Death threats for Macedonia intellectuals

Several top reporters, politicians and professors received death threats over their stance in the Macedonia name row. In recent weeks, the intellectuals suggested Macedonia should settle for a compromise in the name dispute with Greece, in order to secure its invitation to join NATO at the alliance's summit in Bucharest next week, BIRN reports. Death threats for Macedonia intellectuals Athens has threatened to veto Macedonia's membership bid if a solution to the dispute is not found. The sender signed by "Jane Sandanski", the name of a famous Macedonian revolutionary from the beginning of the 20th century, accuses the intellectuals of treason and “anti-Macedonian activities”, with threats to kill them if they continue to present their positions in public. Branko Geroski, journalist and editor, who is one of the ten people who received the letter, told media that the threats “unfortunately have become a common feature in the overall debate about the 'name' dispute” in Macedonia. “These kind of threats are tragic,” Geroski said, arguing that they should alert the whole public. Police on Thursday said they had no information about the identity of the person or the group that sent the threat and that they will investigate the case only after a report is filed. Macedonia is under increased diplomatic pressure to reach a quick compromise over the “name” dispute with Greece, with the NATO Summit now just days away. The talks between Athens and Skopje for finding a compromise solution on the long-running row, intensified after it became clear that Greece is resolved to block Macedonia’s NATO invitation on the April’s summit of the Alliance in Bucharest if the problem is not resolved until then. Athens objects to Skopje’s use of its constitutional name “Republic of Macedonia” as Greece argues that it could lead Skopje to make territorial claims over its own northern province which is also called Macedonia.

Death threats for Macedonia intellectuals

Athens has threatened to veto Macedonia's membership bid if a solution to the dispute is not found.

The sender signed by "Jane Sandanski", the name of a famous Macedonian revolutionary from the beginning of the 20th century, accuses the intellectuals of treason and “anti-Macedonian activities”, with threats to kill them if they continue to present their positions in public.

Branko Geroski, journalist and editor, who is one of the ten people who received the letter, told media that the threats “unfortunately have become a common feature in the overall debate about the 'name' dispute” in Macedonia.

“These kind of threats are tragic,” Geroski said, arguing that they should alert the whole public.

Police on Thursday said they had no information about the identity of the person or the group that sent the threat and that they will investigate the case only after a report is filed.

Macedonia is under increased diplomatic pressure to reach a quick compromise over the “name” dispute with Greece, with the NATO Summit now just days away.

The talks between Athens and Skopje for finding a compromise solution on the long-running row, intensified after it became clear that Greece is resolved to block Macedonia’s NATO invitation on the April’s summit of the Alliance in Bucharest if the problem is not resolved until then.

Athens objects to Skopje’s use of its constitutional name “Republic of Macedonia” as Greece argues that it could lead Skopje to make territorial claims over its own northern province which is also called Macedonia.