Ethnic Macedonians in Bulgaria: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m hmmm, let's tone it down - I re-thought the matter
m Do you have a problem with notable macedonians. Next thime and i will sue you!!!
Line 231: Line 231:
Ltd:107-108.).</ref><ref>Jelavich, B. (1991). History of the Balkans: Twentieth Century, (Cambridge:
Ltd:107-108.).</ref><ref>Jelavich, B. (1991). History of the Balkans: Twentieth Century, (Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press).</ref>These were part of the measures to promote the Macedonian language and consciousness and were subsequently shut down in 1958. In the early 1990's a new newspaper was established for the ethnic Macedonian minority in [[Blagoevgrad Province]], it is called ''Narodna Volja'' and it's main office is in [[Blagoevgrad]].
Cambridge University Press).</ref>These were part of the measures to promote the Macedonian language and consciousness and were subsequently shut down in 1958. In the early 1990's a new newspaper was established for the ethnic Macedonian minority in [[Blagoevgrad Province]], it is called ''Narodna Volja'' and it's main office is in [[Blagoevgrad]].

==Notable Macedonians from Bulgaria==
*[[Yane Sandanski]]
*[[Boris Sarafov]]
*[[Stoyan Stoykov]]


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 22:10, 9 April 2008

Macedonians in Bulgaria
Regions with significant populations
Blagoevgrad [1][2],Sandanski [3][4],Gotse Delchev [5],Petrich[6][7],Razlog[8]
Languages
Macedonian and Bulgarian
Religion
Predominantly Macedonian Orthodox[9], Bulgarian Orthodox and Muslim

Part of a series of articles on
Macedonians
(ethnic group)

File:Republic-of-Macedonia-coat-of-arms.svg

Culture
Language • Literature • Music
Cinema • Folklore
Costume • Cuisine • Sport

Religion
Macedonian Orthodox Church
Catholics • Muslims • Baptists

History
National Awakening
National Liberation War
National Liberation Front

Statehood
Military History • ASNOM
S.R. Macedonia (1944-91)
Republic of Macedonia

By region or country
Republic of Macedonia
Bulgaria • Albania • Greece
Serbia • Germany • Italy
Australia • Canada • USA


In the 2001 Bulgarian census, 5,071[10] people officially declared themselves to be Ethnic Macedonians, mostly concentrated in the Pirin region of Macedonia. In 2001 they constituted 3,117 people or 1% of the Pirin area. They are not currently recognized officially as an ethnic minority[citation needed] but have been in the past, most notably between 1947 and 1958. During this period their was a resurgence of Macedonistic policies, the government went as far as to declare Macedonian as an official language of the Pirin region[11][12]. The Bulgarian Communist Party was compelled by Stalin to accept the formation of Macedonian, Thracian and Dobrujan nations in order to include those new separate states in a Balkan communist federation.[13][14][15] It has been suggested that the majority of the population from Blagoevgrad province was listed as ethnic Macedonians against their will in the 1946 census.[13][14]


Recognition of the Minority

On the 1st August, 1947 the Bled Agreement was signed between Yugoslavia and Bulgaria. One of the conditions of this agreement was the recognition of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria and recognising the Macedonian Language as a distinct language separate from Bulgarian. In November,1947 pressured by both the Yugoslavs and the Soviets, Bulgaria signed a treaty of friendship with Yugoslavia and teachers were sent from Macedonia to Pirin Macedonia to teach the Macedonian Language and History[16][17].The Bulgarian president Georgi Dimitrov was sympathetic to the Macedonian question [18]. The Bulgarian government Communist party was compelled once again to adapt its stand to Soviet interests in the Balkans.[17] The same process started regarding the populations in Dobrudja and Thrace.[13][14]

A change of policy came in 1958.[13][14] At the plenum of the Bulgarian Communist Party held that year the decision was made that the Macedonian, Dobrujan and Thracian nations did not exist and neither did their respective languages.[19][20][13][14] From this point on the Macedonian Language was outlawed and the Macedonian teachers were expelled.[21] Since 1958, Bulgaria has not recognised the Macedonian minority in the Pirin region. Within ten years the 178,862 strong Macedonian minority had fallen to just 8,700 individuals.[22]

Census Results

The number of Macedonians in the Pirin region has varied greatly over the past 50 years.

In the December of 1946, the Peoples Republic of Bulgaria conducted a census which included both the questions; of Ethnicity and of Mother Language. Of the total 252,908 inhabitants of Blagoevgrad Province, 160 541 or roughly 64% of the population declared themselves to be Ethnic Macedonians.[23]

Groups Sandanski Petrich Blagoevgrad Razlog Goce Delchev Total
Macedonians 89,49% 82,64% 52,18% 45,18% 45,77% 63,64%
Bulgarians 7,51% 15,15% 45,08% 39,05% 49,45% 33,33%
Others 3,00% 2,16% 2,71% 11,92% 4,77% 3,03%

In 1956, of the 281,015 inhabitants of Blagoevgrad Province 178,862 people declared themselves to be ethnic Macedonians. This rate stayed the same at roughly 64% of the population.[24][25]

Total Bulgarians Macedonians Turks Roma
7613109 6506541 187789 656052 197789
100% 85,47% 2,47% 8,62% 2,52%

The 1965 census counted only 8,700 people who declared themselves to be Macedonians.[26]

In the 1992 census 10,803 people declared themselves to be Ethnic Macedonians.In the 1992 census, 3,500, out of the 10,803 registered Macedonians defined Macedonian as their mother tongue[27]. According to the President of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee Krasimir Kanev, the real number of Macedonians in Bulgaria varies from 15000 to 25000. [28]

Results of the 2001 census in the Blagoevgrad region of Bulgaria[29].

Total Bulgarians Macedonians Others
341173 286491 3117 51565
100% 83.97% 0.91% 15.12%
Ethnographic map of the lower Balkans, composed by professor George Soteriadis of the Athens University, showing a Slav Macedonian population as a distinct people in the Pirin region of Bulgaria.

Macedonians since 1958

Since 1958 their has been repressive measures placed upon the Macedonians in Bulgaria. This came to a front when in 1964 four people were tried for writing 'We are Macedonians' and 'Long live the Macedonian Nation' on a restaurant wall[30]. Since the fall of Communism in the early 1990's various associations have been set up to represent the minority, these include UMO Illinden-Pirin and the IMRO-I[31]. These organisations have called for the restoration of rights granetd to Macedonians during the 1940's and 1950's[32]. Although the Republic of Bulgaria recognised the Macedonian Language in 1999 it does [33] it does not recognise it as a minority language.


Political Representation

The UMO Illinden-Pirin party claims to represent the ethnic Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. In 2007 it was accepted as member of the European Free Alliance. On February 29, 2000, by decision of the Bulgarian Constitutional Court , UMO Ilinden–Pirin was expelled from the Bulgarian political system, as a separatist party [1]. According to the Bulgarian Constitution parties on ethnic and religious grounds are forbidden. On November 25, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, condemned Bulgaria because of violations of the OMO Ilinden–Pirin's freedom of organising meetings.[34] The court stated that Bulgaria had violated Act 11 from the European Convention of Human Rights.[35] Bulgarians on the other hand have accused UMO-Ilinden of being funded by the Skopie government.[36] which was confirmed by members of the party itself [37].

Macedonian Media

File:Bannernarodnavolja.gif
Banner from Macedonian newspaper 'Narodna Volja'

In 1947 the newspaper 'Pirinski Vestnik' (Pirin Paper)[38][39] was established and a “Macedonian Book” publishing company were set up.[40][41]These were part of the measures to promote the Macedonian language and consciousness and were subsequently shut down in 1958. In the early 1990's a new newspaper was established for the ethnic Macedonian minority in Blagoevgrad Province, it is called Narodna Volja and it's main office is in Blagoevgrad.

Notable Macedonians from Bulgaria

References

  1. ^ http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF
  2. ^ Georgeoff, Peter John (with David Crowe), “National Minorities in Bulgaria, 1919- 1980” in Horak, Stephen, ed., Eastern European National Minorities 1919/1980: A Handbook, (Littleton, Co: Libraries Limited, Inc.).
  3. ^ http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF
  4. ^ Georgeoff, Peter John (with David Crowe), “National Minorities in Bulgaria, 1919- 1980” in Horak, Stephen, ed., Eastern European National Minorities 1919/1980: A Handbook, (Littleton, Co: Libraries Limited, Inc.).
  5. ^ http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF
  6. ^ http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF
  7. ^ Georgeoff, Peter John (with David Crowe), “National Minorities in Bulgaria, 1919- 1980” in Horak, Stephen, ed., Eastern European National Minorities 1919/1980: A Handbook, (Littleton, Co: Libraries Limited, Inc.).
  8. ^ http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-bulgaria-macedonians.PDF
  9. ^ Georgeoff, Peter John (with David Crowe), “National Minorities in Bulgaria, 1919- 1980” in Horak, Stephen, ed., Eastern European National Minorities 1919/1980: A Handbook, (Littleton, Co: Libraries Limited, Inc.).
  10. ^ a b http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos.htm
  11. ^ Bugajski, Janusz. (1995) Ethnic Politics of Eastern Europe, (New York, London: The Center for Strategic and International Studies).
  12. ^ Zang, Theodor (1991). “Selective Persecution of Macedonians in Bulgaria,” News from Helsinki Watch, No.2, 1991.
  13. ^ a b c d e v, Joseph. The Communist Party of Bulgaria; Origins and Development, 1883-1936. Columbia University Press. pp. p. 126. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  14. ^ a b c d e A. Cook, Bernard (2001). Europe Since 1945: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. pp. p.810. ISBN 0815340583. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  15. ^ Coenen-Huther, Jacques (1996). Bulgaria at the Crossroads. Nova Publishers. pp. p.166. ISBN 156072305X. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  16. ^ Niel Simpson, Macedonia;Its Disputed History,Aristoc Press.1994
  17. ^ a b Ramet, Pedro (1989). Religion and Nationalism in Soviet and East European Politics. Duke University Press. pp. p.374. ISBN 0822308916. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  18. ^ Neil, Simpson (1994). Macedonia; Its disputed history. Aristoc Press. pp. p.89. ISBN 0646204629. {{cite book}}: |pages= has extra text (help)
  19. ^ Shoup, Paul (1968). Communism and the Yugoslav National Question, (New - York: Columbia University Press).
  20. ^ War Report, Sofia, Skopje, and the Macedonian Question, No.35, July/August - 1995.
  21. ^ Niel Simpson, Macedonia;Its Disputed History,Aristoc Press.1994
  22. ^ Niel Simpson, Macedonia;Its Disputed History,Aristoc Press.1994
  23. ^ Georgeoff, Peter John (with David Crowe), “National Minorities in Bulgaria, 1919- 1980” in Horak, Stephen, ed., Eastern European National Minorities 1919/1980: A Handbook, (Littleton, Co: Libraries Limited, Inc.).
  24. ^ Bates, Daniel. 1994. “What’s in a Name: Minorities, Identity and Politics in Bulgaria,” Identities, Vol.1, No.2, May 1994.
  25. ^ Creed, Gerald W. (1992). “The Ethnic Situation in Bulgaria,” Princeton Project of Ethnic Relations, Researches 1992, (Sofia: Club-90 Publishing House - in Bulgarian and in English).
  26. ^ Niel Simpson, Macedonia;Its Disputed History,Aristoc Press.1994
  27. ^ Kanev, 1999
  28. ^ Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe - Southeast Europe (CEDIME-SE) - Macedonians of Bulgaria
  29. ^ http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos.htm
  30. ^ {{cite book | last =Poulton | first =Hugh | title =Who are the macedonians? | publisher =C. Hurst and co. Publishers | date =2000 | pages =p.149 | isbn =1850655340
  31. ^ {{cite book | last =Bugajski | first =Janusz | title =Ethnic politics in Eastern Europe: A Guide to Nationality Policies, Organizations and Parties | publisher =M.E. Sharpe | date =1995 | pages =p.252 | isbn =1563242826
  32. ^ {{cite book | last =Bugajski | first =Janusz | title =Ethnic politics in Eastern Europe: A Guide to Nationality Policies, Organizations and Parties | publisher =M.E. Sharpe | date =1995 | pages =p.252 | isbn =1563242826
  33. ^ http://www.aimpress.ch/dyn/trae/archive/data/199902/90222-005-trae-sof.htm
  34. ^ European Court Condemns Ban on Bulgarian Party
  35. ^ Two ECHR judgments find Bulgaria violated freedom of assembly and association
  36. ^ "Skopje gave €75,000 to a Macedonian party of ours". Dneven Trud. 2006-06-26. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
  37. ^ www.dnesplus.bg IMRO versus OMO-Ilinden
  38. ^ Pribichevich, Stoyan (1982). Macedonia: Its People and History, (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press).
  39. ^ Poulton, Hugh. (1995). Who Are the Macedonians? :107-108, (London: C. Hurst & Co. Ltd.).
  40. ^ Poulton, Hugh. (1995). Who Are the Macedonians?, (London: C. Hurst & Co. Ltd:107-108.).
  41. ^ Jelavich, B. (1991). History of the Balkans: Twentieth Century, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).

External Links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethnic_Macedonians_in_Bulgaria&oldid=204554728"