The Honourable Mike Rann, former Premier of South Australia, expresses his views on the naming dispute between Athens and Skopje. Dimitria Greek Festival, Pan-Macedonian Association of South Australia. Adelaide, November 2009. Mr Rann affirms his commitment to Adelaide's Greek voters and promises his Government will "remain firm and unswerving in our support for your cause". "It is important because no one is entitled to steal another nation's history or culture," Mr Rann said. After claims of "racial vilification" by the pro-Skopje lobby, Mr Rann said he would not be "silenced or muzzled" and would "continue to speak out on issues I believe in". "I totally stand by my comments . . . absolutely no apologies whatsoever," he said. UPDATE: South Australian Premier Mike Rann has been cleared of racially vilifying the people of the Former Yugoslav Republic of "Macedonia". The Human Rights Commission found Mr Rann had no case to answer for claiming Skopje was stealing Greek history and culture, an accusation the Premier made in a speech at a Greek festival in Adelaide last year. In the speech, Mr Rann also accused Skopjan President Gjorge Ivanov of "stirring up trouble in a most dangerous way" with Greece. The comments sparked a complaint to the HRC by South Australia's Skopjan community but judge Catherine Branson ruled it to be "lacking in substance". Mr Rann said he abhorred racism and his criticisms were directed at the policies of the Ivanov government, not Skopjans. "I stand on my record of racial and ethnic tolerance. I will not be intimidated by anyone from speaking forthrightly on behalf of historical truth," Mr Rann said. Source: The Australian

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