The knot of the Macedonian nation still creates tensions

[Дејан]

Тwo hours by car from Pristina, and you arrive at 'Alexander the Great 'International Airport in Skopje, Macedonia.

Alexander the Great, so we can satisfy the neighboring Greeks, about the patronage of the greatest conqueror of all time.

Skopje is the best ways to return home from Kosovo, which offers direct flights only to Vienna and Budapest. I am in Skopje, direct flight Skopje - Rome.

Talked to a passenger next to me, a countryman. Then meeting-conflict with a passenger sat in the row in front of me.

-"Are you the journalist Remondino?"

I immediately asked myself, will I receive compliments, or insults? There were no compliments. Young man, somewhere under 30, tall, massive, spoke perfect Italian and well educated. So he was a foreigner, living in Italy. His comment was short, precise and accused me of the following:

-"You need to stop calling us slavobulgarians. We are Macedonians, period."

Place with Distinction

Lady sitting across, obviously understood Italian, nodded and repeated the same thing.

-Macedonians, ok. How do I explain the Italian public about the Macedonians with albanian origin, with their political parties, and those Macedonian with slavic or bulgarian origin, and their political parties, or as you wish, those who have national, ethnic parties?

-"Our Culture is unique, antique, we are neither Bulgarians nor Slavic."

-"But when you shoot at each other in Tetovo, what should I report? Macedonian Albanians shoot at Macedonian Macedonians? Or the Macedonians in Kumanovo, how to call them? Macedonians with little Serb in them?"

Rest of the passengers, are awaiting to leave the plane that just landed and are paying close attention to our discussion. While walking towards Passport Control we spoke of Alexander the Great and the disputes between Greece and Macedonia, in relation to NATO and EU.

We wait for our luggage, our dialogue continues.

-"The Language, yes, it is similar to Bulgarian" says the Macedonian.

-"Keep in mind the Bulgarians and others borrowed the language from us"

While pondering on whether the egg was born first, and then the chicken, from history we go to personal things. It's better. I promised the Macedonian I would read up on Alexander the Great, meanwhile he told me he is an Opera singer. He told me I do good job reporting from the Balkans except for my catastrophic mistake comparing Macedonians to Bulgarians.

I decided to solemnly admit my mistakes in my reporting, and while browsing the internet I discovered my new friend (I hope I can call him a friend) to be none other, but the best Macedonian Tenor of all times. His name is Blagoj Nacoski, lives and works in Italy where his name has spread with lightning speed in the Opera world. In fact, I discovered that I almost had a quarrel with the future Pavarotti from Macedonia. Macedonia, No 'former yugoslavic republic' as Greece wishes.

Dear Maestro Blagoj, grab a tight hold of your history and heritage, because history is sang and played by anyone, any way they want to.

Ennio Remondino, RAI