Greek school trip stirs controversy

With the thorny issue of the naming of Greece's northern neighbour, Macedonia once again in the political spotlight, two elementary schools in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki are sending students to parade on the Greek - Macedonian border.

The story came to light when the principal of the 49th Elementary School, Triantafillis Mentsidis, and sixth grade teacher, Kostas Somloilis handed out consent forms to students for them to take part in a school parade in the Greek border town of Evzonoi on 25 March, Greek independence day. The attempt by schools to organise such a trip is according to the Rizospastis newspaper, which broke the story, is a reminder of the massive nationalist rallies of the early 90's when tens of thousands of high school students were bussed to protests in Thessaloniki and Athens.

The trip has provoked a storm of response with some parents  and educators accusing the school of using their children for political purposes according to the Aggeleiforos newspaper.  However, 35 children and 60 parents have decided to take part in the parade which commemorates the start of the Greek war of independence in 1821.

The issue of the name of  Greece's northern neighbour has soured relations between the two countries since 1992 when the former Yugoslav republic gained independence. The Greek governement has warned that it will veto any attempt by The Former Yugosla Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to enter NATO or the European Union with the name Macedonia.

With a parliamentary majority of just two seats the Greek governement of Kostas Karamanlis is unlikely to compromise over the matter, knowing that any show of weakness will damage still further his party's declining popularity amongst voters.

It was exactly this issue that lead to the downfall of the previous conservative New democracy government in the early 90's. The then prime minister, Constantinos Mitsotakis, saw his party split when MPs, unhappy with  the government's handling of the issue split from the New Democracy party to form Political Spring under the leadership of ex New Democracy minister, Antonis Samaras.