The new Mayor of Thessaloniki, Giannis Boutaris stated in an interview to the Slavomacedonian newspaper “Utrinski Vesnik”, that FYROM’s government should compromise and make efforts to find a fair solution to the name issue. Boutaris claims that the most appropriate solution was to find a compound name and he proposes the name “Slavomacedonia”, as he considers that this is better than the Northern or Upper Macedonia.
“The Slavs arrived in the Balkans in the 6th century A.D. However, other people lived here long before them. The fact that the Slavs moved and live in the area for centuries, certainly enables them to be called Macedonians, but a special feature is needed in order to have a distinction, because Macedonians used to live long before in the area. These are two different things and should be clear to everyone. What seems strange to me, is why a Slav or a Slavic group, who as a people have done a lot and have a great history, which should be proud of, call and want more things, more history, to be proud”, stated Boutaris
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