Honorable Representative :

Representative Vrakas, Owens and Hahn have introduced Assembly Resolution 30 which states that Macedonia is Greek and the inhabitants of Northern Greece are descendants of the ancient Macedonians.

The resolution was prepared by a Greek-American lobbying group that is attempting to use the Wisconsin Senate to advance its nationalistic and intolerant goals. We respectfully request that you oppose Assembly Resolution 30 for the following reasons:

Legislating genetics and ancient history not within the scope of the Wisconsin Senate. These issues are being resolved quite well by historians and geneticist; the promoters of this resolution merely dislike the outcome of the scholarly studies and are trying to counter them by promoting legislation in states unfamiliar with these issues and half a globe away.

The statement that the ancient Macedonians were Hellenes and the inhabitants of Greece are their descendants is false. The consensus in the academic community is the exact opposite.

This resolution is insulting to Macedonian Americans and to the people of Macedonia, a friend and a close ally of the US. In the war in Yugoslavia, the support of Macedonia was instrumental in sparing the lives of many American soldiers. Macedonia is a member of the coalition and its soldiers are deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq along with our soldiers.

The relations between Macedonia and Greece are steadily improving and the remaining issues between them are being resolved.. Passing AR30 in the Wisconsin Assembly would interfere with improving those relations and with the fragile peace process in the Balkans.

We hope that you will consider these issues and oppose AR 30. It has already been criticized and ridiculed in the Wisconsin Sate journal and the Pioneer Press. The same resolution was introduced in the Texas House last Spring and failed after the press exposed its content. We would be glad to provide any additional information on the issue you may need. You can also find more information at www.macedonianamerican.org/resolution/resolutionpage.htm
The Macedonian American Friendship Association is a not for profit organization of Macedonian Americans dedicated to improving and maintaining the friendship between Macedonia and the US. A number of its members reside in the Great State of Wisconsin

Dr. Vasil Babamov, President

Dr. Vasil Babamov, President
The Macedonian American Friendship Association
57 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215
Tel.: 614.228.0095; Fax: 614.792.2866
info@macedonianamerican.org
http://www.macedonianamerican.org