Educative and Cultural Movement of Voden

It is with great honor that I announce the formation of a new Non Governmental Organization (NGO), the “Educative and Cultural Movement of Edessa”. The association was officially registered in Voden, Aegean Macedonia, on February 11, 2009 and is a non-profit association. The statute consists of five individuals who are dedicated to promoting the needs of Education and Cultural activities in Aegean Macedonia.

The objectives and activities are two fold, the first objective is teach the Macedonian Language and History. The association is pleased to announce that starting this summer (for two months) classes will be available in Voden and the surrounding Villages. For the first time local Macedonians will have an opportunity to read and write in their Macedonian mother tongue. Further plans are in the works to expand the classes to the Lerin and Kostur regions.

The second objective is to promote Cultural and Traditional activities throughout Aegean Macedonia and develop relations with the people in the Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian minorities that live in many Balkan States and the Diaspora. The association will use every opportunity to promote our rich and vibrant Macedonian Culture through music, songs and dance.

Lastly, and I wish to make this clear, this new NGO has no political affiliation or motive with any other political organization in Aegean Macedonia or any political organization in the Diaspora.

Best wishes,

Jim Daikos

MHRMI Condemns Attack on Minority Activist in Greece During Live Broadcast

SEEMO Toronto, Canada - MHRMI joins the South East Europe Media Organization (SEEMO) appeal denouncing the attack on Turkish minority rights activist, Abdulhalim Dede, during a live television broadcast on February 19, 2009.

Greece vigorously denies the existence of any ethnic minorities on its territory and attempts to suppress any voices that advocate human rights. Simply raising the issue of minority rights, and specifically the Macedonian minority, in Greece causes Greek citizens and politicians alike to react in outrage.

Greece's state-sponsored racism includes Greek politicians publicly calling for the death of Macedonian minority party EFA-Rainbow members, the Greek army entering an ethnic Macedonian village and arresting several inhabitants, and possible treason charges against Greek Helsinki Monitor spokesperson Panayote Dimitras for advocating minority rights.

MHRMI calls on the international community, and specifically the European Union, to finally hold Greece accountable for its persecution of its ethnic minorities and force Greece to abide by all European Court of Human Rights judgements against it.

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Macedonian Human Rights Movement International (MHRMI) has been active on human and national rights issues for Macedonians and other oppressed peoples since 1986. For more information, please visit www.mhrmi.org, or contact MHRMI at 416-850-7125, or info@mhrmi.org.