A formal complaint has been laid against Rockdale councillor Andrew Tsounis after he referred to Macedonia as ‘‘FYROM’’ — the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Cr Nicholas Mickovski (Liberal) has called on Cr Tsounis (Labor) to apologise after he made the comments at this week’s council meeting.
For more than 20 years there has been a name dispute following the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991.
Macedonia became an independent state and kept the name Republic of Macedonia; however, Greece protested because the name Macedonia implied regional territorial claims.
FYROM is recognised by the Australian Government.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade site said at the 2011 Census, 93,571 people in the Australian community identified themselves as Macedonian. A large dual-national community also lives in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, predominantly in the town of Bitola.
Cr Mickovski said he was deeply offended by the comments and had lodged a formal complaint with the general manager.
‘‘I was disgusted. It’s not only offensive to me but to the Macedonian community in Australia’’ he said.
‘‘We should be representing all our communities and interests regardless of nationality or culture.’’
Cr Tsounis rejected calls for him to apologise stating that FYROM was a name recognised by the federal government.
‘‘I wasn’t picking on anyone or any group,’’ he said.
‘‘My point of view is that it’s a term recognised by the Australian government which is why I used it.’’
Mayor Shane O’Brien rejected the comments, calling them inappropriate.
‘‘We’re a proud multicultural community and we take pride in celebrating our differences,’’ he said.
‘‘The use of FYROM is a matter for the federal government and the UN and it’s not relevant to council.’’
It comes ahead of this weekend’s Macedonian Independence Day in King Street Mall, Rockdale on Sunday, September 7, which is expected to draw thousands of people from across Sydney.
