A Better Brand of Balkan Nationalism
By Victor Bivell
This speech was delivered at "For A United Macedonia - A Cultural
Celebration - Sydney" on 23 April, 2017.
To everyone here today, thank you for coming to support Macedonia.
Let me be clear. We, the Macedonians of Sydney, support the Macedonian
people in our homeland. We support President Ivanov. We support our
fellow Macedonians around the world. And we support new elections in
Macedonia.
We condemn the Tirana Platform. We condemn the leaders of SDSM. We
condemn the leaders of the Albanian political parities in Macedonia.
And we condemn the leaders of the EU.
To the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators in Macedonia. We are
with you. We see and admire your love of Macedonia. We share your concerns
for Macedonia. We agree with your desire for a better Macedonia, one
that treats all minorities equally. And we support your desire that
Macedonia remains a homeland for Macedonians.
We admire the way you have demonstrated every day for 55 days and nights
so far. We admire that you come from over 40 cities and towns in Macedonia.
We admire the way you have stood up to the leadership of SDSM, to the
leadership of the Albanian parties, and to the leadership of the EU.
You have stood up for Macedonia, and stood up against those who want
to take away the only Macedonian homeland we have. More strength to
your courage.
We support President Ivanov. We support how you have stood up for the
people, for the Constitution, for fairness, and for real democracy.
We applaud the way you have stood up against the Tirana Platform, and
against international pressure. President Ivanov - the people are with
you. Nie sme so Vas.
We send our thanks to all the Macedonians around the world who have
marched for Macedonia. In Europe, in North America, all around Australia.
Thank you for being there, and for being strong. Today, the Macedonians
of Sydney are proud to join you.
There is one best way to end the political crisis in Macedonia. We
support new elections. Let the people decide. And let them decide now.
Like Macedonians around the world, we condemn the Tirana Platform.
It is a document based on nationalism. On unnecessary nationalism. It
is not fair to all the people of Macedonia, and it is not fair to the
indigenous Macedonians.
We condemn the leadership of SDSM. We say withdraw from the Tirana
Platform, or take it to an election. The people did not vote on the
Platform at the last elections. It is a post election platform. To bring
in radical new policies after the election is not right. It is dishonest.
It is fraud. And the Macedonian people know it. They know it will rob
them of their homeland, and of their heritage. If you are honest leaders,
you will take the Platform to an immediate election. If you do not support
a new election, you are political cowards. And you are not worthy to
lead Macedonia.
We condemn the leaders of the Albanian political parties. We condemn
you for your brand of nationalism. There are over 50 minorities in the
Balkans. None of these has more recognition, and more privileges, than
the Albanian minority in Macedonia. Some minorities in the Balkans have
none of the recognition you have, and only a small fraction of the privileges
you have, but you want more. The Tirana Platform makes you look ungrateful,
it makes you look greedy, it reveals your brand of nationalism. And
your brand of nationalism belongs in the 19th century; it is old fashioned,
it is boring, and it is dangerous.
There is a better way. If you want more rights, if you want to win
more respect, if you want to look generous instead of greedy - help
to raise up the other minorities in the Balkans to your level. Help
to raise up the Macedonians in Albania, help to raise up the Greeks
in Albania, help to raise up the Serbs in Albania, help to raise up
the Vlachs, the Roma, the Montenegrins, the Bosniaks and the Egyptians
in Albania.
Help to raise up the minorities in Kosovo. Help to raise up the Macedonians
in Kosovo, the Serbs in Kosovo, the Bosniaks, the Roma, the Turks, the
Croats, and the Egyptians.
Help to raise up the minorities in Greece. The Macedonians in Greece.
The Turks in Greece. The Albanians in Greece. The Roma, the Vlachs,
the Pomaks.
Help to raise the minorities in Serbia, in Bulgaria, in Bosnia, in
Montenegro, in Croatia and throughout the Balkans. The Balkans does
not need more nationalism. It does not need your brand of nationalism.
It needs more respect and more human rights. For all the minorities.
To the Albanians and the Albanian leadership in Macedonia - show real
leadership, do something different, do something exciting, do something
inspiring and help to raise all the minorities in the Balkans to your
level. Do that and you will not need to ask for more. The people will
give you more.
Finally, we condemn the leadership of the EU. Good leaders support
human rights everywhere. But the EU leaders support hypocrisy. We condemn
those EU leaders who contribute to cultural genocide by calling Macedonia
"this country" and calling Macedonians "citizens of this
country". We condemn those EU leaders who do not acknowledge the
Macedonians in Greece, the Macedonians in Bulgaria, the Macedonians
in Albania. Until you change all that, do not lecture us about human
rights.
Why has the EU failed to denounce the post election Tirana Platform?
Why has it failed to acknowledge the hundreds of thousands of unhappy
Macedonians who demonstrate in the streets each night and who are the
real owners of Macedonia? How can 500 million Europeans fail to come
up with even a small number of good leaders? Until you change all that,
do not lecture Macedonia and Macedonians about democracy. Forcing the
Tirana Platform down the throats of unwilling people is not democracy.
Democracy is an election so the people of Macedonia can vote on the
Tirana Platform, so the people can vote on the future of their own country.
To finish. Everyone, please do not forget - Makedonija ima potreba
za Makedonsi, Macedonia needs Macedonians. As much as you can, go for
a holiday, go to live, support the Macedonian economy. Thank you for
coming here today to support our Macedonian homeland.
Copyright: April 2017
Source: www.pollitecon.com