Stefanovski: Greece Cannot Veto an Accession We Have Not Applied for
Theater network NETA neither have asked nor intends to seek to become a member of the Union of European Theatres. Hence, Greece could not have vetoed the admission because such thing does not exist, argues Blagoj Stefanovski, founder of the New European Theatre Association (NETA), reads daily Dnevnik.
He is amazed that yesterday the Greek media published information that theater network NETA, headquartered in Bitola, was vetoed its accession to the Union of European Theatres at the General Assembly which was held from November 13 to November 16 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
“Our network includes 20 members - theaters and we have no need for networking in larger Union because it would be only additional cost for fees. I really do not understand where that information comes from. We have worked with Greek theaters on several occasions and never had problems. Last year the Macedonian language echoed in the center of Thessaloniki, when we performed the play "The Chairs", and also had a co-production with a Greek theater. NETA's headquarters is in Ljubljana”, explains Stefanovski.
We have never had problems
"Ta Nea" and many other portals from Greece cited the same information that when there was a discussion of proposals for new partnerships and members during the General Assembly, network NETA, chaired by the former Minister of Culture Stefanovski came out.
"The artistic director of the National Theatre of Northern Greece, Yannis Vuros immediately reacted and after the remarks about commitment to openness and cooperation he noted that cooperation with theater from Skopje was unacceptable as Skopje steals the name of Macedonia, which has not been recognized neither by the United Nations nor Greece ", reported the Greek media.
Macedonian members to the network NETA, which organizes festivals and theater premieres in Europe are the Small Drama Theatre (whose founder is Stefanovski), National Theatre "Vojdan Cernodrinski" from Prilep and the festival "Risto Shishkov" from Strumica. Small Drama Theatre last year created a co-production with Theatre "Andreas Vucinas" of Thessaloniki and the play "King Res" by Euripides was played in Bitola and Thessaloniki.
“We cooperate with theaters from Athens and Thessaloniki and we have never had problems so I don’t understand these media provocations”, wonders Stefanovski.
EUR 720,000 grant from EU
He informed that NETA recently received a grant from the European Union, from the "Creative Europe", worth EUR 720,000, to be used for festivals and premiers for the next three years. Stefanovski, who is pleased with the support, announces that they have already been working on a project to expand the mission of the Small Drama Theatre, in New York.
“We have activated some acquaintances and fight for premises near the MC gallery where there are lots of theaters of the so called Broadway scene. Our member Alexander Lozanovski is in New York due to the awarded scholarship for further education. We still need to arrange the details. I'm sorry that only in Macedonia is the most difficult to get own premises, but we do not give up the fight. I must emphasize that we have great cooperation with the Cultural Centre in Bitola”, points out Stefanovski.
Last premiere of the Small Drama Theatre is "Man's a Man" directed by Martin Kocovski, which is a regional co-production with several countries. Small Drama Theatre is one of the most awarded in the country.
None of NETA's members attended the assembly session
“NETA is based in Ljubljana, not in Bitola. Our network counts 67 members from 18 European countries and has just received support from the European Agency EACEA from Brussels. We have been acting independently for ten years and we have a membership so there is no need to become part of other European networks, which is logical. There is a tendency to establish links with networks in Europe, but it has nothing to do with the Union of European Theatres and their General Assembly in Tel Aviv. Certainly, one of our major trends is a modern, international, cultural connection and we absolutely distance ourselves from any political associations or events and do not want to have anything to do with it. NETA had set art and culture over politics”, categorically says NETA Secretary General Damir Kos-Domitrovic from Ljubljana.
He claimed that no official from NETA attended the event in Tel Aviv. Domitrovich assume that maybe some of the members of the Union have proposed cooperation project with NETA, because there has been such initiative by eminent members of the union. However, as Domitrovic says, he has not been informed about or about any possible reaction by a Greek representative.
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