Mehmet Kraja: As the Academy of Sciences, we were never asked about dialogue.

Radio Kosova: Mr. Kraja, from the time you're chairman of the Kosovo Academy of Sciences and Arts, what's changed and if you made a balance on her work within this period, what would you isolate?

Mehmet Kraja: Institutions such as the academy don't change quickly, and in their nature it is that movements become slower and more mature. In that sense, I think the academy has to change so quickly and I don't think it's going to change. However, what I've been trying to do during this period, as chairman, is for the academy to intensify the work program and open the academy to a larger audience.

Radio Kosova: There is stigmatization from various circles, whether intellectual or other social strata, including politicians, that criticize A SHAK. How would you respond to such criticism?

Mehmet Kraja: Politicians' criticisms are out of the question because their goal is to use this institution for their own interests and therefore I don't take them seriously at all. As for general opinion and intellectual circles, let me just say one thing, intellectual circles, most of them target the academy, separately that part of university circles. Then there is nervousness, rejection, and criticism at the academy. And in opinion there is a thought, which is wrong for me about the academy, because the model of the Serbian academy in the minds of people, which will make big decisions for the nation. Academys do not have such mandates, and whenever they get involved in such work, they lead the country astray.

Radio Kosova: Critics are usually directed when comparisons are made with the Serbian Academy, which has supported Serbian nationalism. It is generally said that our Academy has been able to do more, to get more involved in developments in the country?

Mehmet Kraja: There is usually no public presentation of the Serbian academy to which the Kosovo Academy has not opposed. The problem, however, is that any presentation in the form of a reaction is not worth what is originally said. We cannot, nor do we have such comfort to withdraw from the Academy of Serbia. We have our job and I don't think we should deal with the Serbian academy every day. It is true that it is a great leader of Serbian nationalism and on the other hand has caused great tragedies to the Serbian people. We don't have mandates, but we don't even want to get a model Serbian academy. On the other hand, we do not need to absorb the activity of the academy, in countering the Serbian academy.

Radio Kosova: Kosovo has been in dialogue with Serbia for years. Has any of the Kosovo state leaders ever asked for help, or the Kosovo Academy's advice on the topic of dialogue? Did he give you A? SHAK an articulating stance for dialogue with Serbia?

Mehmet Kraja: Very clearly, I have to state that the academy's view of this dialogue has never been sought. But there is one thing, we cannot be indifferent to this process and we have received documents approved by the two sides involved in the Brussels talks and published them. We did an analysis of them and we introduced them publicly. Former Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti was also present, and yes, by Hoti we have asked that expert groups be made for specific areas where the academy would be involved.

Radio Kosova: Then Mr. Kraja, what is A official position SHAK about Kosovo-Serbia dialogue?

Mehmet Kraja: The academy does not take official positions, but it is expressed at certain times. We have said dialogue is necessary, but we have also indicated that the international community has been unjustly listed all the time, separately Brussels, on Serbia's side. Hence, we cannot deny and overlook that fact. Kosovo has been a party damaged not only during the war, but also during the dialogue, because Serbia has been allowed to take a stand around Resolution 1244, so as not to issue evidence under the decisions of that resolution, at a time Kosovo has been constantly urged to compromise. Kosovo's compromises have been painful because except that it is the party damaged during the war, it is also emerging and damaged by these talks. That's the attitude of the academy.

Radio Kosova: Who today is co-operation with the Albanian Academy? Within the framework of the national union's followers, there are ideas for unification, the Bible, and Albania's own prime minister once before the Kosovo Parliament, during a speech has spoken for a joint president. Is there any idea of joining two academys in one single academy?

Mehmet Kraja: We have very good co-operation with the Albanian Academy. We have signed co-operation protocols every two years and we have joint programmes. These include joint projects and publications as well as joint promotions. Now if this model were followed at other levels, it would be fine. I think the point where we're stuck is cultural and educational programs. They should advance. Meanwhile, things have gone wrong in political terms. Patriotism expressed by both us and the Albanian side serves nothing but to cover the defects. We can't discuss today the style we have to make a president or we have to join, and on the other hand you become Serbia's spokesman for the case of the “Balkan Open.” At this point Albania's leadership should be more consistent, clearer in its affairs. I think it's still time for two sovereign states, which respect each other, develop co-operation in all fields, economic, political and cultural, because we have the same interests and identities. But despite this, what is often happening is that Albania is going a step further than Serbia itself in these affairs around “Balkan Open.” Let's not forget that in Davos, Switzerland, Serbia's own president, Aleksandar Vuciq, said we have Albania's support more than any other country. There is nothing wrong with supporting that one state did to the other state, but this support cannot be passed to the expense of Kosovo.

Radio Kosova: How did you comment on the idea of joining Kosovo and Albania in one state?

Mehmet Kraja: It's a perfectly normal projection for one people, they can unite, but once for once, even because of international circumstances, but also internal circumstances, the two states still have a lot of vague things about each other. We have to overcome differences, we have to pass the authorities and only then we have to decide, in a very democratic way that can become the eventual union, but even as Kosovo and Albania are, they can function very well.

Radio Kosova: You're an academic, but you're a writer first. What is today's policy and power report with the writer and with the intellectual general?

Mehmet Kraja: The right would be that individual writers, but also intellectuals as a whole, separately creative intellectuals, because the definition of intellectuality is rather unclear, not getting involved in political life or becoming political leaders. Whenever writers or intellectuals of other fields become political leaders, cause problems, or are often unstable, they become charismatic but not pragmatic, not technocrats. In our circumstances I think that as far as creative intellectuals are concerned, I don't see that they have brought anything valuable to politics, rather they have damaged their intellectual work. This is because political parties in our circumstances are not very stable and are not very profiled. They are parties that in most cases follow low interests and in which when the creators enter, they devalate themselves and they bring nothing good to the country.

Radio Kosova: Mr. Kraja, does it seem that in Kosovo we have parties that are much more related to tribal logic or to interest clans?

Mehmet Kraja: They are instruments that carry out interests, whether family or tribe. There are circles, circles, which are instrumentalised and through which specific interests of political groups are realized. Kosovo is too small to be able to endure such a large amount of group interests. What I think now that Kosovo is missing is a greater idealism, a greater unity for common purposes and an exception of what is personal. So Kosovo needs more than idealism and to love people more.

Radio Kosova: It's more than 20 years since the war ended, don't you think we're going through a very long transition? Looks like we're stuck in a vicious circle.

Mehmet Kraja: All Eastern states, former communists, continue the transition with little change, even those that seem to be approaching, or even part of the European Union. This is because old mentality does not attract so easily and second, because social strains do not leave the country with more advanced views. In most countries, East states have the same problems, of course some have the easiest and most successful transition, but some are as bad as Kosovo. It's Albania's case. I don't think anything better happens in Albania than in Kosovo, although Albania is a state for 110 years and the transition has started 10 years before us.

Radio Kosova: A current topic in Kosovo appears to be political Islam in recent years. There are also prominent intellectuals who are talking about so-called Islamophobia in Kosovo, while another part is talking about inflammatory tendencies and national identity cannons, putting religious identity first?

Mehmet Kraja: No Islamophobia is in Kosovo. I think there's enough religious tolerance and for views maybe a little bit more advanced religious, such as those Wahhabis. However, I think that Kosovo needs greater clarity on religious issues. The greatest clarity is that religion is what it is, faith is what it is. We can't interfere with our faith. Faith is very personal. Using religion for political purposes is the biggest mistake we often don't know how to make or differentiate, sometimes without any intention, but most of the behind-the-back cases. Islamic fundamentalism in Kosovo is present, I think it does not threaten anyone as much currently. There were times when it was more severe, more pronounced, as was the time for people to get to ISIS. Now I think it's a more peaceful situation, but there's one thing that I think, that general social liberation, advance in rights and economic issues, advance in social and cultural life, good education, all I believe can lead to the right direction and leave no room for nature manipulation that the fundamental fundamental religion.

Radio Kosova: Mr. Kraja, can we speak of the dominance of religious identity over the national identity in Kosovo?

Mehmet Kraja: There is an occasional confusion between religious and national identity. I think the overwhelming part of Albanians have these things clear. It is a number of religious belts from the post - 2000. Before 2000, Kosovo was a country where traditional Islam did not recognise radical currents, even in the 1990s when there was a lack of power, lack of institutions. After the 2000s, things began to change, mainly under the influence of trends in the world, but also under the change of that part of the international community that was installed in Kosovo, but also of various foundations. All of this after the 2000s caused Kosovo to change its mental structure in terms of religion at some points. Now there's no puzzle in this business, we all know it. It's abuse of religion, it's misuse of funds and foundations. They've been used to draw people in the wrong direction. It's not a matter of discussing identity, because where I know, what's the most stable religious identity, or national, or who's first, or who's second. The problem is more about Utilism. There are even times when national identity seems insufficient and a different identity is required. Or when the national ideal doesn't work and then an ideal is required beyond it. I think Kosovo has a stability in religious terms. Sometimes phenomena appear that are natural, but I think that until now the religious and fundamental situation, Kosovo has managed well.

Radio Kosova: Last in Kosovo, there have been voices, fortunately lonely, that have made differences among Albanians on the basis of geographic origin. One of them has gone as far as has stressed that Kosovo's political and cultural institutions have been usurped by the Albanians of Montenegro, Northern Macedonia and the Presevo Valley. Do you have any comment on them?

Mehmet Kraja: You mean these <x0 migrants,” this is ridiculous. There are, however, such foolish ones because within a nation never become restrictions on this nature. Localisms are a primitive waste of tribal thinking. There can be no such relationships in a contemporary society that limit rights, freedoms, opportunities, prosperity of an individual who may be present in the civic life of a country, only because one can be of this country or that region. If you ask me what Kosovo has been in the last 50 years, I can tell you that it has been the integration factor of Albanians in the former Yugoslavia, regardless of whether they came from Montenegro, Northern Macedonia or the Presevo Valley. So, Kosovo has been an integration and emoculating factor. This is the role of even now, despite the fact that borders have now become state boundaries, and then we have had administrative boundaries. So Kosovo should play the role of an integration of Albanians living outside Albania. I think that Kosovo continues to have this role, but sometimes ideas, so-called state, are presented, which bypass the national idea and think Kosovo politics should now be state. So let's stop dealing with national idealism but set limits on people who are geographically out of it. In most cases, I think these are peripherals and do not present any problems for Kosovo society.

Radio Kosova: What is your opinion regarding the standard and level of education in Kosovo, ranging from that basic to the high academic level. If Kosovo is compared to other countries, does it turn out that very little budget is meant for scientific research?

Mehmet Kraja: No more can be required than done. All institutions of higher education are in charge of scientific works. I don't think there should be a division here of how much the budget should be for education and how much for scientific research. Scientific research is involved in higher education. Now, do we get closer to the EU, how separate they are for scientific projects, normally we can't be satisfied, yet a scientific job becomes, I don't see that as a problem. I see more education as a problem, because here things are connected, because without a quality education you can't even have a qualitative framework for quality research from science. Education is Alpha and Omega of each society and institution intended to do scientific research. Now education is not good for us as friends. We as an academy made a platform for education a year or two ago. The Ministry of Education took this and I don't know what they're doing around this rig, but in general, our education jobs are stuck. It's not the Ministry, A. SHAK or any institution separately, but the problem is with us as a society. If we don't create a social awareness that we have to change education, we have to change university school, so we change all educational institutions, and without such social awareness we'll hardly be able to overcome the situation we have.