Honorable Representative:

Senator Theodore Gatsas has sponsored LSR 1169, which states that Macedonia is Greek and the inhabitants of Northern Greece are descendents of the ancient Macedonians. It appears that this resolution has been prepared and is promoted by a Greek-American lobbying group with the curious name “Pan Macedonian” Association. The New Hampshire Legislature is simply being used to advance its nationalistic and intolerant goals.

We respectfully request that you oppose the passing of LSR 1169 in the New Hampshire legislature for the following reasons:

· Legislating genetics and ancient history is not the charge of the New Hampshire Legislature. The historians and geneticist are quite capable of resolving these issues and they are doing so, albeit not in the way the promoters of this resolution would like them to.

· The statements in the resolution that the ancient Macedonians were Hellenes and that the inhabitants of northern Greece are their descendants are false. It is widely agreed in the academic community that the ancient Macedonians were distinct from the Hellenes. No genetic study has ever shown a link between the modern Greeks and ancient Macedonians; the few related studies point in exactly the opposite direction.

· This resolution is hostile to Macedonian Americans and to the people of Macedonia and represents an attempt to disturb the friendly relationship between Macedonia and the US. Macedonia is a country in the south of the Balkans that is a friend and an ally of the US that has been willing and able to help the US whenever needed. During the war in Yugoslavia, the support of Macedonia, the only viable land route to Kosovo, was instrumental in sparing the lives of many young American soldiers. Greece, on the other hand, was hampering the US war effort in Yugoslavia in every way it could.

· While the relations between Greece and Macedonia have been tense at times they have been steadily improving and the few remaining open issues between them appear close to resolution. Passing LSR 1169 in the New Hampshire Legislature would interfere with improving those relations and with the fragile peace process in the Balkans.

We hope that you will look at these issues and oppose LSR 1169. We would be glad to provide any additional information on this issue that you may need. More information can also be found on our web site at: www.macedonianamerican.org

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.

Sincerely,

Dr Vasil Babamov, President