U.S. English Foundation Research
GREECE
Language Research
4. Minority groups: To what extent are minority groups in this country disadvantaged by their language?
TURKISH
Human rights violations in the education field affect the largest number of individuals and have done the most to foster the Turkish minority's relative underdevelopment. Schools are overcrowded and poorly funded compared to those attended by ethnic Greeks. The quality of the teachers is quite low. Ethnic Turks educated in Turkish universities, which the minority believes are the best qualified to teach, have not been hired for a number of years. On the other hand, graduates of the Thessaloniki Pedagogical Academy (EPATH)-the job candidates preferred by the Greek state-are poorly educated and have a weak command of the Turkish language. Furthermore, community members claim, not without some justification that the EPATH-trained teachers act as "ideological overseers." Textbooks are decades out of date because Greece and Turkey have been unable to implement a 1968 protocol that would have allowed each country to supply textbooks to their respective minority. The two Turkish-language high schools can provide only a fraction of the needed places, resulting in a disproportionate dropout rate. Greek officials fall back on the Treaty of Lausanne, which only obligates them to provide primary education in Turkish, ignoring the fact that Greek law mandates a minimum of nine years of education. State repression takes other forms as well. Members of the ethnic Turkish minority also complain of police surveillance, discrimination in public employment, and restrictions on freedom of expression.
Greece's attitude toward the ethnic Turkish minority is nowhere more evident then in its continued official denial of the Turkish identity of the community. Greece only accepts the existence of a "Muslim" minority in Thrace and aggressively prosecutes and bans organizations and individuals who seek to call themselves "Turkish." While it is indeed true that much of the minority is of mixed ethnic origins, it overwhelmingly claims an ethnic Turkish identity and wants to be referred to as such. The Greek government points to the Treaty of Lausanne, which speaks only about a "Muslim minority." Past government policy, however, negates such a justification. In the early 1950s, during a period of rapprochement between Greece and Turkey, the Greek government itself ordered the use of "Turk" and "Turkish" to refer to the minority, rather than "Muslim."
VLACH (AROMANIAN)
The situation of the Aromanians in Greece is a very delicate one. More Aromanians live in Greece today than in all other countries combined, yet their situation is the most complicated. They are not recognized as a national minority, since Greece does not acknowledge the existence of national minorities within its boundaries but rather religious ones (Muslims). Also the Greek government has pursued an active policy of "ethnic homogenization" which has weakened the identity of the national minorities residing in Greece. As part of this policy minorities have been renamed with the clear intent of creating a separation between them and the state in which they form a majority (Albanians are now called Arvanites and Macedonians Slavs). As for Aromanians, they are defined by Greek authorities to be Vlach-speaking Greeks. Furthermore, the government has done everything possible to limit their cultural ties with Romania.
As part of the limitation policy the use of minority languages has been banned. There are recorded situations when those using Aromanian in public, especially in the army, have been persecuted. In general, the use of minority languages has been portrayed as a sign of backwardness, and the name of Vlach has been given a connotative meaning of a lazy person.
MACEDONIANS
A policy of merciless assimilation of the Macedonian ethnic minority is under way, through legal measures and court decisions. Use of the Macedonian language and religion has been banned. Under a specially made law, put into force after being published in the Official Gazette, the Macedonian names of cities, villages, rivers, mountains etc have been changed; and there has been a concerted effort to ignore all the Macedonian elements in Greece.
ALBANIANS
Orthodox "Arvanideses" have also become the target of a radical assimilation policy of the Greek Government. The public use of the mother tongue, Albanian, has been banned and the Albanian place-names have been changed to Greek ones.
Top of page
Updated (February 2004)
COURT DECISION SAYS MACEDONIAN IS A NON-EXISTENT LANGUAGE
On December 19, 2003 the Court of First Instance in Florina denied to recognize the Macedonian cultural association called "Home of Macedonian Civilization" (Stegi Makedonikou Politismou) and to list it into the Public Register of Associations. The court alleged that the association poses a threat to public order and provides an opportunity to create a historically "non-existent Macedonian nation".
The same situation occurred in 1998, when Greece was also condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for having failed to recognize the same association. Consequently, Greece promised not to repeat the same judicial errors what was positively evaluated in 2000, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
Source: Mercator News, February 2004, http://www.ciemen.org/mercator/index-gb.htm, (for more information, see http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/special_issues/home_of_macedonian_civilization.html
Top of page
Updated (October 2004)
MACEDONIAN MINORITY CRITICIZES GREECE AT AN OSCE CONFERENCE
Rainbow, the Organization of Macedonian Minority in Greece, has criticized Greece at the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) conference taking place in Warsaw. Rainbow representatives presented reports about the situation of the Macedonian minority in Greece, Bulgaria and in Albania.
Greece has been reproached for its continuous denial to recognize the Macedonian minority at the national, linguistic or social level. The Macedonians in Greece still lack basic human rights, such as access to Macedonian-language education, freedom of speech and the media or culture.
Rainbow pointed out several cases illustrating how the country violated certain EU rules1. The representatives of this organization urged the Greek government again to respect the right to self-determination and to give an official minority status to the ethnic or linguistic groups within its territory. They also urged the OSCE, the EU and the Council of Europe (CoE) to exercise pressure on Greece to apply the rules which it has already accepted and which are also prerequisite for all OSCE, EU and CoE member states.
The same appeal was made by the representatives of the Western Thrace Minority University Graduates' Association (WTMUGA), one of the main entities of the Turkish minority in Greece. The Association has focused on educational and social issues, such as renewal of books used in minority schools, interference of the Greek state in an electoral process for religious bodies, prosecutions against members of the Turkish minority and the return of property.
On the other hand, the Greek representative, Mr Moshopoulos, said that Greece is a democratic country respecting human rights and international rules. In spite of the fact that international governmental and non-governmental organizations such as the European Commission against Racism or Intolerance (ECRI), International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF) and the Minority Rights Group International (MRGI) again have officially requested recognition of the Macedonian minority, he stated that this minority does not exist in Greece, while the "Muslim" west Thracian minorities, comprising Turks, Pomaks and Roma; enjoy a high standard of living and absolute freedom.
Source: Eurolang News, Athens, October 12, 2004, by George Papadakis, www.eurolang.net
1 Non-recognition of the Home of Macedonian Culture (Dom za Makedoskata Kultura) despite the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights; the closure of the radio station "Macedonian Sound", and the cancellation (twice) of EFA-Vinozhito's Congress because of extremists' threats, which were not denounced by the Greek state.
Top of page
Updated (January 2006)
MACEDONIAN MINORITY PARTY TO GO TO COURT OVER GREEK ALLEGATIONS
EFA-Rainbow, the Macedonian minority party in Greece, is planning to register a complaint in the Greek courts against a Greek diplomat and the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs for libel. In a press release issued on December 5, 2005, the party stated that it could no longer tolerate continuous and defamatory allegations from Greek officials, claiming that EFA-Rainbow's main goal is secession from Greece. Adding that there is a close co-operation with the Republic of Macedonia to achieve it.
According to EFA-Rainbow, it is only a country's excuse seeking to justify its attitude towards Macedonian minority.
Facing tough criticism, a Greek diplomat stated to the Legal Affairs and Human Rights Parliamentary Committee of the Council of Europe that the few "slavophones" who live in Greece have the right to speak their own language and teach it in private schools. However, not a single school in Greece offers courses in Macedonian, while all governments have so far refused to introduce the language into public in the areas where Macedonians live. Furthermore, Greece has not ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities yet, although they signed it in 1997.
In order to avoid any kind of dialogue regarding the issue of the Macedonian minority, Greek officials (both outside and inside the country) have refused to meet with EFA-Rainbow representatives or other minority members. For example, the party was excluded from the scheduled meeting between its partner organization FUEN and the representatives of the Greek Ministry of Education. The same happened when the party requested a meeting with the Greek Ambassador in Belgium. The embassy agreed to a meeting with another Greek diplomat under the precondition that only Ms Maes, the president of the EFA-Rainbow, would be present.
Source: Eurolang News, Florina - Lerin, December 6, 2005, by Georgios N. Papadakis, http://www.eurolang.net/
Top of page
Updated (March 2006)
MACEDONIAN MINORITY PARTY, EFA-RAINBOW, BRINGS GREEK DIPLOMATS IN FRONT OF JUSTICE
On 21 February 2006, the EFA-Rainbow registered a complaint against Greek diplomat, Georgios Ayfantis, and his political supervisors at the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs who, while trying to justify the reasons why Greece has not yet ratified the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities, used a series of absurd and false allegations against Macedonian ethnic group.
When he was directly asked why Greece does not recognize its Macedonian minority, Ayfantis claimed: "These few Slavophones who are represented by the EFA-Rainbow are individuals who want to get secession from Greece and join Macedonia." So now, he will have the unique opportunity to prove his statements in front of Greek courts.
EFA- Rainbow will call as witnesses, among others, the Head of the Greek Parliamentary delegation in the Council of Europe, Ms Elsa Papadimitriou, the MPs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, Theodoros Pangalos and Nassos Alevras, as well as the representatives of the Greek Helsinki Monitor, who were all present when the above statement took place.
Source: The Minelres Archives, February 21, 2006 http://lists.delfi.lv/pipermail/minelres/2006-February/004481.html and
http://www.florina.org/html/2006/slanderers_justice.html
Top of page
Updated (September 2006)
A fact-finding mission of representatives of the European Free Alliance (EFA) party has been held in Greece to witness how the country deals with the issue of Macedonians living on its territory. The mission revealed that Greece is continuously failing to comply with international accords concerning human rights and protection of ethnic and linguistic minorities.
In a press conference held in the city of Florina/Lerin after the European Free Alliance delegation's meetings with Greek local authorities, Bernat Joan i Mari (EFA Vice President) stressed that it is unacceptable and counter-productive to continue to deny the existence of the Macedonian people and their language. He urged Greece to organize an open census allowing Macedonians to declare their ethnic, linguistic and cultural origin. He also rejected the Greek allegations that Macedonian is a not a distinct and different language. Adding that now is the time to overcome the burdens intentionally raised by Greece's obsession with disputable historical facts and look towards the future based on the present situation.
Further, the EFA representatives had the chance to meet with high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and university professors in Thessaloniki/Solun. Although the delegation was invited to visit Greece by local EFA affiliate party EFA-Rainbow, which campaigns for recognition of the Macedonian minority, the representatives of this party were expelled from the above-mentioned meeting because they did not have a personal invitation. It is considered by EFA Rainbow that it is part of the policy of the Greek state to avoid any kind of direct dialogue with Macedonians.
Source: Eurolang News, September 20, 2006 by Georgios N. Papadakis http://www.eurolang.net/
Top of page
Updated (June 2007)
VLACH ACTIVIST WON THE CASE AGAINST THE NEWSPAPER
President of the Aromanian Cultural Society and the leading Vlach activist in Greece, Sotiris Bletsas, has won his lawsuit against Dimitris Rizos, owner of the nationalist right-wing daily "Independent Press" (Adesmeftos Typos).
The court decided that the terms such as "pro-Skopjan" and "little agent" used in the newspaper to describe Mr. Bletsas and his actions to improve the status of the Vlach-speaking community in Greece were both libelous and insulting.
He will be paid 10,000 Euro in compensation and the newspaper must publish a prominent statement of apology.
Mr. Bletsas says that this is not a victory in the true sense and that he can only hope that it will finally prevent these so-called journalists from slandering and constantly demonizing minority groups in Greece.
Mr. Bletsas, who is a well-known figure amongst lesser-used language activists from across Europe, has been engaged in continuous litigation since 1995. He was arrested for distributing EBLUL leaflets written in the six lesser-used languages of Greece (Vlach, Macedonian, Turkish, Pomak, Arvanite and Romani). At first, he was sentenced to fifteen-month imprisonment but since his acquittal by the Appeal Court, he has gone on to win all his other cases against the Member of the Parliament who initially sued him and several newspapers.
Moreover, Mr. Bletsas plans another lawsuit - against famous TV-personality Makis Triantafyllopoulos. He has recently claimed on his show that Bletsas and people like him are paid from abroad to create trouble and destabilize Greece.
Source: Eurolang News, June 11, 2007 by Georgios N. Papadakis http://www.eurolang.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2894&Itemid=1&lang=en
Top of page
Updated (August 2007)
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION CARRYING THE WORD “MINORITY” IN THE NAME WAS PROHIBITED
Just recently, the Iskece (Xanthi) Administrative Court has prohibited an establishment of “Minority Civil Society Solidarity Association” by the Turkish minority as the name carries the word “minority”. The Court's decision is based on the fact that it is not clear whether the “minority” word in the name of the association defines religious or ethnic Turkish minority and thus it constitutes a risk for the public order.
Furthermore, the Court underlined the fact that the state had the right to protect its own security and thus the foundations that constitute risk for the security of the nation can be prohibited in that sense. The Court also stated that the minority group in Western Thrace was defined “Muslim Minority”, both in Turkey and Greece, under the framework of Lausanne Treaty. However, the fact that Western Thrace Minority was clearly defined as a minority in the Treaty, which has the right to establish foundations under “minority” definitions, was absolutely ignored.
As might be recalled, Greek authorities prohibited the establishment of Meric Minority Youth Association on the back of the same reasoning, yet permitting the establishment of Iskece (Xanthi) Pomak Culture Association.
Halit Habipoglu, chairman of the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe, seriously criticized the decision adding that Greece fell short of democracy by prohibiting associations with Turkish word in their names earlier and now by banning those carrying minority names.
Source: Minelres Archives, August 2007 http://lists.delfi.lv/pipermail/minelres/2007-August/date.html
Top of page
Updated (August 2008)
MACEDONIA CALLS FOR OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF THE MACEDONIAN MINORITY IN GREECE
A call for recognition of the Macedonian minority in Greece has added further complications to the long-lasting conflict between Macedonia and Greece over the official name for the former Yugoslav republic. Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has recently sent a letter to NATO, OSCE, G8 and UN Security Council members asking them to put pressure on Greece to recognize the existence of Macedonians living on its territory.
In July, the Macedonian Prime Minister called on his Greek counterpart, Kostas Karamanlis, to grant “basic rights” to the Macedonian minority in Greece, including the right to education and the possibility to use their mother tongue in areas where the minority is concentrated. Karamanlis, however, replied that there is no Macedonian minority in Greece.
PM Gruevski believes that Greece by denying the recognition of minority rights for the Macedonian minority is violating international laws and treaties protecting ethnic and linguistic minorities and therefore seeks help from the above-mentioned international bodies.
Source: Ciemen Nationalia, News – Europe, August 7, 2008 http://www.nationalia.info/en/news/225
Top of page |
