A/HRC/10/11/Add.3 page 13 the 3rd Century BC were unearthed in the 1970s. Artefacts including these tombs display ancient Greek inscriptions considered by the government to confirm that the region and its people are historically Greek.12 41. The Government does not recognize the existence of a Macedonian ethnic minority living in Central and West Macedonia. They vehemently deny it and attribute political motives to those who claim it. Successive governments have pursued a policy of denial of the ethnic Macedonian community and the Macedonian language. Many consider this a modern day version of Tito’s efforts to create a myth of a Macedonian nation giving support to his expansionist claims against that region of Greece. The response of earlier Greek governments was to suppress any use of the Macedonian language and cultural activities. In recent times the harsh tactics have ceased but those identifying as ethnic Macedonian still report discrimination and harassment. They consider it of crucial importance for their continued existence that their ethnic identity and distinctiveness is respected. The Macedonian language is not recognized, taught, or a language of tuition in schools. 42. In the 1920s and 30s laws required the replacement of non-Greek names of towns, villages, rivers and mountains with Greek names. The family names of the Macedonian-speaking population were also required to be changed to Greek names. Individuals seeking to re-instate Macedonian family names have had their petitions refused by authorities on administrative grounds. Community representatives note that traditional names continue to be in common usage and call for reinstatement and the official usage of a dual nomenclature e.g. Florina/Lerin. 43. Representatives claim denial of the right to freedom of association, citing unsuccessful efforts since 1990 to register the organization “Home of Macedonian Culture” in Florina. The Greek courts refused to register the organization on the grounds that its objective was to promote the idea that “there is a Macedonian minority in Greece, which is contrary to the national interest and subsequently contrary to law”. In 1998 the European Court of Human Rights found Greece in violation of Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights13 relating to freedom of association. Subsequent domestic court decisions have failed to conform to the European Court finding and the Home of Macedonian Culture remains unregistered. The government notes that the application for registration of the association remains pending before the Supreme Court. 44. Community representatives highlight discriminatory laws affecting thousands who fled Greece during the Civil War (1946-1949) who were stripped of their citizenship and property. A 1982 Ministerial Decision (Law no. 106841) stated that “Free to return to Greece are all Greek by Genus who during the civil war of 1946-1949 and because of it have fled abroad as political refugees”. This decision excludes those identifying as ethnic Macedonians and is therefore considered discriminatory. Law no. 1540 of 1985 allowed political exiles to reclaim confiscated 12 The government stresses that the geographical region of Macedonia extends beyond one sovereignty; Greece, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania all include different parts of geographic Macedonia. 13 Sidiropoulos and Others vs. Greece, European Court of Human Rights, 57/1997/841/8107.