Controversy sparks over Albania’s upcoming Eurovision entry

TIRANA, March.12 – the song that won this year’s National Music festival was Frederik Ndoci’s “The stone ballad”. An automatic entry for the European Song Festival, Ndoci’s song had to have a video clip. The latter was realized in Macedonia, because the National television (TVSH) had an agreement contract with a Macedonian company which gave the best offer. The story of this song does not finish here though. The Macedonian Ministry of Culture has expressed its concern that the cultural and monumental values of Macedonia are going to be presented as Albanian in the prestigious European event. Reactions from Macedonia have included government officials as well as media. The latter have expressed their surprise because Albania does not lack natural and historical wealth to display in a video. The delegation of TVSH who is gong to present the video material in Helsinki argues that in a time when borders are evaporating ad integration is the priority the polarization of this issue seems absurd. Ndoci himself has made a plea to protect the integration values of art. The European Song festival will be held in Helsinki on May 12.