REPRESENTATIVE LEAH VUKMIR
THE WISCONSIN STATE ASSEMBLY
ROOM 307 NORTH STATE CAPITOL
PO BOX 8953
MADISON, WISCONSIN 53708

Dear Representative Vukmir:

I am writing to express grave concerns over the proposed resolution AR-30 which states that the ethnic identity of ancient and modern day Macedonians was and is Greek. As a Macedonian-American and Wisconsin resident, I want to inform you of a campaign being waged by various members of Greek lobbying groups involving a number of state legislatures throughout the US and now in Wisconsin. These lobbying groups are encouraging mostly unwitting legislators to pass
resolutions stating that Macedonians are Greek and have been so for 3,000 years.

Not only are their assertions baseless and deceiving, they advocate incursion of state legislative bodies into matters more properly in the realm of Congress and federal agencies. Enclosed you will find information that explains the kind of discrimination ethnic Macedonians live with in northern Greece. There are numerous reports available documenting Greek human rights abuses against its indigenous Macedonian population from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Greek Helsinki Monitor and others.

Macedonia is a historical and geographical area, whose name originates from the classical period. It is a place where
different cultures and religions have always intertwined. The historical development of the Macedonian language dates back to the 9th century when Slavic literacy began. It matriculated into the commonly used language of the people in all parts of geographic Macedonia. Even during the 500 years of Ottoman Turkish subjugation the Macedonian people not only maintained, but also enhanced their distinctive national identity. The ancient Macedonians did not disappear into thin air, rather assimilated into the great mass of people in the area which by the 9th century were overwhelmingly Slavic in origin.
The modern Macedonians have every right then to trace part of their heritage to the ancient Macedonians.

Historians know very little about what language the ancient Macedonians spoke but we know it certainly was not Greek. Macedonia was never under Greek jurisdiction in all of history and Greeks were never present there in great numbers until the early part of this century when a population exchange took place bringing Greeks in from parts of Asia Minor. The Second Balkan War of 1913 culminated in the forceful partition of Macedonia among Bulgaria, Serbia, Albania and Greece. Each of these states consolidated their control over respective annexed parts of Macedonia. Greece, in particular, intended to destroy any manifestations of Macedonian culture, language and religious freedom by distorting their history, violating them with terror, intimidation, murder, imprisonment and forced expulsion. To this day, Greece and other Greek special
interest groups are still attempting to rewrite history.

In spite of centuries of extreme hardship and deprivation, a Macedonian nation with a citizenry characterized by its indefatigable spirit and determination, exists to this day. Today, the Republic of Macedonia follows democratic principles and was the only former Yugoslav republic to secede peacefully.

On behalf of the estimated 3,000 Macedonian-Americans in the state of Wisconsin, I urge you not to support passage of any resolution or legislation that deals with the national identity of Macedonians at home or abroad. I have attached some information that pertains to this issue that may be helpful to you. If you need a further explanation of this matter, or if I can be of further assistance in any way, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to your response.

Respectfully,
CHRIS ELINCHEV
Macedonian-American Federation of Wisconsin