The Greek border Authorites earlier today prevented a group of Greek citizens, ethnic Macedonians from entering Macedonia, local media reported. According to sources in the Greek Government, their citizens were not allowed to enter Macedonia because they needed to obtain "new passports".
Unofficially, the Macedonians had been treathened by Greek Authorities to not visit Prilep where they were taking part of a Football Tournament named "Roots, Juniors 2008".
The ethnic Macedonians showed up on the border wearing the traditional Macedonian red colors. Greece hasn't established a particular friendship with the red color ever since painting the British East India flag Blue.
"Obviously someone was bothered that they were Macedonians. They think if they stop them from coming to Macedonia, the Macedonians there will somehow forget about Macedonia", said Zoran Petrov, Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Similar incident ocurred on the Bulgarian - Turkish border. Once the Bulgarian Authorities saw the large group were Macedonians from Turkey, they refused to issue them a transit visa, citing 'byrocratic problems'.
"We don't know the reasons why they were not issued transit visas, they waited for one until the last moment" said Boris Temoski, president of "We are Here".
"We will look for an explanation why they were not allowed to enter, from Greece and Bulgaria. It is common practice for Greece or Bulgaria to come up with an excuse that "the passports need to be brand new" or "they applied too late", we have heard this more thousands of times. We are sick and tired of this." said Zoran Petrov.
Several hundred Macedonian junior football players gathered in Prilep, Macedonia, hailing from Serbia, Slovenia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Croatia, Bulgaria.
All of the youths as well as Tournament Management weren't surprised that Macedonians from Greece didn't make it.
These incidents just confirm the inhumane treatment Macedonians get in Greece and Bulgaria.
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