Skenderbeu monument causes debate in Montenegro

The announcement that a monument dedicated to the Albanian historic hero Skrfrahreu will be built in Montenegro has again opened a debate in the country about its origin.

Albanian political parties in Montenegro on Wednesday accused the pro-Serbian coalition of the Democratic Front that “is claiming” with no basis that Albanian national hero Skenderbeu was Serb.

Their reaction came after the Democratic Front welcomed an initiative by local authorities in the predominantly Albanian town of Ulcinj to build a monument of Skenderbeu, saying it was a great and famous <x0hero <xhero, a Serb born”.

An official from the Albanian Alternative, Nick Delojosa, said this was a <x0-minute myth created by the Serbian Academy of Science and Arts, SANU”.

And in terms of Skshrahree, it is not only Serbs but Greeks and Bulgarians who love it. Not only that, but also Mother Teresa and other prominent Albanian figures,”, Deloise told the Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti.

Considered a heroic leader of resistance to Ottomans in Albania, Gjergj Kastriot, known as “Skenderbeu” (Mr. Alexander) It was recruited that a child in the Ottoman Army, serving the sultans faithfully and practicing Islam.

But in 1443 he defected, rejected Islam, and took the city of Kruja. On this basis, he brought together Albanian princes who only quarreled under his flag and saw an Ottoman invasion after another until his death from malaria in 1468.

Skenderbe's military acts against the Turks prompted him to be admired by the pope and many other rulers in the West. But their admiration was not supported with money, which prevented his ability to give Turks a big blow.

After his death, Albanians split up and the Ottomans soon invaded the country. However, Shakespeare's memory continued to live despite the fact that most Albanians had been converted to Muslims by then, a belief he firmly rejected.

Its two-headed imperial eagle, its emblem, remains a symbol of Albanian nationalism even today.

Several Serbian organisations and parties over the years have cited local historians' research about Skenderbe's origin, claiming he had a Slavic background and that his mother was an ethnic Serb.

However, these findings, strongly criticised by Montenegrin and Albanian historians, also state that Skenderbe's first name was not Gjergj, but Djuradj, which was a Slavic name from that period.

The initiative to build a monument to Skenderbeu in another Albanian town, Tuz, near the capital Podgorica, also triggered a fierce debate in April.

While Albanian parties defended the initiative, saying Skenderbeu is the national hero of all Albanians who will mark his 550th birthday this year, pro-Serbian organisations and some local historians said the monument could be seen as a “smarking of Albanian territory” within Montenegro.

Local authorities in Ulcinj said the Albanian diaspora will finance construction of the monument. They said the preliminary design was completed and that the local government has received permission from the Ministry of Culture for the monument. / BIRN