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TV TERA BITOLA: DIFFERENCES BOND

1.  TOPIC OF THE PROJECT

With over 48 information editions, the project titled “The Differences Bond” will be introducing the key features of the multiethnic composition of the southwestern part of the Republic of Macedonia, northwestern part of the Republic of Greece and the southeastern part of the Republic of Albania. It must be kept in mind that this is a relatively peaceful area, in which  conflicts between the various ethnical groups are not very frequent compared to the area of Western Macedonia and the border areas there. Therefore, the logical question that follows this assessment is:

• Why is this part of Macedonia being chosen for analyzing the multiethnic landscape?

The answer lies within the question itself. The goal is to extract and emphasize the positive solutions from an area where a relaxed multiethnic atmosphere is dominant, which can only be a result of positive interethnic feelings and tolerance, and at the end to propose them through a sophisticated media form as potential solutions for other parts that are conflict-prone by nature in terms of interethnic relations.

The problems of the national minorities that live smoothly intertwined in the area of this triple border (Macedonians, Albanians, Vlahs, Romas, Turks) will create a puzzle which will reflect very realistically the complexity of the situation in which all of the minorities live. At the same time it equalizes them and brings them together by the nature of the problems that are shared by all of them: practicing their basic human rights and liberties, the possibility of studying their mother language, their cultural promotion and building up in the country where they live as a minority.

In terms of the human dimension, as it is defined at the Helsinki Committee for human rights, the editions will especially give a preview of the election processes in the three Republics from the aspect of the right to vote and the possibility for the minorities to participate in the local and central government, to the full participation in the democratic processes in these countries. Answers will be sought to the questions, to what degree and by what means they participate and whether the democratic processes in the alleged country are confirmed with a positive trend of growth or whether they are being deformed, suffocating the basic human rights. Furthermore, it will be assessed whether the right of religious freedom and the political climate contribute towards the realization of the rights of the minorities or whether it works against it.

The series of editions will pay attention to a topic that is delicate in every contemporary society, but which provides the key for the identity of every nation: education. Can education be realized in accordance with the standards of the European Community and to which extent has this already happened? the triple-language University in Kluz, Romania will serve as an example for a positive solution. In this context a special place will be reserved for the education of woman, her emancipation and engagement in the community more or less on equal terms with the male world, which is still dominating society.

Besides this, “The differences bring us together” will give special treatment to the traditional solving of the conflicts, presenting this area as a relatively peaceful multiethnic environment, which, looking centuries back can be used as a positive example for togetherness, tolerance, patience and cooperation between the various ethnical groups. Because of this reason the triple border between Albania, Macedonia and Greece should be considered as a potential conflict area and source of positive solutions and ideas for successful multiethnic society, which can later be applied in other regions of the troubled countries.

2.      THE IDEA OF THE EDITION

The goal of “The differences bring us together” is to use the positive solutions in terms of opening new perspectives of multiethnic society. Freed from the limitations of the daily political tensions and outwitting of the three counties, the cooperation between Bitola county (Republic of Macedonia) Kozani (Republic of Greece) and Korca (Republic of Albania) is ongoing and without difficulties.

This series of editions will turn the attention to meetings of the three parties, emphasizing the protocols for cooperation that bears the signature of the three mayors, as a boost for developing positive cultural, enterprising, sporting floatation between the three cities.

The editions, besides giving an authentic picture of the actual multiethnic landscape in the region of border areas in which the Republics of Macedonia, Greece and Albania meet, at the same time will cover some crucial issues important for the existence of the minorities, compared to the solutions of those same questions in other countries. For example, education as one of the most important issues for each nation and for each minority will be considered, in which form it is being realized in the three countries, after which the condition will be compared with countries that are facing similar problems and tendencies. In Romania, for instance, where the leaders of the Hungarian minority demands a new state university in which all the lessons would be taught in the Hungarian language, the model of the existing university in Kluz has been regarded as ideal. The education in this university is done in three languages: Romanian, Hungarian and German. The national minorities during their studies also learn the Romanian language. This concept of high education received strong backup from the High Commissioner of OSCE, Max Van der Stuhl, who evaluated that the university could be used as a model for other European universities. Through this kind of comparison, “Differences Bonds” will state new possible solutions and perspectives for multiculturalism in Macedonia, Greece and Albania.

Finally, the edition will also give us a view of the trilateral media connection between the radio stations Radio Bitola, Radio Korca and radio Florin. The mayors of the three counties have already shown considerable interest and readiness to participate in the realization of the project.

 3.      CONTENTS OVERVIEW

“The differences Bonds” is a TV project that is going to be realized within a period of one year, dynamically unfolding with one information edition per week with a duration of 30 minutes. Every edition will contain a classical exchange of information from the region regarding one specific topic. Bitola and TERA Television will be the center for the realization of the project from where the work of the TV crews will be coordinated in the two neighboring countries. In this concept other independent TV stations from the neighboring countries will be engaged and will help in the realization of the project. During the first three months work will be done on the information campaign – to get to know the neighbor and the region. In the second three months the emphasis will be on the local self-management and the low regulation in the three counties situated on the Macedonian-Albanian-Greek borders. The next three months will be dedicated to the multiethnic composition of the region, the cultural and historical traditions, education and other items that will emerge as important topics in the time of the realization of the project. Finally, the last three months of this one-year project will be devoted to the first results of the aired editions, while directions for future steps will be taken and plans for possible continuance will be made. To summarize the project, this serial of editions will unfold the most difficult issues in the life of the minority, as well as their life together with the majority by information packages as well as through statements by and conversations with citizens of Bitola, Korca and Kozani.

Questions on the following topics will gradually form the basic plot of the editions: the realization of the basic human rights and personal freedom; the floatation of actual democratic processes and the influence of the political environment; the possibilities and the form in which the minorities can study their mother language; the conflicts emerging as a result of the differences as well as possibilities that differences beautify, bond, and create a unique mixture of cultures, religions, languages, customs and traditions; traditional solutions to the conflicts; religious belief and the freedom to exercise it, the right to vote and the possibilities to exercise this right without difficulties; the possibility by the minorities to participate in local and state government; emancipation of the women that belong to a minority group, as well as many other segments of the lives of those peoples that live in the above-covered area.

Moreover, throughout the project the perspectives of the multiethnic society will be treated, for which positive examples are the permanent cooperation between the counties Bitola, Korca, and Kozani in almost every area of community life, as well as the initiatives for creating free-trade zones.

The edition will especially stress the conviction that the rights of the minorities are basic human rights and that if the contemporary democracies want to rightfully bear that label, they must consistently aim towards their full realization.

 4.      LENGTH OF THE PROJECT

The project “Differences Bond” is originally anticipated to be realized through one series of 48 information editions of 30 minutes each.

5. NECESSERY TV CREW

• Author of the edition

• writer

• director

• cameramen

• sound technicians

• light technicians

• organizers

• editors

• producer

• expert associates

• narrators

• actors

• translators, lecturers

6. EXPECTED PROGRAM EFFECT

The series “Differences Bond” is thought to represent a relaxed interethnic postcard. It should be regarded as a means to quietly touch upon the issues that concern every Macedonian, Greek, or Albanian, no matter where he lives and whether he is a member of a minority or majority within his surroundings. As the topics dealt with are of a universal character, the program effect in informative terms will not only be for the benefit of the ethnical groups in question, but it should also serve as a role model for a relaxed multiethnic environment in any part of the world.

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