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Macedonian Agenda Why Australia? Bob Spasenovski This speech was delivered at the Macedonian rally held at Parliament House, Canberra on June 1, 1994. Ladies and gentlemen, special guests and supporters. Thank you for attending this peaceful protest, organized by the
Macedonian community from all over Australia, and aimed at showing
our disgust and displeasure towards the Australian Government's recent
attempt to refer to us as "Slav Macedonians". It is important
to note that in this year when nations such as South Mrica have gained
equality and democracy, and the Palestinian people limited autonomy,
the Macedonian nation has been returned to the dark ages of dictatorship
and denial of basic human rights. The difference between South Africa,
Palestine and Macedonia is in the fact that what is done to the Macedonian
nation is in fact done here, in Australia, in our so called democratic
and multicultural homeland. Ladies and gentlemen, through its Minister
for Foreign Affairs, Senator Evans, Australia decided to embark on
an unprecedented path and attempt to rename the Macedonian community.
This decision was made without any consultation with the Macedonian
community, but under strict requests by the Greek lobby, and implemented
through the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs, Senator Bolkus.
The Government's decision is unprecedented because it is the only
country, the only government, apart from Greece, that has decided
to take this divisive, unjust, and inhumane approach. We ask ourselves, why? The answer is because the Macedonian community
has been loyal, has been fair, has not shouted and screamed as loud
as the Greeks, has not burned churches, and has basically left the
matter in the hands of the democratic process of Australia. Or at
least we thought democratic. And what did we get for being patient
and law abiding? We received a recognition package which can only
be described as a Clayton's recognition. A recognition when you don't
want a recognition. The Prime Minister, Mr Keating, said at our meeting
with him, "You ought to be pleased about our efforts to recognize
the FYROM," as he called it "and you should be very happy".
I ask the Prime Minister, what is there to be happy about? You give
with one hand and you take with the other. The only group that can
show pleasure and happiness as a result of this decision is the Greek
community and the Greek Government. They got exactly what they requested.
I ask you, ladies and gentlemen, is that a decision which shows that
the Government is for all Australians or is it one that is divisive
and biased? There are no illusions, this government has done its homework, it
has done its sums, and obviously decided to take the ball and run
with the Greek lobby. It has decided to cause the biggest division
within our multicultural society, and has denied the Macedonian community
a basic human right, the right to call itself as it feels. It is ironic
that this year, the year when the Australian Government attacks human
rights violations in China for instance, they themselves commit the
biggest human rights violation against their own citizens. They spend millions of dollars telling other governments how to run
their households, however they have not got their own house in order.
It is a shameful act, an act that will haunt this government for the
rest of its term. And out of office at the next elections. The Macedonian
community has been known as Macedonian since the very first arrival
of a Macedonian immigrant on the shores of Australia, which by the
way was in 1893. The Macedonian community had formed and indeed registered
churches, social and sporting clubs, dance groups and many other organization,
and these have always been known as Macedonian. No previous Australian
government has ever questioned our nationality and our ethnic background,
no other government except this current Labor Government. The Prime Minister, Mr Keating, when claiming victory at the last
election, said "This is a victory for the true believers, this
is a victory for all Australians". I remind the Prime Minister,
we, the Macedonian community of Australia, are a part of those true
believers, we are part of Australia, how come we missed out on our
government's pledge? How come you abandoned us as if we were an insignificant
leftover? Well, let me tell you, Mr Keating, Macedonia is not a leftover,
but a part of the world, in fact it is one of the oldest nations on
the Balkans. It is a bit like the Aboriginal nation, the rightful
owners of Australia. You have introduced the Mabo legislation which
goes a long way in addressing the question of the plight of the Aboriginals,
and yet, with a stroke of your pen you have driven Macedonia back
into the dark ages, you have decided to rewrite history, you have
invited yourself to be our modern day godfather, unwanted by us, uninvited
by us. Who gave you the right, Mr Keating, to place yourself above
every other head of government in the world? Where is your logic for attempting to rename us? If it is based
on the fact that Macedonia was part of former Yugoslavia, then you
must be aware that your government recognized other countries from
the same Yugoslavia, without any preconditions and renaming. If on
the other hand your logic is based on any threat of territorial pretences
by Macedonia, then I must also draw your attention to the war in Bosnia.
What is the cause for that war, Mr Keating? Territory, territory sought
by the Serbs, yet you still recognized the new Yugoslav republic.
And again this shows that any logic that you may utilize to excuse
your inhumane treatment of the Macedonian community does not stand
up to the very basic test. Does this then mean that there is one set
of standards used in determining policy for Macedonians and another
for other nationalities? Obviously so. I suppose you will now rename
every person who originated from the former Soviet Union as Soviet
Russian or Soviet Georgian. Or every German that lived in the former
East Germany will now become East German, or maybe former East German.
How ridiculous. Wake up to yourself, Mr Keating, reverse your unjust,
inhumane decision, or at least, if you are too embarrassed to reverse
it, then rescind the entire recognition package. We would rather be
unrecognized by your government than have our pride and dignity attacked.
Better no recognition than a Clayton's recognition. It is better to
die standing up than to live on one's knees. We will not accept and
obey your decision, we will fight it all the way, and believe us sooner
or later you will see it our way and you will recognize your mistake.
Only one thing will change by then, you will be out of office, you
will have lost all support from the Macedonian voters. So if you plan
a visit to Athens, we suggest to you to get it over and done with
as soon as you can, or at least whilst you are still the Prime Minister. You are in the process of turning Australia into a Republic. How
would the Australian people like it if some governments in the world
decided to rename Australia as the Former British Colony of Australia?
I for one would stand up and protest most vigorously against such
a decision, and I would like to think that every other Australian
would do the same. I conclude by saying- history cannot be rewritten. Many have tried in the past but fortunately for the human race they fell by the wayside. Don't let history repeat itself, don't allow yourself and your government to be remembered as the only government in the world, apart from Greece, that has imposed its will on another nation in this way. Reverse your decision, or rescind the entire package. There is no such thing as a "Slav" nation or country, there is only Macedonia and it belongs to the Macedonian nation. Makedonija na Makedoncite.
Macedonian Agenda Copyright: 1995
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