With the upcoming referendum on 30 September that will ask Macedonians of The Republic of Macedonia: “do you support EU and NATO membership by accepting the agreement between Macedonia and Greece,” begs the question of legitimacy and indeed political competency.
This referendum has been articulated as a solution to the name dispute between Macedonia and Greece, as a solution to Macedonian’s political, economic and social problems, and as an answer to European integration. Yet, international and domestic knowledge about the real underlining issues have been disguised by Western political, and to an extent, Macedonian elites who pull the puppets strings. This requires the reconsideration and indeed the recognition of a number of things. So, let’s set some things straight.
The name deal, the Prespa Agreement signed by Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras, not only violates the Constitution of The Republic of Macedonia, considering that, the President is the only one appointed to act on international matters not the Prime Minister, but it is a breach of international law and fundamental human rights principles such as non-interference and the right of a nation to self-identify. There also remains much ambiguity within the agreement in relation to the identity issue concerning the differing interpretations of both parties to the agreement. For example, Article 1.3b states:
The nationality of the Second Party shall be Macedonian/citizen of the Republic of North Macedonian, as it will be registered in all travel document.
Article 7.4 also stipulates that:
The Macedonian language, is within the group of South Slavic languages.
The Greek government here claims that the Macedonian language as a South Slavic language will be footnoted in institutions such as the UN, whilst the Macedonian government denies this. And anyway, what’s the point of this? – no other language has been treated in a similar manner.
Moreover, why are prescriptions such as ‘citizen’ being added to ‘Macedonian’ as an identity. One, who is also a part of the Union which is based upon democratic principles, is referred to as a French, Slovenian, or a Greek. They are not identified as a citizen of France, Slovenia or Greece. This highlights traditional conceptions of realist international relations where states leverage, power and influence in institutions is being utilised to serve states interests, and are rather being publicly labelled as ‘solving the name dispute.’
The tendency to generate this name change as way towards European integration ignores the reality that integration will not be instant, that is, if Macedonia ceases to be vetoed constantly. It also ignores NATO’s pragmatism, for its real interest is not in ending the name dispute and helping Macedonia integrate, but is rather to stomp its influential foot on the Balkan region which is of geo-strategic importance, indeed for Russia too. This highlights the irony of these institutions who preach in the name of democracy, peace and stability, who come with open arms – but arms whom also enforce ‘their way or the high way.’
Ultimately, this agreement highlights violations of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, threatens The Republic of Macedonian’s sovereignty and ignores the voice of people, having therefore been labelled by so many as illegitimate. Organisations and movements such as Глас за Македонија (Voice for Macedonia), The United Macedonian Diaspora and We are Macedonia movements (just to name a few), emphasise that this referendum hence does not deserve a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ vote, but rather does not deserve a vote at all and should therefore be boycotted.
It also important to consider past historical events, not those of “ancient times” (these rather have no legitimate argument in the modern day), but those events of the 19th and 20th century. Macedonia is a country which has been partitioned, manipulated and exploited at the expense of other nations. Sadly, it is everyday citizens who have bared the costs and continue to do so, indeed other nations have suffered similarly, suggesting that this is a phenomenon weaker countries cannot rid themselves of even today. Consider the Treaty of Bucharest (1913) and more importantly the Greek Civil War which witnessed a genocide (that is still unrecognised today) of Macedonians, including the forceful displacement of the Decata Begalci (Refugee Children), forceful name changes of the Macedonians in Aegean Macedonia and towns – not to mention the violence which many suffered.
These past historical events, in conjunction with political tensions, have a significant influence and effect in prolonging present-day injustices, such as the countries name change in 2018. This agreement is not just about improving Macedonia’s standards, but it’s about the continual oppression and manipulation of one specific ethnic group and nation, and a failure in recognising and giving justice to those genocide survivors and their families from 72 years ago… my grandma is still waiting to have her struggles internationally recognised, but more sentimentally – to have her home returned to her where family treasures were left behind.
This article does not come near enough in highlighting the concerns and problems surrounding the issue, nor is it sufficient enough to represent the exhausting injustices experienced by Macedonians. Nonetheless, its main aim is to bring one’s attention to these concerns because they do exist, maybe not for the reader, but to many other people out there who are continuously being denied their right to self-identify, just as their nations right to self-determination has been denied.
These issues and indeed this name deal, has an inter-generational effect on young people and people within the diaspora. I do not want to be identified as a Northern Macedonian or a citizen of Northern Macedonian, and indeed I will not, with or without this name change.
