Macedonian Bishiop of Thessaloniki Talks Macedonia

[admin]

Macedonia's Foreign Ministry voiced strong concern at a speech by Anthimos, the hardline Metropolitan Bishop of Thessaloniki, who said that "Macedonia is Greek ... and parts of it that are missing should be returned."

Anthimos is the Church of Greece's top official in northern Greece, where sentiment runs high over the name dispute.

His comments came days after Greece and FYROM held new U.N.-supervised talks on the name issue, which has poisoned bilateral relations since 1991, when Skopje gained independence from the former Yugoslavia.

In Athens, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said Thursday that the bishop's comments "do not, of course, express the (Greek) government, the people and political parties."

"Greece does not seek border changes," she said.

[Macedonian]

Although within our rights, we can not seek nor adovocate this policy. However, seeing how geopolitics works, you ask for lots so that you negotiate for what you were originally seeking. Greeks in the modern era are terriblow tih geopolitics. The Anglo-Saxons put the Greeks to shame in this type of thing.

[Macedonian]

One more thing, I will not push for the lands back, but make no mistake whatsoever, they occupy our land. PERIOD. No *****ing by the Slavs will change the facts. However, when the Skops read this and get hot under the collar, just read the first sentence of this post again.

[pankration]

It's not reasonable to ask for lands back at this point. However, the current borders must be guaranteed, through diplomacy or force against any irredentist policies of FYROM.
Cypress is another story. The borders there have always been in dispute and should be rectified although that's not likely as long as the English need their summer homes and the Turks who keep them clean (after they've stolen and sold them).

[Macedonian]

So true Pankration. As always, you hit it square on.