Before singing a song dedicated to her enslaved ancestors, Barbara Hendrix, the world-renowned soprano and special guest at the celebration in Strasbourg, read the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stating that all human beings are born free and equal and that they should treat each other in the spirit of brotherhood. While preparing her short yet effective discussion, she never thought that at the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights in Strasbourg, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov would complain in his speech about the injustice done to Macedonia and Macedonians in the Greek-Macedonian name dispute, Utrinski vesnik reports.
On behalf of the Macedonian Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, President Ivanov asked of Europe not to celebrate only past achievements and to focus also on present challenges, thereby pointing out the problems Macedonia has with Greece and Bulgaria. So that the European Court for Human Rights can fulfill its purpose, its decisions have to be fully honored and implemented by all member states, President Ivanov said, hinting at this point at OMO Ilinden’s problems in Bulgaria.
According to Ivanov, some of these principles in certain European institutions are not applied to the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, primarily because of the political pressure from a member state.
“This two-pointed sword hurts more when striking the greatest benefit of democracy – human rights and liberties, and human dignity in particular. However, I am proud today both as president of the Republic of Macedonia and as Macedonian that on behalf of all member states of the Council of Europe I can utter the noble messages for promotion of human rights in Europe in my native Macedonian language,” President Ivanov stressed. “There is no country, no government and no power today that can deny Macedonians their right to be Macedonians, because human rights are stronger and more lasting from the transience of governments and politicians.”
