VISA Card - United 'Macedonian' Diaspora
Source: www.Defencenet.gr
The pictured VISA card appears to be the latest provocation by an increasingly intransigent FYROM in its continuing battle with Greece over what it sees as its exclusive right to appropriate the name 'MACEDONIA' , by claiming the great Hellene, Alexander the Great as its own, and by so doing putting another obstacle on the road of any possible resolution of the name dispute.
It appears that the US based United 'Macedonian' Diaspora has had this VISA card issued (we don't know the bank) featuring the detail above from the famous floor mosaic below.
Floor Mosaic - Battle between Alexander the Great and King Darius III
Source: Wikipedia
The mosaic depicts a battle between the armies of Alexander the Great and Darius III of Persia, and was found at the House of the Faun in Pompeii. The portrait of Alexander shown sweeping into battle at the left of the mosaic on his famous horse, Bucephalos, is one of his most famous and internationally recognised and acknowledged. The breastplate he carries in the battle depicts Medusa, the famous Gorgon, and his wavy hair is typical of royal portraiture as established in Greek art of the fourth century B.C.
As negotiations continue between Greece and FYROM on a long-term-one-name-for-all-uses solution, FYROM knows that without an acceptable solution it will be very difficult if not impossible for FYROM to be admitted to the European Union and NATO, as well as other International Organisations, yet they continue to create obstacles to this.
This weeks' EU report on accession progress effectively said that FYROM cannot join the EU until the name dispute with Greece is resolved, but it doesn't seem to worry their leader Gruevski at all.
If it hadn't been for President GW Bush and the US fanning FYROM's over inflated ego, by recognising it as 'Macedonia' for reasons known only to them, FYROM would have been obligated to put some water in their irredentist wine by now.
As it is, each such move by FYROM or their 'friends' just aggravates an already difficult situation.
As Alec Mally *, a former US Diplomat in the region commented recently,
'I can only say most of the time we have engaged, we tilted badly towards Skopje and failed. They move deeper into self created purgatory with each new statue and renamed airport. Skopje has lost a lot of time. Gruevski was elected on a highly nationalistic platform, and he deserves zero support from Washington or Brussels....in fact he should be snubbed. I hope the Greek lobby in the US can make it clear to Secretary Clinton that US re-engagement is a waste of energy.'
'I can only say most of the time we have engaged, we tilted badly towards Skopje and failed. They move deeper into self created purgatory with each new statue and renamed airport. Skopje has lost a lot of time. Gruevski was elected on a highly nationalistic platform, and he deserves zero support from Washington or Brussels....in fact he should be snubbed. I hope the Greek lobby in the US can make it clear to Secretary Clinton that US re-engagement is a waste of energy.'
It is up to us in the Global Greek Community, and especially the Greek American Community to point out the futility of such moves by FYROM who have every reason to want a resolution to the name dispute but seem to be doing everything they can to sabotage it.
There's nothing like a bit of pressure so ACT NOW!
Mobilise the Greek American organisations, AHEPA, AHI, the Pan Macedonian Association and others.
Write to your local congressman/woman or senator, to Secretary Clinton even, pointing out that this is an unacceptable move by a US based organisation and that appropriating your neighbour's national symbols and passing them off as your own is not exactly conducive to peaceful coexistence, on any level!
PS You could also contact VISA asking them what it was thinking of to allow one of its partner banks to issue a card with a 'forged' identity?
Ask VISA what they would it do if someone decided to issue a card with the word VISA written on it but without getting the proper authorisation?
Maybe then it will get the message that it should never have allowed a card with misappropriated symbols to be issued!
*Alec Mally is currently Executive Director for Global Economics at Foresight Strategy and Communications, Athens.
As to G W Bush, well, the greatest intellect in history. NOT.
ReplyDeleteAs to Fyrom, they are pushing the Foreign Affairs Minister in Australia and already have made strong friends with the federal opposition, the conservatives
I have also seen their newspapers where they have re written history completely and that is what they are teaching their youth.