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Due to a governmental policy of Hellenisation and non-recognition of certain ethnic groups, and other factors, many of the members of these groups now self-identify as Greek. SLAVIC SPEAKING The existence of a Slavic ethnic minority of northern Greece, commonly referred to as Macedonians or Macedonian Slavs is denied by the Greek government . Members of this minority group have been convicted in Greek courts for what human rights organizations describe as "expression of their views" , which the Greek courts characterised as secessionist. According to Human Rights Watch , the Greek government does not permit teaching in the Macedonian Language . The Greek government's position is that no Slavic language can be named "Macedonian" . According to Human Rights Watch , the Greek government discriminates against refugees who fled from the Greek Civil War . Refugees who self-identify as Macedonian are not permitted to regain their Citizenship or even visit northern Greece, whereas refugees identifying as Greek have these rights . A Greek court denied permission to set up a centre for Macedonian Culture , and this was justified on the basis that such permission was against the national interests and territorial integrity of the state {Link without Title} . The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) notes that although some minority groups are recognised, Macedonians, along with Turks are unrecognised and encounter difficulties, :even today, persons wishing to express their Macedonian, Turkish or other identity incur the hostility of the population. They are targets of prejudices and stereotypes, and sometimes face discrimination, especially in the labour market. Greece opposes the use of the term "Macedonians" to refer to the country's slavophone Macedonian minority, which is centred on the northern Greek town of Florina (Lerin) and most Greek Macedonians consider such an appelation very offensive . The term "Slavomacedonians" or "Slavophones" is sometimes used instead, to distinguish them from the Greek-speaking inhabitants of Macedonia. The term "Slavomacedonians" is however considered Pejorative by some Macedonians. There is a slavophone Macedonian political party in Greece, the Rainbow Party : their last (2004) election tally amounted to 6,176 votes (or 0.1%) nationwide (2,955 in the region of Macedonia - out of which 1,200 in the Prefecture of Florina - and the rest 3,221, were from other parts of Greece. The majority of the Macedonians in Greece have today a Greek national identity, as a result of either conscientious choice or coercion (discrimination, abuse) of their ancestors. A second group of Macedonians is made up of those who seem to reject any national identity (Greek or Macedonian) but have a distinct ethnic identity, which they may call "indigenous" or "natives" (Greek: ''dopia''). ALBANIAN SPEAKING AROMANIAN SPEAKING ROMA TURKISH SEE ALSO NOTES |
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