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Macedonian Press Agency

1^ST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON VLACHOPHONE HELLENISM COMMENCES

Thessaloniki, 8 December 2000

 

The Vlachophone Hellenes are an indivisible part of our ethnic entity and have contributed to the creation and development of the Greek State, was the message sent out by the President of the Republic, Mr. Costis Stefanopoulos, in his salutation to the 1^st International Conference on Vlachophone Hellenism.

The President of the Republic characterized the conference as important from a national standpoint as well, emphasizing his respect for the historical and cultural tradition of the Vlach people.

The conference, whose topic was “The Vlach People of Greece: Historical and Cultural Perspectives” was organized by the Union of Vlach Scholars under the auspices of the Ministry of National Defense. Its proceedings took place through Sunday at the University of Macedonia.

In his opening address of the proceedings, the Minister of National Defense, Mr. Akis Tsochatzopoulos, stressed that Greece is the metropolis of the Vlach civilization, Pindos being the point of departure from which the Vlach people spread throughout the Balkans and Black Sea countries.

The fact that the Ministry of National Defense decided to sponsor the conference illustrates, as he noted, the State’s official recognition of the contribution of Vlachophone Hellenism.

He underlined the decisive role that scholarship has played in clarifying many points which in the past gave rise to misunderstandings. He then added that the time is definitively over for specialized organizations in the context of a contemporary Europe to attempt to exploit the phenomenon of bilingual populations and advance their own views in order to influence and control their historical contribution and origin.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos cited that it is a misconception that the Vlach people are a marginal social group of mountain shepherds. He went on to say that while they do have mountain origins, since the 18^th century they also been successful in active trade and industry. From that time on, the Vlach people have constituted a chiefly urban element throughout the Balkan and Black Sea regions.

He further stated that the Vlach people had been significant to our national independence, but their contribution did not stop there. “It continued all through the 19^th and 20^th centuries, providing the nation with great benefactors such as Sinas and Zappas. Nor can we omit the progressive Vlach fighters and thinkers, such as Svolos, Sarantis, Samariniotis, and a host of others.”

The contribution of the Vlach people does not end with history and tradition, but rather can offer much to the present and future of Hellenism, the Defense Minister pointed out. He stressed that their ability to build bridges of cooperation, development and creativity between peoples is particularly necessary at a time when the Balkan peoples are attempting to become a part of the European family.

The PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Party) MP from Grevena, Lefteris Tziolas, acknowledged that the conference verifies the fact that the Vlach issue has not been divisive to Hellenism. On the contrary, it has been a unifying, rallying element in a common course.

“The Vlach people were prime movers in the social and nation struggles and knew outstanding moments of glory,” he noted.

Christos Folias, the New Democracy representative to the European Parliament, declared he was proud to have been born a Vlach, noting that “we Vlachs feel more Greek than many other Greeks.”

He remarked that the three days of the conference were not sufficient to demonstrate the obvious Greek identity of the Vlach people, and invited all those present to be ambassadors of this undeniable truth.

An appeal to end the propaganda against the Vlach people was launched by the president of the Union of Albanian Vlachs and MP from Korytsa, Yannis Gotsis. The Romanians, the Albanians, and the Macedonians all lay claim to the Vlach people, he stressed. Only Greece says nothing because it knows that the Vlachs are Greek.

“Our homeland is here, our mountains are here,” he stated, going on to say that “we’re the best world citizens, we’re everywhere.”

Dimitris Tsaktanis, the president of the Union of Vlach Scholars, expressed the conviction that the convention will stabilize the position of Vlachophone Hellenism and will serve to silence those who promulgate fictitious data.

“We know what we’re about and this truth makes us proud,” he declared, stressing that the Vlach people have played a crucial role in Greek history and in the formation of its racial identity.