After 1968 Kalkandelen incidents, Ablanian nationalism gained speed in Macedonia and affected also Turkish groups. Some Albanian intellectuals claimed, There are no Turks in Macedonia. Those are Turkized Albanians. They started an assimilation policy over Turks by cruel application in social, economical and cultural respect. Thus Turkish population decreased to 108,552 in Macedonia, which meant a decrease of 22,932 in Turkish population between 1961 and 1971. Macedonian Communist administrators supported Turks in some respect and Albanians in other. They applied the method, Separate and Manage, in other words. They tried to draw Albanians on their side by claiming that they have fought against us together with Albanians. But, in fact, they equalized Turks to Albanians because of our common character of being Muslim. Meanwhile, they applied the same policy for us. We are the only group who suffered from this policy, because our population decreased to 86,591 in 1981 census.
During the period of 1981-1990, Macedonian totalitarian regime applied more suppression over Turks and Albanians. They limited the means of education for all Muslims. Rights and freedom was only for Macedonians. They considered Turks and other nationalities as strangers. They tried to show their population less than it was. They did the same for Turks in 1991 census and population was recorded as 77,080 where as it was 150,000 in reality.
Supporting the Albanian claims that 1991 census was impure, European countries forced Macedonian Government to make another census in 1994. According to this census, there were 82976 Turks in Macedonia, 4477 in Gostivar, 3211 in Raptisah, 2475 in Banitsa. Turks and Albanians got closer after democratic period started in Jugoslavia. Albanians said, We have understood that we could not live without Turks and Turkey. We admit this reality. Support of Turkey in both economical and mental respects influenced this close friendship between groups. Republic of Turkey was the first country, which recognized Macedonia after the announcement of independence. Turkey sent tons of pharmacy, gas, foodstuff etc to Macedonia during Serbian and Greek embargo. Thus Macedonians admitted, Turkey and Turks are our only friend.
Turk-Albanian friendship did not last long and they changed their attitude against us after 1996. Albanians won the elections in Gostivar, Kalkandelen, Raptişah municipalities. And Gostivar major forbade Turkish as an official communication language. These kind of applications shadowed Turkish-Albanian relations.
Today there is a coalition government in Macedonia, consisting of Macedonian and Albanian parties. There is no Turk working at the ministries of finance, foreign affairs, defense, education, science, culture, public works and others. Macedonian-Albanian government excluded Turks in every respect. They act as if Turks do not exist in Macedonia.
Macedonia was a Turkish region in Ottoman period and its ethnic structure was so complex. There lived Macedonian Bulgarians, Albanians, Serbians, Armenians, Kiptis, Greeks, Jews and other ethnic groups other than Turks. Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece wanted Macedonia, which was given back to Ottoman Empire with 1878 Berlin Treaty. Bulgarians claimed that all Christians in Macedonia were Bulgarians, where as Greece claimed as Greek. They aimed at invading this country, which was a Turkish Region for 550 years.
Greece worked for invading Macedonia, which was a Greek land in history. They were preparing the background for establishing Byzantium on this country. Thus they established Etniki Eteria club in 1814 in order to realized their aim. It was Stephanos Dragoumis who organized Helen movement in Macedonia. Greek King George I supported Greek komitadjis and sent them financial and military aid. He said, Greece should make Macedonia a Greek country. Being engaged in Crete problem, they gave priority to Macedonian case. They especially wanted Middle Macedonian cities such as Selaniko, Serez, Melnik etc.
To be continued