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Feb 09th
| The politics of religion in Kosovo |
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| Monday, 03 March 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 The Politics of Religion in Kosovo The Serbs, however, are not the only ones who are politicizing religion in Kosovo. A controversial Catholic cathedral is currently being built in Prishtina. This project had from its beginning the extraordinary support of the late Kosovar president, Ibrahim Rugova, whose office was decorated with the picture of him with the Pope. Catholicism, the religion of less than 10% of the Albanian population of Kosovo, is being marketed politically in attempts to show a perceived cultural shift of Muslim Kosovars towards the West, mediated by Catholicism. This process of political marketing of Catholicism was referred to recently by the Bishop of the Catholic Church in Kosovo, dom Dode Gjergji, as “cultural baptism.” This political marketing of Catholicism necessarily requires downplaying the presence of Islam in Kosovo. Following debates among devout Kosovars in internet forums, it is common to notice the dissatisfaction with the leaders of the Kosovar Muslim Community, for not reacting more aggressively in response to this “cultural baptism.” There has been at least one attempt from a political party, the Party of Justice, to capitalize on Muslim dissatisfaction. However, one is left to believe that in the last elections the Party of Justice was unsuccessful in attracting large sections of devout voters. One of the main reactions to the current climate of politics of religion in Kosovo among many Muslims has been the embrace of forms of piety which promote detachment from the cultural, political, and social life of the society, Salafism. Contrary to a common held view, most forms of Salafism are apolitical. However, these are forms of visible piety and they clash with the attempts of the political and cultural establishment of Kosovo to shove visible signs of Muslim piety under the rug, fearing loss of much needed Western support. Kosovar society aims at building a pluralistic, democratic, and secular new state. The promotion of religious identities as political identities creates the conditions for what French supporters of laicite would call the Balkanization of the society. If current conditions persist, institutions of Orthodox Christianity that play the tunes of Serb nationalism will be seen as a Serb Trojan horse in Kosovo. Embracing Catholicism to serve as a European political ID card undermines the values of governance and secularism that are the hallmark of those same European models that Kosovo leaders wish to emulate. It also undermines the social cohesion of a newly created country. Ironically, the current American administration, as well as that of President Clinton, has emphasized the Muslimness of the Kosovars in attempts to show that America’s wars in the Middle East are not directed towards Islam. The current forms of the Kosovo Muslim piety will affect negatively both the society and the interests of the Muslim community in Kosovo. It is therefore in everyone’s interest to see that the government of Kosovo creates a climate of freedom of religious expression while refraining from political manipulation of religions. It is the best bet in seeing a celebration of diversity of spiritual traditions, rather than political fragmentations of the kind that have enflamed Balkan history.
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Alex
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... My dear Albani Tirones, I tend to agree with you on most of your... should I say - analysis. Especially about Milosevic's rule. My personal consolation is that I was against him the day I saw and heard him speaking - way back in 1987.. His politics, driven solely by his sick personal ambition was disastrous for the whole region of former YU. But now, he is dead, so there is no point in talking about him anymore. On the other hand, when you talk about mistakes Serbs and Albanians made against eachother, I could sense big amount of bitternes in your words. Therefore I don't want to engage in polemic which will lead us to nowhere, eventually. Don't get me wrong, but only thing I want to say on the subject is that, being Serb myself, I am in no position to accept the "fact" that Kosmet is "lost" - no matter how hard IC or anybody else try to persuade me that this thing is "over". Back to the subject. I am aware of Vatican grim and sinister role in the both Serbia and Kosmet (maybe even in Albania). Also, I am aware that Albanians and Serbs are both potential victims of that "cultural baptism". Unfortunately, though our struggle could be much more stronger if we could fight Vatican together, recent events drove our two nations far-far apart. Who is to blame for that is a different theme. The fact is that we are divided and therefore destined to led our fights separately. Since Srebs have long history of defying Vatican - I am pretty sure we colud conduct our future struggle successfully. On the contrary, Kosmet's Albanians, who spent last 30 years struggling for independent Kosmet, don't have any experience with the subtle kind of war Vatican is waging against you. Therefore your chances of winning that war for your souls, are far less. At the end I want to agree with you about "paying time". Namely, if any Albanian believes West recognized Kosmet independence just because they love Albanians - he is dead wrong. They don't love anyone - all they do is motivated solely by their own interest. So, regarding recognition of independence, there is price to pay. And you put it perfectly - your price is to become Catholics and - what a charming expression - Eurosexuals. Once again I wish you all the best in your struggle, and hope you wish us the same. |
Albani Tirones
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... Alex, You are damn right. But EU is doing the same with Serbs. Divide at impera. The carrot and stick is being employed even against you. And you should not wonder when Vatican will come and sit even in Beograd as it does in Prishtina and Tirana, and convert you pravoslavs into the right path of Jesus Christ. And in this case the mistake is OURS. we, Albanians and Serbs together threw off the 'Turkish' and later the 'communist yoke' for coming under the Saint Pole's and Saint Ratzinger's Yoke. with your mistreatment of Kosovars, your refusal to grant them autonomy in 1980-s and later your failure to understand how crazy and idiot Slobodan was, you failed in the Catholic trap. You killed us and we killed you. And now we are both fucked up. We shall be made Catholics and Eurosexuals, and you shall become beggars of the Great EU. We lost the Ottoman Empire because of YOu, and you lost Yugoslavia because of US. We shall be ruled by Rugovo and Thaci, and Edi Rama and other mother.... and you by those lackeys of EU. You Serbs will loose your might and we will loose our Islamic Soul. At the end we both are faced with same end. game over. But here I want to blame you. You mismanaged us! You humiliated and colonized us. You lost your chance and destroyed OUR FUTURE. And you are mismanaging Kosova now. Believe me, Kosova is lost, because you have humiliated them in the past. I propose that you treat the Kosovars now on as brothers and victims of the same trap. Only in this way we can be brothers again and save our soul from the Great Satan. The game is over my dear. Now is paying time. |
Alex
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... Dear Albani Tirones, You don't know how near the Truth you are. Mr.Haradinai was released yesterday by the ICTY not because he was innocent, but because EU knew mr.Tachi must have worthwile rival. Both in politics and in business - if you know what I mean. Having in mind their past, Albanian-Albanian clash is in sight. (both in politics and business) And you are right about Croatia Ustashas, also. Accordingly, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that today Croatia introduced Visas to the Kosovo citizens. Since Albanian authorities are not in the position to deal with the Visas issue, conclusion is simple: Croatia is in the position to control who could enter into their state. On the other hand, they are free to roam Kosovo anyway they like. I wish you all the best in your future struggle. |
Albani Tirones
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... Dear Alex Unfortunately, after the retreat of Serbia, Kosova is presently faced with a new threat. That of Christian fundamentalism. Koshtunica have said once that after our retreat from Kosovo, Albanians will start fighting each other. And this article: http://www.thetrumpet.com/inde...5.3269.0.0 that shows how Vatican is trying to convert the Kosovars into Catholics, shows just that. I am afraid that Kosova is falling from rain to hail - we say. The ustashas of Croatia are replacing the Serbs I think. But if the Serbs wanted the land of the Albanians, the Catholics want their soul. |
Alex
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... My dear Albanian friends, Being Serb myself, I was focused strictly on Serb-Albanian strife. Hadn't had a slitest idea what was going on in Albanian society in Kosmet. But now, I can see clearly. You're the subject of, God help you, the war for your souls. Whish you best of luck with the battle you are ought to lose. |
Gent Prokshi
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... Valter, I happen to read your other posts in some radical muslim websites. The Catholic Cathedral in Prishtina is not political. Prishtina had a huge Cathedral which it was destroyed by the serbian forces in 1936. You held a petition to stop it and you couldn't gather 4000 signatures. The Catholic Church is NOT a political move. |
rosebud
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... It is so sad to read how some people deny that albanians were not forced into islam by the ottomans. Soon these people will probably claim that ottomans were actually invited to the ballkans to protect us from the serbs or italians or whoever. I hope my grandchildren will not forget what serbs did to me because albanians seem to have forgotten who left us illiterate for 500 years. |
adam
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... I absoulutly think that kosova can be a midum for religus leaders to find a common ground in kosova. By the mere fact that albanians have shown tollorence beetween each others faith. If there is one thing albanians are not. They are deffenetly not fanatics when it comes to religion. Lets keep in mind that the wars of the past were not of religus belif like the nationallist of serbia would want the world to think but more of ethnic ones. Lets also remember that albanians are the same when it comes to identity and proff of this could be seen in albania its self. For the presedent is of christian faith in a majaroty muslum state. If the world could follow suit in these people I beleve it could start a new trend of peace in the world. |
Allison
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... I support Edi's conclusion that religious history, while important, is not relevant in discussion of the new state of Kosova. As stated in the example cited earlier, Kosova is breaking off from it's opressor just as America did in the 18th century. Kosova, like America, contains a diverse population and should embrace this diversity, not worry about conversion or domination. These last two are the forces that seem to have been pulling the Balkans every which way for the last century. Perhaps it is time for Kosova to learn from these mistakes and worry about more important issues such as how to support itself, namely by gaining the protection and support that membership in the EU would offer. |
John
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... You are trying to make an issue, when there is none. Your attempt only divides us. Shame on you. Some build churches, some build mosques, and we have never have had any problems, but you want to start some. Valter, get used to it: they are many religions. |
Chris H
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... Thank God most people in Kosovo are not like Valter because if they were, there would be no independence today. |
Edi
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... I have to say that I respect what each of you have written on this article. It is a great feeling to see Albanians talking about everyday issues that concern our country. I do have to say that the author that wrote this article seems to want to start something that should not be thought of, let alone written. Kosova has never had problems with religions, lets not concentrate on something that will only set us back, and concentrate on things such as the economy, education and most of all, keeping our beautiful country together. If one is that interested in finding out the history of religions amongs Albanians, than there are plenty of ways to do that. Furthermore, talking about things such as religion and trying to make it a bigger issue that it needs to be will only create problems and set us back from becoming the great country that everyone believes we can be. Whether there is a Cathedral being built in Prishtine or a Mosque should not matter very much, there are 3 or 4 Mosques in Prishtine, one church and they are building a Cathedral where Xhevdet Doda is, but Xhevdet Doda has a brand new building that they will move into, with a lot more resources in it. The point I am trying to make is we should not argue over things like that because the people of Kosova have been doing great so far, lets not try and be more catholic that the Pope, or more Muslim than the Middle East. |
Bekim
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... In Kosova there have been many religions for a very long time and never has been such an issue some media and Serbia is making them to be. but in Kosova we say if you call the devils name for one too many times he might just show up. |
niki
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... For Albanian muslims in Kosova the religion is not somethin one cares about but we respect all the faiths |
Punetori
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... This issue seems to me to be a tempest in the pot. Absolute majority of Albanians don't care about religion whether that is Orthodoxy, Catholicism or Islam. Unfortunately many of the poor Kosovars need the services that these groups offer and they are forced to take the Koran or the Bible along with it. The situation is similar with our brothers from the other mother in Serbia where Church attendance is one of the lowest in Europe (yet they still brazen enough to claim Kosova as their spiritual land - go figure!). Truth be told, neither Christianity nor Islam are compatible with democracy. What we see among European societies (and even groups withing same societies) is a strong correlation between lack or religiosity and strong economic, social and democratic development. |
Chris Blaku
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... Most of what I wrote didn't transfer over, so only half of it was read. The "cult of Mother Teresa," as you call it, is certainly understandable. She is the most high profile Albanian, and has projected an image of Albanians as kind, charitable and understanding in light of our economic plight. Her actions were for the betterment of humanity as a whole, but numerous influential officials, from Bill Clinton to the late Pope John Paul II have suggested that Mother Teresa's heritage influenced their support of the Albanian cause. As for anti-Turkish hate, although the Ottomans did not officially sanction forced-conversions, they did occur. The administrative government of the Ottomans left overwhelming power to regional officials, and regional officials dealt with constant Albanian rebellion in varying ways. There are historical reports of forced conversions, although this was never officially a policy of the Porte. It is difficult to draw a modern-day parallel, as few governments function in the unique way that the Ottomans did. For much of the five centuries of rule in the Balkans, the Ottoman invaders were an unwelcome group in the eyes of the Albanians. Although their initial entry may have saved a majority of Northern and Southern Albanians from eventual Serb and Greek assimilation, their lengthened stay was occupational, and in turn, oppressive. Their system of government, social practices and education were far ahead of the Balkan people they conquered, but unfortunately, their benefits are hardly considered. I disagree with textbooks misrepresenting historical facts to achieve a mass disposition towards another nations, and such strong government propagandist practice should not occur in a free, democratic society. Regardless of the benefits of Ottoman rule, the Turks were an occupying force, and eventually, were expelled by Albanian forces who were immediately attacked by Greek, Serb, Montenegrin and Bulgarian forces in a premeditated effort to eradicate their nation. It is difficult to discuss this topic without diverging on historical tangents but I do reiterate that I don't believe the melodramatic arguments made of an impending Catholic crisis in the nation. It is no business of the state to interfere with the affairs of different religious groups and their respective goals of peaceful conversion. There are countless Evangelical groups in Kosova, and an alleged number of Arab groups attempting to transfer their form of belief onto the people. Albanians have a long history, both Muslim, Catholic and Orthodox, of resisting foreign interference in their faith, and will continue to do so. We do, however, have more pressing affairs, the most important of which is education. It is imperative that, despite our economic condition, our youth be educated in a manner that is consistent with Western standards. Our economy requires immediate attention, as our natural resources and educated youth provide fertile ground for foreign and domestic interests to thrive. And most importantly, our borders are under constant threat by Serbian and Greek expansionists who, not unlike their forefathers a century ago, still seek to divide Albanian land and rid the Balkans of our presence. |
Valter
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... dear chris, while I tend to agree with most of what you wrote, the tendency of the catholic church in Kosova for baptising its culture, and the tension that its statements have created into the larger religious and non religious kosovar community are to be taken seriously. as you rightly state the new state of Kosova claims to be laic. Nevertheless one cannot understand the cult of Mother Theresa that the Albanian and Kosovar state are sponsoring in those late years, when everyone knows that Mother Theresa did nothing for Kosova or Albania. Secondly the myths that Albanian's first religion was catholicism, which are being taught even in the schools of Kosova is also disturbing. Morever a friend of mine was showing to me how anti-turkish hate is taught in Kosova's school textbooks. I believe that future Kosovan state must refrain from allowing the Catholic Church to patronize its image - as it did with the late Ibrahim Rugova. The future state must also me carefull to not discriminate neither the Serbs, not the Turks or even its Muslims at large, because of the overhelming zeal of the Kosovar leadership to show itself more Catholic than the Pope. While the state of Kosova has show itself able to discriminate the Muslim Community for getting permissions for building mosques in Prishtina, its absurd behaviour of destroying a public laic school for building a Catholic Cathedral is very, very scaring for those future Kosovar citizens who want to the remain Jewish, Atheist, Islamic or Orthodox. What kind of impression can they have when one state favours one religion and discriminates the others? |
Chris Blaku
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... the latter attempting to convert and assimilate. Furthermore, the Ottoman invasion may very well have been instrumental in saving the Albanian identity and forced conversions to Islam were sporadic, not Porte policy as most people believe. However, historical debates have nothing to do with the author's arguments. Additionally, you cannot blame a religious institution for doing what it must to sustain itself. Although I subscribe to no religion, religious institutions rely on conversions and expansion to sustain themselves. The fundamental basis for the expansion of Christianity and Islam is the idea of expansion. I do not dispute your accounts of the intention of the Catholic Church to convert Muslims into Catholics, that is the mission of all religious institutions, but I do dispute your allegation that the Kosovar Government is aparty to this. The Catholic Church, along with all other Churches, Synagogues and Mosques, will take state assistance, if made readily available. You cannot dismiss an institution for lobbying for state resources, as the state has innumerous resources at its disposal, in order to expand their services. For this reason, the founding fathers of the United States incorporated a separation of Church and State, and it is important to note that the Government of Kosova, in its declaration, announced that it is a secular state. As for your allegations of Pjeter Bogdani's anti-semitism, I do not know enough about that specifically to comment. However, Thomas Jefferson owned numerous slaves and was alleged to have had over a dozen children with slave women, yet his place in American history is unquestioned. Historically, in Kosova, Orthodoxy was a majority, and contrary to popular belief in Albanian circles, most Albanians in Kosova, aside from the Dukagjin region, were Orthodox Christians, feverishly under the threat of assimilation by the Serbian Orthodox church, which prior to the Ottoman invasion, observed the centuries-old rules of Stefan Dushan. Among those rules, Catholicism was considered heresy, punishable by death, and any who aided Catholics or the Catholic Church were punishable by death. I don't suggest this is a non-issue, I merely pointed out that there are drastically more pressing issues at hand, such as the aforementioned Serb Church-run State threatened military action against Kosova. As Albanians, our interests lie in defending our borders from further destruction, empowering one another through tolerance and advancing democracy and equal rights through our governments. |
Valter
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... Chris You must be a bit serious when you defend the role of the Catholic Church in Kosova, and accuse only the Serbian Church as trying to build a religious state. As a matter of fact the top catholic bishops of Kosova, Imzot Mark Sopi, Dr. Don Lush Gjergji, Dr. Don Shan Zefi in May 2005 during their speeches given at the American Congress expressed their willingness and zeal for converting Muslims into Catholics and have continuously insulted Albanian Muslims as being converted in Islam by terror. While as a matter of fact it was Orthodox and Catholic Christianity which were spread by terror in Kosova and Albania, during and before the times of the Crusades. The aggressively of the Catholic Church for converting Muslims into Catholics was noticed even in the latest paper that the Catholic Archbishop of Kosova, Dode Gjergji presented at the EU Demochristian parties meeting in Brussels, where Dode Gjergji refuses to call Kosovar Muslims as Muslims, but calls them Islamized Catholics, labels Catholicism as their ancient religion and pretends that Muslims Kosovars are converting back to their ancient religion. Dode Gjergji's religious blackmail against Kosovar Muslim leadership reached its climax last year when the Ahtisari plan was to be submitted to the Kosovo government. But 1 day before this submission the Catholic Church blackmailed the Kosovar government to give it permission to destroy the Xhevdet Doda gymnasium - which the Jewish Community had reconstructed in Prishtina - and in its place to build a Catholic Cathedral! You cannot also deny that a high number of Kosovar intellectuals have protested against this Catholic invasion and blackmail. If you do not remember, I remind you to read the excellent protest book of Professor Muhamet Pirraku "No to the Cathedral in the name of imagined Albaniandom' where he denounces the attempts of the Catholic Church which wants to build a religious state in Kosova and show to the world that Kosova is a Catholic state. In his speech in the American Senate Don Lush Gjergj claimed that the Kosovars are pro-European, pro-Christian, pro-American, because, according to him they are all Christians. While Imzot Mark Sopi has called for helping the process of conversion of Albanians into Christians. While Corriere Della Sera in Italy in the article 'In occasione della presenza del Presidente Rugova a Terni per ritirare il premio San Valentino' of 13 febbraio 2003 claimed that Rugova was a Catholic convert and showed his plans for Catholicising Kosova. While Dom Shan Zefi proclaimed in his mass which was – transmitted at Express Magazine in Kosova, few weeks before that Kosova got its independence because of the Catholics. On the other hand Dom Lush Gjergji called in Illyria Newspaper published in the states, for spiritual unity in Kosova which means forced Catholicization of Muslims into Christians. The intrigues of Vatican on Catholicising Kosova today are visible everywhere. The Catholic Cathedral which is being build in the heart of Prishtina in place of Xhevdet Doda gymnasium – reconstructed with the money of the Jewish Community, the Mother Theresa main square of Prishtina, Skanderbeg's statue in central Prishtina, the numerous Jezuit schools that are being built throughout Kosova show very clearly that the Serbian fundamentalism is being replaced by the Catholic fundamentalism in Kosova. The irony of the Catholic fundamentalism in Kosova is that through its Jesuits they are convincing many top Kosovar politicians that people like Pjeter Bogdani are the main heroes that Kosovar society must revere. While every smart Albanian knows that Pjeter Bogdani that the catholic Church is sponsoring as its main saint, for whom Ibrahim Rugova even defended his PhD, was a bloody anti-Semite criminal who together with general Piccolimi burned and massacred the Jews of Shkup in the 17th century. The World must wake up and understand the new wave of fundamentalism that Kosova is facing presently. |
Chris Blaku
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... The author inaccurately describes an atmosphere of religious unrest in Kosova. Albanians of all religious beliefs, in Kosova and elsewhere, exist in near absolute tolerance with one another. The suggestion that Kosova has intentionally marketed its Catholic minority in a bid to retain Western support is overly simplistic and hard to believe. Western Governments, a sizeable portion of whom are not home to Catholic majorities, are unlikely to fall victim to a plan so elementary, and the Albanian authorities in Kosova are equally unlikely to believe they would. Western support for Kosova, Albania and the oppressed Albanian citzenry in neighboring nations, is an accumulation of the injustices faced by repressive nationalist nations. Western nations harbor few delusions on the identity of the Albanian people, an identity which, contrary to the author's beliefs, already exists. Rather than heed constant calls to "shape a Kosovar identity," the Albanians of Kosova should embrace their culture as it exists and has existed for countless centuries. The issue of forced Islamic conversion at the hands of Ottoman oppressors should be saved for historical debates, rather than be used to advance any social stance amongst the people. The Albanians of Kosova are not ashamed of their faiths, Catholic or Muslim, and should not be asked to explain their religion, as if there is something wrong with it. Furthermore, religious affiliation should have little bearing on ethnic heritage and homogenous presence in a region, as the author believes that the Kosovar Government is under the impression that promoting Islamism versus Catholicism would have Europe shun its most ancient inhabitants. Promotion of religion is not the business of democratic Governments, and this is hardly what the Kosovar Government intends. Rather, the author has used minute details to create an image of favoritism that is inaccurate. As a democratic Government, the business of Governments with regard to religion is to promote equal tolerance, to act against discrimination and to extend every non-policy based courtesy to every faith represented in Kosova's diverse population. The author would serve his journalistic duties more effectively to demonstrate the virtual Church-run Government that exists in Belgrade. The Government in Belgrade has declared itself an enemy of the new state of Kosova, and Kosova's Serbian inhabitants, long predicting ethnic cleansing against them, have proceeded to provoke the Albanian majority and NATO forces into conflict at the behest of Serbian state and church authorities. Additionally, the idea that Catholicism would serve as an ID card into the European club is ridiculous. Most European countries, although Christian, are only sizably Catholic, and a promotion of one form of Christianity is unlikely to win support in real diplomatic climates. Current and previous American administrations have not emphasized the Muslimness of Kosovar Albanians, and the aspect of religion has hardly been brought up in debates outside of Serbian political circles and pro-Serbian media outlets, who are quick to paint the conflict as a religious one. |
Naim
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... Well Val it’s nice to see the writer of this articles views being manifested before our very eyes on this platform with your ignorant, unfair, and absolutely untrue history lesson of Islam in the Albanian lands. I believe it was Aristotle who said that Old men speak about the past, because they have no future. Kosova on the other hand has a future. And if we do speak about our past, let us be honest about our history. "Forced conversions" are not why Albanians, who have a long (500 year) Islamic history, that has rooted deeply in it many Islamic traditions still practiced today, weather they know it or not. I agree that Albanians should learn about the Crusader Gjergj Kastrioti, who fought along side Vladislav Dracula a.k.a. Vlad the Impaler, killing Muslim Albanians who wouldn't convert. I must say after reading what you have typed I feel that when you say “Kosovars are predominately Muslim today, they do not share a Muslim history as people in the Middle East do. Kosovars are ancient true Europeans with a broad and deep European history who were forced to convert religions during crude Ottoman rule. That is why today we see a sense of urgency in Kosovars to learn about their rich history, about Gjergj Kastrioti, Constantin, Alexander the Great, and so on." , that you mean that they should look to a more "European" religion wink, wink nudge nudge. But hey that’s just me. |
Valter
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... I think that Val's comments that Muslim Kosovars have no history of their own and they were forced to convert to Islam are offensive. This is the new offensive that the author indicates that kosova is suffering at present. After the Servian intolerance, the Catholic intolerance and fanaticism that Dode Gjergji calls the rebaptisation of Kosova's culture are what threatens the future harmony of the new state. I hope that the international community will not allow the Serbian Church to be replaced by the Catholic Church in Kosova. |
val
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... First I would like to say, the government has the obligation to respect the rights of all people no matter of religion, sex, sexual orientation, ethnicity and age, ect. Secondly, I would also like to add that although Kosovars are predominately muslim today, they do not share a muslim history as people in the middle east do. Kosovars are ancient true Europeans with a broad and deep european history who were forced to convert religions during crude Ottoman rule. That is why today we see a sense of urgency in Kosovars to learn about their rich history, about Gjergj Kastrioti, Constantin, Alexander the Great, and so on. I am positive that with the independence of Kosovo the cultural freedom and the reintroduction of our ancient society will have a great cultural effect in searching for a common identity of Kosovo Albanians. |
Flora
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... As any post-conflict society, Kosovars were not immune to evangelical Christians or Wahhabist missionaries. They come to places like Kosovo because they can fill the vacum of state failure to provide security, employment and prosperity. These are the most imminent issues which we need to adress. If we can successfully find solution to these problems, it is less relevant the building of another Church or Mosque or what Serbia has to say about a 700 hundred year old- lost battle. Kosovars need to establish their idenity and that identity will depend much on the political, cultural and economic relations with the world. The more we are open to the world and cultural differences without feeling threatened of loosing our central identity the better we will be off. Our sense of political maturity and future building doesn't have to be either with the "west or the rest". Rather, we have to make sure that we can learn to evaluate values, political and economic systems which will advance our country and contribute to the peace and security in the region. No head of religious institutions in Kosovo can explain "Kosovar cultural baptism " through their spiritual or religious endavors. It is the failure of the former state to establish an inclusive and democratic state, and attempts to move the new born Kosova to a better and prosperous future that perhaps explain better the 'cultural baptism" of Kosovar society. |
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