[…] since the time of the incorporation of part of the geographical Macedonia into the Greek state, the issue of "Bulgarism" was defined as a "national security" problem, meaning the actual or potential adoption by a segment of the Slavic-speaking population of the Greek territory of Bulgarian national identity. The areas that were particularly problematic were those where, despite being densely populated by Greek refugee populations, the Slavic-speaking population retained numerical superiority.

Among the areas that created a fear syndrome in Greek national policy, the region of Florina held the top position. The fear syndrome dominated the policies chosen for the area and characterized the entire effort to integrate the Slavic-speaking population into the national framework. Very soon, and clearly from the elections of 1926, Florina followed the political and social divisions and conflicts that emerged throughout the parliamentary period of the interwar.

Alongside the divisions between locals and refugees, Venizelists and anti-Venizelists, democrats and royalists, there was also a separation between Greeks and "Bulgarians" in Florina. While it was easy to define the Monastiriote refugees from Serbia as Greeks or "Philhellenic," it became difficult to clarify who were the true Greeks among the Slavic-speaking population.

Thus, it was (mis)given the possibility for institutional or extrajudicial centers of the region or the center to determine the quality of Greekness of this indigenous population, whereas there was no challenge –only– for those who during the incorporation brought –either themselves or their family members– titles of their participation in the "Macedonian Dispute" with the Greek –clearly– side. The fear of the label of "Bulgarism" evolved into a dominant tool of enforcement in the hands of local police authorities and the appointed administrative bureaucracy, but also a field of political and social exploitation of the local population mainly by figures from the political elite, who additionally took on the role of mediators and guardians of an indisputable Greekness for this population.

This text seeks the "Bulgarism" within the reflections of the "political and national sentiments" of the citizens of the Florina region during the interwar period. It attempts to approach the choices, but also the possibilities of choices, of the citizens of the Florina area, delving into the past and examining the policies that were outlined, chosen or imposed upon them in the region. […]

(From the preface of the book) Andreas Ap. Athanasiadis was born in 1963 in Pontokomi, Eordaia, to parents who were educators. His ancestors –on both sides– came from the Caucasus of Russia and after their "exit" from there, settled in Ertomous [Pontokomi] of Kozani and in Kato Klistina [Lower Kleines] of Florina. He studied mathematics and pedagogy and serves as a teacher at the Primary School of Pontokomi. His research interests focus on the political identities and choices of ethnic groups in the region of Macedonia during the interwar period, the Occupation, and the Civil War. He has participated in historical conferences as a speaker, while part of his work is published online. He has co-authored (with Christos Michailidis) the book: Born in the Caucasus of Russia (Athens 2010, InfoGnomon Publishing).