Project on Modern History of Kosovo

Historians in Kosovo are making efforts to create a several-story Kurpu for Kosovo's new history. They think this publication will also help affirm Kosovo's citizenship. Ilir Ikonomi of the Voice of America was at the Library of Congress in Washington, where he interviewed two of the project participants.

Researcher Lum-Hadri Devne, who lives in New York and Pristina University professor of history Ibrahim Gashi, came to the Library of Congress to consult possible sources of literature for the new three-year project.

This is the largest project by the Institute of History in Pristina and has received the government's financial support. It aims to sum up Kosovo's history in four volumes. The painting will be antiquity, but the emphasis will be placed on the period after 1913 to the proclamation of independence.

Dr. Ibrahim Gashi: In fact, the education ministry, but and all institutions, appreciated this project and also gave support, since Kosovo, as an independent state, probably should have a written story as all states have, which sums up key developments that have occurred. This edition will also be translated into English.

Voice of America: What situation are historical studies in Kosovo?

Dr. Ibrahim Gashi: They're generally in poor shape for lack of funding for scientific research. It's probably one of the first projects that seriously supports history researchers and others to collect information about this edition and do something properly. We hope to write a more objective story based on the most advanced methodology, that is, a liberal and uninflicted spirit, either by politics and developments in the past or by current politics. So, it's about a study, to be physical scientific, based solely on first-hand sources, that may be the source of archive, research into libraries such as the case of the Library of Congress, to sum up all those primary resources that have so far been little or no use in the writings that have been done in the history of Kosovo and the region.

The Hadri-Devine River, daughter of the renowned history professor Ali Hadri, has taken over to take care of the Albanian-American lobby part in the new project. Asked why this lobby would be part of the project, she said:

Hadri-Devine River: I am engaged by the Institute of History as a 20th century scientific researcher with special focus at the end of the 20th century and the role of the Albanian-American lobby, but also the role of the Atlantic Battalion in the liberation war for Kosovo. We're also doing research on the congressional, Library of Congress and also the National Archive in Maryland. The contribution and role of the Albanian-American diaspora and lobby is undeniable and is so loud that not these four volumes but hundreds are not enough. However, it has to be written about this lobby, because their effect on American administration policymaking has been enormous from the beginning, when with the help of Senator Bob Dole, Old President Bush put red lines, then on the bombing by President Bill Clinton to the US's co-ordinated declaration of independence.

Voice of America: How is today the state of lobby in favour of Kosovo in the US?

Hadri-Devine River: I was hoping you wouldn't ask me that. Because today only the shadow of what has been left. Maybe because now we don't have such hot themes even because I think we're not a fully consolidated state.

Voice of America: Perhaps because of the thought that Kosovo is already an independent state and there is no need for lobby?

Hadri-Devine River: Lobbying is another kind of influence that our ambassadors can do and can be very effective. But the Albanian-American National Council is gone. He was a very effective group. I see former Congressman DioGuard is making an effort to stay locked up. I don't know anybody else doing anything. To be honest, at least as I read in our community media.

Voice of America: Professor Gashi, it must be difficult to create studies to be acceptable in foreign academic circles, due to nationalist tones usually used by researchers in the Balkans. Do you see this as a problem?

Dr. Ibrahim Gashi: It's not easy, but we thought this edition would be a little bit different because it would be given a lot of importance to methodology and stem conduct that will be used. So not every resource will serve to write this story. Second, we've thought that the historians that will be a large number, over 50, from all Albanian trains, will do their job until the scientific recession phase comes. This recession is meant to be made by historians that do not necessarily come from the Albanian world. Since the edition will be translated into English, it is thought that for each field of scientific recession, one of the world's leading European or global historians in that field of study is to make it possible. Fortunately, we have many publications made by foreign scholars, which remain of historical criticism and are based on resources. So we've been thinking about using these famous historians. Because the idea is to do something reliable for the audience of international readers. Because ultimately it is thought that this publication will also help affirm Kosovo's citizenship.