabitants of the former yugoslav republic, identified themselves as macedonians and looked upon their southern neighbours as their Greek brothers (likewise makedones looked their northern neighbours as their slavic brothers), then things would be very different.

There are attempts that try to deattach completely the history of the region from Greece and that's what annoys mostly the greek public.

Meanwhile, being from the mountains of south-western macedonia, i usually ask their locals about their view. They usually say, that once they were the "macedones" (Macedonians in greek) but now they have to add the preffix "native" to distinguish themselves from their northern neighbours (which they do not have necessarely a bad thought of).

I think the best example of a man i've seen, regarding this issue, is one of our forum members Cadmus. He comes from Ohrid, sees himself as a Macedonian, but believes that a Macedonian is bound one way or another to a Hellenic tradition not detached. I won't speak  in behalf of him, i hope he sees this thread and expresses his full view. The point is that if most people were like Cadmus, then a "Macedonian" question would never become an issue.

Just talking to my Greek friends on another forum they fear that if they allow them to call their nation Macedonia then they will start to claim the portion of Greece also called Macdonia. Whether this fear is founded or not I am not sure. I do not know why a compromise could be created such as the Slavic Republic of Macedonia or even the northern Repubic of Macedonia. I do not believe most peoople in FYROM want to sieze Greek lands but I have encountered a few on the other forum who dream of this. I hope for a peaceful resolution though although both the compromises I mentioned have been rejected by both sides, mainly Greece.

I need to take time to really study this and one site is:
http://www.macedonia.info/

Edited by eaglecap - 13-Jan-2009 at 19:12

Originally posted by gcle2003 The name issue is essentially unimportant, as Shakespeare would have pointed out. At international conferences, of which we have a lot here, it has essentially become a joke at the expense of both parties concerned.   Belgium has a province called Luxembourg. Luxembourg is an independent country. And nobody cares.

I tend to agree with you but many of the Greeks, both in Greece and abroad, would not agree that their use of the name Macedonia is unimportant. I do not think it is the most important crises in the world or even close but for the people there, both sides, it is.

FRYOM is too weak to even think about going the war over this and I do not believe most even want to but for both sides a name is important. I think in time this issue will be resolved with a compromise.

Originally posted by Suren Certainly, Macedonia is a name that reminds us of Phillip and Alex which Greeks take their inspiration and pride; If you  take that name from Greeks it looks like you have stolen a big chunk of their pride and history.

I tend to agree