Dimitar Vlahov, David Ben-Gurion and the Jews of the Ottoman Empire

I read in "A long row of candles; memoirs and diaries, 1934-1954", the journalistic memoirs of C. L. Sulzberger, that David Ben Gurion, the first president of Israel wanted to invite Israel Dimitar Vlahov, formerly leader of the leftist United VMRO and at the time, a Vice President of Tito's Yugoslavia .

Apparently Vlahov, as a deputy in the Parliament of the Young Turks, often spoke out in defense of the rights of the Jews, when Jewish members of Parliament were "too cowed to speak" (Sulzberger's words). Vlahov and Gjorche Petrov had meetings with Theodor Hertzl (and I assume Ben-Gurion) to discuss cooporation between Macedonians and Jews. I do not know if Dimitar ever visited Israel, but apparently, his son Gustav Vlahov wrote a book called "How I Saw Israel ". (How he got the name "Gustav", I don't know).

Grozdan Popov on Mark Mazower on Dimitar Vlahov

I have not read Mark Mazower's book "Salonica, City of Ghosts: Christians, Muslims and Jews 1430-1950" , With 500 pages and its span of 500 years, I did not think that Mazower would cover the Macedonians and their history. Grozdan Popov's review is thorough. He does not think much of Mazower's skills as a historian. This is the only review I have seen from a Macedonian perspective. If anyone has a review that is of interest to Macedonians, forward the link to me.


Mark Mazower presents a distorted, biased history of Salonica based on trash and wrong on fact

Now, if interested, Mazower could easily find out who was Dimitar Vlahov and why was he important. The man Mazower mentions twice as much as he does Josip Broz Tito (who influenced the remodeling of the Balkans of today) did not allow any speculation about his ethnicity or nationality. He wrote and signed (Memoirs of Dimitar Vlahov, Nova Makedonija, 1970; Speaches and Articles 1945-47, 180 p. Skopje, 1947) that "I myself am purest Macedonian and nothing else". Vlahov (born in Kukus or Kilkis, like Gotse Delchev) was one of the most daring young commanders or a VMRO regiment and indeed a member of the first and only Ottoman parliament where he represented the "Bulgarian community" of the district of Salonika.

In his long life he was not only Consul-general of the Bulgarian Empire in Odessa but also the chief administrator of Kosovo during the Bulgarian occupation (1915-1918) of the present UN-protectorate which is crudely being carved-out from Serbia. Vlahov enthusiastically supported the creation of Israel and Theodor Herschel personally. He lead the group which formed VMRO (united) in 1924 in Vienna. Its main objective was to free Macedonia within its geographical and economical borders and create an independent political unit that will become an equal member for a future Balkan Federation.

Some 20 years latter he became the first president of the Democratic Republic of Macedonia, plus, vice-president (Josip Broz was the president) of AVNOJ (Anti-fascist Council of the People's Liberation of Yugoslavia) the highest legislative and executive organ of the country which will become a federation and a beacon of worker's self-management and of the non-alignment movement. Prof. Georges Haupt, a French historian, claims that Dimitar Vlahov's Memoirs are "of great use for the study of social developments on the Balkans". It is pointless to blame Mark Mazower for not being capable of figuring out this complexity better than by labeling Vlahov as "the Bulgarian". If he tried he would have unravelled the documents for the heinously atrocious practices and general genocidal attitude nourished by the Greeks against everything of Slav, Jewish or Muslim origin in the region. While he was alive partisan battalions were named after him and today in Macedonia (rabidly sensitive on everything Bulgarian) hundreds of streets, schools, institutes, establishments carry his name Dimitar Vlahov, absolutely unthinkable if he was considered a "Bulgarian".

In the Greek Civil War (1946-1949) that followed World War II, the Macedonians of Aegean Macedonia fight on the side of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) as it promised them their rights after the war. About half of the 35,000 soldiers of DAG were Macedonians. On the liberated territory in Aegean Macedonia 87 Macedonian schools were opened, newspapers in Macedonian were published, and cultural and artistic associations created. But after few years of KKE's success, the communists lost the war, and the Macedonians were once again stripped of their human rights. 28,000 Aegean Macedonian children, known as 'child refugees', were separated from their families and settled in eastern Europe and Soviet Union in an attempt to save them from the terror that followed. Thousands of Macedonians lost their lives and great numbers of the Macedonian villages were burned to the ground.

Thus: he is wrong, Mazower is, labeling Dimitar Vlahov as Bulgarian. Such a mistake indicates Mazower's dilettante perception and understanding of the history of Salonika and its natural background.

Seymour Hersh Agrees With Me on Iran!

Below is a Seymour Hersh article, in the New Yorker, reporting that the US is using Iranian minority groups to undermine the authority of the government of Iran. In August 2006, I predicted this would happen in an online letter to Salon commenting on a Joe Conason article To Iran with Love. See my letter: American Neocon Dreams and the New Middle East, August 25, 2006.

I wrote a similar letter in response to a Juan Cole article, also in Salon, called Partitioning Iraq. See my letter: Neocons Dream On, Oct. 30, 2006.

And finally I posted the same article to my website with a link to a Washington Post opinion by Joe Biden, The Minimum Necessary. See my post: The Balkans and Iraq, Nov. 20, 2006.

When I have time, I will write about how I accurately predicted the fall of the Berlin Wall to a friend during a skiing weekend just before Gorbachev was scheduled to address the East German Communist Party Congress in 1989. Her parents were originally from Dresden and they were going to visit West Germany in the next week. I suggested that they should postpone the trip to Christmas, at which time, they could visit Dresden since the Berlin Wall would have been torn down by then.

I swear, CSI should really do a story about my telepathic abilities!

THE NEXT ACT

Is a damaged Administration less likely to attack Iran, or more?

by SEYMOUR M. HERSH

New Yorker, Issue of 2006-11-27

Another critical issue for Gates will be the Pentagon’s expanding effort to conduct clandestine and covert intelligence missions overseas. Such activity has traditionally been the C.I.A.’s responsibility, but, as the result of a systematic push by Rumsfeld, military covert actions have been substantially increased.

In the past six months, Israel and the United States have also been working together in support of a Kurdish resistance group known as the Party for Free Life in Kurdistan. The group has been conducting clandestine cross-border forays into Iran, I was told by a government consultant with close ties to the Pentagon civilian leadership, as “part of an effort to explore alternative means of applying pressure on Iran.” (The Pentagon has established covert relationships with Kurdish, Azeri, and Baluchi tribesmen, and has encouraged their efforts to undermine the regime’s authority in northern and southeastern Iran.)

The government consultant said that Israel is giving the Kurdish group “equipment and training.” The group has also been given “a list of targets inside Iran of interest to the U.S.” (An Israeli government spokesman denied that Israel was involved.)

77 US Politicans Adopt the Greek Postion on Human Rights for Ethnic Macedonians

September 7, 2006

From: David Edenden, The Macedonian Tendency
To: The 77 Co-Sponsors of H. Res. 521: (see below)

Re: "People good, politicians bad"

When my grandmother used to talk about the the Germans in WW2 or the Greeks and communists in the Greek Civil War, or why ethnic Macedonians, struggling for human rights in Greece, cannot gain support from the government of the US, EU, and Canada, she always said, in broken English, that "people good, politicans bad". That is why ...

Ethnic Macedonians Hate the 77 Co-Sponsors of Resolution 521, They Love America

Using the issue of human rights for Macedonians in Greece, I want to discuss with you the perception that people around the world hate the United States. Some say that only extremists hate the US because of its' values of freedom and democracy. Others say this hatred is based, not on what the US is, but what it does. The debate in the US has been clouded by the war on terror, Islamic fascism and anti-Semitism. However, I stand with those who say hatred of the US around the world is based on what the US does.

Your resolution supports the Greek position that Macedonians should change the name of their country (The Republic of Macedonia), their religion (The Macedonian Orthodox Church), their language (Macedonian), their national anthem (Denes Nad Makedonija - Today Above Macedonia) because the very word "Macedonian" belongs to Greek culture. I guess, for good measure, every ethnic Macedonian folk song that has the word Macedonia in it should also be changed. At the same time, you applaud Greece as being a close friend of the US in the Balkans.

You are obviously aware that Greece's values regarding minority rights are based on the denial of the existence of ethnic Macedonians. Greece does admit to a "slavophone" minority that speaks an "idiom" and does not have a language, history or culture, you know … a bunch of "N….. Words". Even so, you ardently support Greece in its' cold war with the Republic of Macedonia over the "name issue". You must agree that your support of Greece's (Nato member) minority rights values are also your values. You are with them (Greece) and against us (ethnic Macedonians). Certainly Greece's values are Nato values, by definition, since Greece is a member in good standing of Nato. You must also agree that any former communist country in Eastern Europe, using Greece as a model for minority rights, will be admitted into Nato, no questions asked … by definition.

Most ethnic Macedonians in Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, and the Republic of Macedonia love the US. They have close family ties with the Macedonian Diaspora in the US. In addition, everyone in the Republic of Macedonia is aware of the assistance the US gave to its capital city, Skopje during the 1963 earthquake, which almost destroyed the city. With US assistance, Skopje, one of the most backward cities in communist Yugoslavia became the most western looking. You may not know this, but a much young and a much thinner US State Department employee, Lawrence Eagleburger spearheaded the relief effort. In Macedonia today, he is still known as "Lawrence of Macedonia" in honour of his efforts.

But, let's get back to the hatred of the US around the world. For all ethnic Macedonians, living in all the Balkan counties and around the world, it's not the CIA, it's not Walmart, it's not US rap music, it's not Hollywood movie sex and violence, it's not American drug culture,its not Donald Rumsfeld, its not Condoleezza Rice and it's especially not President Bush (1), (2), that they hate. It's you, every member of the "Greek Issue Caucus". The refusal of the "Greek Issues Caucus" to even look at the human rights abuses of ethnic Macedonians in Greece, may be useful in gathering political donations to your election campaign from the Greek community, but is hurting America. It is what you have done, not what you are.

My suggestion, is for you to ask the American Hellenic Institute to fund your fact-finding trip to Florina (where most ethnic Macedonians in Greece live). When you get to Greek customs, bring along a Macedonian language Bible and Macedonian dictionary to see if they will allow you to bring them into Greece or will they confiscate them at the border (good luck). Ask to attend an ethnic Macedonian wedding to see if people are courageous enough to sing in the Macedonian language (no way). Ask to be taken to an ethnic Macedonian Church (so sorry) or ethnic Macedonian language radio or TV station (dream on). You can meet with the ethnic Macedonian political party, the Rainbow Party (watch your back). Go to a high school to see if Macedonian is taught as a second language (don't even think about it).

Anyway, at least you have taken the time to read this. Good luck and God bless.

77 C0-Sponsors of H. Res. 521: (09th U.S. Congress (2005-2006))

"Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) should cease its distribution of negative and nationalist propaganda and should work with the United Nations and Greece to find a mutually acceptable official name for the FYROM."

Sponsor: Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D-NY]

Cosponsors

Rep. Robert Andrews [D-NJ]

Rep. Brian Baird [D-WA]

Rep. Shelley Berkley [D-NV]

Rep. Michael Bilirakis [R-FL]

Rep. Timothy Bishop [D-NY]

Rep. Jeb Bradley [R-NH]

Rep. Henry Brown [R-SC]

Rep. Sherrod Brown [D-OH]

Rep. Lois Capps [D-CA]

Rep. Michael Capuano [D-MA]

Rep. Benjamin Cardin [D-MD]

Rep. Dennis Cardoza [D-CA]

Rep. Russ Carnahan [D-MO]

Rep. William Clay [D-MO]

Rep. John Conyers [D-MI]

Rep. Joseph Crowley [D-NY]

Rep. Danny Davis [D-IL]

Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT]

Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart [R-FL]

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart [R-FL]

Rep. Michael Doyle [D-PA]

Rep. John Duncan [R-TN]

Rep. Anna Eshoo [D-CA]

Rep. Chaka Fattah [D-PA]

Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]

Rep. Barney Frank [D-MA]

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen [R-NJ]

Rep. Raymond Green [D-TX]

Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-FL]

Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]

Rep. Rush Holt [D-NJ]

Rep. Darlene Hooley [D-OR]

Rep. Steve Israel [D-NY]

Rep. Jesse Jackson [D-IL]

Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH]

Rep. Sue Kelly [R-NY]

Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D-RI]

Rep. James Langevin [D-RI]

Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]

Rep. Sander Levin [D-MI]

Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D-CA]

Rep. Nita Lowey [D-NY]

Rep. Edward Markey [D-MA]

Rep. Doris Matsui [D-CA]

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D-NY]

Rep. James McGovern [D-MA]

Rep. Mike McIntyre [D-NC]

Rep. Michael McNulty [D-NY]

Rep. Martin Meehan [D-MA]

Rep. Gregory Meeks [D-NY]

Sen. Robert Menéndez [D-NJ]

Rep. George Miller [D-CA]

Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D-NY]

Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]

Rep. Frank Pallone [D-NJ]

Rep. Donald Payne [D-NJ]

Rep. Nick Rahall [D-WV]

Rep. Charles Rangel [D-NY]

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R-FL]

Rep. Steven Rothman [D-NJ]

Rep. Bobby Rush [D-IL]

Rep. Loretta Sanchez [D-CA]

Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]

Rep. Adam Schiff [D-CA]

Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D-PA]

Rep. Robert Scott [D-VA]

Rep. Christopher Shays [R-CT]

Rep. Brad Sherman [D-CA]

Rep. Hilda Solis [D-CA]

Rep. Charles Taylor [R-NC]

Rep. John Tierney [D-MA]

Rep. Edolphus Towns [D-NY]

Rep. Christopher Van Hollen [D-MD]

Rep. Diane Watson [D-CA]

Rep. Henry Waxman [D-CA]

Rep. Anthony Weiner [D-NY]

Rep. Curtis Weldon [R-PA]

Yes! Macedonia # 2, Greece # 3

If Macedonians had a "Rapid Response" team, we could respond to this report from the US. Ironic as it may seem, The US does produce some good reports on human rights around the world. The US State Department's report on Human Rights is better than "Freedom House, International Crisis Group, IWPR (International War and Peace Reporting.


CNN.com - U.S. lists levels�of human�trafficking - Jun 3, 2005

14px;">WASHINGTON (AP) -- The placement of countries in the State Department's annual report on trafficking in persons.

TIER ONE: Countries whose governments fully comply with U.S. minimum standards:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom.

TIER TWO: Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Chile, Democratic Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, East Timor, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Senegal, Serbia-Montenegro, Singapore, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia.

TIER TWO SPECIAL WATCH LIST: Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards, but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance and meet one of the following conditions:

a) The absolute number of victims of severe forms of trafficking is very significant or is significantly increasing.

b) There is a failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat severe forms of trafficking in persons from the previous year

c) The determination that a country is making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with minimum standards was based on commitments by the country to take additional future steps over the next year.

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belize, Benin, Cameroon, China, Dominican Republic, Gambia, Greece, Guinea, Haiti, India, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Niger, Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Suriname, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe.

TIER THREE: Countries whose governments do not fully comply with the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so:

Bolivia, Cambodia, Cuba, Ecuador, Jamaica, Kuwait, Myanmar, North Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Togo, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela.

Sam Vaknin and the Narcissism of Wall Street

Sam Vaknin lives in Skpopje and has written often on Macedonian issues. I really don't know much about the guy, but bellow we have some interesting information

Here is his web site: http://samvak.tripod.com/cv.html


New York's Premier Alternative Newspaper. Arts, Music, Food, Movies and Opinion

Dr. Vaknin lives in Skopje, Macedonia. Via email, we discussed what may well be the defining malady of our age.

Sam Vaknin is the world’s leading expert on narcissism. He’s also a narcissist himself. He was diagnosed with the illness in 1996 while serving a prison term in his native Israel. Before his imprisonment on fraud-related charges, Vaknin was an award-winning writer and an accomplished businessman. He is also well-educated, having earned a doctorate in philosophy from Pacific Western University in California.