Majority of Macedonian Australians boycotting name

It canada goose parka uk is a vote that has exposed deep divisions canada goose parka outlet between two neighbouring countries and their canada goose outlet london uk communities.

cheap Canada Goose And, regardless of the result of Sunday’s canada goose outlet location looming vote in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, an angry backlash is expected. cheap Canada Goose

Canada Goose Outlet The referendum canada goose outlet store new york offers Macedonia membership to both the European Union and NATO, if the country changes its name to the ‘The Republic of canada goose outlet winnipeg North Macedonia’. Canada Goose Outlet

It canada goose clothing uk came after a controversial deal with Greece, which claims the name ‘Macedonia’ belongs to a region in its country. But the result will only be valid if voter turnout exceeds 50 per cent.

canadian goose jacket Australian reactionsThat has sparked a boycott which has stretched all the way to Australia. canadian goose jacket

“The question being put is very manipulative, it’s anti Macedonian, it’s anti constitutional,” Dr Chris Popov, a Melbourne based Macedonian activist, said.

canada goose “We become subject to even further canada goose outlet store near me pressure to deny our identity and to dance to the Greek tune.” canada goose

canada goose store Vice President of Western Australia’s Macedonian Community canada goose premium outlet Chris Angelkov has dubbed the process “an illegal canada goose outlet edmonton vote”. canada goose store

canada goose black friday sale “There’s not a lot we can do, but we would be totally disgusted and revolted if canada goose outlet online store this referendum were to succeed.” canada goose black friday sale

Of the 100,000 Australians canada goose outlet winnipeg address who identify as Macedonian, only a small portion is eligible to vote. Of those who are eligible, only 200 have registered to do so.

Those opposed to the name ‘The Republic of North Macedonia’ believe canada goose outlet it strips Macedonians of their identity. (SBS News)

canada goose deals Chairman of the NSW Australian Macedonian Council Joshua Sherman believes it’s because most Australian Macedonians are behind the boycott which would deem the referendum result invalid. canada goose deals

“The referendum denigrates the Macedonian ethnic identity and language, culture, and tradition, from antiquity to the present,” Mr Sherman told SBS News.

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Canada Goose online “We’re not supportive of anyone canada goose discount uk to take that away from us. That would amount to ‘ethnocide’ and genocide, and that’s why we are advocating from the position of a boycott. We believe the boycott is the best outcome.” Canada Goose online

canada goose clearance In March, tens of thousands of Macedonian Australians marched on the streets of Sydney and Melbourne to protest against the canada goose outlet seattle name change. canada goose clearance

Canada Goose Jackets Joshua Sherman helped organise canada goose outlet jackets the Sydney rally, and said he is ready to march again, should the referendum achieve his undesired result. Canada Goose Jackets

“The name is the identity, and the identity is the name,” Mr Sherman said.

canada goose coats on sale “We are, as ethnic Macedonians, intrinsically linked canada goose outlet real and tied to that name, and for us to give that up for EU and NATO doesn’t make any sense at all.” canada goose coats on sale

Canada Goose Parka Joshua Sherman organised a major Sydney protest in March against http://www.canadagoosesalesus.com the name canada goose outlet store toronto change, and has said he is ready to organise another in the same location. (SBS News) Canada Goose Parka

Those voting ‘yes’Canberra mother of two Biljana Petrova is voting in favour of the name change, and is one of the few willing to talk about it publicly.

buy canada goose jacket She told SBS News the vote offers Macedonians a once in a lifetime opportunity, and described claims people would lose their identity as “empty rhetoric”. buy canada goose jacket

buy canada goose jacket cheap “I do believe it will resolve the tensions, and by resolving those tensions it will allow Macedonia to become a part of canada goose outlet toronto the European community,” Ms Petrova said. buy canada goose jacket cheap

“I also believe that our cultural identity cannot be lost. It’s for us to keep and preserve for generations to come.”

Ordan Andreevski, canada goose outlet in montreal president canada goose outlet ontario of the United Macedonian Diaspora for Australia, believes the referendum question is posed in a deceptive manner that offers Macedonians entry to the EU and NATO without mentioning the name change.