I have a name, I am Macedonian and wish for the world to refer to me under that name, as it is my fundamental right, Macedonian language professor Biljana Kotlar - Sakoman said Sunday after signing the 'Makedonium Manifesto' - an appeal for preventing acts of denial of the Macedonian language and the omission of the adjective "Macedonian" in European Commission's progress report on the country for 2011.
Kiril Mancev from Skopje says the adjective's omission is a shame for Europe, while pensioner Bosilka Ristovska considers that nobody is entitled to deprive Macedonia from its name.
Marce Hristovski from Skopje says that the move of European institutions is ridiculus. To erase one language, identity of a nation is a political genocide, he says, urging his fellow citizens to sign the manifest.
Over 400 citizens turned up Sunday in Skopje Army House to sign the 'Makedonium Manifesto'.
For the last few days since a group of Macedonian athletes and artists presented the manifest, citizens have been pouring in the Skopje Army House, Sports Center 'Boris Trajkovski and the Writers' Association of Macedonia to sign the document.
The group urged their colleagues living in the country and abroad to show their support and sign the "Makedonium Manifesto". After collecting a certain number of signatures, the document is to be sent to the European Union Delegation to Skopje and to EU Commissioner Fule.
The group's steering committee is consisted of Marin Dokuzovski (basketball coach), Indira Kastratovic (former handball star), Venko Andonovski (writer and university professor), Kaliopi Bukle (singer-songwriter), Simon Trpceski (world-renowned pianist), Esma Redzepova (singer), Darko Mitrevski (film director), Boris Trajanov (opera singer) and Goce Smilevski (writer).
"The manifest is an appeal to put an end to acts of denial of the Macedonian name, language and culture. We are protesting the omission of the Macedonian name and adjective "Macedonian" regarding our language. The initiative for writing this text was launched by the athletes. There was a spontaneous idea that brought us together to outline the manifest," Venko Andonovski said at the document's presentation.
Denial and lack of actions, he added, is part of the documentation having European and historical significance.
"If protests are not made, then those documents become part of the European and Macedonian history. Attacks have been and will be made. It's our generation's turn to address the denial of the Macedonian language and identity," Andonovski added.
The manifest says that Macedonians are appalled at the act of erasing the adjective "Macedonian".
"Erasing is an act that has never been successful. A whole territory can be erased from a map, but a nation cannot be erased and we, Macedonians, are a nation. We urge you to press all those political powers that treat Macedonia with a rubber, asking you to remind them that Macedonia is real, not a mystical country. Why would it be mentioned 28 times in the Bible," reads the manifest.
We are Macedonian athletes and artists, it adds, and the words we utter are Macedonian, our notes and rhythm are Macedonian, our each and every score, defeat or victory are Macedonian - we speak Macedonian playing music and singing in Macedonian.
Today, the group's steering committee decided for the document's signing to resume next week in response to citizens' interest to support it.
It also extended gratitude to citizens and organizations over their massive turn out, as well as to media for the extensive coverage of this noble initiative
Nationwide support for 'Makedonium Manifesto'
Rector, professors, administration and students of the IT University in Ohrid signed Tuesday the 'Makedonium Manifesto' - an act of protest against the denial of Macedonia's name, identity and language after the adjective "Macedonian" was omitted in the European Commission progress report on the country.
Last week, a great number of artists, athletes and citizens turned up en masse in Skopje to sign the document.
Ohrid University Rector Danco Davcev welcomed the initiative, saying it is a significant step for protecting the Macedonian language, hence the Macedonian nation and identity.
Thus far over 250 citizens have signed the document in Ohrid.
Macedonia's national football team signed the manifest in Prilep, few hours before the match with Albania.
Team's secretary Mario Gjurcinovski said the Macedonian Football Federation was among the first to send a letter to EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule, telling him that Macedonia and the Macedonian language existed, and will keep existing.
The signatures' collection will last until November 18, when future steps towards informing European institutions with the stance of Macedonia's citizens will be presented.
After collecting a certain number of signatures, the document is to be sent to the European Union Delegation to Skopje and Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule.
The initiative has been promoted by a group of Macedonian athletes and artists, who reacted to the omission of adjective "Macedonian" from the European Commission Progress Report.
The group's steering committee is consisted of Marin Dokuzovski (basketball coach), Indira Kastratovic (former handball star), Venko Andonovski (writer and university professor), Kaliopi Bukle (singer-songwriter), Simon Trpceski (world-renowned pianist), Esma Redzepova (singer), Darko Mitrevski (film director), Boris Trajanov (opera singer) and Goce Smilevski (writer).
The manifesto says that Macedonians are appalled at the act of erasing the adjective "Macedonian".
"Erasing is an act that has never been successful. A whole territory can be erased from a map, but a nation cannot be erased and we, Macedonians, are a nation. We urge you to press all those political powers that treat Macedonia with a rubber, asking you to remind them that Macedonia is real, but also a mystical country. Why would it be mentioned 28 times in the Bible," reads the manifesto.
