More Co-operation Between Kosovo and Albania

University professor and historian Jahja Drancholl, on the historic day of the Albanian people, for the newspaper, November 28th. “Voice” has confessed to the most important dates that have marked the history of the Albanian people.

Drancholl is pleased with the achievements that Albanian people have made from 1912 onward, but it says there is still work to be done, and there are still gaps that must be removed between Albania, Kosovo and the remaining land outside Albania's borders with the declaration of independence in 1912. According to him, Albanian - speaking countries must maintain their language, religious tolerance, and have more cooperation among themselves.

He considers Albania not to be “embracing” enough Kosovo and other countries with Albanians, thus working only for Albania within political borders. He has welcomed the gathering of two governments of the two countries, hoping that it will not be a symbolic meeting but an economic and cultural co-operation.

Voice: 28 November of this year marks Albania's 105th anniversary of independence. What is the significance of this date for Albanians everywhere?

Droncholl: This is the most important date of history. Taking a historical vertical line through which our people have passed as a negligible result, though the political state has remained disabled, has made it possible for the Albanian people after 1912 to survive on the very foundations of this narrow political formation that was created on November 28th of 1912.

Voice: What has been the political status of Albanians over the past 105 years?

Droncholl: 105 years we said a large part of the Albanian people had to survive because they were unjustly divided at the London Conference in 1912-13 and the rest at the Paris conference even in 1945. As it were, half the most of the population has remained outside political Albania, and this Albania has, as it were, constantly made efforts to care and follow the requirements for affirmation of the Albanian people outside political Albania. We know that the majority of Albanians after 1912 1918, respectively, was citing these very important dates have remained outside political Albania, but still have been under the umbrella of either a state or that of the Yugoslav kingdom 1918-1921, whether the state of monist yoga during 1945-99. Among the two non-guussives has come true the recent dream of the Albanian people, but unfortunately that dream didn't last long, but it was a new formation that was realised on the foundations of Nazi fascism d.m. in the time of states like Germany and Italy. We have to evaluate objectively even though our states have been united again that still the liberation war that has been fought has been a straight way for the Albanian people to have under the anti-fascist forces this very effort of the Albanian people, even though monist, even Albanians in the former Yoguslavi have as it were, the turbulent path to the future that came in 1999. We also have confusion over the issue of Chemmeria which has been unjustly, right now 105 years persecuted by the ancestors. They have no political or cultural treatment. In some ways, the Albanian people have been consolidated in Macedonia. It has even achieved that the chief speaker is Albanian, and Albanian is advancing more and more every day. We as a people should be pleased with these achievements that were made in 1912. If this year were not for these achievements, they would not have come true.

Voice: How do you see the situation of Albanians today in Albania, Kosovo and throughout the Balkans?

Droncholl: Currently, Albanians being breakaway and divided are never finding a common language. Although the standard language was sealed in 1972, we have linguistic problems. Religious matters are also distressing. Orthodox Albania there in the south, Catholic in the north, in Kosovo the overwhelming Muslim part and these in some way are the worries which are somehow preventing people from walking properly. We know that at the time of the national rebirth to reach this 1912 date there was the excise of Pasko Vasa escaping these confusions that bring religion. This excise should work since the Albanian people are under European monitoring. Religious tolerance would have been the best solution for Europe. This is the main point for me to deal with by the Albanian people.

Voice: How hard has Albania worked and how much is it working for other Albanian lands (for Albanian rights) that remain out of borders at the time that independence was declared?

Droncholl: Albania, taking into account the tradition even there 105-year-old very powerful monism has led to develop a huge gap between liberal Yugoslav communism developing in Kosovo in other Albanian parts of former Joguslavia, and a harsh communism... now the confrontation of these two systems a tradition that has lasted more than 50 years is still expressed, and Albanians of Albania somewhat do not view Kosovo as part of Albania, even Skenderbeun wondering how to have the monument in Pristina. They only see Skenderbeun in Albania. Anything that is good that identifies our people even 1912 want to be seen within the borders of political Albania. This is a concern that has to be overcome in economic, cultural, scientific terms... we still have confusion. These are problems that need to start from above. We saw a huge manifestation on the eve of November 28th, but I hope it's not symbolic but practical further.

Voice: What is the future of Albanians, which path should they pursue?

Droncholl: Albanians besides the Balkans are also in the diaspora, and in Italy there are 200 thousand Arabs who breathe like us. This is a force we can use in the future to bring the Albanian people right into European civilisation where we have the country behind us in antiquity and throughout history. These Albanians living in the world are ambassadors of the Albanian issue and will somehow bring the future along with the means they bring to develop the economy. I see this people having a very bright future, unlike other people who are biologically dying. Our people are still vital and we have a youth that is the most powerful in the Balkans and this youth will produce results.