For information on a recent meeting of UMO-Ilinden members in Bulgaria and the authorities' response, and for an allegation that UMO-Ilinden members are mistreated, please consult the last paragraph of page two and page three of the 4-5 October 1997 Vecer attachment and the other attachments. For less recent information on the treatment of UMO-Ilinden members, please consult Response to Information Request BGR27558.E of 27 August 1997. Additional information on the above-mentioned topic could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Attachments

Radio Macedonian Network [Skopje, in Macedonian]. 30 September 1997. "FYROM: Skopje Radio Cites Sofia Daily on OMO Ilinden's Plans." (FBIS-EEU-97-276) [Internet] [Accessed 15 Oct. 1997]

Trud [Sofia, in Bulgarian]. 30 September 1997. "Bulgaria: Ilinden OMO Said to Want to Split SW Region from Bulgaria." (FBIS-EEU-97-273) [Internet] [Accessed 15 Oct. 1997]

Vecer [Skopje, in Macedonian]. 4-5 October 1997. "FYROM: Bulgaria's Denial of Macedonian Minority Condemned." (FBIS-EEU-97-280) [Internet] [Accessed 15 Oct. 1997]

Additional Sources Consulted

Amnesty International Report. Yearly.

CSCE Digest [Washington]. Monthly.

Electronic sources: IRB databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database).

Human Rights Watch World Report. Yearly.

News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.

Resource Centre country file on Bulgaria.

Transition [Prague]. Twice monthly.

Uncaptive Minds [Washington]. Quarterly.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources.