To The Editor
As scholars and authors we wish to take issue with the distortion of the Prespa ‘agreement’ in some quarters, and portrayal of opponents as nationalist and extremists.
The agreement does not serve the needs of Macedonia or Greece. It shows no respect for international law, human rights and democratic principles.
An agreement trying to define political, historical and cultural boundaries between “classical Macedonia” and (would be) North Macedonia is a bizarre undertaking in the 21st century. The construction of identities is not for governments. Macedonia is subjected to arbitrary international engineering against the will of the people. With little public support a highly polarized atmosphere deepens internal divisions. The asymmetric ‘deal’ will not lessen regional tensions as only the weaker (Macedonian) side was forced to compromise, to force (North) Macedonia into NATO – itself in an identity crisis.
The deal denies constitutional sovereignty of Macedonia, with final say given to the MPs of a foreign country (Greece). The new name is intended for not only international relations but also internal legal order. The attribute Macedonian is to be erased from all official documents and public use under threat of Orwellian sanctions. History teaching is going to be decided by governmental bodies rather than by scholars.
International mismanagement continues. While supporting confidence building, conflict resolution, and reconciliation, we argue that the Prespa Agreement is not an accord that promises sustainable peace. NATO membership is unlikely to bring social and economic progress or security to the small Macedonian state; ironically, Greece offers the best proof of what international dictates do on the European periphery.
- Biljana Vankovska, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
- James Pettifer, Oxford University
- Venko Andonovski, writer, Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
- Milan Kundera, writer, Paris
- Richard Falk, Princeton University
- Žarko Puhovski, University of Zagreb
- Lidija R. Basta Fleiner, University of Fribourg
- Darko Mitrevski, film director, Los Angeles
- Georges Banu, President of the Prize of Europe for the Theatre, Paris
- Jan Oberg, director of Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research, Lund
- Gorazd Rosoklija, Columbia University
- Josette Baer Hill, University of Zurich
- Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
- Jean Pavleski, Sorbonne University, founder of Éditions Economica, Paris
- Nada Boskovska, University of Zurich
- Jovan Donev, former ambassador to the United Kingdom
- Stefano Bianchini, University of Bologna
- Vladimir Unkovski-Korica, University of Glasgow
- Pepe Escobar, Geopolitical Analyst at Asia Times
- Radmila Nakarada, University of Belgrade
- Igor Janev, University of Belgrade
- Zhidas Daskalovski, Kliment Ohridski University, Bitola
- Nikola Popov, McMaster University, Ontario
- Erol Tufan, poet, Turkey
- Bernd Fischer, Indiana University, Fort Wayne
- Mitko Madzunkov, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Mite Stefoski, Director of Struga Poetry Evenings
- Johan Galtung, founder of Transcend University
- Vitomir Mitevski, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Jean-Patrick Connerade, University of London, former President of EuroScience
- Borislav Pavlovski, University of Zagreb
- Slavko Bogdanov, Columbia University
- Francis D. Raška, Anglo-American University, Prague
- Leonid Grcev, IEEE Fellow, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Mihajlo Popovski, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
- Miranda Vickers, Independent Scholar, UK
- Aleksandar Dimovski, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Jean Pierre Simeon, poet, editor of Gallimard, Paris
- Branko Stavrev, theater director, Skopje
- Emilia Waters, CATS College Cambridge
- Jordan Plevneš, writer and former ambassador to France
- Zhivko Popov, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Marija Risteska, Centre for Research and Policy-Making, Skopje
- Katica Kjulafkova, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Dimitar Apasiev, Goce Delčev University, Štip
- Daniel Weiss, University of Zürich
- Victor Bivell, Publisher, Pollitecon Publications, Sydney
- Marko Pavlovski, writer, University of Zagreb
- Elka Jačeva-Ulčar, Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
- Dragan Duško Vukotić, media specialist, Podgorica
- Jani Bojadzi, Film and Theater Director, Skopje
- Slave Gjorgjo Dimoski, poet, ex-president of the Board of Struga Poetry Evenings
- Todor Čepreganov, Goce Delčev University, Štip
- Bob Churcher, ex International Crisis Group Country Director, Kosovo
- Bogdan Bogdanov, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
- Blaže Minevski, writer, Skopje
- Solza Grceva, Voice for Macedonia
- Marjan Popov, Delft University of Technology
- Aleksandar Shulevski, University of Amsterdam
- George G. Durtanosky, Latvian Christian Academy, Riga
- Viktor Gjamovski, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
- Antoanela Petkovska, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje
- Irena Pavlova de Odorico, poetess, Italy
- Rade Siljan, writer and publisher, Skopje
- Sašo Kalajdžievski, University of Manitoba
- Aldo Kliman, poet and president of the Macedonian Cultural Forum in Croatia
- Milojka Kalkašlieva, judge of the Supreme Court of Macedonia (ret.)
- Paul Filev, Literary Translator, Melbourne
- Ringa Raudola, Department of Innovation and Governance, Tallinn University
- Jovica Tasevski-Eternijan, poet, the Macedonian Writers’ Association
- Marina Mijakovska, writer, Skopje
- Kiril Barbareev, Goce Delčev University, Štip
- Blaže Risteski, Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts
- Zlatko Dizdarević, former ambassador, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Danilo Gligoroski, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
- Sasho Popovski, academic painter, Skopje
