NOVEMBER 1996

by Lola Kalandrakis and Vassilis Sakellariou, Greek Helsinki Monitor and Minority Rights Group - Gr.

Internal Minorities

Reactions to the Report of the International Commission on the Balkans

In November 1996, was published the report titled "Unfinished Peace" written by the "International Commission on the Balkans" created mainly by the American Carnegie Foundation and Aspen Institute (Berlin office). The report was called by the Greek government as "of bad faith" (K., Eth., Ap. 7/11) while the government spokesperson D. Reppas expressed disagreement and "serious objection to its content (…) as such reports, in the end, undermine rather than facilitate the communication and the understanding among the peoples of the region and the cooperation among those peoples" (K. 7/11). The report was treated negatively by the entire Greek press and was characterized as "suspicious" (Ap. 6/11), "anti-Hellenic" (Ap., Eth. 5/11), and "a boiling proposition on minorities" (E.T. 5/11), as there are mentioned two ‘taboo issues’: the non-recognition of a Macedonian minority in Greece and the denial of the right of Greece’s Muslim to identify themselves as Turks, as is characteristically mentioned by Ad.T. (6/11). "Americans see Turks and Macedonians" (E.T. 5/11), and, in that way, "the Great Powers grant themselves the right of ‘interference’ and ‘control’ in the Balkans, in a region they want to include in the ‘second-class league’ of countries in the European continent. The ‘minority’ issues give a suitable excuse to the planners of the ‘new order’ for their intention to ‘deal with’ the Balkans like a ‘banal’ region in pain, which should not be considered like a typical European one’ …" comments Kathimerini (8/11).

The fact that the press conference for the presentation of the book took place in the offices of the European Commission and was chaired by Commissioner van der Brook led to its presentation in the press as "Brussels Scandal" (Eth. 6/11), that is that "the Commission ‘adopts’ the anti-Hellenic report" (Eth. 5/11), a fact denied in a statement of Greek commissioner Mr. Chr. Papoutsis who said that the European Commission has no knowledge of the content of that report (Eth. 6/11). At the same time, van der Brook is treated like "an agent provocateur" (N. 6/11) and "a mouthpiece of the Turks" (Ad.T. 6/11) because he "tried to put under the auspices of the European Union a provocatory report -of American interests- which mentions the existence of ‘Turkish and Macedonian’ minorities in Greece, adding that the rights of these two minorities are not recognized by the Greek authorities" (N. 6/11). Finally, in a para-political comment of E.T. (6/11) its author writes that "the Commissioners read Greek newspapers and may have heard Charilaos [Florakis, Honorary President of the KKE -Greek Communist Party] (…) who asked ‘to put an end to the discrimination against Slavomacedonians’! Even if the Greek Foreign Ministry says that they do not exist …"

Repatriation of Political Refugees from Macedonia

These statement by Ch. Florakis who "asks to put an end to the discrimination against Slavomacedonians and allow their free repatriation" (El., N. 4/11) opened an issue that will be dealt in the press throughout the month. The information that the government intends to table in Parliament soon a bill that will allow the free repatriation of political refugees who live in Macedonia (K. 9/11) first led to a strong reaction by [governing socialist party] PASOK deputy Mr. Stelios Papathemelis who stated that "should that information prove accurate, should there indeed be such thoughts among those in charge and the state agencies, then it is indeed an act of high … senility" and adds, addressing the Foreign Minister Mr. Pangalos that "Greece will be the only country in the world that will import … a minority." (Ad.T. 18/11; Eth. 19/11). Moreover, he calls these people who live in the Republic of Macedonia "janissaries of Greek origin who have undergone an internal and mental ethnological mutation" -meaning that from Greeks that they were, according to him, when they left Greece, they have now become Macedonians- "and having rejected the Greek conscience turn against their previous fatherland creating themselves the problems". In his response, Mr. Pangalos mentions that there is no massive repatriation and also scoffs at Mr. Papathemelis stating that "he does not understand the notion of ethnological mutation which is possible a phenomenon that may be explained by the Minister of Health or Culture, perhaps even the Minister of Research and Technology (K. 22/11 see also E.T., El., Ap. 22/11). Many articles were in the spirit of Mr. Papathemelis’ statements: "They open the borders to the agents!, (…) to enraged Greek-haters and hirelings of neighboring countries which covet Greek territories" (Ad.T. 30/11) and "they are making the anti-Greeks Greeks" (Ad.T. 28/11).

There were also some articles with a very different approach. A para-political comment by G. Votsis in El (27/11) argues that it was "a blatant sample of short-sighted expediency, adopted by our leaders in the last twenty years, when they agreed to let return to their ancestral homes all political refugees except the Slavomacedonians thus creating passions and hatreds (…) If only generous politicians who govern us can be found to heal the last wound of the Civil War". On the same line, the article by Sifis Polimilis in El. (26/11): "Social and political racism does not concern only some citizens (…) Combined with the appropriate dose of ethnopatriotism, it really blossoms among our political leaders (…) as the pure-blood Greeks with a certificate of purity of their genes (…) shape up consciences and affect broader social strata that have been accustomed in scare-mongering and demonisation" and mentions cases of "ethnic racism" emanating from two politicians: the "Christian-socialist original ethnopatriot" Mr. Papathemelis but also the "nationally-correctly minded (ethnikofrona) racist" Mr. Karatzaferis on the Rozakis case.

A case of anti-Semitism

This case concerns the Assistant Foreign Secretary Christos Rozakis, who is reported to have a double family name Rosenstein-Rozakis: the theoretical Jewish origin of the first one led to an effusion of anti-Semitism, that was initiated by the extreme right newspaper ‘Stohos’ and went over to the mainstream press and the Parliament. "The mysterious professor Rozakis (…) seems to have not just a double quality (as he is also Assistant Foreign Minister) but also a double name (…). What is really going on? And why the professor hastens to explain himself disclaiming his origin and his religion? Has anyone told him that Jews are met with prejudice in Greece? Or is this what he says to foreigners?" (E.T. 6/11). The answer to whether Jews are treated with prejudice in Greece will come a few days later with an unprecedented parliamentary question tabled by [opposition conservative] ND [New Democracy] deputy Mr. G. Karatzaferis. "Explanations [asked] for Rozakis’ past" (E.T. 13/11) and "Insinuations about Rozakis" (Ad.T. 13/11). Mr. Karatzaferis asks the Prime Minister whether "Mr. Ch. Rozakis, your Assistant Foreign Minister and Mr. Rosenstein-Rozakis Christos is one and the same person?" "If so, has Mr. Rosenstein’s past being investigated as well as his possible connections and commitments to other countries?" (E.T., Ad.T., Ap., 13/11) [insinuating that Jews have such connections]. The story in the mainstream press started after Mr. Rozakis proposed a prolongation of the moratorium in the Aegean.

Another approach is offered by Mr. Elias Katsoulis, Professor of Political Sociology at Panteios University, in El. (29/11). "Mr. Karatzaferis’ parliamentary question aims at the resurgence of historical fears and religious - racial prejudices, and their personalisation, i.e. their transfer from the social body into politics. Also, it is aimed at putting obstacles in the efforts to implement a policy in our geographical region (…) which could offer solid ground on which Greece could in the future base a real and successful policy of peace and security in the Mediterranean and the broader space of Southeastern Europe". Most important was though "the lack of reaction from the Official Opposition [Mr. Karatzaferis’ party] but also the Greek Parliament [which] certainly puzzles the members of our community" as stated by the President of the Central Israeli Council Nasim Mais.

The cold-blooded murder of a Rom (Gypsy) by a policeman

"The wrath of the Gypsies" was the title used by nearly all papers to report on the Roma’s (Gypsies’) mobilization following the murder of their fellow A. Mouratis in Livadia by policeman D. Trimis, when, during a control, the traffic policeman thought that the -unarmed- victim moved in a threatening way against him and shot him. The event, mainly because of the humanitarian aspect, was dealt with positively by the press which stressed the grief and the wrath of the Roma (Gypsies) but also their demand not to be treated like second-class citizens. (Ap., N., E.T., El., Ad.T., K. 22/11). In a statement, Minister of Public Order Mr. G. Romaios said that "the sad event should not be considered as a phenomenon of violence against the Greek Gypsies [Athiganoi he actually said]" (El., N., 23/11) while the Secretary General of the same ministry, in the same spirit, added that "maybe the overeagerness or the responsibility of some agents, who in their line of duty show a special sensitivity, create some events like this." (N. 23/11).

It is noteworthy that some newspapers stressed more in their titles the -unjustified from all available evidence- fear for vengeance and vendetta by the Roma: "Gypsies threaten with vendetta", "they swore to take revenge for the murder of one of their own"" (Ap. 23/11) and "vendetta terror (…) feared now by security forces" (E.T. 23/11). Other papers though stressed more the fact that "there is an even latent tendency of racist treatment (…) and Gypsies, Albanians, Pakistani and all sorts of ‘marginals’ and outcasts are by definition suspects, they carry the … hereditary gene of criminality" (El. 22/11). And K.I. Angelopoulos wonders with good reason from the columns of ‘Kathimerini’ (22/11) "‘He thought that he [the Rom] made a threatening move towards him’ … I wonder, if the one who ‘moved’ had been another Greek citizen, a non-Gypsy, would his ‘move’ have caused his death? However afraid and not well trained the policeman? …"

Albania and Albanians

"Well things turned upside down in this crazy place. We even started robbing … Albanians." This comment by D. Rizos in Ad. T. (2/11) summarizes the press coverage of the information that a gang of taxi drivers was robbing Albanians. "The roles though could be reversed even when they seem so clear" (Eth. 1/11). "The ragged, miserable, and fearful Albanian illegal immigrants and the little money they had been saving were the ‘target’ of ruthless taxi drivers, who were robbing even with the use of clubs!!!" (E.T. 1/11). So, the stereotype image of the poor and miserable Albanian immigrant who is usually the victimizer in police reports is maintained even when he is in the position of the victim.

In November 1996, the newspapers dealt a lot with the drug problem and their spread among the young. In the newspaper dossiers, there were also stories accusing Albanians of drug dealing. "Albanians sold hashish to a policeman" (Ap. 13/11). "Gang of Albanians" (Ap. 12/11) but also "gates of Albanian drugs (…) as traffic of Albanian hashish is carried out through Epirus" (Ad.T. 13/11). Comments like "Albanians sell drugs to our children … And there was a time we were losing from serious ‘teams’" (E.T. 29/11) affect public opinion as expressed from the letters to the editor: "Who will save us and our property from the plague of Albanian illegal immigrants?" writes in a letter to Ap. (27/11) D. Karakatsanis, while D. Katrivanos mentions in El. (14/11) that "there are many Greeks dead from Albanian cut-throats"

Directly affecting the image of Albanians and Albania in the Greek press is the situation of the Greek minority in Albania. ND deputy from Ioannina An. Fousas writes in Ap. (1/11), following the results of the municipal elections in Albania, that "daily and on the basis of a plan, the demographic composition of the Greek population is being altered." In the irredentist line are the statements of the Official Opposition (ND) Leader Mr. M. Evert that denounces the government for "abandoning Northern Epirus Hellenism" (Ap. 19/11) and "called the government to assume its responsibilities before we lament as a nation another lost fatherland" (E.T. 19/11).

Romania and Romanians

With the opportunity of the elections, "Triumph of the conservatives in Romania and Serbia" states Apogevmatini and in the text that follows stresses that the ‘conservative turn in Romania was completed’ (Ap. 19/11). Especially for Romania, the result is considered as the completion of a course that started in 1989. So, with a title "‘Turning of the page’ in Romania’s politics" Ad.T. writes (19/11): "Seven years after the bloody rebellion which overthrew Nicolae Ceausescu, Romania lives her own ‘velvet revolution’", noting that it is "he first democratic alternation in power in the history of the country." And K. (19/11) writes that "Bucarest newspapers characterized the electoral victory of Costantinescu ‘a logical evolution’ of a revolution, which started seven years ago and whose aims stayed for long unfulfilled". Finally, El (29/11) writes about the revival of "Greek-Romanian friendship that historically bonds the two peoples", on the occasion of the fraternization of a Greek with a Romanian school.

Bulgaria and Bulgarians

"We are the best suppliers of Bulgaria" and "there may be political changes in Bulgaria and many problems but Greek-Bulgarian relations remain good" (Eth. 21/11). Most articles on the relations between the two countries have the same theme. At the same time, the economic problems faced by the inhabitants of the country are stressed: "More hunger and poverty for Bulgarians" writes N (30/11) mentioning the ragmen who dig in the trash of the garbage dumps of Sofia "with agility to avoid the bulldozers". "Garbage disappears before it reaches the dump. At night, the dustbins in the good neighborhoods of Sofia are ‘plundered’ by hungry ragged men". Conclusion: "Seven years after the fall of communism, the poor people are not the only ones who are still expecting to see some benefit from the reforms". In the same line, "infants die from hunger" one can read in a title (Ap. 28/11). Poverty, misery but also illegality imported in Greece. Two characteristic "humorist" comments, derogatory for Bulgarians: "There was a rebellion when the Bulgarian ‘waitresses’ were arrested with 20,000 suspicious pills in our Northern borders (…) Low prices make brisk business and people are buying. For example, a brand new 45 gun in perfect condition costs only 75,000 drs. and through the border" (Ad.T. 19/11) and also "when we say cheap used models do we mean only cars? Or also Russian and Bulgarian girls and the like?" (El. Themos Anastasiadis, 26/11).

Serbia and the Serbs

Serbia, after the elections, and with the daily demonstrations against Milosevic was covered daily. It is characteristic that the articles remain neutral and mention only the facts, avoiding making commentaries. This in itself is a change from the almost universal support of Milosevic in the recent years. Only the titles seem to indicate an adaptation to the new reality with taking distance from the "friend and ally".

So, even before the elections we read: "Milosevic certain for a victory" (N. 4/11) and "Milosevic’ victory" (E.T. 4/11). Among the articles with some judgments in the beginning of the month, K. Betinakis’ comment with the title "the one and only" (N. 2/11): "So Serbs found themselves punished by the international community, while the man who at the time was criticized by all international media (how much does it matter any more if they were right or wrong) as the person responsible for the Yugoslav tragedy is vindicated again as the only one capable of leading the country also after the crisis". The up to now ‘dissenting’ voice of L. Hatziprodromidis on the contrary stresses the title: "Serbia: all spotlights on the … wife’s party" (El. 1/11) concluding that "now it is clear that all the major national aims of Serbia for which Yugoslavia was destroyed and her peoples impoverished were the interest of a power machine and a family."

When demonstrations start, though, the climate change. With small-letter titles at the beginning "the opposition accuses Milosevic for political fraud" (Eth 26/11) and "Demonstration in Belgrade" (Ad.T. 26/11) but also big headlines and dossiers elsewhere: "Milosevic lost Belgrade" (E.T. 19/11); "They react to Milosevic’ arbitrariness with hunger strike." (El. 21/11). "Popular rebellion is pending" (K. 28/11), "the revolution of the eggs" (K. 30/11). Among the titles on the rebellion, a small story is reminiscent of an old friendship: "relations between Belgrade and Athens become even closer" (Ad.T. 26/11), on the occasion of an exposition of products in New Yugoslavia.

On the spotlight were found two more ‘traditional allies’. E.T. mentioned that Karadjic and Mladic want to seek refuge in Mount Athos and quotes two Serbian monks "for us Karadjic and Mladic are heroes. We do not want to hide them but give them a chance to express themselves with serenity." Ap (28/11) mentions an appeal to help 1,200 Serb pupils of Bosnia and reports on the visit of the Bishop of Bosnia-Herzegovina in Florina, where he decorated the local Greek Bishop A. Kandiotis, on the instructions of Patriarch of Serbia Pavle. The Bosnian Bishop "criticized Milosevic for his policy stressing that he betrayed Greek-Serbian friendship. As for Karadjic, he said that he is a pious believer in God, President of the Serbs; do not forget that, as he said, we fight to finish the work of Kolokotronis and Karageorge." So, if now Milosevic is in trouble, Kolokotronis’ work may be continued by other, more ‘certain’ hands.

The political situation in Turkey and her relations with Greece are dealt with daily and with many articles in the Greek press. It is characteristic that any news on human rights violation in Turkey is covered almost by all the Greek press. "Slap in the face" (K. 1/1/1) was called the resignation of Turkey’s lawyer in the European Commission for Human Rights Mr. Bakir Canclar. "Her lawyer ‘buries’ Turkey (…) desperate from the [lack of] prospects for human rights improvement" (Eth. 1/11). Amnesty International’s report published on World Children Rights Day "exposes Turkey" (Ad.T. 20/11), "slaps Turkey in the face" (Ap. 21/11) and is "a report-catapult on rapes, electrocutions and beatings [since] Turkey tortures even minors." (K. 21/11). It should be noted that in the beginning of the month, that organization published a report on unfairness of mass trials in Greece [unrelated to our report here]; the Greek media ignored it completely. But another report of that organization in October 1996 on Turkey was again covered extensively.

Likewise was covered the news that Yasar Kemal decided to ask for political asylum in Sweden. The fact was another "slap at the face of Turkey’ (N. 22/11) and a "Swedish ‘punch’ on the Turkish para-state" (E.T. 22/11). It was also reported that in Turkey "the government recommends restrictions on articles dealing with human rights violations" (K. 2/11). "Following the revelation of the links between government parties and organized crime" (E.T. 19/11), "Ankara silences the media after the revelation of the relations between gangsters and politicians" (Eth. 23/11) commenting negatively a bill on the press the Erbakan government was to table. "They are silencing the press" (N. 19/11, Ad.T. 22/11) and "cry of journalists against censorship" (El. 27/11) in a country where "you cannot have freedoms when there is no freedom of the press." (El. 27/11).

The common feeling on Turks is showed in a letter to the editor in El (D. Damianidis 7/11) on the occasion of the Greek government’s announcement of the new arms program: "Greece is not Belgium which has peaceful citizens. It is our fate to live with neighbors who threaten us daily, violate all rights and consider all efforts for dialogue as weakness". Eth (14/11) editorial states that there is "a need for weapons (…) when there is a direct threat from Turkey and her claims against the sovereign rights of the country are permanent and repetitive." At the same time, "the expression especially from left-wing forces of a general disagreement with the armament program, without a comprehensive alternative proposition on how to counter Turkish aggressiveness is if nothing else unprecedented populism" (N. Papadopoulos, N. 19/11).

On the basis of a similar argument, Elias Klis, director of the A2 division in the Greek Foreign Ministry in charge of Greek-Turkish relations decided to recommend the rejection of the fraternization of the Municipality of Larisa with the Municipality of Prokopi in Turkey (E.T. 4/11). In an article in El (6/11) with the title ‘Klis … above all", Stratis Balaskas ironically comments on Mr. Klis’ decision mentioning his superiors Deputy and Assistant Foreign Ministers Messrs. Papandreou and Rozakis who had favored a ‘bank of Greek-Turkish fraternizations’. The Foreign Ministry, commenting on the article, stated that "in the present situation, and given the effort of the Turkish leadership to give the impression that, despite territorial claims, it is possible to have normal relations, it is not encouraged to have fraternizations, especially when from the other side there is no clear condemnation of the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, the attacks and provocations against our islands and the beastly violation of the human rights of the inhabitants of Turkey and especially the Kurds" (El. Ad. T. 7/11). Also, Foreign Minister Mr. Pangalos, in answering a parliamentary question by KKE deputy Mr. Kolozoff, said that "since there is a question of territorial challenge from Turkey, a claim separates us and this concerns our peoples too". Mr. Kolozoff said that "the Minister’s style was cold war-like while his party favors the strengthening of the ties between the two peoples" (K. 14/11). In the same line, Coalition’s statement adding that "the diplomacy of the citizens can help de-escalate the tension" (Ad.T. 8/11).

The largest covered issue though was the news that the extreme right group ‘Grey Wolves’ is responsible for the forest fires in Rhodes and other Greek islands. The revelation was made by the deputy of the Right Path party Sedat Butsak, and was related to the action of the "extreme right wing para-state Abdullah Catli" (N. 28/11). Front page headlines were the reaction in the Greek press. "Turks burn our forests" (N., Ap. 28/11) and "Turkish fascists burn our forests" (Eth. 28/11) are the main titles. Since Tansu Ciller said the perpetrator was "worthy of respect" (Ap. N. 28/11), some called for "the arsonists to be scorned" (Eth. 29/11): "political backers and sponsors (…) call in public the para-state scums ‘national heroes’, probably because every people has the heroes it deserves" (Eth. 29/11). Alkis Kourkoulas in K. (30/11) states: "‘police and mafia make one’ is the belief of the average Turk, who was never characterized by the inherent anarchism of the Greek; on the contrary he had respect for authority. The strategy of ‘rescue’ of the state truned out to be the most efficient way of corrupting the state!".

The article on Turkey and the Turkish universities by Fotini Barka with he title "the other Turkey" runs contrary to the general stereotype on the Turkish people. "In a place which on the one hand gives the image of the country with guns, violence, human rights violations; on the other, there is that Turkey which resists, fights for freedom of speech, (…) has ultra-modern universities of which every European country would be jealous." Discussing with four professors, she heard that "Since our governments do not intend to make important efforts for peace between us, the citizens of these countries should do something" (El. 7/11).

Macedonia and Macedonians

In November 1996, there was an interview of K. Gligorov in ‘Nasha Borba’ in which he asked from Greece to "lead peaceful procedures and economic, cultural and other forms of cooperation in the Balkans’ (Eth. N. El. 4/11). The media therefore stressed more the development of business activities between the two countries. "24 companies from Northern Greece prepare to sign contracts of cooperation with companies from Skopje. That is faits accomplis. Let them try to overturn it in the negotiations in New York. Everyone will rebel" (AD.T.21/11).

But a statement of the chairman of the Pan-Macedonian Union of Europe P. Papachristopoulos "in Greece there is a situation of oblivion maybe because the irredentist propaganda is not felt." (Ad.T. 18/11). Likewise, Mr. Papathemelis’ statements that "the Skopje issue is not lost but neglected" (Ap. 14/11) and that "micro-Helladism leads to complaisance" (N. 14/11). Also former Defense and now Education Minister G. Arsenis, in presenting the book by S. Tsaparas with the title "Macedonia and Macedonian problem" said that "complaisance leads to a national tragedy; that’s why we need national awakening and a solid internal front in the country" (N. 14/11).

"Alexander the Great’s tomb became a series" (Eth. 4/11) and "impudence with a helmet (…) where they owed us they took away from us even our cattle (…): so now on top of other historical falsities they have said, they have discovered the tomb of Alexander the Great" (Ad.T. 2/11). That’s how most papers treat the Macedonian archaeologists statements that they discovered the tomb of Alexander the Great in a small town in Macedonia.

Also, with a title "Skopjan mosaic" the presence of various ethnicities in the adjacent country, a ‘serious store’, is commented upon ironically. (Ad.T 8/11). The after echo of the nationalist hysteria can be found in small scale in a dossier of Ad.T. prepared by P. Skarli (7/11) with the title "Macedonia and its immortal civilization" . "Macedonia was Greek. Whoever dares challenging that will have to answer to history. As one should know that states and nations are not created neither in the ‘kitchen’ of the palaces nor in the international organizations with forging foreign names and symbols. They are the result of centuries and millenaries of contribution to civilization."