by Christina Rougheri, Greek Helsinki Monitor and Minority Rights Group - Gr.

Internal Minorities

The ‘logic’ of presentation of this issue-taboo remained the same. Characteristic is the article of Ap. (5/1) with the title "Anti-Hellenic Propaganda" with a reference to an article in the Turkish-language newspaper ‘Ileri’ of Rodopi. There is a talk about an "unholy alliance with intensely anti-Hellenic elements of well-known circles of pseudo-Macedonians and the hard-liners of the Muslim minority which serve Ankara’s interests." While the statements of Rainbow representatives in the same newspaper on the existence and repression of a Macedonian minority from the security forces and the media, as well as the supporting story, are called "wretchedness". Similar is the article in Eth. (23/1) on the accusations of the European Bureau of Less Spoken Languages on "Greece’s hypocrisy and lack of cooperation on the protection of linguistic minorities." The writer expresses his surprise on the "6 minority (!) languages" among which the Slavomacedonian one. At the other end, we can find the dossier of Ios tis Kyriakis in El. (12/1) which in a way answers all those who argue that Macedonians have forged Greek history. The dossier refers to the policy of Hellenization of Slavophone Macedonia when the latter "was the object of claims of all Balkan centers." Unable to use the linguistic argument, "historical references would become a fundamental part of the propaganda arsenal" (…) "explaining to the young in the Greek schools in Macedonia, regardless of mother tongue, that they should be proud for their ancestors, and first and foremost of kings Philip and Alexander."

Roma

Special emphasis was given to the problems of the Roma (Gypsies) of the Salonica area, as the city became the Cultural Capital of Europe. Indicative is the article in Ad.T. (5/1) on the living conditions of the Roma as presented by the mayor of Evosmos. "The 3,000 tent-dwellers live in unacceptable conditions (…) Gypsies live alongside mice. None of the communities suggested for the creation of an organized settlement accepts them in their area." Characteristic is what follows: "Now we also have the problem of the 3,500 Gypsies of Salonica. They abandoned them, they chased them, they degraded them, and now of course they have become a big problem!" (Ad.T. 17/1).

In the same newspaper (Ad.T. 17/1), there is an article titled: "Onslaught against three settlements" where the parallel is made between police action in Salonica with the ones in Aspropyrgos [a year ago] which had shocked public opinion. The official explanation of the officer in charge was that "the 60 families are illegally settled in the areas where the action was carried out, and the individuals whose property the land is had pressed charges demanding the eviction of the Gypsies".

Also, in an interview, Minister of Public Order G. Romaios (El. 11/1) stated that "he intends to impose and help root an anti-racist climate in the police force by recruiting young people from minority population groups like Gypsies and Pomaks." In El. (3/1 & 4/1), we have articles on the visit of police academy cadets in Karditsa to Roma settlements and on the decision by the municipality of Chios to launch a program of subsidized rent for Roma. Finally, we mention a dossier in N. (29/1) showing that the criminality attributed to the Roma is very small and that the way they are treated by authorities makes it obvious that their fundamental rights are violated.

Migrants

The expected legalization of illegal immigrants in Greece as well as statistics given by the Ministry of Public Order on criminality in Greece fed many related dossiers in the press. On legalization there were many articles which treated the matter in a positive way, with some reservations though arguing that the bill leads to a simple registration of the illegal immigrants without any guarantee of their rights (K. 21/1). There were naturally some completely negative views, claiming that there could be an imminent invasion of immigrants or future minority problems in Greece (E.T. 18/1) or an effusion of criminality (Ap. 12/1, E.T. 10/1). On criminality itself, the data of the Ministry show that only 15% of serious crimes have been committed by foreigners (7% by Albanians), a matter stressed by many newspapers and the Minister himself (Eth. 13/1).

Religious Freedoms

There was large but negative coverage of the extension works in a mosque in Kimmeria in Thrace, their interruption due to a disagreement on the height of the minaret, the reaction from both sides, and the related prison sentences to some minority members among which the imam. The argument that behind that matter hide the "tough agents of Ankara", "the hired agents of Ankara who, as Supreme Committee of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace, denounce our country internationally for violating in many ways the rights of the religious minorities" (E.T. 4/1 & 14/1) dominates. The language used is tough and the style quite sarcastic: "Ankara, with the interference of the Turkish MIT [secret service], attempts to present an artificial repression of the religious rights of the Muslim minority and internationalize the issue with demarches (…) suddenly the Turks infiltrated the Waqf Commission (…) while the Greek government is idle … ready to give in to the demands of the Muslim agents" (E.T. 21/1).

The matter is thus treated as imported from Turkey, while some even involve the USA and Human Rights Watch/Helsinki. "This campaign encouraged by the USA and some controversial international organizations like Helsinki Watch found the government in a state of panic" ("The minaret of servitude", E.T. 5/1). Letters to the editor on the matter reflect strong intolerance and wrath. They often refer to a reciprocity on the respect of human rights "unable to see what is the problem" since "the Greek side has been granting for long time religious freedoms to the Muslims (…) unlike what the Muslims are doing to our hemmed in brothers in Northern Cyprus" (E. Damvouneli, K. 21/1). There were though some articles suggesting self-control and calling for the respect of religious rights, the change in the legal framework and the abolition of the provision that makes of the local bishop’s permission a prerequisite for works in the mosques (K. 14/1, V. 19/1); also along that line were the statements of the Coalition and the KKE against the escalation of the tension (El. 7/1 & 8/1).

On conscientious objectors, we present the view of G. Kalokairinos (Ad.T. 4/1) -shared by many Greeks- : "these renegades of their fatherland or nationally indifferent cannot be treated as equal by Greek society, as this would do injustice to those of her children who are always ready to sacrifice themselves (…) they pretend to invoke their religion by joining parareligions, and appeal to international courts accusing Greece." This concerns mainly the Jehovah’s Witnesses who are perceived quite negatively in Greece.

Moreover, in a quite triumphant style Ap. (19/1) presented the verdict for the dissolution of KEFE "an annex of the terrible organization of Scientology in Greece (…) which was under the control of foreign centers". Similar in style is an article in E.T. (22/1) "that sect applies a very aggressive attitude towards all those it considers its enemies."

Very divergent form the usual articles on the minority in Western Thrace is an article in El. (16/1). While there is a tendency in the Greek press at worst to ignore the problems of the minority or at best to present the situation in a very embellished way, here we have a story dealing with the education problems as presented by Greek academics in a public meeting on minority education in Thrace. Their conclusion, as well as the newspaper’s article, speak of an indifference of the official state authorities towards the minority, a split among teachers between those who fear anything different and reject it across the board as "retarded", and those who recognize the need of the local cultural mix to survive. It is argued that, for decades, the Muslim minority "irrespective of ethnic origin and mother tongue is pushed towards Turkey" and then "it is practically impossible for young children to be well educated when they are taught half the courses in Greek and the other half in Turkish." Besides, it is said that between Muslim and Christian teachers, the relation is one of "mutual suspicion and latent enmity." The speakers’ answers to the questions that followed were indicative. Ms. Frangoudaki explained that they used the term "Muslim" instead of "Turkish" for the minority, "as this is what the state imposes upon us. We are already walking on one tightrope over a mine field. Do you expect us to carry another bomb with us?" The Pomaks’ attitude towards the dictionary of their language was called "ice cold indifference" by Ms. Dragonas. Also, in response to a comment on the activities of some businessmen and intellectuals aiming at the "achievement of ethnic purity" in Thrace, Ms. Frangoudaki said that such efforts "hinder the adoption of any progressive policies" while, referring to some colleagues of hers, she spoke about some "who try to erase the existence of the minority from collective memory." Specifically, she mentioned the case of a scientific conference on historical issues of Thrace, in the 400-page proceedings of which there was not even one reference to the minority.

Also interesting are the positions, in a recently published scholarly article, of Chr. Rozakis, who had then just resigned form his post of Assistant Foreign Minister (El. 3/1), on minorities in Greece. He argues that the Muslim Turkish-speaking minority is a complex ethnic minority. He also acknowledges the existence of a Slav-speaking minority which he characterizes as "complex linguistic", while he also mentions the presence of linguistic minorities of Vlachs and Arvanites, and of religious minorities. In concluding this section we mention some articles referring to the racist feelings of Greeks (N. 22/1, El. 18/1, V. 12/1) and the statement of the prefect of Lesbos A. Mathielis -statement that could well be the title of this research project: "the media are more dangerous even than the Turks" (El. 10/1).

The political and economic situation in Albania is presented by the press as very gloomy. Images of poverty, wretchedness, desperation and social rebellions, especially after the collapse of the parallel banking system of the "pyramids" are presented on a daily basis, as part of the general coverage of the mass wave of unrest in the Balkans. Some indicative excerpts: "Berisha is burnt by the pyramid scandal" (E.T. 17/1), "Concern about the new wave of Albanian illegal immigrants" (E.T. 24/1), "furious Albanians throw stones" (Ap. 25/1), "because these people start coming our way again, in waves, towards the friendly Romeiko [Greek people] to make up for their losses (…). Now they will not all remain simple workers (…) but determined to make a lot of money and having smarted from their disaster, and as they have it a little in their blood, they will dash by groups into illegality" (D. Iatropoulos, Eth. 20/1).

The stereotype of the Albanian criminal was again presented a lot by the media. Harsh words and articles written in an aggressive style with blatant titles were frequent. "Albanian cut-throats ruined the life of a 55-year old worker" (Ad.T. 8/1). "They are the imported nightmare of our country. Compared with them even the toughest Greek criminals look like sheep" (Ap. 8/1). "Passers-by found cut wide open an Albanian dying from the stabs of three fellow countrymen (…) once again those who silence the imported criminality and accuse the others for racism are devoid of arguments" (Ap. 21/1). This negative picture was strengthened in the mind of the Greek public, even more, on the occasion of some robberies by an alleged four-member gang of Albanians in the Northeastern suburbs of Athens. The role of the electronic media in this case too was decisive and was condemned by many. Before even any shred of evidence become available on the identity of the robbers, they were called Albanians by the media. Such a climate of hysteria was created that it reached the point "to arm the hands of Greek citizens who considered the need to protect their lives and their property as a fundamental right of theirs" (E.T. 7/1) and were threatening they will shoot any Albanian they deemed suspect. There were many comments which contributed to the general climate, like the following" "Let them call us racist. We are tired caressing all scums that came here uninvited, so as not to lose the reputation of hospitable Greeks. I am seriously considering in fact to move to Albania, as it will be quieter there since all the outlaws are here" (G. Bournelis, Ad.T. 12/1).

At the same time, and for the first time to such extent, there were many comments and articles on the climate of racism and hysteria, which also called for self-control. "Not all Albanians are the same, we should not as a society lead ourselves to the extremes and to a witch hunt" (M. Dimitriou, E.T. 7/1). "If all the things done by the gang of Albanians -as we are told- was done by a gang of Greeks, no one would have armed himself" (A. Pyriohos, Ad.T. 8/1). "As part of our recent racism , Albanians are to be blamed for everything. But who are the Albanians? The glorious admiral A. Miaoulis was speaking Albanian" (E.T. 9/1). "Apostol Sina [the alleged leader of the gang] is not Albanian just like Pyrros Dimas is not. But we call him Albanian because he is accused of a series of armed robberies" (Ad.T. 9/1). "All Albanians are presented as criminals and robbers" (N. 14/1).

Bulgaria and Bulgarians

The political and economic situation in Bulgaria has been widely presented by the Greek press with frequent, almost daily, references in the newspapers. Emphasis is given to the serious economic crisis the country is faced with, in relation to the government’s inability to meet the Bulgarian people’s expectations and carry out the necessary reforms. The majority of these references concern the big foreign debt, the considerable fall of the leva’s exchange value and the increasing deterioration of the standard of living. "Below poverty level half the Bulgarian people" (El. 13/1). The interest of the Greek press increases when the first mass reactions and demonstrations take place and especially when the situation is politically used by the opposition parties to ask for snap elections. The situation in Bulgaria is often compared to the one in Serbia, with articles and reports on the political analysis of the differences and the similarities, as commented by both, Greek and foreign, press.

Macedonia and Macedonians

The matter of the name remains a taboo for the Greek press. As for the reactions, there are plenty. "In the encyclopedia ‘Nea Domi’ the entry ‘Skopje’ doesn’t exist! The authors have adopted the Slavs’ position. The reader is referred to the entry Macedonia" (…) I wonder, what will our children learn in the end? That there exist two Macedonias or that Greece is trying to falsify History?" (Ad.T. 12/1). In the newspaper Eleftherotypia (23/1) we saw a photo of a stamp of 1944, which depicts a map of Yugoslavia, at the time, where the southern district is not called "Macedonia" but "Vardarska"; an argument follows in favor of the choice of the name "Republic of Vardar." In the same paper (El. 11/1) there is a comment concerning the attitude of the British ambassador in Skopje, Tony Milson: "…it was not only that he used a fluent ‘Macedonian’ language but mainly that he competed with the Skopjans themselves, in his references to ‘Macedonia’ and ‘Macedonians’."

Elsewhere, there are many comments and reactions, expressed in a really sarcastic tone, on the intention of some Greek deputies to propose a bill allowing the return in Greece of the Macedonians who had left during the civil war. "They want to come back as a different kind of people. They refuse their nationality, everything. And they will cause us problems, at this difficult time, as they claim they are not Greeks" (Ad.T. 14/1). Similar is the tone of the publication of Eth. (12/1) with the title "Skopjan invasion in Florina?" concerning the (inaccurate) information of the newspaper "Nova Macedonia" that a license was given for the opening of a ‘Macedonian’ club in the area of ‘Lerin’, as Florina is called, aiming at the promotion of ‘Macedonian’ culture in Greece" (…) "As recently we have been hearing, more and more frequently, opinions in favor of the recognition of a ‘Macedonian’ minority in Greece, we expect an immediate answer from the competent authorities." Moreover, in a comment in Ap. (16/1) we read about the "Skopjan provocation" that violates the interim agreement, as a result of the placing at the border crossing of Niki, of a giant map which shows the Skopjan state reaching even Aegean! One more provocation."

Still, there are some articles which treat the relations between Greece and Macedonia in a different perspective, more positive and more optimistic. It is worthwhile mentioning the story in Ad.T. (12/1) with the title "The freezing little church" on the church of Prophet Elias which is "at the border between Skopje and Greece and, according to the local people who know about its history, joins with strong bonds the two Orthodox peoples." The style and tone as well as the theme of the following excerpt are very similar to the previous one (Ad.T. 13/1). The title is: "The lake unites them", referring to the two communities, one in Greece and one in Macedonia, that share almost the same name (Doirani-Nea Doirani) and which have already taken "the first steps of economic cooperation." Finally, in an article in Eth. (7/1) with the title "Cultural bridge between Skopje and Greece" we read about the positive reaction of the Skopjan artists to the invitation of the Greek Minister of Culture to his Macedonian counterpart, regarding their participation in some of the events that will take place within the scope of the European Cultural Capital.

The Greek press presents a gloomy picture of the economic situation in Romania. Many articles mention the problems that the economy of the country faces, mainly attributed to the delay of the program of privatizations announced by the government, and to the elections that took place which "froze" the necessary reforms. "Romania: 130 homeless people froze to death" (E.T. 8/1). As far as the political situation of the country is concerned, it is worth mentioning the article in K. (1/1) which sees positively the rapprochement between Hungary and Romania, the willingness of the latter to settle the matter of the Hungarian minority in Transylvania and the participation of two members of the Hungarian minority party in the government as assistant ministers, responsible for religious and educational matters. At this point we have to state that generally the Greek press is in favor of similar political attempts, anywhere except in Greece. When it comes to discussions about minorities and possible settlements of problems in Greece, the majority of the press expresses openly skepticism, if not prejudice and intolerance. As to the stereotypes of the Greeks towards the Romanians we can say that it is typical of the Greek press to emphasize the nationality of every foreign suspect, a pattern from which Romanians cannot be excepted. "Cold-blooded murderers were the three Romanians" (AP. 18/1). Finally, we do have to mention that, when the story of the robberies in the north-east suburbs of Athens was first covered and when there was no evidence but only speculations about the identity of the robbers and the suspicion that they were foreigners, some of the newspapers that had not "baptized" the robbers Albanians talked about the possibility of them to be Romanians. It is not the first time to see the Romanians as the "number two" in the list of (foreign) usual suspects.

Serbia and Serbs

"…Lets go back to Slobodan Milosevic. Let’s recall how the Greek mass media presented him during all these last few years. Let’s remember the eulogies, the daily praises and the positive characterizations. ‘Ingenious politician!’ ‘Man of vision!’ ‘Daring leader!’ But during the last months, mainly since November, we can notice a considerable change in the attitude of the Greek press towards S. Milosevic. He is now ‘dangerous,’ ‘he is leading the country to disaster,’ ‘his regime is personal and corrupted" (T. Papadopoulou, El. 9/1). This quote summarizes the change of the Greek press as far as the covering of the political situation in Serbia is concerned. Meanwhile it also reminds us of the period of the fervent support of S. Milosevic by the Greeks in recent years, noting the sudden, "as if nothing had happened," about-turn. This is one of the exceptional articles, as it goes beyond the usual standards of the vast majority of articles and reports, which simply present the daily demonstrations of the Serbs, and the climate of general unrest and public outcry against the president.

We get the picture of a situation, beyond control, sometimes extremely dangerous, as there is always the Kosovo area. The main idea is that president Milosevic is now alone, completely marginalized, having lost his last supports, among them of the Serbian Orthodox Church, which in the past had kept a "praising" attitude towards the regime " reaching the point of the extreme, religious fanaticism (…) avoiding to condemn the crimes in Herzegovina" (L. Hadjiprodromidis, El. 3/1). The attitude of the armed forces, Montenegro ("Montenegro warns Milosevic", E.T. 8/1), the West (O.S.C.E.’s report in favor of the opposition) and of the Greek government, with the clear backing by Foreign Minister Pangalos of the opposition’s demands after his talks with Milosevic ("Milosevic lost Greece", Eth. 14/1) is widely presented, in every occasion. Milosevic is no longer reliable, retreats only in order to save time, even causing incidents in the Kosovo area, hoping to attract the attention away from him, claiming there is a danger of civil war, aiming only at one thing: the control of power. "Let’s see in which way the ruler of Serbia will be forced to give up the only thing in which he has always been interested in and which is power, keeping it and managing it at any price provided that this price is paid by anyone else apart Milosevic himself." (El. 9/1).

Yet, there are also some comments presenting, in a similar way, the leaders of the opposition parties treating them even worse than the one-eyed among the blind. The "trio" of the opposition is characterized as "loose" and "clumsy" while its protagonists are "upstart heroes" (N. 14/1), "who are not the most capable for the roles that had been suddenly assigned to them, in spite of the fact that they may support democracy, freedom and human rights. And who knows what would happen if, suddenly, S. Milosevic disappeared from the scene and they were called to take over the leadership of the country?" (N. 14/1). As far as the Serbs are concerned, the picture we get from the Greek press is that they are upset, furious, encountering many financial problems, while the students’ demonstrations are treated by the newspapers with great affinity, using adjectives like original, smart and imaginative.

Turkey and Turks

We are accustomed to read in the Greek press news that emphasize the negative stereotypes of the Greeks as far as their eastern neighbors are concerned. Whichever news permit the invigoration of those stereotypes, mainly the idea that Turks are barbarians and murderers, who ignore all international treaties, always with the American and European tolerance and understanding, are widely covered by the Greek papers. Bearing this on mind, we can easily explain the great number of articles and reports, in all newspapers, dedicated to the bombing of a Kurds’ base in N. Irak by Turkish planes with more characteristic the story with the title "Cold-blooded murderers" (Ad.T. 2/1) and the withdrawal of the United Nations forces from a Kurds’ refugees camp. "They have left them at the mercy of the Turks" (El. 21/1). All Greek newspapers covered also the appeal of the Danish government to the European Court accusing Turkey for the torture of a Danish citizen of Kurdish descent by Turkish authorities, "Turkish cited for torture" (Ap. 9/1) and the appeal made by Turkish intellectuals, politicians and businessmen in favor of "the adaptation of Turkey to the modern civilization" (Eth. 16/1).

The image of a country governed by people corrupted and related to para-state organizations and drug dealers, where nothing is working democratically and on the basis of the rule of law, is continuously presented and with every opportunity. "Minors confessed under torture but were convicted" (El. 17/1), "Turks sacked (Orthodox) church" (E.T. 17/1), "Turkey is a slaughterhouse, they executed 190 in ’96" (Eth. 18/1). The accusations by German judges on links between Tansu Ciller and drug dealers were particularly covered. Also, there were many stories with big strongly-worded headlines, referring often to the parallel state of the Grey Wolves and to the Turkish mafia. On 27/1, newspapers referred extensively to the statements of British and French officials who accuse members of the Turkish government of being implicated in drug dealing. The Greek press insists on stressing the negative image of the country, especially when it comes from or is documented in the West and foreign articles, which make the already stereotypes more credible and stronger: "Traffic of heroin. Der Spiegel: Ciller’s name an insult" (E.T. 27/1).

One other stereotype of Turkey is that of the third world country, drowned in her Islamic tradition, a far cry of the West European model of civilization. "Those using foreign words will be punished" (El. 21/1), "‘Banistir doulap’ [Turkish for TV], scandal with Islam, sex, politics, and pink stories in Turkish television" (Ad.T. 9/1), "Islamist leader arrested in bed with a 22-year old" (N. 8/1). Characteristic of the image of the Turks in Greece is the following excerpt which summarizes all previous stereotypes: "Turks are a mob! An ignorant people! Sunk in misery and unhappiness (…) Molon lave [ancient Greek for come if you dare and seize our weapons] dirty Turks. We are waiting for you. The people and the army are ready to produce new Thermopyles [where ancient Greeks fought heroically against the Persians and uttered the molon lave]" (Ad.T. 2/1).