by: ALEKSANDAR NIKOLIC PISAREV
In the Balkan ordeals, whether positive or negative, events in one of the countries, with a domino effect, always reflect also in the neighbouring countries. Hence, the idea of creating “Open Balkans” – a Balkan Federation in which all peoples would live according to the idea of the French revolution, Liberty-Fraternity-Equality, never died.
One of the creators of that idea which, from time to time, has been actualized in the last 200 years, is also the man who many do not know or have very vaguely heard of him, Rhegas Velestinlis –Pheraeos. His ideas for peaceful, stable and organized Balkans, seen from today’s angle, according to the principles of the EU, date back to the late 18th century. Have the Macedonian and Albanian Prime Ministers Zoran Zaev and Edi Rama and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic been reading Rhegas? The idea they intend to realise, and the beginning of which they made at the end of last month in Skopje, indicate that their points of view are close.
On July 29, 2021, they signed an agreement in Skopje for “Open Balkans”, which anticipates for these three countries of the Western Balkans (with an open call also to the other countries) to enter into a unique system that is to enable a better business climate, free movement of people, capital and ideas, free crossing of borders, free transportation of goods, free movement of workers, recognition of diplomas and qualifications… easier regulation of stay in the three countries, assistance during natural and other disasters…
OLD IDEA
This idea is neither new, nor are the three leaders the first to promote it in this part of Europe with the sole purpose – to harmonize relations between the Balkan states and peoples and for peace to rule, and for citizens to be provided with a free, quality, comfortable and rich life in peace and well-being.
Will they succeed in that? Who is in favour, and who has been (will be) pulling the brakes from the start? The Prime Ministers of North Macedonia and Albania and the President of Serbia have clearly stated the kind of Western Balkans they are advocating for. Rhegas was also clear when he created his Constitution according to which the “Open Balkans” should be regulated. But the idea, except in sporadic attempts and debates in academic circles, never came to life fully, but to this day has remained an example for development and democratization of the states according to the principles of the French Revolution.
Currently, when some much bigger countries and world powers territorially far or closer to the Balkans again wish to impose hegemony over the smaller and bigger Balkan states, and with political, economic or military pressure direct their future towards this or that political option, Rhegas’s ideas are being analysed in detail in political and scientific circles and are worth being considered.
Professor Raymond Detrez follows the Balkan developments with special attention, seeks and finds analogues with Rhegas’s points of view. Together with Barabara Segaert, in the book “Europe and the Historical Legacies in the Balkans.” (publisher: “Peter Lang”, 2008) he outlines the following issue in the very introduction: “The enlargement of the EU with the Balkan countries has aroused the scepticism of many”.
Although EU accession is a key issue of economic and political dilemmas, questions are also raised about the cultural import, whether any of the countries of the Western Balkans region is sufficiently harmonized with “our” standards, of the “European identity”.
The problematic status of the Balkans is in its common Byzantine and Ottoman heritage. This also opens the question as to how mutually compatible are the “cultural identities” of the heirs of the Ottoman state with the European identity. They also raise questions as to not only what is the perception of the Balkans in the West, but also what kind of perception do the people who live in the Balkans have of the West. With an open question: Is there a Balkan identity?
In that context, it is really a shame that people in the Balkans know so little about such a great figure like Rhegas and don’t read his works. He not only is an exceptional figure from the Greek (Roman and Vlach) history, but is also important for entire Southeast Europe and an inspirer of many political and social changes in the development of democracy in this part of the world and in creating the EU.
10 EUROCENTS
We will start the analysis with a bit of history. Have you ever, while staying in Thessaloniki on Platia Aristotelous and drinking “metro coffee” looked at the 10 euro cents that the waiter gave you back as change? If you haven’t, you can take a look on the link of the European Central Bank, they have the image of Rhegas Velestinlis on them.
Why is the work of this Greek-Vlach figure actualized and interesting today?
The state for which Rhegas dreamed of, and which was supposed to be formed by a general Balkan revolution against the Ottoman rule, was supposed to be called Hellenic Republic. Today people talk about the Balkans as if they had always existed. But that is not the case. There were no Balkans 200 years ago. This name was used for a toponym – the Balkan Mountains. The space that today we identify with this name used to be called Rumelia, derived from the word Roma (Rome) – transcription in the Turkish language. It was a territory conquered by the Byzantine Empire and the Constantinople Administration, inhabited by Christians. Seen from the perspective of the Western world, it included the following Roman provinces: Macedonia, Epirus (which today covers a large part of Albania), Dacia (Romania and part of Hungary), Moesia (Serbia, Kosovo, part of Albania, entire North Macedonia and North Bulgaria). To them, the term Balkans didn’t mean anything.
In 1797, defender of the French Revolution, the Hellenised Vlach from Thessaly, born in Fereos near Volos, Rhegas was inspired from what happened in Bastille. An idea was born in him how to organize the Balkans – Rumelia and to allow all Balkans people a peaceful and nice life and common progress. He then promoted the “Hellenic Republic” (not as a national state, but as a territory of the Christian population of “Greek faith”) in which all peoples of Rumelia, Asia Minor, the Greek archipelago, Moldavia and Wallachia were to enter. They were all to have equal status of citizens of all states entering the community, travel and to trade freely, easily and simply regulate their stay and citizenship in the region of all states, not have borders between them, educate themselves and exchange ideas, respect the rules and laws that they will jointly and democratically adopt, jointly fight against crime and everything that harms the community.
Rhegas Velestinlis had chosen the most radical constitutional text of the French Revolution as the model of his Constitution. The central place is filled with pluralism of the inter-Balkan Federation, personal freedoms, civil rights, equality, freedom of movement, right to association, right to work and free exchange of jobs, easy registration of stay and receiving citizenship, social protection, education…
(continues)
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
