THE ROMANIANS IN BULGARIA

 Geographical position. Main settlements.
The Romanian (vlach) ethnic element is concentrated especially in the Northwest side of Bulgaria (Vidin county - almost 35 settlements: Lom, Svistov, Nicopolie, Vrata, Mihailovgrad, Bregova, Codozlui, Ostrov), in the southwest part on Struma and Mesta River's valley (Macedonia Pirina - Romanian ethnic minority living in Blagoevgrad, Velingrad, Pestera, Rachitovo, Dorcovo) and also in the north and Northeast side of Bulgaria (Silistra, Turtucaia, Dobrici, Balcik etc.)

Demographical data

The official Bulgarian documents from 1965 showed that in Bulgaria live 6.000 Romanians. Yet, due to some Bulgarian historians and specialists and also according to the position of the official Romanian community, in Bulgaria live aprox. 125.000 - 150.000 Romanians.

Religious freedom
Starting with 1933, the Romanian population has no longer the right to religious sermons in their mother tongue, this situation making most of the people refuse the religious sermons offered in Bulgarian language. Nowadays, in Vidin region exists only two (from 35) parishes - Rabova and Gutumaret- where, due to the priests’ initiatives, the religious services are provided in Romanian language. Also, at the “Sfanta Treime” church in Sofia, founded by the Aromanian community from Sofia, a missionary priest of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchy provides services in Romanian language.

School
In Bulgaria, the Romanian high school from Sofia, is the only unit with additional teaching in Romanian language (next to the Bulgarian language) for the Romanian community, but the conditions are improper. Recently, the „The Romanian Community from Bulgaria” Association requested to the Bulgarian Education Ministry the approval for organizing courses in Romanian language in some units (from places with Romanian population) of the public school network. Also, the “Aromanians Youth Association from Bulgaria”, founded in 1999 by young people graduated in Romania, developed in Velingrad (south of Bulgaria) a private course for teaching the Aromanian dialect of Romanian language. This course is designed with the logistical support of Romania.

Mass-media
“The Association of Vlachs on Bulgaria” and “The community of Romanian from Bulgaria” published, with the support of the Government of Romania, the “Timpul” (The Time) monthly newspaper. Also, there is the leaflet “Armânlu” published ocasionaly by the „Sutata Armânilor”. Organisation.
Unfortunately, the Romanians from Bulgaria are not allowed to draft any shows for the current schedule of the radio stations and televisions from Bulgaria.

Cultural life
The most important event of the Romanian (vlach) community from Bulgaria is “Festivalul International de Dansuri si Cantece Vlahe de la Vidin” (The International Festival of vlachs dances and songs at Vidin), being organized yearly, with the support of the Government of Romania. This event gathers an important number of Romanian folkloric ensembles from the Balkans The Festival is preceded by a cultural seminar designed on different ethnographical topics.
Also, in some municipalities (Negotin, Vidin, Calafat etc) are organized locally, through the year, folkloric events.

Public administration
The Bulgarian Constitution does not recognise the term of national minority, preferring to use only the term of “ethnic communities”, that reducing the right to organisation of the Romanian minority. Just a single concession was accepted to the Turkish minority, composed by 1.500.000 persons (this minority organised in May 1990 the association “The movement for Rights and freedom” that become in August 1995 political party). Consequently, the Romanians could not be represented in the Parliament of Bulgaria. Unfortunately, this situation is affecting the status of the entire minority.

Romanian organizations

STATISTICIANS UNVEIL 2001 CENSUS RESULTS BULGARIAN FE/RL NEWSLINE Vol. 6, No. 224, Part II, 2 December 2002
In an official press release on 29 November, the State Statistics Institute announced preliminary results of last year's census (for complete results, see http://www.nsi.bg/Census/Ethnos-final-n.htm) The data concerns the ethnic, religious, and linguistic composition of Bulgaria's population.
According to the statisticians, the population totaled 7.93 million people at the beginning of 2001, of whom 6.55 million (84 percent) were ethnic Bulgarians. The country's largest minority, ethnic Turks, amounted to some 747,000 people (9.4 percent). The Romany community was placed at about 371,000 people (4.7 percent), but many observers believe that the real Romany population is much higher. Russian, Armenian, Vlach, Ukrainian, and Jewish diasporas each account for less than 1 percent of the total population. Almost 83 percent of the population is Bulgarian Orthodox, while the country's 967,000-strong Muslim community accounts for more than 12 percent of the total population. UB

THE ROMANIANS IN UKRAINE

 Geographical position. Main settlements
The Romanian ethnic element is concentrated compact in four regions determined by different historical conditions:
- Chernovsky region comprises north Bukovina, Herta and north Basarabia. The main places where Romanians represent the majority of the population are: Chernovsky, Hruseuti, Molodia, Voloca, Tereblecea, Boian, Herta, Noua Sulita.
- Odesa region comprises south Basarabia. The main places with a majority Romanian population are: Reni, Anadol, Ismail, Cetatea Alba.
- Transcarpatia region comprises the old Maramures (Slatina, Biserica Alba, Apsa de Sus)
- the region situated above Nistru River comprises the localities: Nicolaev, Kirovograd, Donetk, Crimea, Lugansc, Herson, Dniepropetrovsc.

Demographical data
The former Soviet regime still uses, unfortunately, the artificial division created before 1990, that accredited the idea that in Ukraine exist two different nations: the Romanian and the “Moldavians”. Nowadays, the official statistics shows that in Ukraine exist 324.500 “Moldavians” and 134.800 Romanians. Adding this two officials data, results that the Romanian community represents the third minority group from Ukraine, after Ukrainians and Russians. On the other hand, the Romanian cultural organizations from Ukraine are estimating up to 800.000 the number of the Romanian community.

Religious freedom
The Romanian Orthodox churches are subordinated to the self-proclaimed Metropolitan Ukrainian Church that is affiliated to the Russian Orthodox Patriarchy. Lately, these two patriarchies - Russian and Ukrainian - are claiming the authority on the Romanian parishes, this situation increasing the pressures exercised on the parishes in the towns where the majority of the Romanians are under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Ukrainian Church affiliated to the Russian Patriarchy.

In many cases, the Romanian priests are persecuted. More, we mention the request of the Romanian ethnics to set up again the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Church in Chernovsky or at least two Romanian Orthodox Vicarages.

School
The education system for Romanian ethnics includes, in Chernovsky region, 86 independent units where the courses are taught in their mother tongue. Also, there are 8 Ukrainian-Romanian departments (mixed units) where are organized classes in Romanian language. In Odesa region exist 18 units and in Transcarpatia region are 10 units.

Higher education system includes two Romanian and Classical Philology Departments - one at the University of Chernovsky and another at the University of Ujgorod. Pedagogical Institute from Ismail includes a department designated for the Romanian language speakers. The main problems of these units are: the lack of textbooks, the decreasing number of the courses with Romanian learning language and the terrible pressures exercised on Romanian teachers in order to compel them to accept the “Moldavian language” to Romanian language’s detriment.

Mass media
The Romanians newspapers are getting through a very difficult period of time, because of the financial difficulties and the authority’s pressure on the editors; this situation is reflecting the reality of the community. In Chernovsky, there are some newspapers that appear sporadically because of the lack of Ukrainian financial help: “Arcasul” (The Archer), “Plai romanesc” (the Romanian Lawn), „Septentrion literar” (Literary septentrion). Though, there are some periodicals founded and financed by the Ukrainian administration: “Concordia” (The Concordia), “Zorile Bucovinei” ( “Bukovina’s dawn”), “Gazeta de Herta” (Herta Newspaper). In Chernovsky was founded the “Alexadru cel Bun” publishing house.

The current schedule of Public Television stations T1 & T2 don’t feature any time reserved for Romanian minority. Starting with December 2002, the National Company of Radio and Television territorial studios from Chernovsky and Ujgorod, decided to reduce the length of the Romanian-language shows. After this decision remained only a weekly one-hour broadcast.

Public administration
Ukraine doesn’t ensure to the right of citizen belonging to the Romanian ethnic minority to preserve and freely develop their ethnic identity so they can manifest fully in the field of public life. In many settlements with majority Romanian population, the authorities of the local public administration doesn’t ensure the inscription of the names of localities and public institutions under their authority, as well as the announcements of public interest also in the mother tongue of the citizens belonging to the Romanian ethnic minority.

Romanian organizations

ROMANIANS IN HUNGARY

Geographical position. Main settlements
The Romanian element is concentrated along the borderline with Romania, in towns as: Bekes (Aletea, Batania, Bichis, Bichisciaba, Chitghaz, Ciorvas, Giula, Micherechi, Otlaca-Pusta), Hajdu-Bihar (Apateu, Darvar, Jaca, Peterd, Sacal, Vecherd) and Csongrad (Seghedin, Cenadul Unguresc). Also, small the Romanian communities are in Budapest, Debretin, Miscolt (here exists an important Aromanian group).

Demographical data
In Hungary, accordingly to Romanian associations leaders’ position live 27.000-30.000 Romanians. The official statistics, the census from 2001, show a smaller number of Romanian minority from Hungary: 7.995 declared Romanian nationality and 8.482 declared Romanian as mother tongue, 5.598 declared themselves as orthodox believers. The only explanation for this decreasing of Romanian minority from 200.000 members, at the beginning of the XXth century, is related to the ethnical assimilation process. The Romanian minority and all other minorities from Hungary were systematically assimilated within the Hungarian people during all political regimes starting with the period between the two world wars and ending with the period after 1989.

Religious freedom
At the end of the past century, the very strong position of Romanian orthodox community from Hungary allowed to have its own Romanian Orthodox church in Budapest. Along the years, the assimilation process lead to an exchange of the percentage of minorities from Hungary, first church becoming the Hungarian Orthodox church. Thus, the number of parishes decreased alarming. So called “natural assimilation” by the Hungarian authorities, is contradicted with the strange evolution in time of statistics related to Romanians. For example, the most affected part of Romanian minority is the Roman-Catholic community of Romanians that, from 150.000 members now, 98-99% are almost transformed into Hungarians.

In Gyula exists the Romanian Orthodox Church that actively contributing to spiritual refreshing of Romanians from Hungary and to conservation and restoration of the eritage assets in the property of the religious cult.

School
According to the statistics offered by the Ministry of Education and the Office for national and ethnic minority, in Hungary are opened 11 elementary schools with a total number of 1.200 pupils (at Aletea, Apateu, Batania, Bedeu, Cenadul Unguresc, Chitighaz, Giula, Leucushaz, Micherechi, Otalca-Pusta and Sacal), registered in 2002-2003, academic year. The Hungarian statistics use the term “primary school for Romanian minority” (that implies for Romanian students the exclusive rights to attend them), but the reality shows that these units are attended both by Hungarian and Romanian students. None of these schools uses Romanian language to teach all the classes from the curricula (excepting Micherechi, where in elementary schools, only environment, geography, music, paint and Romanian language are teaching in Romanian minority mother tongue).

In mixed schools, like those elementary and secondary schools from Gyula, the Romanian language and literature is taught 5 hours weekly. These classes include information about the Romanian history and culture.

At “Nicolae Balcescu” high school are 205 pupils. Within the 1st grades of primary schools are registered 151 pupils and in 9th grades of high schools are registered 58 students. In this unit are 6 classes teaching in Romanian language: 2 grammar classes, 2 Romanian literature classes, 2 Romanian culture and civilization classes.

For the 2002-2003 academic year, the situation in Hungary remains the same. Thus, the Hungarian authorities devise the units as followed: first category of schools where Romanian language is learnt as foreign language (4 hours, weekly) and the second category where the curricula are taught into Hungarian and Romanian.

As a conclusion, it is very important to emphasize that in Hungary doesn’t exist any units with teaching exclusively in Romanian, even if the reality proved in the last years that this would be possbile at least at Micherechi (with 87% Romanians of the total of inhabitants), Chitighaz (with 70% Romanians of the total of inhabitants) and Gyula (on “Nicolae Balcescu” high school only geography and environment are taught in Romanian).

In Hungary exist two Romanian departments at “Eotvos Lorand” (ELTE) University from Budapest (2 students are Romanian ethnics and 10 students are Hungarian ethnics) and “Juhasz Gyula” Pedagogical Institute from Seghedin (6 students are Romanian ethnics and 43 students are Hungarian ethnics). In these departments, fewer students are choosing to study in order to become Romanian language teachers.

The Government of Romania granted for 20 students in Hungary scholarships for Romanian universities in Cluj, Oradea, Arad and Timisoara.

Mass media
“Foaia” is the only newspaper, published weekly by the Cultural Union of Romanians from Hungary and Autonomous governing of the Romanian in Hungary. A Romanian department exists within the national public television.

Public administration
The Romanian minority is not represented in the parliament, even if all the political parties promised this during the electoral campaigns.

THE ROMANIANS IN VOJVIDINA

Geographical position. Main settlements.
The Romanian ethnic element is widely concentrated in Banat, near northeastern border of Belgrade, being limited by the Danube River (south - west) and the frontier with Romania (east). A vast majority (93%) lives in 17 settlements. The main towns with a Romanian majority population are Vârset, Uzdin, Alibunar, Vladimirovat, Pancevo, Nicolint, Locve. Also, in 12 cities where the Romanian community is significant, the Romanian language is used in administration as official language.

Demographical data
According to the results of the census from May 31st, 1991, in Yugoslavia live 42.331 Romanians. 38.832 live in Vojvodina (1,93% of the entire population of Vojvodina) and the rest are living in Belgrade. Regionally speaking, an overwhelming majority of the Romanians live in Banat.
1948 - 3,53%
1953 - 3,37%
1961 - 3.09%
1971 - 2,71%
1981 - 2,32%
1991 - 1,93%

Religious freedom
In Vojvodia the Romanian community attend religious services in Romanian in places where there are significant numbers of them. Nowadays, the Romanian Orthodox Church includes 18 parish houses, 14 priests (none of them being missionary). The most difficult issue that these parishes are confronting with is the preserving of the clerical heritage.

The fact that the Romanian Orthodox Vicarage from Varset became Eparchy under the temporary administration of the Caransebes Bishop was benefic for the Romanian minority. In 2001, the Romanian Patriarchy named PS Daniil Partosanu as bishop of Yugoslavia, the abode being established to Varset.

School
The pupils of Romanian origin can attend instruction in Romanian in nine municipalities. The primary education in Romanian is provided for them in 18 elementary school and 14 detached classes in different local communities. Comparing with the previous year, the statistics shows that the number of detached classes where education is provided in Romanian decreased with 14 classes because the number of pupils who are attending these classes also decreased with 2.55% (39 pupils).
190 pupils of Romanian origin attended regular secondary education in their mother tongue. Instruction in Romanian is provided within two secondary schools - the General Secondary School in Varset and the Economic School “Dositei Obradovici” in Alibunar. In 2000/2001 academic year, 31.14% of the total number of the graduated pupils decided to attend one of these two secondary schools.

The Department for the Romanian Language and Literature of the Faculty of Philology in Belgrade offers to the Romanian community the chance to further study in their mother tongue.

Over 26.000 books published in Romanian language are available in bookstores from Alibunar, Varset, Zilistea and Kovin.

Mass media
In contrast with the Romanian/Vlach community from east Serbia, the Romanian community from Vojvodina enjoys media facilities for fully expressing and developing their ethnic, cultural, linguistic or religious identity. The Assembly of Vojvodina is the founder of five political papers “of provincial relevance”, including “Libertatea” (Freedom) in Romanian. The Publishing House “Libertatea” that publishes the monthly periodical “Libertatea” and a significant number of books publish in Romanian language. It was launched in May 1945 and comes out once a week. The average number of copies is 4.000. The Assembly of Vojvodina is also the founder of “Tineretea” (Youth), a youth monthly in Romanian and „Bucuria copiilor” (Children’s Joy), a children’s monthly.

The Community of the Romanian of Yugoslavia (29 branches) publishes“Cuvântul românesc” (the Romanian Word), the independent newspaper of the Romanian minority from Vojvodina. The other publications are publishing the official information of the authorities. “Tibiscus” (Latin name of the Tamis River) is the name of the Society for Literature and Arts in Uzdin, which publishes once o month its paper.

The Romanian Ethnographic and Folklore Society (Foundation) in Vojvodina was founded in 1995. It publishes a quarterly publication „Traditia” (Custom). Also, the association of the Community of Romanian of Yugoslavia publishes “Cuvântul românesc” and the supplement “Satul” (Village). The association “Tibiscus” publishes the review with the same name.

Radio Novi Sad has broadcasted radio programs in Romanian for almost 50 years. The Romanian office airs an average of 4 hours daily. There are also local radio stations broadcasting in national minority languages. Four publicly owned radio stations - Radio Zrenjanin, Radio Kovin, Radio VAP (Varset, Alibunar and Plandiste) and Radio Kovacica - have programs in Serbian, Romanian and other minority languages.

Cultural activities
Main cultural activities of the Romanian community are “Festivalul Fanfarelor” (The Brass band’s Festival), “Festivalul Colindelor” (The Christmas Carol’s Festival) and “Festivalul Copiilor” (The children’s Festival). There are also some theatre representations in Alibunar, Uzdin and other Romanian towns.

Public administration
Vojvodina Romanians enjoy the status of a national minority but they do not have an ethnic-based political party. Nowadays, after the free general election organized in Vojvodina, Ion Cizmas, the former president of the Community of Romanians of Yugoslavia, was elected as deputy in Parliament of Serbian and Prefect of Varset District. In some towns with Romanian population, the public administration uses officially the Romanian language too.

Romanian association from Vojvodina
The Community of Romanians of Vojvodina Trg save Kovacevica 33, 26300, Vârset
Phone: 00381
-641518793
- 13821354
- 13819143
Fax: 00381
-13816665
-13819143
Contact: Ion Cizmas (Deputy in Parliament of Serbia)  Această adresă de e-mail este protejată de spamboţi; aveţi nevoie de activarea JavaScript-ului pentru a o vizualiza , Această adresă de e-mail este protejată de spamboţi; aveţi nevoie de activarea JavaScript-ului pentru a o vizualiza

THE ROMANIANS IN EAST SERBIA

Geographical position. Main settlements.
The Romanian (vlach) ethnic element is concentrated mostly in the region limited by Morava River (west), Danube River (north) and Timoc (south-eastern). According to the sources from the Romanian community, the Romanians (Vlachs) live in 134 villages (exclusively with Romanian population) and in 20 towns (with mixed population - Zaicear, Negotin. Bor, Kadovo, Majdanpek, Pojarevat, Jabucovat etc.)

Demographical data
Demographically speaking, it’s very hard to compare the results of the censuses from Yugoslavia along the years.

According to the results of the census (May 31st, 1991), in Yugoslavia live 38.832 Romanians (1,93% of the entire population of Voivodina) and 17.000 vlachs in the East Serbia. These results are inferior to the real number indicated by the leaders of the Romanian/Vlachs minority. They appreciate that only in Timoc Valley live 400.000 Romanians concentrated in 130 medium and small places and 20 towns. The preliminary results of the last census from 2002 indicates, in the opinion of Romanians community leaders, that in Serbia is continuing the manipulation of the official data as regard to the number of Romanians/Vlachs from East Serbia.

Religious freedom
The Romanians/Vlachs from East Serbia are not allowed to use their mother tongue in religious services, this situation estranging people from church. Right now, none of the churches is holding services in Romanian. There are some isolated cases were priests from Romania cross the Danube for officiating religious services for the Orthodox community in the Romanian towns. Also the Romanians don’t have the right to use their mother tongue in education.

Education
Nowadays, the education in the Romanian is not allowed in East Serbia, the entire population being forced to attend the Serbian school. This situation contributes to the spiritual and national identity disappearance of the Romanian community.

Media
„The democratic Movement of Romanians” edits the newspaper „Vorba noastra” (Our word) elaborated in Romanian language. Beginning with 2003, the publication “Cuvantul romanesc” (The Romanian Word) from Vojvodina will be published in two language -Romanian and Serbian- cooperation with “Ariadnae Filum” Association that is assuring a local editorial office. Unfortunately, the national TV and radio station doesn’t allocate any broadcast or show time in Romanian language. In March 2003, Istock Television from Salas (a private television) will launch, in cooperation with “Ariadnae Filum” Association, the Romanian programme that will include news, music and entertainment in Romanian language.

There still are some private folklore radio stations as - „Doina”, „Salas” and „Printesa” that are broadcasting Romanian folk music (but with Serbian comments).

Cultural activities
Romanian/Vlach popular ensembles from East Serbia participate to different artistic activities organised, in Yugoslavia (“The villages Meeting Day” is one of the most important events organised in March-May period of the year), Romania, Bulgaria and Macedonia.

Public administration
Until now, the Romanian minority didn’t have the right to be represented in the Serbian parliament even if they were a significant percentage of the entire population of Serbia. Obviously, this situation affects the cultural and social life of the Romanian community. Some members of the community obtained a good public position only after they choose to become member of different political parties. Anyway, these isolated cases have a small impact on the general life of Romanian ethnics from this region.

ROMANIANS IN ALBANIA

Geographical position. Main settlements
The Romanian (Aromanian) community from Balkan is concentrated in two areas. The difference between the Aromanian elements is related to the descendents: first group is composed by the successors of „farsaroti”, an ethnic group that lives one side and the other of the Central Alps mountains up to Macedonia and Greece (Korcea/Curceaua, Frasani, Moscopole, Pleasa).An ethnic group that lives in the south littoral plain of Albania, being the successor of “saracaciani”, a nomadic group, composes the second group.

The Aromanians have settled down in some compact community, gathered around Moscopole, the main cultural center of Aromanian civilization from Balkan. Actual Albanian town Korcea situates this old city near. At the middle of the XVIIIth century, in Moscopole lived 50.000 people (around 12.000 houses, 14 trade unions, a publishing house, an orphanage, a poor men house). Also, there were one high school, a library and 24 churches. Between 1760-1790, Ali Pasha from Ianina and the Albanian troops were robed and burnt the town, this situation leading to emigration. Nowadays, Moscopole is just a village with only 1.000 inhabitants.

Demographical data
The Aromanian associations appreciate that in Albania live 400.000 Aromanians, which situates this minority group as the biggest ethnic minority.

Religious freedom
In Albania the religious services are not provided in minority languages. Though, after 1989, the Government of Romania supported financialy the construction of a new orthodox church at Korcea. Here is serving an aromanian priest, ordained by the Romanian Patriarchy. Unfortunately, this is a unique case.

School
Untill the installation of the communist regime, one of the Romania’s main permanent preoccupations was to support the cultural and national emancipation of Aromanians from Balkan.

In Albania, in 1912, were 17 elementary schools and 1 secondary school with teaching in Romanian language or in Aromanian dialect. Right now, these schools are closed, the only units with Aromanian dialect teaching are a private elementary school at Korcea and a kindergarden at Divjaka.

Starting with 1992, more than 1.000 young Aromanians obtained scholarships granted by Romania.

Mass media
Albania do not recognise the existence of Aromanians as an ethnic minority, thus the community doesn’t have any acces to culture and information in Aromanian dialect. Yet, „Aromanians from Albania” Cultural Association publishes, in Albanian and Aromanian languages, the newspaper „Fratia-Vâllazenimi”.

Cultural life
Yearly, on May 23rd, the Aromanians are celebrating by folklore festivals the International Aromanians’ day.

Public administration
The persons belonging to Aromanian ethnic minority can not forme their own political party. Albania does not guarantee the parliamentary representation of organization of citizens belonging to ethnic minority, more than this, it doesn’t give them the right to at least one seat in Parliament.

Romanian organizations and communities

ROMANIANS IN MACEDONIA

Demographical data
The Aromanian associations from FYROM estimate that in this country are 150.000 Aromanians. Official data - the census from 1991 - registered only 7.764 Vlachs (Aromanians), but this number in inferior to the real one. The Report of Balkan Commission includes some official data from: the Serbian statistics (Gopcevic, 1889) that indicates a number of 69.665 Vlachs, the Greek statistics (Delayani, 1904) that indicates 21.101 Vlachs (excepting Kosovo) and the Bulgarian statistics (Kontchev, 1900) that shows 80.767 Vlachs. The community of Megleno-Romanians is estimated to 5.500 persons, being endangered with ethnical assimilation.

Religious freedom
Starting with the beginning of this century, Romania founded in Macedonia schools, cultural and religious establishments, organizations and publications, all these for the benefit of the Aromanian minority. In 1905, in Bitolia was designated a Romanian bishop in order to coordinate the religious services from this country. Also, in the same year, was launched a Romanian consulate under the accreditation of Ottoman Government.

Nowadays, the Aromanians’ churches remained under the state authority, excepting the church from Bitola where the services are held in Slav language. Even if the Aromanian community required to the Macedonian authorities to recognize the Aromanian Autonomous Church, the request was repeatedly denied.

School
In 1864 was opened the first Romanian school for Aromanians at Târnova, near Bitolia. The Romanian High School at Bitolia was the most important school from southern side of Danube. Unfortunately, following this moment, all these schools have being closed by the communist regime 1948.

After 1990, Macedonia officially supports the education in minority language. But the reality is different because the Macedonian law is not respected in many cases. For example, in some places, where the education system implies the education providing in the Aromanian dialect for the persons belonging to Aromanian minority, the public network education offers just two weekly optional hours, in minority dialect. More, the teachers don’t use the same textbooks and methodology to teach. Still, there remain the private initiatives of some teachers that are providing with determination the education in Aromanian dialect.

Mass media
"Phoenix" is the only publication, published by "the League of Aromanians from Macedonia" with the support of the Romanian Government and of some rich Aromanians. Also, the Aromanian minority has the right to ½ hour on radio and television.

Cultural life
The main events organized by the Aromanian community are festivals and exhibitions displayed on topics related to folklore.

Public administration
Formally, Macedonia recognizes the Aromanian minority without giving any financially and logistical support.

Romanian associations