In October of 2007 in Macedonia, I met two guys I knew of, but had never met, Sigurjon Einarsson, an Icelander and filmmaker, and Morten Harket, a Norwegian and musician. They had come to Macedonia, to Lake Ohrid to be more precise, so Morten could speak at a conference the Government of Macedonia was hosting, along with UNESCO, on civilizational and religious dialogue.

Over the course of a weekend at the lake, the two men got to know more about Macedonia and the issue which their southern neighbor, Greece, has over their chosen name. After they left, we stayed in touch and in May of 2008, I ventured to Oslo for the release party of Morten's second solo album, Letter from Egypt. We talked some more about Macedonia and Sigurjon thought it would be a splendid idea to make a movie about the whole issue, to “put a spotlight on the issue,” as he simply states.

Fast forward to the end of 2009 and the film - A Name is a Name - is now complete and making its way into the world. Although I am the producer of the film, it could not have been done without the dedicated work of many talented and professional people in Macedonia and abroad. Kudos to them and highest respect.

 

Film Information
Official Website: www.anameisaname.com
Copyright Holder: www.withmacedonia.org
Groups: Facebook Group

Mother Theresa, a daughter of Skopje, wrote in 1994 “... human life is a gift of immeasurable worth, and that it deserves, always and everywhere, to be treated with the utmost dignity and respect.”

Almost all of the world's ills come when others do not respect human life - whether it is the deliberate destruction of human life through murder on the extreme side, or the simple calling of cruel names and hateful words that one child - or adult for that matter - might hurl at another on the other. Both are wrong and both carry consequences.

In Southeastern Europe today there are a people who call themselves Macedonians and who live in a country called the Republic of Macedonia. Unfortunately for them, they are being denied one of mankind's greatest needs - that of dignity and respect. While Greece seeks to deny them their dignity and respect - often by calling them cruel names and using hateful words - Greece also demands that the world call them something other than what they call themselves.

In a word, this is wrong.

The Hellenic Republic, Greece, objects to the Republic of Macedonia calling itself, well, the Republic of Macedonia. Greece also denies that the people of Macedonia are Macedonians and their language is Macedonian. Because of this denial of dignity and respect, Macedonia was admitted into the United Nations as a member in 1993 only after it agreed to a temporary and provisional reference. Greece then placed an economic embargo on the land-locked country in 1994 in an effort to get Macedonia to change its name. While Macedonia made two concessions - changing its flag and a provision in its constitution to assuage Greek concerns - Greece has never made any concessions and insists on Macedonia agreeing to a new name and demands that the countries of the world agree to this as well.

In April of 2008 Macedonia was denied membership in NATO at the Bucharest Summit despite having met all necessary conditions for joining NATO, something which all NATO members agreed to. Greece, however, placed one more condition on Macedonia to enable it to join - that of a change in its name. Greece is now threatening to block Macedonia's membership in the EU over the same issues.

The bottom line is that Greece - a NATO and EU member which has benefited greatly from its membership in both organizations - is now holding captive the two million people of Macedonia, preventing the country and its people from progressing through membership in these two organizations. At issue here are questions - do a people have a right to self-identity? Should they be able to ask from the world to call them and respect their dignity by the name they have chosen for themselves? A Name is a Name aims to put a spotlight on this issue and increase the awareness of Macedonia - a nation held hostage because of a name.

A Name is a Name is the title of a road film currently being created about these issues. Sigurjon Einarsson, Director, Jason Miko, Producer, 3x of Macedonia, production house. Musical tracks in the film to be provided by Macedonian and internationally known rock and pop stars. Companion book and CD to go with the film.