German newspaper publishes libelous article against Macedonian Hellenicity

"Since Macedonia emerged as a state after the fall of the former Yugoslavia, Greece has been mourning and boycotting it. The reason: Only the northeastern province of Macedonia with its capital, Thessaloniki, may use this historical name.

"After a long European mediation a compromise arose last year: Macedonia was renamed Northern Macedonia. But that is not enough for two-thirds of Greeks, according to polls. They believe that the geographic identification and hence the reference to the conqueror Macedonian King Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) belong only to them.

"But there are some elements that contradict all this. Firstly, the modern Greek state has as much to do with ancient Macedonia as present-day Germany with the Empire of Charlemagne. The second argument is somewhat heavier: the present Greek province of Macedonia was for centuries part of the Ottoman Empire.

"Greece attached this region in 1912. In Athens they spoke about 'New Greece'. Since the Greek-speaking inhabitants of the region were a minority of 25%, it was from the outset that the area was "hellenized" through highly controversial means. " The commentator finally notes: "One thing seems clear: there is no monopoly on the name Macedonia, but there are some Hellenistic-type fantasies."