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Rainbow - a political party of Macedonians living in Greece - will hold its second Congress on Sunday, which as announced is to review the activities for improving the status of Macedonian minority in the Greek society.
The Congress will assemble delegates from all local party organizations in northern Greece and of the European Free Alliance (EFA), as Rainbow has been its member or several years.
The event is expected to send a message to Greece's leadership, calling it to respect the rights of the Macedonian minority in compliance with all international conventions.
Organizers of the event say there have been no announcements yet by Greek ultranationalists for obstructing the party's congress as it was the case four years ago in Thessaloniki.
The Republic of Macedonia has filed legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague against Greece. Macedonia has filed an Application with the Registrar of the Court to bring Greece into compliance with its legal obligations under the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995, which binds the two countries., the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday in a press release.
Article 11 of the 1995 Accord obliges Greece not to object to Macedonia's application to join NATO. At the NATO Summit held in Bucharest in April 2008, however, Greece objected to extending NATO membership invitation to Macedonia, thus flagrantly violating its obligations under the Interim Accord.
Antonio Milososki, Foreign Minister and Macedonia's representative before ICJ, says that protection of Macedonian rights under the Interim Agreement is the only reason for filing the Application.
- We have given a lot of thought before initiating this case, but we see no other way for justice to be done and our rights to be protected. We hope this action might encourage Greece to bring its actions into compliance with its international legal obligations, and that it might also encourage our two countries to reach a final settlement on outstanding issues in the spirit of good-neighbourliness and cooperation envisaged by the Interim Accord, Milososki said.
He expressed belief that ICJ would help in settling this legal dispute, considering its just and prompt actions.
- We are not asking the Court to deal with other political issues, so that the dispute over the name is not the subject of our Application. We also want to stress that we remain strongly committed to all aspects of the Interim Accord, in particular to the process of negotiations with Greece, mediated by the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Milososki said.
The Application requests the International Court of Justice to adjudge and declare that (Greece), through its State organs and agents, has violated its obligations under Article 11, paragraph 1 of the Interim Accord; to order that (Greece) immediately take all necessary steps to comply with its obligations under Article 11, paragraph 1 of the Interim Accord, and to cease and desist from objecting in any way, whether directly or indirectly, to (Macedonia's) NATO membership and/or any other 'international, multilateral and regional organizations and institutions' of which (Greece) is a member, in circumstances where (Macedonia) is to be referred to in such organizations or institutions by the designation provided for in paragraph 2 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 817 (1993).
ICJ is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations.Established in 1945 by the UN Charter, the Court began work in 1946 as the successor to the Permanent Court of International Justice.
The Court's workload is characterised by a wide range of judicial activity. Its main functions are to settle legal disputes submitted to it by member states and to give advisory opinions on legal questions submitted to it by duly authorized international organs, agencies and the UN General Assembly.
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By Takis Michas in Athens
The legal prosecution and state-inspired harassment of people professing different views on “national issues” that took place during the early 1990s has left deep marks on Greek society.This was the opening statement from the Greek Radical Democrats, an organization out of Athens who is currently visiting Bitola, southern Macedonia. The organization is said to be undertaking "Anti-Nationalist", "Anti-Militaristic" initiative all over Greece.
At todays' meeting with representatives of the Aegean Macedonians, the Greek radical democrats confirmed they are opening a widespead campaign in Greece to ban and remove the racist laws implemented in the past 20 years which forbids Macedonians born in nothern Greece from entrance in the country and return on their land.
"This is unacceptable, racist behaviour of official Athens. This is, in fact a major crime that is being waged on the Macedonians until present day, even though the very same people gave their lives so Greece can be a free country today," says Nikos Janopoulos, representative of Greek radical democrats organization.
This meeting was seen in positive light from the Aegean Macedonian communities.
"Our meeting with our friends from Athens will bring about positive developments so Greek Parliament can remove the laws brought against us, so we can sooner return to our properties." says Gorgji Donevski, the head of the Aegean Macedonians Association.
MINA finds that Greek resentment by ordinary Athenians against official Athens is growing, particularly in the past two month. Many believe their Government has crossed the line with its policies regarding Macedonia.Skopje, October 31 (MIA) - The Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has every legitimate right to choose how it will express its protest related to the outburst of anti-Macedonian hysteria at the military parade in Thessaloniki, Ministry officials said Friday in their reaction in connection to Thursday's statement given by Head of Greece's Liaison Office to Skopje, Alexandra Papadopoulou.
- The Greek arguments stated by the head of Greece's Liaison Office in Skopje, Papadopoulou we unfortunately had the chance to hear them at the military march held a few days ago, from the mouths of Greek army members. We're prepared and adamant to inform all relevant international organisations and institutions about the case and to submit a footage from the military parade, MoFA stated.
The footage, which is being technically processed, with English language subtitle will be sent to representatives of NATO, EU, OSCE, CoE, UN... in the course of next week.
Commenting the condemnation regarding the outburst of nationalism and chauvinism directed against Macedonia at a military parade in Thessaloniki on Oct. 28 expressed by deputy foreign minister Zoran Petrov, the Head of Greece's Liaison Office Papadopoulou told ANA-MPA agency she realised from Petrov's statements that "the Government does not want or does not dare to listen to the Greek positions and arguments."

“Nationalistic and at times fascists chants from the Greek military at the parade in Salonika is not surprising.
What is surprising is the passive non-responsive ways of the EU and NATO who refuse to issue any comment, four days after the scandal” say experts who described Greece as a mentally challenged child under the wings of EU and NATO able to say or do anything without being reprimanded.
“We expect, if there is such a thing as a system of values that unite this nations, that system to be equal for everyone, instead of hiding behind some fake solidarity, because Macedonia is at the door of the Alliance”, says Biljana Vankovska, University Professor.
The chants at the military parade in Salonika were demonstration of force and pressure on Macedonia, say the experts.
“This is a verbal pressure on Macedonia, with very dangerous tendencies, I’d say military threats aimed at Macedonia and the supporters of Macedonia.” Says Blagoja Markovski, expert on security questions.
NATO has no comment on the incident, the statement came from Brussels without an explanation. No comment from the EU. OESC will first wait for the video, and may come up with a statement.
Greek Army chants Anti-Macedonian slogans on their paradeс
Slogans such as "Macedonia is Greek", "Greek blood flows through Macedonians' veins" and "We won't give the name Macedonia to Skopje" were chanted by Greek commandos at yesterday's parade organised in Solun on Greece's national holiday October 28, writes Ethnos daily on Wednesday.
The chanting, comments the newspaper, prompted an awkward situation in the official box where defense ministers of seven southeastern European countries were seated in addition to Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Government members.
Kathimerini newspaper says that Greek Defense Minister Evangelos Meimarakis, on occasion of the holiday, has sent invitations for the parade to all his Balkan counterparts, including the Macedonian one, but "Skopje rejected the invitation." The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo did not shift its position regarding the use of Macedonia's name and it will still call the country by its constitutional name.
This is the note sent Thursday by the Permanent Mission of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Congo's authorities confirm that their position on Macedonia's name remains unchanged, in line with the Communiqué on establishing diplomatic ties between the two countries, signed in September 1999.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki wrote a letter to the Foreign Minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Antipas Mbusa Nyamwisi, in which he expressed gratitude to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo on using the constitutional name of Macedonia alongside 126 countries across the world.
It's not clear what is the Greek Government gaining from manipulating its population. Greek Media boasted on the "success" of Athens even though it knew they are misinforming the public. Of course, Panama, Mexico and now DR. Congo will disappear from the Greek media, until the next propaganda appears.
It has become more than obvious that 'news' coming out of Athens should not be taken seriously.
Hats off to the Macedonian Government who insisted they were not notified by DR Congo on the change of their stance and believed the African country will not change its stance. Right they were.
One of the most influential Asian states, the Republic of India, starting this month uses the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia in bilateral communication between the two countries.
Indian Government on Oct. 6 informed Macedonian Foreign Ministry that newly opened Macedonian Embassy in New Delhi has been registered in state diplomatic protocol of this country under its constitutional name and not under the reference the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Despite of severe oppose and strong pressures by the Greek officials in an attempt to prevent this decision by the India's authorities, Macedonia with enormous diplomatic efforts, succeeded Macedonian Embassy to be registered under the constitutional name, Macedonian Foreign Ministry told MIA.
India and Macedonia established diplomatic relations in Feb. 1996 under the provisional reference the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Macedonian Government in Jan. 2008 adopted a decision for opening an embassy in New Delhi aimed at intensifying the political and economic cooperation with India.
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