Great Hamami: Shpend Ahmeti tells Blerim Latifi to hold speeches there

Pristina Mayor Shpend Ahmeti, yesterday, has signed memorandums of co-operation with the Turkish Agency for Co-operation and Co-ordination (TIKA) concerning the implementation of the Great Hamam restoration project in Pristina. This agreement has sparked reactions to the opinion. The philosopher's professor, Blerim Latifi, has reacted.

According to Latifi, the municipality of Pristina is turning it into the museum of Sultan Mehmet II, describing it as Skenderbeu's enemy number 1.

Ahmeti says the name object will have “The big name”, as it does, while showing it will be public space open to events, conferences, lectures and debates. Says Professor Latif will also be able to hold his speeches there.

“Grandham, as its name is, will... be public space open to events, conferences, lectures and debates where even the esteemed professor Latifi will be able to hold his speeches. The municipality does not write or change history. He doesn't even do that. We are tasked with providing space, protecting cultural heritage, protecting the interests of our city. Foreign policies are left to the central level and experts as prof. Latif”, he added.

According to Pristina chairman, this topic is in existence and cannot be part of such debates.

This is my existential subject for us as a Communist. The Great Hamami is an object built in the XV century at the time of the Ottoman Empire and is the object of a protected cultural heritage. In 2014 we saved him from destruction and have been working on the restoration project”, he said.

Therefore, we cannot be part of existing debates about such tensions. Our purpose as a municipality cannot be distorted. And at least history”, he adds.

Latifi has accused the Pristina municipality of never having any money to set up a September of Adem Jashar, nor to make a museum of Serb genocide victims over Albanians during the 20th century.