2003 Reunion of the Macedonian Political Refugees Persecuted by Greece

Political Refugees Trickle Into Lerin After 55 Years of Greek Apartheid

Florina/Lerin - August 20, 2003

On August 20, 2003, the Rainbow Party (Vinozhito) hosted a symbolic reception for the Macedonian political refugees who were permitted to enter Greece. The reception included relatives of the refugees who are living in Greece and are members of Rainbow Party.

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The Macedonian child refugees (Detsa Begaltsi) -- ethnic Macedonians born in Greece -- fled their ancestral homes as children during the Greek Civil War (1946-1949). For many this was the first time they were able to be with their families in 55 years. Greek officials callously misrepresent this group as "enemy collaborators and criminals," even though the refugees were small children when they fled.

As a matter of fact their return home had been blocked by Greek authorities because of their refusal to deny their Macedonian ethnic heritage. Those political refugees who agreed to misrepresent themselves and declare as "Greeks by genus" were allowed to repatriate in 1982. In this way the facade of "Greek purity" could be preserved.

The change of policy to allow entry to "non-Greek" political refugees was the result of a new decision by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After more than five decades of separation the political refugees were allowed to enter Greece for a maximum of 20 days from August 20, 2003 to October 30, 2003. Many refugees were turned away by Greek border authorities because their passports listed their birth village using the old Macedonian name.

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