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Greek Professor under attack for accepting 'Macedonia' dissertation |
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Saturday, 18 April 2009 |
Group of professors at the Panteion University in Greece, Department of Political Sciences are under attack because they accepted a doctoral thesis named “Republic of Macedonia”
Rightist Greek politicians have pin pointed their fingers on International Relations professor Aleksis Iraklidis, better known to media circles for calling on Karamanlis’ Government to recognize the rights of ethnic Macedonians in Greece, return the confiscated properties to exiled Macedonians, and accept the double formula in the name dispute.
Prof. Iraklidis repeated this statement recently in an interview for Greek TV Station Alfa.
During his interview, Iraklidis stated “Greece should accept a double formula for the name, and recognize the 30-40,000 ‘SlavMacedonians’ in Greece”
- If this question appears in front of the European Courts of Human rights, Greece will be ordered to pay damages – added Professor Iraklidis.
Professor Iraklidis is facing great deal of criticism for his opinions from Greek nationalists. During his interview for Alfa TV, Iraklidis stated “Greece can accept either North or New Macedonia” a name that will apply only to Athens. To the reporter's question whether Professor Iraklidis is ashamed to be a Greek, he answered “Yes”.
Because of this, Greek nationalists and the far right have branded Professor Iraklidis as an “embarrassment for Panteion University”.
Macedonian organization in Lerin “Vinozito”, says Professor Iraklidis has accepted dissertations with the term Macedonia long before his opinions became a problem.
His statements have started to be frequently picked up by Greek media. His first statement caused stir among politicians when the professor asked the Government to stop pushing its head in the sand with their statements that there are no ‘slavmacednians’ in Greece. According to the professor, the Greek Government will find only more sand as it buries its head deeper in it.
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