Macedonia Rightists to Rally Against Name Change

Right-wing organizers of a protest rally on Tuesday in Skopje, called "For Defence of the Country's Name and the Nation's Identity", have called Macedonians from home and abroad to attend the event on Tuesday evening.

A pan-Macedonian organization, the United Macedonian Diaspora, as well as several other organizations, issued a statement before the protest, listing their demands to the Macedonian authorities.

They include an "unconditional stop" to the ongoing UN-sponsored "name" talks between Skopje and Athens, withdrawal of the recently adopted Law on Languages, which extends the language rights of ethnic Albanians, as well as the abandonment of the recently signed friendship agreement with Bulgaria.

The protesters have called all these moves by the new centre-left government, which was elected in May last year, treacherous and against the national interest.

They said that if the government fails to heed their demands, they will call for parliament's dismissal and new early elections.

In addition, the organizers demand "the immediate release of those detained and convicted for the April 27 events in parliament".

This refers to supporters of the former ruling right-wing VMRO DPMNE party, who stormed parliament that day, injuring some 100 people, including MPs.

The now opposition VMRO DPMNE party on Monday said it was not behind the rally, but supported its right to take place.

"We respect the democratic right to protest," the party said in a press statement, but added: "regarding tomorrow's protests, we are neither organizing nor backing them."

The rally is set to begin at 6pm local time in front of the European Union mission in Skopje. From there, protesters intend to march towards...