A war crime against Greek children portrayed as a Greek crime against “Macedonians” (FYROM, Greece)

By Tymphaios

In a recent visit to Australia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) prime minister Nikola Gruevski spoke to FYROM expatriates about the inability for them to live freely in their FYROMacedonian motherland in Greece and Bulgaria: “Macedonians (sic) in Australia are enjoying a unique opportunity to live together with their compatriots of Aegean and Pirin Macedonia, which does not happen in our motherland”. At the same time extremists such as Risto Stefov are accusing Greece of a war atrocity: expelling up to 50,000 “Macedonians” from Greece during the Greek civil war in 1946-49. These are presumably the FYROMacedonians now living in Australia free, while it is not possible to do so in the FYROMacedonian motherland - in Greece and Bulgaria.

These are extraordinary statements. Indeed there were even various documentaries (eg. full of hate and a tearful song sung by a seductive lady produced in FYROM since Gruevski was elected Prime-Minister, portraying refuges from Macedonia arriving in Yugoslavia in 1949. These documentaries show orphaned children in the custody of foster “mothers” offloaded from trains. The videos were uploaded on YouTube with English translations, accompanied by inflammatory statements such as : “Don’t be afraid of the truth, Greece is Nazi!”. Risto Stefov cries out: “It´s time to expose the acts and atrocities they perpetrated against us in the name of Hellenism!” For such an atrocity, one ought to think there must be a record of it. The record is unfortunately not very favourable to this extremist view. Remember this extraordinary accusation is coming from a country that is requesting Greece´s help to enter the European Union and NATO, of which organisations Greece has been a long-standing member. This is also coming from a country that received Greece´s acceptance to enter the United Nations, pending a UN brokered Agreement never fulfilled. Lastly, this is how FYROM approaches Greece when and while in fact it needs Greece.

This article is not so much about bad diplomacy as about the actual reality of these claims. What are the atrocities we are concerned with? The FYROM propaganda claims that Macedonian children arrived as refugees in Yugoslavia during the Greek Civil War of 1946-49, fleeing the so far undocumented bombings by the Greek army. Have the United Nations recorded anything about these children “fleeing” Macedonia?

In the United Nations General Assembly of 1948, the Greek government made the following statement:

Plea of the Greek Parliament to the United Nations, 1948 :

“The Hellenic Parliament seeing that the communist bandits enforce systematically a program of genocide via the abductions of children and the taking of hostages, that the noted abduction of hostages is the outcome of armed and raw violence perpetrated against widows and orphans, whose protectors were slain by the bandits

Resolves

Protests to the entire civilized world and especially to the Parliaments of free nations and makes a plea to the U.N. that as a mediator in this unprecedented drama of the Greeks will proceed without delay into taking practical and effective measures for the repatriation of the abducted as well as the termination of this unheard-of tragedy.”

Something seems not quite right. FYROM propaganda today claims the Greeks were chasing off the children in 1948, whereas Greece had submitted a plea to the United Nations protesting the abduction of the children. Why did Greece protest the abduction? Why was Greece requesting the children back when current FYROM propagandists say Greece was chasing them away?

In this context it is surprising the Eastern Block countries did not submit a complaint that Greece was causing a refugee problem sending thousands of children off to communist countries. Why were the Communist Block countries silent about this alleged Greek “atrocity”?

After sending a team to the area of conflict and examining the evidence, the United Nations General Assembly UNANIMOUSLY agreed in 1948 to a resolution (Resolution 193(III)) titled: Threats to the political independence and territorial integrity of Greece:

“The General Assembly having considered etc etc … (full text appended at the end of the article)

Recommends the return to Greece of Greek children at present away from their homes when the children, their father or mother or, in his or her absence, their closest relative, express a wish to that effect;

Invites all the Members of the United Nations and other States on whose territory these children are to be found to take the necessary measures for implementation of the present recommendation;

Instructs the Secretary-General to request the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to organize and ensure liaison with the national Red Cross organizations of the States concerned with a view to empowering the national Red Cross organizations to adopt measures in the respective countries for implementing the present recommendation.

Hundred and sixty-seventh plenary meeting,

27 November 1948″

The request was renewed by another unanimous UN resolution in 1949 titled again:

“THREATS TO THE POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY OF GREECE - 288 (IV) (18 November 1949)

Noting the report submitted by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of the Red Cross Societies on the question of the repatriation of Greek children,and expressing warm appreciation of the efforts made by the two International Red Cross organizations to facilitate the implementation of General Assembly resolution 193 (III) C, Noting that the Greek children have not as yet been returned to their homes….

2.Urges all the Members of the United Nations and other States harbouring the Greek children to make all necessary arrangements, in consultation and co-operation with the international Red Cross organizations, for the early return to their homes of the children with the aforementioned resolution;”

These and subsequent UN resolutions were not answered. From 1950 to 1952 only 684 children were permitted to return to Greece. By 1963, around 4000 children had been repatriated. Of those who did not return many died of illness, some escaped to Germany and others have since returned or have yet to return. The reason no one from the communist countries complained about the children abductions at the Cominform meetings was precisely because the genocidal abduction of the Greek children was planned in a Cominform meeting early in 1948. By the summer of that year some 28,000 children had been abducted from Greece. However, the inhabitants of FYROM and their expatriates have been made to believe - and they try to convince the world - that the crime was conducted by Greece. An atrocity - nothing less!

What a disgrace for spokepersons and TV stations on behalf a people who desire to become a part of the European Union and Nato. This behavior is so inflammatory, no excuses can be made for it.

Not only the United Nations but the voice of church leaders was damming for the abductions of the Greek children to the Communist Block:

The Greek Orthodox Church protested against the child abductions and the Greek Archbishop and all Orthodox Patriarchs wished that the children would return to their mothers and their family and that the crime stops.

Pope Pius said ‘We are mourning because in Christian Europe, hundreds of children were violently taken from their mothers, from their parents and from their schools, to be educated, or to say better brainwashed from foreign teachers, acting on orders of the blasphemous abductors”

Greek Cypriot Archbishop Makarios II also made a speech, hoping that the civilized world would help the Greek children return to their homes and family.

On April 19th, 1950, US President Harry S. Truman made the following statement at the House of Representatives:

“My dear Mr. Speaker,

I fully share the concern of the House of Representatives for the thousands of children removed from Greece to eastern Europe by the communist guerrilla forces, and I welcome the adoption of House Resolution 514 of March 22, 1950, calling for the speedy return of these children to their homes and homeland

The rights of children and parents to share the protection, comradeship and beneficent influence of a family home are fundamental and have been implicitly recognized, in the case of the Greek children, in two unanimous resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly. It is morally inadmissible that political considerations or technical difficulties should be allowed to stand in the way of the reunion of these children with their parents.

The Executive Branch of the Government has been persistent in its endeavors to secure effective compliance with the United Nations resolutions in this case. These efforts will not be relaxed until the Greek children are back in their homes.”

The text of House Resolution 514 is as follows: “Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses its profound concern for the thousands of Greek children removed or carried off into countries of eastern Europe by the Communist guerrilla forces during the course of the recent guerrilla warfare in Greece, and requests the President to exert all of his powers, acting through the United Nations and other international organizations and directly with the governments of the countries where these children are located, to the end that these thousands of children shall be speedily returned to their homes and homeland .”

History cannot be created. Reality cannot be reinvented. The world is not a former communist propaganda enclave. On the issue of the atrocity of the child abductions, the voice of most of humanity has been loud and clear. They were Greek children used as a pawn in the communist Macedonia gamble.

APPENDIX

United Nations Resolution 193 (III). Threats to the political independence and territorial integrity of Greece

A

The General Assembly,

1. Having considered the reports l of the Special Committee established by General Assembly resolution 109 (II))

2. Having noted the conclusions of the Special Committee and, in particular, its UNANIMOUS conclusion that, despite the aforesaid resolution of the General Assembly, “the Greek guerillas have continued to receive aid and assistance on a large scale from Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, with the knowledge of the governments of those countries, and that the Greek guerillas in the frontier zones have, as found by the Special Committee:

(i) “Been largely dependent on external supply. Great quantities of arms, ammunition and other military stores have come across the border, notably during times of heavy fighting. Strongly held positions of the guerillas have protected their vital supply lines from Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and, in particular, from Albania. In recent months, there has been less evidence of receipt of supplies from Yugoslavia by the guerrillas;

(ii) «Frequently moved at will in territory across the frontier for tactical reasons, and have thus been able to concentrate their forces without interference by the Greek army, and to return to Greece when they wished;

(iii) “Frequently retired safely into the territory of Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia when the Greek army exerted great pressure”;

3. Having noted further the conclusions of the Special Committee that a continuation of this situation «constitutes a threat to the political independence and territorial integrity of Greece

and to peace in the Balkans” and “that the conduct of Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia had heen inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations”,

4. Having noted the recommendations submitted by the Special Committee,

5. Considers that the continued aid given by Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to the Greek guerrillas endangers peace in the Balkans, and is inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations;

6. Calls upon Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to cease forthwith rendering any assistance or support in any form to the guerrillas in fighting against the Greek Government, including the use of their territories as a base for the preparation or launching of armed action;

7. Again calls upon Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to co-operate with Greece in the settlement of their dispute by peaceful means in accordance with the recommendations contained in resolution 109 (II);

8. Calls upon Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to co-operate with the Special Committee in enabling it to carry out its functions, in particular the function of being able to assist teh Governments concerned in accordance with paragraph 10 (c) of the present resolution, and upon Greece to continue co-operate toward the same end;

9. Recommends to all Members of the United Nations and to all other States that their Governments

refrain from any action designed to assist directly or through any other Government any armed group fighting against the Greek Government;

10. Approves the reports of the Special Committee, continues it in being with the functions conferred upon it by resolution 109 (II) and instructs it :

(a) To continue to observe and report on the response of Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to the General Assembly injunction not to furnish aid to the Greek guerrillas, in accordance with General Assembly resolution 109 (II) and the present resolution;

(h) To continue to utilize observation groups with personnel and equipment adequate for the fulfillment of its task;

(c) To continue to be available to assist the Governments of Albania, Bulgaria, Greece and Yugoslavia in the implementation of resolution 109 (II) and of the present resolution; and for this purpose, in its discretion to appoint, and utilize the services and good offices of one or more persons whether or not members of the

Special Committee;

11. Decides that the Special Committee shall have its principal headquarters in Greece and, with the co-operation of the Government or Governments concerned, shall perform its functions in such places as it may deem appropriate for the fulfilment of its mission;

12. Authorizes the Special Committee to consult, in its discretion, with the Interim Committee with respect to the performance of its functions in the light oJ developments;

13. Requests the Secretary-General to provide the Special Committee with adequate staff and facilities to enable it to perform its functions.

Hundred and sixty-seventh plenary meeting

27 November 1948.

B

The General Assembly recommends that Greece, on the one hand, and Bulgaria and Albania, on the other, establish diplomatic relations with each other, the absence of which is harmful to the relations between these countries;

Recommends the Governments of Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to renew the previously conventions for the settlement of frontier questions or to conclude new ones, and also to settle the question of refugees in the spirit of mutual understanding and the establishment of good-neighbour relations;

Furthermore recommends the Governments of Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia to inform the Secretary-General of the United Nations at the end of six months, for communication to Member States of the United Nations, of the fulfillment of the above-mentioned recommendations.

Hundred and sixty-seventh plenary meeting,

27 November 1948.

C

The General Assembly

Recommends the return to Greece of Greek children at present away from their homes when the children, their father or mother or, in his or her absence, their closest relative, express a wish to that effect;

Invites ail the Members of the United Nations and other States on whose territory these children are to be found to take the necessary measures for implementation of the present recommendation;

Instructs the Secretary-General to request the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to organize and ensure liaison with the national Red Cross organizations of the States concerned with a view to empowering the national Red Cross organizations to adopt measures in the respective countries for implementing the present recommendation.

Hundred and sixty-seventh plenary meeting,

27 November 1948.

Source: Los Angeles Chronicle

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