LETTERS It's all Greek
Sir: How odd of Mr Noel Malcolm CI fear the Greeks', 15 August), to waste his time on venomous, anti-Hellenic rhetoric and of your cartoonist to waste his talent defacing the Parthenon at the time of year when thousands of English holidaymakers ritually descend upon this 'land of bullies'. Your readers ought to know, however, that this `Republic without a name' Mr Malcolm is so concerned about proudly and publicly displays maps of 'Greater Macedonia', whose capital is not Skopje but `Solun', as they call Thessoliniki in their 'Macedonian' language. The very term 'Macedonia' is for them much more than a name, it is a pro- gramme of expansion. They have even adopted recently as their own emblem the star of the ancient kingdom of Macedon, part of the archaeological finds of Professor Andronikos in the Macedonian city of Vergina.
Mr Douglas Hurd, using consummate diplomatic skill, explained very patiently a month ago the EEC position on Skopje: `You can call yourself what you wish,' he told them. 'If, however, you want to be recognised, you must drop the term "Mace- donia" from your name.' This would not be without precedent. English, Scots and Welsh live reasonably well together in the neutrally named 'United Kingdom'. The same applies to the Flemish and Walloons in Belgium. Why couldn't Slavomacedo- mans, Albanians, Gypsies and Turks co- habit peacefully in a 'Republic-with-a- name-other-than-Macedonia'? Why do the Skopjan authorities prefer to forgo Greek and EEC help to agreeing on a non-contro- versial denomination for their country?
I will not deal with Mr Malcolm's idiosyncratic views on minorities in Greece, whether non-existent (Slavomacedonian) or privileged (Muslim), nor with his fancy geopolitics. It is, however, notable that he should threaten us with expulsion from the EEC. If indeed there was a 'polite way' for the Community to expel obnoxious, neurot- ically nationalist members, Greece would hardly qualify as the first to be shown the door.
Vasshis Maghinas
Secretary General for Press and Information, Greek Embassy, la Holland Park, London W11
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