Gathering of Refugee Children in the Republic of Macedonia and other parts of the World
Risto Stefov
December 27, 2010
Members of the Child Refugees from the Greek Civil War evacuated in the spring of 1948, now fully integrated adults in the Republic of Macedonia and other parts of the world are organizing World Gatherings and meetings for anniversaries of their evacuation. Their activities, not only in the Republic of Macedonia but in countries all over the world wherever these "Refugee Children" live, are a reflection of their "displacement" and a wish to once again return to their native Macedonia, even for a visit.
Historically, the initiative for holding the First Child Refugee World Gathering was born outside of Macedonia. This idea was in fact initiated in Canada and materialized in Skopje (1) in 1988. The idea of a First Child Refugee World Gathering also motivated the refugee population from the Aegean part of Macedonia, living in the Republic of Macedonia, to form the earliest Refugee Organizations which, even in their infancy, were instrumental in uniting the refugees. One of these organizations was the "Organization of Refugee Children from the Aegean part of Macedonia" which, after its formation, called for a meeting of the local population and established itself at a local level, which over the course of a number of decades, gained strength and took on a traditional role.
After their first meeting in 1950 the refugees, consisting mainly of former residents of the village Dmbeni, Kostur Region, widened their scope and over the years attracted refugees from other villages from the Aegean part of Macedonia. They used the Saraj Recreation Centre in Skopje for their meetings and other activities and over the years managed to attract the Refugee Children from the villages Bapchor, German, Rabi, Orovo, Dobritishta, Trnovo, Nivitsi, Ppli, Orovnik, Besfina, Vambel, Trsje, Setina, Popadija and others. (2)
The First World Gathering of Refugee Children held in Skopje from June 30th to July 3rd, 1988, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the evacuation, was the culmination of many years of hard work, organizing and meetings. A world event was realized with a carefully prepared program consisting of many cultural functions, visits, prayers in memory of the fallen, prayers for world peace and the unveiling of the monument "Zhena-borets" (Woman fighter) in Skopje, dedicated to the suffering of all the mothers who were separated from their children. The program also contained over the table talks on the theme "Exodus of the Refugee Children from the Aegean part of Macedonia". The central place for the Gathering was the Skopje Trade Fair where more than 3,000 Refugee Children gathered. Guests and speakers of the Gathering included high political figures from the Socialist Republic of Macedonia and associated organs as well as the President of the Macedonian Red Cross. During the Gathering a declaration was drafted addressing the World Public not to ignore the suffering of children and to do everything possible to ensure all basic human rights are observed as guaranteed by International Agreements, including the rights of all Macedonians especially the rights of those living in Greece. The Gathering was concluded with an excursion to Lake Treska where more than 50,000 people gathered, mostly younger generations of Refugee Children from Skopje and other parts of the Republic of Macedonia. (3)
Immediately after the First World Gathering, the Refugee Children began to form "Refugee Children Organizations" worldwide including some inside the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Canada and Australia. The Refugee Children Organization in Skopje, created in December 1989, took a national character opening chapters in all cities where refugees lived. (4) Its aim and mission, established under a statute, was to struggle for the protection of human rights (5), within European conventions (6), the Helsinki Act (7) and other International human rights conventions. The Organizationīs activities over time widened, which in addition to struggling for human rights and freedoms, included the struggle for the protection of properties of the Macedonians in Greece and for the promotion of Macedonian culture and education. According to Gjorgji Donevski, who was a participant in these activities, their primary aim was to form a single Macedonian Organization to represent all the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia. However, "in the discussions we led with the Socialist Union of the working people of Macedonia (SSRNM), in which social organizations were included, it was suggested that we only form organizations for the Refugee Children, and not for all the Macedonian Refugees from Greece, under the slogan "Detsa Begaltsi" (Refugee Children), in line with the Gathering held earlier which was accepted by the public and which has remained this way to this day" (8)
After the Organization grew to a national level, more Refugee Children Organizations sprang up, such as the Strumitsa based Organization of Refugees and their Children, the Radovish based Organization for the Protection of Human Rights, the Shtip based Organization for Abused Macedonians Aegea, later renamed Macedonian Aegea, the Bitola based Organization of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia Bitola, the Bitola based Organization of the Descendents of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia and the Skopje based Forum for Human Rights. (9) After these larger organizations were formed, smaller ones, village level organizations, began to form which included the refugee populations from the villages Papadintsi (10), Sveti German (11) and others, which today number around 20. (12)
In time the scope of these organizations grew beyond the struggle for human rights and they became the centres for organizing all the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia, including those living in Greece and in the Diaspora. Organizations such as these took the additional role of organizing meetings, cultivating memories, promoting traditional, cultural and historical events and printing publications. Included in these publications were articles and newspapers designed to inform people of their activities and events and to provide a means of dealing with relevant questions.
Some of the above mentioned Organizations, on February 11, 1995 during a meeting in Shtip, signed an agreement to work together in finding solutions to the current problems and seeking answers to relevant questions which might arise from their activities. (13)
In 2002 the Union of Organizations of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia in Bitola was formed encompassing ten different Organizations among which were the Strumitsa, Radovish, Shtip, Popadintsi and Setintsi Organizations and the Organization of the Descendents of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia from Bitola. (14) Following the formation of the Union of Organizations, the Refugees began a new campaign aimed at uniting all the refugees. On July 8, 2007 a unification conference was held in Bitola and a coordinative committee was selected. (15) During its first sitting, held on September 29, 2007, the eleven member coordinative committee presided by President Metodija Toshevski, Vice President Nikola Kosturski and Secretary Gijorgij Donevski drafted the Organizationīs constitution. (16)
Being able to place their own members in the body of the Coordinative Committee, many Organizations who had not joined larger Organizations before now joined the Union which, according to Donevski, "fulfilled the aim of the Refugees to unite all refugee associations from the Aegean part of Macedonia in the Republic of Macedonia" (17)
In 1993 the Refugees began to publish the newspaper "Nezaborav" (Not Forgotten), which in the beginning served the Refugee Organization from Strumitsa but later its scope was widened to include the Union of Organizations.
Then in December 2001 the Refugee Children club "Nezaborav" was opened in Skopje, which became the centre of activities for all Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia and served as a base of operations for the "Nezaborav" newspaper editorial board and for the Union of Organizations. (18)
In July 2004, the Forum for Human Rights of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia in Skopje resumed its publication of the newspaper "Glas na Egejtsite" (Voice of the Aegeans) (19), which had been out of circulation for the past decade. The purpose for resuming the publication was "to incite the Macedonian spirit, to be witness to the past, to bring understanding to all people in contemporary Europe and the world" and to send a message to current and future generations to remember "as long as Macedonians live, to never forget their suffering and to always remember and resound the voice of the Aegeans". (20)
By organizing activities of this sort, the Refugee Children, over the years, were able to realize the various World Gatherings. The Second World Gathering, being a continuation of the First, was held in Skopje from the 15th to the 19th of July 1998, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Childrenīs evacuation from Greece. More than 3,500 participants from various countries and destinations, as well as representatives from the Macedonian government, political parties, the Macedonian army, the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the "Organization for Human Rights", "Vinozhito" from the Aegean part of Macedonia, "OMO Ilinden" from the Pirin part of Macedonia and "Bratsvo" the political party of the Macedonians from Albania, all attended the Second World Gathering. (21)
A scholarly symposium, under the theme "Ethnic problems in the Aegean part of Macedonia (1912-1995)", was held during this Gathering in Skopje on July 17, 1998, during which a number of papers were presented and later, in 2001, published as a zbornik (collection) by the Organization of Refugee Children. (22)
Two Declarations were also drafted during this Gathering. The first "Declaration of the Second World Gathering" called for an end to all wrong doings against humanity and against all forms of discrimination. This included discrimination against the Macedonian population from Greece which is forbidden to return home and is stripped of its property and of its citizenship. (23) The second Declaration called for unity and cooperation of all Macedonian organizations from the Republic of Macedonia, Greece, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe.
The Third World Gathering was held on August 20th to the 25th, 2003 and, in contrast to the two previous ones, took place on the territory of the Aegean part of Macedonia in Lerin where more than 3,000 Refugee Children from around the world gathered and were able to visit close to 300 places in this part of Macedonia. (24) An unlucky generation of innocent children, drawn into a whirlwind of political interests against its will, after being shunned for 55 years, was finally allowed to visit its birth place. This was a dream come true. This however was not the case for all Refugees, even after 55 years of being exiled; Greece would still not allow some to return, not even for a short visit.
Macedonian Refugee activities in the various countries, wherever they found themselves in the last 80 years since Macedoniaīs partition and annexation by Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria in 1913, is exactly what connected Macedonians with their strong desire to manifest their Macedonian national consciousness. This was most effective during times when the internal political atmosphere was right, particularly in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia or more widely in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia where there was a national feeling present in the different people of Yugoslavia.
It was the right time for the Socialist Republic of Macedonia to disassociate itself from the "Yugoslav feeling" and to begin to look to the Macedonian immigrants abroad for contact and cooperation in taking a larger step towards ethnic and national autonomy. (25) Proof of this was the Refugee Childrenīs First World Gathering "whose aim was to reaffirm the distinctiveness and struggle of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia before a world public. To highlight the discrimination perpetrated by the Greek state against the Refugees from the Aegean part of Macedonia and the Macedonian people in general. And to strengthen feelings of unity and solidarity among all the Macedonian people worldwide and to work together in solving fundamental problems in order to ensure a better future for all Macedonians and their country". (26)
The initiating committee for organizing the first gathering frequently met at Gijorgij Donevskiīs office in the Tourist Union of Skopje where he worked. Sensing that "at that time, the Presidency of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was against the kind of politics in which Macedonia was involved, particularly against the politics of the Macedonian government, was not going to allow such a Gathering to take place. This of course was due to Greece putting pressure on Yugoslavia through diplomatic channels. Fortunately the Macedonian government did not fold and allowed the Gathering to take place under the preselected program as planned. Unfortunately the media did not participate and did not report on any of the events that took place during the Gathering. The Gathering however did take place and was magnificent." (27)
According to Risto Chachkirovski, President of the Organization of Refugee Children in Toronto, Canada, the Gathering "was a very important event because it represented the awakening of the Macedonian consciousness, desperately needed for Macedonia to bring itself out of Yugoslavia and be uniquely Macedonian." (28)
There is also a humanitarian side to this Gathering because one of its aims was "to bring attention to the world public about the injustices of war with a message that wars should never be allowed to take place anywhere. Violence, discrimination, abuse of human rights, lack of freedom, etc., should not be allowed anywhere. The fate of the Refugee Children from the Greek Civil War should never be allowed to be repeated". (29) A message echoed from the literary, artistic and cultural creations of every member of this generation. A message that must forever be remembered by all Macedonians the world over who nurse the memory of a tragic event from the history of the Macedonian people.
Notes:
(1) Prvata Svetska sredba na decata-begalci bila odrzhana od 30 juni do 3 juli 1988 godina vo Skopje. Nejzinata realizacija nastanala na inicijativa na semejstvoto na Lena i Vasil Pandzharovi od Toronto, Kanada, pokrenata ushte vo 1984 godina. Tie, preku generalniot konzul vo Toronto, Petar Tolev, za svojata zamisla go izvestile i Sekretarijatot za odnosi so stranstvo pri Vladata na SR Makedonija. Iako podgotovkite za odrzhuvanje na sredbata zapochnale da se odvivaat neposredno po dadenata inicijativa i preku formiranje inicijativni odbori vo SRM, SAD i Avstralija, sepak nejzinata realizacija nastanala po dadenata soglasnost od Sojuzniot Sekretarijat za nadvoreshni raboti na FNRJ, vo fevruari 1988 godina, Fana Martinova-Buckova, I nie sme deca na majkata zemja ..., Zdruzhenie na decata begalci od egejskiot del na Makedonija, Skopje, 1998, 231-232
(2) Gjorgji Donevski/Misho Kitanoski, Deca begalci od Egejska Makedonija vo Jugoslavija, Zdruzhenie na decata begalci od Egejskiot del na Makedonija, Skopje, 2003, 299-300
(3) Za sodrzhinite na sredbata vidi poopshirno vo: Nova Makedonija, god. XLIV, br.14883-14887, Skopje, 30 juni - 4 juli 1988 god.
(4) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski, voden vo oktomvri 2007 godina
(5) Univerzalnata deklaracija za pravata na chovekot e usvoena na Generalnoto Sobranie na OON na 10 dekemvri 1948 godina, i objavena vo Rezolucijata 217 A (III), Vladimir Ortakovski, Me|unarodnata polozhba na malcinstvata, Misla, Skopje, 1996, 200-202; Obedineti nacii - Temelni dokumenti, NIP Nova Makedonija, Skopje, 1995, s.63-69
(6) Konvencijata za zashtita na chovekovite prava i osnovni slobodi, sostavena od Sovetot na Evropa, e potpishana na 4 noemvri 1950 godina, a stapila na sila na 3 Za sodrzhinite na sredbata vidi poopshirno vo: Nova Makedonija, god. XLIV, br.14883-14887, Skopje, 30 juni - 4 juli 1988 god.
(6) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski, voden vo oktomvri 2007 godina
(6) Univerzalnata deklaracija za pravata na chovekot e usvoena na Generalnoto Sobranie na OON na 10 dekemvri 1948 godina, i objavena vo Rezolucijata 217 A (III), Vladimir Ortakovski, Mefjunarodnata polozhba na malcinstvata, Misla, Skopje, 1996, 200-202; Obedineti nacii - Temelni dokumenti, NIP Nova Makedonija, Skopje, 1995, s.63-69
(6) Konvencijata za zashtita na chovekovite prava i osnovni slobodi, sostavena od Sovetot na Evropa, e potpishana na 4 noemvri 1950 godina, a stapila na sila na septemvri 1953 godina, V. Ortakovski, cit. trud, 233; M.Janis/R.Kej/A. Bredli, Evropsko pravo za chovekovi prava, MI-AN, Skopje, 2002, s.17
(7) Helsinshka spogodba ili Helsinshki akt za pravata na malcinstvata (nachelo VII, stav 4 na Deklaracijata za principite), e usvoen vo Helsinki, na Konferencijata za evropska bezbednost (KEBS) od 1975 godina, V. Ortakovski, cit. trud, 239
(8) Od Razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(9) G. Donevski/M. Kitanoski, cit. trud, 318
(10) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(11) Zdruzhenieto na Makedoncite od egejskiot del na Makedonija Sveti German"-Skopje, e formirano na osnovachkoto Sobranie, odrzhano na 1. XI 2007 god, informacija od Pretsedatelstvoto na Zdruzhenieto
(12) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(13) F.M. Buckova, I nie sme deca ..., 240
(14) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(15) Zapisnik od Osnovachkoto sobranie na Konferencijata za koordinacija na rabotata na Zdruzhenijata na Makedoncite od Egejskiot del na Makedonija, odrzhano na 8 juli 2007 godina vo Bitola, od arhivata na Sojuzot na zdruzhenijata na Makedoncite od egejskiot del na Makedonija
(16) Zapisnik od Prvata konstitutivna sednica na Koordinativnoto telo na Koordinativnata konferencija na Zdruzhenijata na Makedoncite od Egejska Makedonija, odrzhana na 29 septemvri 2007 godina vo Skopje, od arhivata na Sojuzot na zdruzhenijata na Makedoncite od egejskiot del na Makedonija
(17) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(18) Nezaborav, god.VIII, br.23, Skopje, dekemvri 2001, 1
(19) Glas na Egejcite, god I, br.1, Skopje, juli 2004
(20) Chitajte go i slushajte go Glasot na Egejcite, voveden napis na glavniot i odgovoren urednik, Dimitar Mice Dimitrov, Glas na Egejcite, god. I, br.1, Skopje, juli 2004, 2
(21) Poopshirno za Vtorata Svetska sredba vidi: Nova Makedonija, god.LIV, broevi od 18439 do 18444, 15-21 juli, Skopje, 1998; Nezaborav, god.V, br.16, Skopje, septemvri 1998
(22) Zb. Etnichkite promeni vo Egejska Makedonija vo XX vek, ZDBEG, Skopje 2001
(23) Nezaborav, god.V, br.16, Skopje, septemvri 1998, 1-2
(24) Nezaborav, god.X, br.29, Skopje, oktomvri 2003, 1
(25) Ivan Katardziev, Makedonija i Makedoncite niz Svetot, Matica Makedonska, Skopje, 1996, 202
(26) Istoto, 202-203
(27) Od razgovorot so Gjorgj Donevski
(28) Detsa Begaltsi reunion in Skopje ..., Macedonian Trubune, vol.81, No.3356, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, 6 july, 2006, p.8
(29) Pozdravna rech na pretsedatelot na R. Makedonija, Kiro Gligorov, na Vtorata Svetska sredba na decata-begalci od egejskiot del na Makedonija, Nova Makedonija, god. LIV, b
Article written by Dr. Katerina Mirchevska
Translated and edited by Risto Stefov
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Historically, the initiative for holding the First Child Refugee World Gathering was born outside of Macedonia. This idea was in fact initiated in Canada and materialized in Skopje (1) in 1988. The idea of a First Child Refugee World Gathering also motivated the refugee population from the Aegean part of Macedonia, living in the Republic of Macedonia, to form the earliest Refugee Organizations which, even in their infancy, were instrumental in uniting the refugees. One of these organizations was the "Organization of Refugee Children from the Aegean part of Macedonia" which, after its formation, called for a meeting of the local population and established itself at a local level, which over the course of a number of decades, gained strength and took on a traditional role.
After their first meeting in 1950 the refugees, consisting mainly of former residents of the village Dmbeni, Kostur Region, widened their scope and over the years attracted refugees from other villages from the Aegean part of Macedonia. They used the Saraj Recreation Centre in Skopje for their meetings and other activities and over the years managed to attract the Refugee Children from the villages Bapchor, German, Rabi, Orovo, Dobritishta, Trnovo, Nivitsi, Ppli, Orovnik, Besfina, Vambel, Trsje, Setina, Popadija and others. (2)
The First World Gathering of Refugee Children held in Skopje from June 30th to July 3rd, 1988, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the evacuation, was the culmination of many years of hard work, organizing and meetings. A world event was realized with a carefully prepared program consisting of many cultural functions, visits, prayers in memory of the fallen, prayers for world peace and the unveiling of the monument "Zhena-borets" (Woman fighter) in Skopje, dedicated to the suffering of all the mothers who were separated from their children. The program also contained over the table talks on the theme "Exodus of the Refugee Children from the Aegean part of Macedonia". The central place for the Gathering was the Skopje Trade Fair where more than 3,000 Refugee Children gathered. Guests and speakers of the Gathering included high political figures from the Socialist Republic of Macedonia and associated organs as well as the President of the Macedonian Red Cross. During the Gathering a declaration was drafted addressing the World Public not to ignore the suffering of children and to do everything possible to ensure all basic human rights are observed as guaranteed by International Agreements, including the rights of all Macedonians especially the rights of those living in Greece. The Gathering was concluded with an excursion to Lake Treska where more than 50,000 people gathered, mostly younger generations of Refugee Children from Skopje and other parts of the Republic of Macedonia. (3)
Immediately after the First World Gathering, the Refugee Children began to form "Refugee Children Organizations" worldwide including some inside the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, Canada and Australia. The Refugee Children Organization in Skopje, created in December 1989, took a national character opening chapters in all cities where refugees lived. (4) Its aim and mission, established under a statute, was to struggle for the protection of human rights (5), within European conventions (6), the Helsinki Act (7) and other International human rights conventions. The Organizationīs activities over time widened, which in addition to struggling for human rights and freedoms, included the struggle for the protection of properties of the Macedonians in Greece and for the promotion of Macedonian culture and education. According to Gjorgji Donevski, who was a participant in these activities, their primary aim was to form a single Macedonian Organization to represent all the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia. However, "in the discussions we led with the Socialist Union of the working people of Macedonia (SSRNM), in which social organizations were included, it was suggested that we only form organizations for the Refugee Children, and not for all the Macedonian Refugees from Greece, under the slogan "Detsa Begaltsi" (Refugee Children), in line with the Gathering held earlier which was accepted by the public and which has remained this way to this day" (8)
After the Organization grew to a national level, more Refugee Children Organizations sprang up, such as the Strumitsa based Organization of Refugees and their Children, the Radovish based Organization for the Protection of Human Rights, the Shtip based Organization for Abused Macedonians Aegea, later renamed Macedonian Aegea, the Bitola based Organization of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia Bitola, the Bitola based Organization of the Descendents of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia and the Skopje based Forum for Human Rights. (9) After these larger organizations were formed, smaller ones, village level organizations, began to form which included the refugee populations from the villages Papadintsi (10), Sveti German (11) and others, which today number around 20. (12)
In time the scope of these organizations grew beyond the struggle for human rights and they became the centres for organizing all the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia, including those living in Greece and in the Diaspora. Organizations such as these took the additional role of organizing meetings, cultivating memories, promoting traditional, cultural and historical events and printing publications. Included in these publications were articles and newspapers designed to inform people of their activities and events and to provide a means of dealing with relevant questions.
Some of the above mentioned Organizations, on February 11, 1995 during a meeting in Shtip, signed an agreement to work together in finding solutions to the current problems and seeking answers to relevant questions which might arise from their activities. (13)
In 2002 the Union of Organizations of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia in Bitola was formed encompassing ten different Organizations among which were the Strumitsa, Radovish, Shtip, Popadintsi and Setintsi Organizations and the Organization of the Descendents of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia from Bitola. (14) Following the formation of the Union of Organizations, the Refugees began a new campaign aimed at uniting all the refugees. On July 8, 2007 a unification conference was held in Bitola and a coordinative committee was selected. (15) During its first sitting, held on September 29, 2007, the eleven member coordinative committee presided by President Metodija Toshevski, Vice President Nikola Kosturski and Secretary Gijorgij Donevski drafted the Organizationīs constitution. (16)
Being able to place their own members in the body of the Coordinative Committee, many Organizations who had not joined larger Organizations before now joined the Union which, according to Donevski, "fulfilled the aim of the Refugees to unite all refugee associations from the Aegean part of Macedonia in the Republic of Macedonia" (17)
In 1993 the Refugees began to publish the newspaper "Nezaborav" (Not Forgotten), which in the beginning served the Refugee Organization from Strumitsa but later its scope was widened to include the Union of Organizations.
Then in December 2001 the Refugee Children club "Nezaborav" was opened in Skopje, which became the centre of activities for all Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia and served as a base of operations for the "Nezaborav" newspaper editorial board and for the Union of Organizations. (18)
In July 2004, the Forum for Human Rights of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia in Skopje resumed its publication of the newspaper "Glas na Egejtsite" (Voice of the Aegeans) (19), which had been out of circulation for the past decade. The purpose for resuming the publication was "to incite the Macedonian spirit, to be witness to the past, to bring understanding to all people in contemporary Europe and the world" and to send a message to current and future generations to remember "as long as Macedonians live, to never forget their suffering and to always remember and resound the voice of the Aegeans". (20)
By organizing activities of this sort, the Refugee Children, over the years, were able to realize the various World Gatherings. The Second World Gathering, being a continuation of the First, was held in Skopje from the 15th to the 19th of July 1998, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Childrenīs evacuation from Greece. More than 3,500 participants from various countries and destinations, as well as representatives from the Macedonian government, political parties, the Macedonian army, the Macedonian Orthodox Church, the "Organization for Human Rights", "Vinozhito" from the Aegean part of Macedonia, "OMO Ilinden" from the Pirin part of Macedonia and "Bratsvo" the political party of the Macedonians from Albania, all attended the Second World Gathering. (21)
A scholarly symposium, under the theme "Ethnic problems in the Aegean part of Macedonia (1912-1995)", was held during this Gathering in Skopje on July 17, 1998, during which a number of papers were presented and later, in 2001, published as a zbornik (collection) by the Organization of Refugee Children. (22)
Two Declarations were also drafted during this Gathering. The first "Declaration of the Second World Gathering" called for an end to all wrong doings against humanity and against all forms of discrimination. This included discrimination against the Macedonian population from Greece which is forbidden to return home and is stripped of its property and of its citizenship. (23) The second Declaration called for unity and cooperation of all Macedonian organizations from the Republic of Macedonia, Greece, USA, Canada, Australia and Europe.
The Third World Gathering was held on August 20th to the 25th, 2003 and, in contrast to the two previous ones, took place on the territory of the Aegean part of Macedonia in Lerin where more than 3,000 Refugee Children from around the world gathered and were able to visit close to 300 places in this part of Macedonia. (24) An unlucky generation of innocent children, drawn into a whirlwind of political interests against its will, after being shunned for 55 years, was finally allowed to visit its birth place. This was a dream come true. This however was not the case for all Refugees, even after 55 years of being exiled; Greece would still not allow some to return, not even for a short visit.
Macedonian Refugee activities in the various countries, wherever they found themselves in the last 80 years since Macedoniaīs partition and annexation by Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria in 1913, is exactly what connected Macedonians with their strong desire to manifest their Macedonian national consciousness. This was most effective during times when the internal political atmosphere was right, particularly in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia or more widely in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia where there was a national feeling present in the different people of Yugoslavia.
It was the right time for the Socialist Republic of Macedonia to disassociate itself from the "Yugoslav feeling" and to begin to look to the Macedonian immigrants abroad for contact and cooperation in taking a larger step towards ethnic and national autonomy. (25) Proof of this was the Refugee Childrenīs First World Gathering "whose aim was to reaffirm the distinctiveness and struggle of the Macedonians from the Aegean part of Macedonia before a world public. To highlight the discrimination perpetrated by the Greek state against the Refugees from the Aegean part of Macedonia and the Macedonian people in general. And to strengthen feelings of unity and solidarity among all the Macedonian people worldwide and to work together in solving fundamental problems in order to ensure a better future for all Macedonians and their country". (26)
The initiating committee for organizing the first gathering frequently met at Gijorgij Donevskiīs office in the Tourist Union of Skopje where he worked. Sensing that "at that time, the Presidency of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was against the kind of politics in which Macedonia was involved, particularly against the politics of the Macedonian government, was not going to allow such a Gathering to take place. This of course was due to Greece putting pressure on Yugoslavia through diplomatic channels. Fortunately the Macedonian government did not fold and allowed the Gathering to take place under the preselected program as planned. Unfortunately the media did not participate and did not report on any of the events that took place during the Gathering. The Gathering however did take place and was magnificent." (27)
According to Risto Chachkirovski, President of the Organization of Refugee Children in Toronto, Canada, the Gathering "was a very important event because it represented the awakening of the Macedonian consciousness, desperately needed for Macedonia to bring itself out of Yugoslavia and be uniquely Macedonian." (28)
There is also a humanitarian side to this Gathering because one of its aims was "to bring attention to the world public about the injustices of war with a message that wars should never be allowed to take place anywhere. Violence, discrimination, abuse of human rights, lack of freedom, etc., should not be allowed anywhere. The fate of the Refugee Children from the Greek Civil War should never be allowed to be repeated". (29) A message echoed from the literary, artistic and cultural creations of every member of this generation. A message that must forever be remembered by all Macedonians the world over who nurse the memory of a tragic event from the history of the Macedonian people.
Notes:
(1) Prvata Svetska sredba na decata-begalci bila odrzhana od 30 juni do 3 juli 1988 godina vo Skopje. Nejzinata realizacija nastanala na inicijativa na semejstvoto na Lena i Vasil Pandzharovi od Toronto, Kanada, pokrenata ushte vo 1984 godina. Tie, preku generalniot konzul vo Toronto, Petar Tolev, za svojata zamisla go izvestile i Sekretarijatot za odnosi so stranstvo pri Vladata na SR Makedonija. Iako podgotovkite za odrzhuvanje na sredbata zapochnale da se odvivaat neposredno po dadenata inicijativa i preku formiranje inicijativni odbori vo SRM, SAD i Avstralija, sepak nejzinata realizacija nastanala po dadenata soglasnost od Sojuzniot Sekretarijat za nadvoreshni raboti na FNRJ, vo fevruari 1988 godina, Fana Martinova-Buckova, I nie sme deca na majkata zemja ..., Zdruzhenie na decata begalci od egejskiot del na Makedonija, Skopje, 1998, 231-232
(2) Gjorgji Donevski/Misho Kitanoski, Deca begalci od Egejska Makedonija vo Jugoslavija, Zdruzhenie na decata begalci od Egejskiot del na Makedonija, Skopje, 2003, 299-300
(3) Za sodrzhinite na sredbata vidi poopshirno vo: Nova Makedonija, god. XLIV, br.14883-14887, Skopje, 30 juni - 4 juli 1988 god.
(4) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski, voden vo oktomvri 2007 godina
(5) Univerzalnata deklaracija za pravata na chovekot e usvoena na Generalnoto Sobranie na OON na 10 dekemvri 1948 godina, i objavena vo Rezolucijata 217 A (III), Vladimir Ortakovski, Me|unarodnata polozhba na malcinstvata, Misla, Skopje, 1996, 200-202; Obedineti nacii - Temelni dokumenti, NIP Nova Makedonija, Skopje, 1995, s.63-69
(6) Konvencijata za zashtita na chovekovite prava i osnovni slobodi, sostavena od Sovetot na Evropa, e potpishana na 4 noemvri 1950 godina, a stapila na sila na 3 Za sodrzhinite na sredbata vidi poopshirno vo: Nova Makedonija, god. XLIV, br.14883-14887, Skopje, 30 juni - 4 juli 1988 god.
(6) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski, voden vo oktomvri 2007 godina
(6) Univerzalnata deklaracija za pravata na chovekot e usvoena na Generalnoto Sobranie na OON na 10 dekemvri 1948 godina, i objavena vo Rezolucijata 217 A (III), Vladimir Ortakovski, Mefjunarodnata polozhba na malcinstvata, Misla, Skopje, 1996, 200-202; Obedineti nacii - Temelni dokumenti, NIP Nova Makedonija, Skopje, 1995, s.63-69
(6) Konvencijata za zashtita na chovekovite prava i osnovni slobodi, sostavena od Sovetot na Evropa, e potpishana na 4 noemvri 1950 godina, a stapila na sila na septemvri 1953 godina, V. Ortakovski, cit. trud, 233; M.Janis/R.Kej/A. Bredli, Evropsko pravo za chovekovi prava, MI-AN, Skopje, 2002, s.17
(7) Helsinshka spogodba ili Helsinshki akt za pravata na malcinstvata (nachelo VII, stav 4 na Deklaracijata za principite), e usvoen vo Helsinki, na Konferencijata za evropska bezbednost (KEBS) od 1975 godina, V. Ortakovski, cit. trud, 239
(8) Od Razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(9) G. Donevski/M. Kitanoski, cit. trud, 318
(10) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(11) Zdruzhenieto na Makedoncite od egejskiot del na Makedonija Sveti German"-Skopje, e formirano na osnovachkoto Sobranie, odrzhano na 1. XI 2007 god, informacija od Pretsedatelstvoto na Zdruzhenieto
(12) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(13) F.M. Buckova, I nie sme deca ..., 240
(14) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(15) Zapisnik od Osnovachkoto sobranie na Konferencijata za koordinacija na rabotata na Zdruzhenijata na Makedoncite od Egejskiot del na Makedonija, odrzhano na 8 juli 2007 godina vo Bitola, od arhivata na Sojuzot na zdruzhenijata na Makedoncite od egejskiot del na Makedonija
(16) Zapisnik od Prvata konstitutivna sednica na Koordinativnoto telo na Koordinativnata konferencija na Zdruzhenijata na Makedoncite od Egejska Makedonija, odrzhana na 29 septemvri 2007 godina vo Skopje, od arhivata na Sojuzot na zdruzhenijata na Makedoncite od egejskiot del na Makedonija
(17) Od razgovorot so Gjorgji Donevski
(18) Nezaborav, god.VIII, br.23, Skopje, dekemvri 2001, 1
(19) Glas na Egejcite, god I, br.1, Skopje, juli 2004
(20) Chitajte go i slushajte go Glasot na Egejcite, voveden napis na glavniot i odgovoren urednik, Dimitar Mice Dimitrov, Glas na Egejcite, god. I, br.1, Skopje, juli 2004, 2
(21) Poopshirno za Vtorata Svetska sredba vidi: Nova Makedonija, god.LIV, broevi od 18439 do 18444, 15-21 juli, Skopje, 1998; Nezaborav, god.V, br.16, Skopje, septemvri 1998
(22) Zb. Etnichkite promeni vo Egejska Makedonija vo XX vek, ZDBEG, Skopje 2001
(23) Nezaborav, god.V, br.16, Skopje, septemvri 1998, 1-2
(24) Nezaborav, god.X, br.29, Skopje, oktomvri 2003, 1
(25) Ivan Katardziev, Makedonija i Makedoncite niz Svetot, Matica Makedonska, Skopje, 1996, 202
(26) Istoto, 202-203
(27) Od razgovorot so Gjorgj Donevski
(28) Detsa Begaltsi reunion in Skopje ..., Macedonian Trubune, vol.81, No.3356, Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, 6 july, 2006, p.8
(29) Pozdravna rech na pretsedatelot na R. Makedonija, Kiro Gligorov, na Vtorata Svetska sredba na decata-begalci od egejskiot del na Makedonija, Nova Makedonija, god. LIV, b
Article written by Dr. Katerina Mirchevska
Translated and edited by Risto Stefov
Other articles by Risto Stefov:
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http://www.americanchronicle.com/authors/view/3446
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Our Name is Macedonia
www.mhrmi.org/our_name_is_macedonia
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