Tribune Excerpts

The following article appeared in the October 2004 Edition of the Macedonian Tribune

A Resolution Supporting Civil Liberties for Macedonians . . . How the Leaders of MPO Chapter Brothers Miladinov convinced the California State Assembly to Support Macedonians throughout the World
By Jordan Atzeff

We discovered in April 2003 that a consent resolution had been introduced and passed the California Assembly resolving essentially that "all Macedonians were and are Greek." Sandy Zajack identified the assemblyman who sponsored this resolution and discovered that he was of Greek ethnicity from the Oakland, California area. In an effort to discuss the nature and content of the resolution, both Sandy and I contacted the assemblyman telephonically and each was able to discuss, or at least we attempted to discuss what we believed to be the inaccuracy of his resolution. Needless to say, our efforts to have a reasonable dialogue with the assemblyman were unsuccessful. He had a belligerent attitude and resorted to name-calling while verbally abusing us individually, as well as our Macedonian people collectively. We were shocked to have had such a conversation with a political figure and a member of our California Assembly. We were naive enough to believe that we could have a rational conversation with an elected official on even a subject that generated strong emotional debate. We obviously were wrong!

As a result of these conversations, as well as our belief that this "Greek Resolution" that was being circulated and passing in numerous State Houses was inappropriate, Sandy, George Georgieff and I met for the purpose of formulating a strategy to see if we could encourage one of our local assemblymen to sponsor a resolution that addressed the issues of concern to Macedonians. George contacted Assemblyman Lou Correa, discussed the general nature of our resolution request and set up a meeting with the Assemblyman so that we could be heard on this matter. In June, 2003, Sandy and I met with Assemblyman Correa, explained our objections to the "Greek Resolution" and thoroughly discussed the violation of civil liberties that Macedonians were experiencing throughout the Balkans.

We emphasized that Macedonians were entitled to the same civil and human rights that have been afforded to others throughout the world and that the liberties being denied Macedonians, specifically in the Balkans, was in violation of international law as well as the principals that we hold dear as Americans.

In September 2003, I was contacted by Assemblyman Correa's office and was asked to prepare in written form a brief statement in support of the requested resolution. I understood this statement would be submitted to the conference committee reviewing the proposed resolution and that testimony may be required if the committee had any additional questions concerning the matters addressed in the written statement. The statement was submitted along with the introduction of the resolution on September 10, 2003. Over a period of approximately 10 months we waited, at times impatiently, for the Assembly to reach a decision on the "Macedonian Resolution." George constantly reminded Assemblyman Correa and we were anxiously awaiting the Assembly's decision while Sandy and I had frequent contact with the Assemblyman's staff. On July 25, 2004 during a picnic sponsored by Brothers Miladinov, Assemblyman Correa announced the good news; the "Macedonian Resolution" had passed with no objections!

The process was long and at times we had nearly lost faith that the resolution would gain the support required to pass the Assembly. We knew that the resolution addressed civil liberties that are cherished by all Americans and, as a result, that it should garner the support of the California Assembly. However, we Macedonians have acquired a cynicism that has been nurtured by years of disappointments.

Macedonians throughout California, the United States, and for that matter the world should extend heart-filled gratitude to Assemblyman Correa for introducing Assembly Joint Resolution No. 52. This resolution documents the California Assembly standing with those oppressed people of the world and specifically resolving that the Assembly "supports the rights of Macedonians" in the Balkans "to speak their language, to attend schools and churches offered in their language, to practice their customs, to be able to call themselves Macedonians, and be granted all of the civil and human rights required by international law..."