Greeks in the Republic of Macedonia

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Greeks in the Republic of Macedonia
Languages
Greek and Macedonian
Religion
Eastern Orthodox Church
Related ethnic groups
Ethnic Greeks

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Greeks (Macedonian: Грци, Grci [ɡr̩t͡si]) in the Republic of Macedonia form an ethnic minority, whose precise size is unknown. The most recent census (2002) recorded 422 individuals declaring their ethnicity as Greek.[1] The Greek right wing party Popular Orthodox Rally, claims via questions presented in the Greek Parliament, that there are more than 100,000 (up to 280,000) Greeks that now live in the country.[2] This number is not supported officially by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They are a remnant of the formerly much larger Greek community of the part of Macedonia that fell within the borders of the Kingdom of Serbia after the Balkan Wars.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Greeks are mainly settled in the cities of Gevgelija (Greek: Γευγελή, Gevgelī́) and Bitola (Greek: Μοναστήρι, Monastī́ri),[10] capital of the historical region of Pelagonia. Today most Greeks in the country are political refugees who fled Greece due to the Greek Civil War [11] and their descendants.[12]

The controversy surrounding a Greek minority within the Republic of Macedonia stems from the statistical treatment of Aromanian (Vlach) population groups, who in their majority have historically identified themselves as Greeks as part of the Rum millet.[13] A large number of Greek-identifying Vlachs left the region after the Balkan Wars, with Florina in Greece witnessing the arrival of a large Greek-speaking commercial population from Monastiri (Bitola).[14] Ethnologue however cites Greek as an "immigrant language" in the Republic of Macedonia.[15]

Representatives of Aromanian Associations of Bitola, Krusevo and Gevgelija take place in the Panhellenic Reunion of Aromanians every year and representatives of Sarakatsani Association of Skopje take place in the Panhellenic Congress of Sarakatsani, every two years.[16][17]

See also

References

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  16. Panhellenic Federation of Cultural Associations of Aromanians
  17. Panhellenic Federation of Sarakatsani Associations