29 AUGUST 1992, Page 23

Dr Malcolm's piece on Greece's policies towards its ethnic minorities

is undoubtedly the best treatment that this neglected sub- ject has received in all the recent coverage on the Balkans. It is worth remarking that Greece indulged in 'ethnic cleansing' towards the end of the Greek civil war (1943-1949). The Greek authorities expelled Macedonians from the areas for- merly controlled by communist insurgents and then stripped refugee Macedonians of their Greek nationality. Although Greek refugees from the civil war have been allowed back, Macedonian refugees, who numbered between 80,000 and 100,000, are not only barred from returning but are also soon to lose their right to reclaim the prop- erty which was seized from them.

Andrew Michael Apostolou

33 Raleigh Drive, London N20