Three Kosovo historians try to reason after history books scandal

The three historians from Kosovo, Frasher Demaj, Yusuf Bajraktari and Fehmi Rexhepi have made an opinion statement, where in detail they tell of the obligations the working group had on the “Joint History Project”.

Historians from Kosovo in this statement have said that they are open for discussion with history scholars and other groups concerned so that remarks and suggestions that could be sent on the occasion of reprinting the edition as complete as possible.

The last few days that are falsely attributed to Recak's Massacre are inconsistent and speculous because in our published sources, the event is called by the real name "Masaker in Recacak." One of the descriptions of the Albanian woman insulting her dignity has awakened unfair indignation. This description is a foreign source to which, meanwhile (after 2008) we have displayed our disagreement, calling it unacceptable and biased. The entire responsibility lies with the editorial edition”, said in response.

Full response:

“ (Communal History Project).

The working group suggested the opinion about the obligations it had under the Project:

1. The project was supported by the Council of Europe in which they participated: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Cyprus and finally Kosovo (after 2008) was invited.

2. The working group's tasks have been to collect stem documents, historical facts, their writing and other materials on Kosovo's history that were to be investigated at the Kosovo State Archives Agency from 1913.

3. The processing group has sent a significant number of sources to publication for important historical events, a large part of which have not been taken into account by the project editorial.

4. Only published documents bearing references from the State Archives Agency of Kosovo are the sources investigated and sent by the group, for which we hold full responsibility.

5. For the texts and resources published by scholars from other states, on specific topics, the group from Kosovo cannot shoulder any responsibility, since it has not been consulted.

6. Despite the inability of influence (since neither of us was a member of the editorials) we have shown our indignation over specific topics that offend the Albanian people.

7. The working group after the edition has reacted and has shown disappointment over the small number of texts and resources published for significant events from the history of Kosovo, as well as the incorrect way of including textbooks and factography.

8. The edition editorial has promised that, in the case of reprinting, the remarks and requirements of Kosovo's processing group will take into account.

9. The remarks of the last few days that are falsely attributed to us to Recak's Massacre are inconsistent and speculous because in our published sources, the event is called by the real name “Masaker in Recak”.

10. One of the descriptions of the Albanian woman insulting her dignity has awakened unfair indignation. This description is a foreign source to which, meanwhile (after 2008) we have displayed our disagreement, calling it unacceptable and biased. All responsibility rests with the editorial revision.

11. We are open for discussion with history scholars and other groups concerned so that the observations and suggestions that may be sent on the occasion of the reprint of the edition are as complete as possible.

Twelve. We express opposition to labels and biased speculation with our names.

GRU PUNTERS
Yusuf Bajraktari
Fehmi Rexhepi
Frasher Demaj”