The President of the Hellenic Republic responds to FYROMian journalist

[Amarantos]

After speaking to MEPs in a formal sitting, Karolos Papoulias,the President of the Hellenic Republic,held a press conference where he answered to questions regarding the enlargement of the E.U,the Turkish accession,the question of Cyprus and the Middle East.
A journalist from FYROM asked about the application of an apartheid-like policy towards the slavophone minority in Greece and if the difference regarding the name issue constitutes an obstacle in the european course of FYROM.
Karolos Papoulias, invoking his long-lasting service as Foreign Minister categorically declared that a slavophone minority does not exist in Greece.It exists,he said,a Moslem minority that enjoys all the privileges.He called the journalist to consider the fact that Greece is the most sincere supporter of Fyrom's effort to access the E.U.
"To you I say in front of all your colleagues that you do not have a more sincere friend than Greece",said the President and concluded "Make a step forward for the finding of a solution in the only pending problem,that of the name issue.In this way we will live together peacefully and this is for the interest of your country".

http://greece.flash.gr//soon/2006/5/18/30206id/
http://www.elef-typos.gr/

[PhiliptheUniterchaeronea]

He actually called it "an apartheid-like policy". That is really disgraceful. This policy of potraying themselves as victims is something that they should be ashamed of. At every turn, they pull the victim card. Ever hear of philotimo Slavs? Well, not these ones anyway. These guys are a joke, dangerous yes, but still a joke.

[Amarantos]

And the whole story did not ended on Wednesday.
The next day the president of Fyrom,Branko Crvenkovski,said "the existence of a national minority in a democratic country,first of all depends on the individual feeling of a citizen of this country and does't depend on the statement,the position or the decrees of the President or of the Prime Minister of this country.In Greece exists an important number of citizens,which individually feel representatives of macedonian people,a fact that all involved should face,and between them the Greek authorities".
Now,that's what i call audacity!:mad:
They invent new definitions in politics and even more they preach us what a democratic country is!
According to political analysts,the whole issue(begining from the journalist's question)was premeditated,aiming to fyromian internal consumption,from the moment that election in Fyrom are near.

Yesterday,the President of the Hellinic Republic replied to the fyromian president affirmations by saying " these statements are groundless and ignorant of history".

According to the newspaper article(see link),in any case the expediency of the provocative statements of the fyromian president,confirm a similar act in which the "slavomacedonian" organisation "Uranio toxo" proceeded recently in Brussels,suspending in the Europarliament a banner with the sign "stop the apartheid in Greece".
Has someone heard about this last fact?

http://news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100033_19/05/2006_184553

[Melbourne]

I believe Papoulias handled himself well with the journalist, turning the question to his advantage by letting them know they need us.

Regarding Ouranio Toxo, they need to be heavily monitored. For example, any visit by Chris Stefov to Trigonia, Florina should be looked out for. The Greek government must issue a warrant for his arrest the second he steps foot ib Greece, after all, he advocates the destruction of Greece, to me that makes him as much of a terrorist as George Bush.