Skopje - Representatives of NGO "Macedonian Civilisation and Future" (MCF) on Tuesday staged protest holding brooms in front of Greece's Liaison Office in Skopje against the humiliating treatment toward Macedonian citizens by Greek customs authorities.

MCF president Igor Dimovski said that with the symbolically called "Broom Uprising" they wanted to show they had learnt the lesson taught by Greek authorities to Macedonians who were travelling to Greece. Furthermore, the NGO called on all Macedonian citizens to have bigger self-respect and self-consciousness.

- We came here to present the Greek Ambassador to Macedonia with a golden broom, which she has deserved for maintaining the level of hygiene at border crossings towards Macedonia. We wanted to return the favour in the same manner and to give them a broom in order to sweep here, said Dimovski.

The "golden broom" and Dimovski's golden medallion, which he had won 12 years ago in Salonika (Solun) at a junior open tennis championship, were left behind on the police roadblock outside the Greek Liaison Office.

MCF was established in early 2008 and so far consists of 200 members, including eminent public figures and intellectuals. According to Dimovski, their aim will be to preserve and strengthen the Macedonian identity by joining forces with other NGOs.