On the 5th anniversary of Arba Xhaferi's extinction

(January 24, 1948, August 15, 2012)

From Abdulla Mehmet

Arben Xhaferi was born on 24 January 1948 in Tetovo. elementary school and high school were conducted in their home country, and their study of the philosophy branch was conducted at the University of Belgrade.

Since his student was sentenced to prison for his political beliefs, organization, and participation in the 1968 Tetovo demonstrations, for which he was forced to seek safer housing and work in Pristina.

From 1975 to 1990, he worked at Pristina Radio Television as the responsible editor of the culture programme. During this period he worked as an analyst at the weekly, the Koha” of Veton Surroi and , Frorum” of Adem Demacci, as well as some other Albanian and foreign media.

In 1993, Arben Xhaferi returned to his homeland to continue his intellectual and political activity. In 1994 he was elected president of the Party for Democratic Prospers of Albanians (PPDSH).

During the 2001 armed conflict, Arben Xhaferi made a special contribution, especially to the signing of the Prizren Agreement and reaching the Ohrid Agreement. Xhaferi's constructive approach at the time was supported by the international factor, legitimising the Albanian war and thereby launching talks ending with the Ohrid Agreement on changing the monocentric concept of the state.

Following the Albanian Democratic Party's successful direction for nearly a decade, in the September 15th 2002 parliamentary elections Xhaferi went into opposition, but the post of party chairman (PDSH) held it until 2007.

He was singled out as a wise and intellectual politician of national proportions, who left behind a considerable number of publicistic writings, political analysis and vision, interviews, articles, and other studies that stand out for the depth of thought and intellectual approach.

Among other things, Arbe Xhaferi made a valuable contribution to Tetovo University and its affirmation, becoming an integral part of the university's directors, signing the act for the start of his work on December 17, 1994, as well as participation in the delegations of political party representatives, nonpolitical associations and university leaders in the United States, in February 1995 and June 1996, with what broad support was provided by the US, the UN and other relevant international institutions.

Arbe Xhaferi has published two works, “DPA not on paper”, and “Democracy challenges in the Multiethnic States”.

Arben Xhaferi passed away in Tetovo on 15 August 2012.

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Descriptions of Arben Xhaferi's commitment to the support and affirmation of Tetovo University:

1. Delegation of Albanian representatives to New York, June 1996: Arbej Xhaferi (PPDSH), Ilyaz Halimi (PDP), Micere Russia (LGSH), Shirley Cloguerdi (LQSHA) and other US Albanian activists.
   2. UT Rector Leader Prof. Dr. Agni dika, Arben Xhaferi (PPDSH) and Faik Lita, an Albanian activist in the US.
   3. Arben Xhaferi and Arben Russia (first row), Prof. Dr. Fadil Suleiman and Prof. Dr. Agni dika (second row) and other participants, on the occasion of signing the act for beginning UT's work on 15 December 1994, in Tetovo.
   4. Arba Xhaferi's goal at the time he was leader of The DPA.