A complaint made by the Australian Hellenic Council (NSW) to the Victorian Government regarding the use of the coat of arms of the state of Victoria on the website of the Macedonian Community Council of Victoria'(MCCV) has resulted in the Government asking MCCV to remove it from their site, according to a Neos Kosmos article.
The AHC first wrote to the Victorian Government’s protocol department on May 14 expressing its concerns on the use of the crest, and on the website’s inclusion of a map which depicted of parts of the Hellenic Republic incorporated within an expanded FYROM state.
After a second letter was sent by AHC to the department on May 24, saying that the website header gave the viewer the impression that the MCCV had the endorsement of the state government, the coat of arms was removed from the website the following weekend.
Neos Kosmos says that in response to the AHC’s correspondence, a Victorian Government representative contacted the MCCV to explain to the organization the terms and conditions of the use of the coat of arms.
Former AHC coordinator George Vellis said, “Many AHC members originate from towns and villages in the districts of northern Hellas displayed on this website and find it highly offensive to see their ancestral homes, and the homes of their extended families, coveted in this way.”
A spokesperson for the Victorian Government told Neos Kosmos yesterday, “The Victorian Government uses the coat of arms to identify its authority and property. The coat of arms belongs to the Victorian Government and is not available for general use by any person or organization, or to indicate an affiliation with Victoria.”
The article from neoskosmos.com denounces the use of “Macedonian” in the given context.
Source: www.neoskosmos.com
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
