Melentie Pandilovski on Wed, 28 Mar 2001 16:01:49 +0200 |
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Re: Syndicate: about Macedonian crisis |
My dear Eleni Laperi, The first thing I do every morning is to read the e-mails from the syndicate to my box. It is one of the pritiest things internet offers: a fast communication and make you feel part of a great and equal members of the global community. As one of the founders of the Syndicate, and organizer of a few events for the Syndicate, I can say that I am more than happy that you find the list useful. But there are some days I have been very impressed of some messages sent by Melentie Pandilovski and some others. And my first thought was: how it is possible for people who consider themselves as artists or cultural activists to be so aggressive and intolerant in the beginning of the 21st century? What aggressiveness and intolerance are you referring to? Towards whom? Please be more precise, as I don't understand what you are trying to convey. Reading those messages people do realize that the only problem in Balkans, source of troubles and crimes are "Albanian rebels and Albanian Mafia". Do you mean the forwarded information by the press? It is true that several people from Macedonia have been sending reports or peace appeals. Most of the reports are sent by Kalina Bunevska which are comprised of pure information about the current situation in Macedonia, and the artist Iskra Dimitrova who has been sending Peace appeals. So, as to the information sent via Syndicate, you could have seen the information comprises of - Daily briefing from Macedonian press about Macedonian crisis (This also includes the ethnic Albanian press in Macedonia) - Daily briefing from international press about Macedonian crisis (This also includes the press from Kosovo and Albania). I have more or less been inactive on the list as there was not much traffic regarding this issue. This is a pity as two years ago during the Kosovo crisis there was a really fantastic Syndicate member turn out. We even had a whole meeting (two day was it?) devoted to the theme in Budapest, and came up with a bunch of products such as the FUTURE STATE OF BALKANIA (Kiasma, Helsinki), and some other. For the moment, a much better dialog regarding the situation in Macedonia is conducted on the ZAMIR list. It has been quoted the Macedonian Constitution and all the rights Albanian "minority" joy de jure. But this "minority" is 30-35% of the Macedonian population, and in the hight administration the Albanian employers Albanians have are only 4% of the chairs. So, it is numbers that are important? I always had the impression that it has to be the individual that is the biggest asset. Who knows, maybe I was wrong? For the sake of the truth I have to disagree with your presentation of percentages. And I will use an independent source, CIA World Factbook According to their sources about Macedonia: Population (2000): 2.04 million Area: 25,333 sq. km. (9,781 sq. miles) Ethnic groups (1994): Macedonians 67%, Albanians 23%, Turks 4%, Gypsies (Roma) 2%, Serbs 2%, others 2% It is not mentioned that the Albanian government was the first government of Balkans who accepted the new Macedonian state, and not Greece. Hold it now! I had great disputes about this issue with Valentin Bielinsky on the ZAMIR list who said that Bulgaria was the first country in the world to have recognized the Republic of Macedonia, and being first was much more then a simple diplomatic recognition. At this moment I cannot remember too well who was first but something tells me that Valentin could be right. You can also discuss this issue with him. The Albanian borders has been opened for the Macedonian-s citizens, and there has been not the same for the Albanians who wanted to cross the Macedonian border. There is a visa regime which is equal for citizens of both countries. Macedonians need visas to go to Albania and Albanians need visas for Macedonia. Visas are easily obtained in the embassies in Skopje and Tirana but also at the border I think. I remember I had to pay 10$ for mine in order to go to Tirana for the Syndicate meeting. I know what is confusing you though. For a time being (I don't know if it is still valid) ethnic Albanians from Macedonia didn't have to pay for the visa in order to go to Albania. This was a decision taken by the Albanian government. Me and Dusko Drakalski were the only ones from 52 passengers (all with Macedonian passports) that had to pay visas. I remember I did a lot of complaining because of this "discrimination act". I am not a politician, and I don't want to apologize anyone, because I don't understand what is happened. But I don't know any conflict ever in Balkans initiated by the Albanians. Well, this is one of the reasons why the Syndicate was initiated. To get information otherwise hard to find in one's own country. As an artist I want to ask: do you think that sending this messages you've helped this kind of conflict to be resolved? Do you think that I should stop forwarding information? I remember when Edi Muka was sending reports from Albania during 1997 which was traumatic for Albania. This is also a traumatic year. This time for Macedonia (for Macedonians, Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Roma, Valachians, and Others living here). I think that by sending information people are more informed about the nature of the conflict. This always helps resolve a situation. As artists or cultural activists do you think that this is the right language to treat these problems in the 2001 and to give information? Will you feel better if people didn't send information? Or is it more likely that you will feel void? Melentie Pandilovski -----Syndicate mailinglist-------------------- Syndicate network for media culture and media art information and archive: http://www.v2.nl/syndicate to post to the Syndicate list: <syndicate@eg-r.isp-eg.de> to unsubscribe, write to <majordomo@eg-r.isp-eg.de>, in the body of the msg: unsubscribe syndicate your@email.adress