Cyprus-Forum.com

[yialousa1971]

Posted: February 22, 2010 at 09:05 AM EST (14:05 PM GMT)

SKOPJE -- "I do not intend to apologize and I think President Gjorge Ivanov is stealing Greek history," said the Premier of the state of South Australia Michael Rann, Skopjean A1 television station reports.

The media in Australia cited FYROM ambassador Pero Stojanovski as saying FYROM's support for Australia's candidacy for a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council would depend on Rann's apology.

Mike Rann has sparked an international diplomatic furore by accusing the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) of stealing Greek culture and its leader, Gjorge Ivanov, of "stirring up trouble in the most dangerous way".

A videotape of a speech given by the Premier at a the Dimitria Greek festival in the western suburbs in November has sparked outrage across the globe.

Washington-based 'United Macedonian Diaspora' president Metodija Koloski flew to Adelaide for a confidential meeting with Multicultural Affairs Minister Michael Atkinson and delivered a protest letter addressed to Mr Rann.

In the controversial speech, Mr Rann affirms his commitment to Adelaide's Greek voters and promises his Government will "remain firm and unswerving in our support for your cause".

"It is important because no one is entitled to steal another nation's history or culture," Mr Rann said.

"We have a leader in Mr Ivanov who is stirring up trouble in the most dangerous way."

Mr Koloski told The Advertiser that his people had been "slandered" and demanded an unconditional apology.

Mr Rann said he would not be "silenced or muzzled" and would "continue to speak out on issues I believe in".

*Michael Rann: the speech on YouTube:-

[yialousa1971]

Mr. RANN "dared" to say "I believe what I say and I would not be apologizing" he said.
A day earlier, Mr RAN said: "I will talk about the Greek character of Macedonia and nobody is going to gag me, because it's something I think.
Mr. RAN, for years, supports in every possible way the Greek position on Macedonia and Cyprus, causing anger of residents of Australia from Turkey and Skopia.

Indeed, the newspaper of Adelaide «The Advertiser» posted an article referring to a speech by RANN during the 'Dimitris (Greek festival of South Australia), which featured the president of Skopia Georgiy Ivanov as "instigator of problems with the most dangerous way "and accused Skopia that" steals Greek culture".

Mr. RANN reignited his promise to the voters of Greek origin that they would "continue consistently and unequivocally supports the view" them.

"It is important because no one may steal the history and culture of another nation," he said.

Mr. RANN stated previously that "Macedonia is as Greek as the Acropolis.

http://ethnikolaikometwpo.blogspot.com/2010/02/blog-post_5920.html