Discrimination of the civic organizing in Greece

Unsuccessful attempt to register the Home of the Macedonian Culture in LERIN

The Magistrate's Court at the Greek town of Florina has recently explained that the registration of a Home of the Macedonian Culture would present a threat to the public peace and order and an open space for operation of foreign agents who will spread the idea of existing of the "non-existent Macedonian nation". Thus, the Florina officials have officially declined the request for its registration.

The registration process of the Home of the Macedonian Culture was initiated in 1989 and it was constantly disputed by the Greek courts until the passing of the final resolution. The founders of the Home announce that they will continue searching for their rights in the higher European institutions. In 2000 charges were pressed against Greece by the Court in Strasbourg and it should undergo certain consequences since it did not allow the registration of the civic organization. The sentence that was directed to Athens was also supported by the Greek ombudsman Nikifor Dijamanturos, by the Greek Helsinki Committee for Human Rights, the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Bureau for Less-Used Languages. The Greek authorities have promised that the Home of the Macedonian Culture will be registered. In the Court's explanation about the reason for declining the application, they say: "The formulation of the subject, that is, the reason for its existence is vague and it may cause confusion regarding the real goals. The use of the term "Macedonian culture", only intensifies this confusion since it relates it to a non-existing language described as Macedonian. Recognizing such an organization presents a direct threat to the public order and gives an opportunity for its exploitation by foreign agents who occasionally and without success try to fabricate the historically non-existing Macedonian nation.

 

D.M.