Greece was once again criticized by the United Nations for not observing the rights of the minorities. Athens was instructed to recognize the Macedonian and Turkish minorities, that is, to enable them to achieve their guaranteed rights. This is one of the conclusions of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which reviewed the Periodic Reports of a few countries, including Greece, in Geneva between 3 and 28 August this year.

The Committee expressed concern over the Greek Government obstructing the ethnic groups in their attempts to exercise their right to free association and assembly, putting an emphasis on the reports that Athens refuses to register associations of the Macedonian and Turkish minorities.

The Macedonians from Florina and the party of the Macedonians in Greece "Vinozito" have been trying unsuccessfully to register the Center for Macedonian Culture six years.