To the Dean, Graduate Research School,

We are writing to you in support of a colleague of yours, Professor Melville-Jones, in relation to recent events regarding the Professor’s article published in our quarterly newsletter (http://www.macedonians.com.au/images/AMAC%20Newsletter%20Spring%202010.pdf).

The main points of the article concentrate on the fact that historical truth must be preserved (as would be the aim of all historical academics); in this case the historical truth of Hellenic Macedonia. This has been recently best depicted by Professor Stephen Miller (Professor Emeritus of the University of California – Berkeley) who, with various other organizations, sent a letter to President Obama on May 18th, 2009 and signed by more than 370 classicists from 23 different countries (http://www.macedonia-evidence.org/). Prof. Melville-Jones has been since inappropriately treated by an American organization (through its Australian branch) known as the ‘United Macedonian Diaspora’ (UMD) for his preservation of historical truth.

The Australian Macedonian Advisory Council (AMAC)(www.macedonian.com.au) prides itself on correcting any disseminating racist and defamatory statements that arise from FYROM (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) organizations like the UMD, who in this case attempt to tarnish the name of a hugely respected Australian classics academic.

In closing, we would like to reiterate that the AMAC openly supports Professor Melville-Jones in his preservation of historical truth, and is an organization which is part of the larger Australian Hellenic Council (AHC) (www.helleniccouncil.org.au), who is the peak body representing Greek-Australians Australia-wide.

Regards,

Australian Macedonian Advisory Council
info@macedonians.com.au
www.macedonian.com.au