15.11.2012 Conference ”Supporting democracy in multiethnic societies: sharing experiences”
Time: November 15, 2012
Place: Hotel Holiday Inn, Skopje
Working languages: Macedonian, English, Albanian
Organisers: Progres Institute, Kalevi Sorsa Foundation and Friedrich-Ebert-Stigtung, Skopje
The confence is sent live. You can watch it here.
10.00 Opening
Ms. Hildur BOLDT Kalevi Sorsa Foundation
Mr. Saso DODOVSKI Progres Institute
Dr. Heinz BONGARTZ Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Skopje
Mr. Branko CRVENKOVSKI, Former President of the Republic of Macedonia
Plenary Session 1: Multiethnic relations in Republic of Macedonia: Policies and practices
10:40 The baseline for ethnic relations and democracy in Macedonia
The panel will address some of the following questions: What is the context of the conference. Which factors improve and which factors deteriorate multiethnic relations in Macedonia? What experiences can be drawn from the elite level cooperation in regards to multiethnic relation? What is the current state of multiethnic relations and what is the outlook for the future?
Ms. Ermira MEHMETI DEVAJA, Chairperson of Inter-Community Relations Committee
Ms. Radmila SHEKERINSKA, Chairperson of the National Council for EU Integration, Republic of Macedonia
Dr. Ljubomir D. FRCKOVSKI, Professor, University St. Cyril and Methodius
11.20 Presentation of the project “Political and intercultural Dialogue – from conflict to common interest”
Video from trainings and workshops
Mr. Toshe ZAFIROV and Ms. Kaija KORHONEN: General presentation of the project and project activities in the action years
Personal stories and testimonials of junior trainers: Mr. Elgafar JUSUFI, Mr. Erol ADEMOV, Mr. Bojan KORDALOV
12.00 Discussion and Q&A session
Moderator: Mr. Nazim RASHIDI, Freelance journalist and analyst, Diversity Media NGO
12.30-13:30 Lunch
Plenary Session 2: The theory and the reality of the OFA and Ahtisaari plan
The panel will address some of the following questions: Is there a learning curve from the development of multiethnic relations in Macedonia and Kosovo? What are the achievements and what are the failures of the OFA and the Ahtisaari Plan? What did OFA and Ahtisaari plan provided and what are the unexpected consequences from them? What are the lessons for other cases?
13:30 The objectives and theory behind the OFA and Ahtisaari plans
Ms. Mirjana MALESKA, Professor, South East European University, Tetovo, Macedonia
Mr. Ilir DEDA, Executive Director, KIPRED. Former Chief of Staff and Senior Political Advisor to HE Atifete Jahjaga, President of Kosovo
13:50 The implementation and reality on the ground
Mr. Dennis BLEASE, Cranfield University Centre for Security Sector Management, Shrivenham
Ms. Elena B. STAVREVSKA, FP-7 Project CORE Researcher, Central European University, Budapest
Dr. Rizvan SULEJMANI, Institute for Political and Intercultural Studies
Shpend KURSANI, Senior Researcher, Kosovar Institute for Policy Research and Development (KIPRED)
14:30 Discussion and Q&A session
Moderator: Dr. Zidas DASKALOVSKI, Center for Research and Policy Making
15.00-15:30 Coffee Break
Plenary Session 3: Democracy in multiethnic democracies: Lessons learned and next steps
This panel will address some of the following questions: What needs to happen for the goal of a society where people from different communities work together for common purpose to be achieved? What can we do to support such development and what are the recommendations?
Mr. Petar ATANASOV, Professor, Institute for Sociological, Political and Juridical Research
Mr. Aleksandar SPASOV, Progres Institute
Mr. Baskim BAKIU, Institute for Good Governance and Policy Research
16:00 Discussion and Q&A session
Moderator: Mr. Ivor MICKOVSKI, Freelance analyst and columnist
16.45-17:00 Summary and closing remarks
Mr. Dane TALESKI, Progres Institute
17:00 Closing