26 / 04 / 2008
This meddling in European politics by a Canadian prime minister is unprecedented.
Senator Pana Merchant on FYR
Speech delivered to the Senate by the Hon Senator Pana Merchant on October 24, 2007, re: the Term “the Republic of Macedonia”
Senator Pana Merchant:
“Honourable senators, this Saturday on Parliament Hill, 20,000 Hellenic Canadians will gather to decry the grievous wrong imposed upon them by the recent actions of Prime Minister Harper. Symbols are crucial. Symbols of nationhood have profound resonance for every nation, and particularly for the nation of Greece, Canada’s ally and the cradle of democracy.
The region of Macedonia and its name have belonged to Greece since antiquity. In naming a new sovereign state carved out of the former Yugoslavia since its breakup 16 years ago, the Government of Canada, until now, has deemed it appropriate to refrain from meddling in this symbolic issue.
The territory in question was recognized in 1993 by the United Nations as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The term, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM, was based on historical fact, an acknowledgement of the differences in a region characterized by centuries of turmoil.
In conformity with international practice, our Department of Foreign Affairs has referred to that territory as “FYROM.” Suddenly, in Canada, we find the Prime Minister using the disputed term, “Republic of Macedonia” to describe the territory north of the Greek border. This meddling in European politics by a Canadian prime minister is unprecedented.
Many Canadians demand that the Prime Minister recognize, as the 27-member European Union recognizes, that the use of the name “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,” or a new name that distinguishes that country from the Greek Province of Macedonia as a geographical entity, is the appropriate way to acknowledge the harmful challenges to Greek sovereignty.
Tens of thousands of Canadians are not only perplexed, but also infuriated with this Prime Minister’s insensitive twisting and distortion of historical fact by sanctioning the use of a disputed name for that country. The Prime Minister’s action not only shows disrespect for the position taken by the UN and the EU, but is also an insult and a provocation toward Canadians of Greek origin.”
Senator Pana Mechant:
Appointed to the Senate by the Rt. Honourable Jean Chrétien, Senator Pana Pappas Merchant represents the province of Saskatchewan and the Senatorial Division of Saskatchewan. She has served in the Senate of Canada since December 12, 2002.
She is a member of the following Senate committees: Energy, Environment and Natural Resources; Transport and Communications; and Scrutiny of Regulations (Joint).
Mrs. Pana Pappas Merchant is the second woman to represent Saskatchewan in the Senate.
A teacher and businesswoman, Mrs. Merchant has always been involved as a volunteer in many charitable organizations, especially in the health sector, and has played an active part in many Saskatchewan organizations. She has been a Board member of the Canadian Foundation for Social Relations since 1996, and has also worked as a volunteer with Canadian Parents for French and the Mackenzie Art Gallery.
Mrs. Merchant attended the University of Saskatchewan, obtaining a B.A. in Art and Education.
Mrs. Pana Pappas Merchant was born in 1943. She has three children.
Ari Perry | 26 / 04 / 2008 | Uncategorized | |
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One Response to “Senator Pana Merchant on FYR”
[...] ellines.ca wrote an interesting post today on Senator Pana Merchant on the Former Republic of Yugoslavia. Here is a quick excerpt … ay to acknowledge the harmful challenges to Greek sovereignty by the “Republic of Macedonia” to describe the territory north of the Greek border…. … ormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia,” or a new name that distinguishes that country from the Greek Province of Macedonia as a geographical entity, is the appropriate way. The Prime Minister’s action not only shows disrespect for the position taken by the UN and the EU, but is also an insult and a provocation toward Canadians o f Greek origin [...]