Деноминацијата на Македонија и на Македонците во 1903 година – причини и последици
Denomination of Macedonia and Macedonians in 1903 – Causes and Conseqences

Summary/Abstract: In the year 1903, Macedonia and its people were denominated by the terms: “The Three Vilayets” and “The Christians of the Three Vilayets”. This denomination, suggested by Russia, was supported by both France and AustroHungary. This act of the three European powers in February 1903 was followed by and act by the Sultan, who in april of the same year forbade the use of the name “Macedonia”. The article looks at the reasons behind- and the consequences of the denomination, concluding that it aided the division of Macedonia, which benefitted the neighboring Balkan countries; this was done through the decompounding of Macedonia as a distinct country and the deconstruction and elimination of Macedonians as a political subject. This was the way how Macedonia and Macedonians were delegitimized in regard to article 23 of the Berlin agreement (in regard to seeking autonomy). In other words, they were bound to the fate of the Ottoman Empire–in the case of its collapse or its withdrawal from the Balkans caused by military force.

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