It gives me great pleasure to attend this regional forum where the important and current issues on discussion are the dialogue through cultures and civilizations.
My country, like all the other participating countries, plays an active part in this new historical process, i.e. the process of consolidating the democracy and joining Europe. This process is no longer based on ideological criteria or influence zones but on the common values of freedom, democracy and free market. Different countries, cultures and traditions are joining a big family, thus creating a rich and valuable mosaic. Therefore, the cultures and traditions, so far symbol of the identity of different ethnic groups and communities within a country or region, are integrating into the EU by preserving their identity, which similarly enrich the European civilization. In essence, this process makes Europe stronger and the Balkans’ safer. The tendencies towards globalization naturally lead to the recognition, rapprochement and interconnection of the cultural values.
The new development challenges, such as the fight against terrorism and increase of international security have brought to light once again the debate regarding cultures and civilizations. There have been also viewpoints highlighting the conflict among cultures and introducing it as a clash of civilizations. We cannot agree with certain ideas, according to which the differences among different cultures and civilizations make conflict unavoidable. We witness with attention that the major conflicts in the region and world are not the conflicts instigated by ethnic or religious motifs, but conflicts among the values of freedom, democracy and emancipated societies on one hand, and anti-values on the other hand, such as totalitarism, extreme fanatism and terrorism. When Albania joined the international anti-terror coalition led by the USA, it joined exactly for the purpose of protecting these major values of today’s civilization. We are convinced that this is an essential contribution to the preservation of peace and development.
Distinguished attendees,
The last contacts we have recently had with high-rank politicians of the region, like the one with Mr. Trajkovski, during the First Balkan Gathering “Building Friendship”, as well as the regional initiatives we have undertaken for the acceleration of our Euro-Atlantic integration processes, are not only an expression of the good political and economic cooperation among our countries, but also evidence of an ever growing tendency to jointly share the problems and overcome the challenges of the future. This speaks for the creation of a new political culture, the culture of dialogue. This new spirit becomes even more important when we take into consideration the fact that it takes place after the four dramatic Balkans’ wars, which have led to excessive human and material losses and massive displacement of hundreds and thousands of innocent citizens.
We are all conscious of the high cost our region has paid for having used extreme nationalism and weapons instead of dialogue. Whereas today’s meeting and place represent a new symbolism: we are cultivating with greater strength and conviction the idea of leaving behind of the old culture of conflicts and clashes and are embarking upon the period of dialogue and agreements. However, we cannot but highlight that there are still politicians in the Balkans’ holding tight to the old mentalities and the lack of will to detach from the past. Realistically speaking, the past will never come back. The aspiration and interest of our peoples and countries is to look ahead by demonstrating tolerance and courage to forgive, and to make these human values part of the new culture of the region. Rabbi Scheiner was right to highlight that children are born innocent; they are like a blank sheet of paper; it’s exactly the distorted politics that teaches hatred to them. We should never do this to them, on the contrary we should forget, forget, forget. Let us forgive, forgive, and forgive!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The establishment of real democratic societies is the best way to strengthen dialogue, to cooperate and to coexist among our peoples and countries. These societies are based on the respect and assurance of the human freedoms and principles of the rule of law, which strengthen peace, stability and development. Therefore, the engagement of state, politicians, civil society, media and other institutions is of special importance. Part of the culture of dialogue and understanding is also the increase of political, economic, cultural, sports exchanges, the expansion of the ways of reciprocal communication, as well as the compilation of common strategies for projects with regional interest. We should teach to our children in schools the cultural diversity of the countries of the region, so that they can love and respect one another.
Our region greatly needs the free movement of goods, citizens and ideas; it doesn’t need bureaucratic barriers of any kind which do nothing else but narrow down the ground of democracy and development. The more schools, knowledge and culture we exchange, the more our freedom and development will strengthen. This is also the reason why Albania has abolished the visa regime with the majority of the countries of the region, expecting them to do the same with us in return. We should seriously engage in order to realize the free movement of citizens within the region and beyond in the United Europe, which would definitely provide the development of our countries with a new impetus. Worth stressing out is also the increase of understanding in the high political levels. Unfortunately, what has been achieved in other levels, with regard to understanding, is not sufficient. This is why we should never allow the bureaucrats to hinder the peoples of the Balkans and the entire Southeastern Europe from the free communication.
Distinguished attendees,
In the context of this meeting, I would like to bring to your attention, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, a very positive aspect of the culture of the Albanian society: the religious harmony and coexistence. There are three religious beliefs in Albania, and for centuries they have lived in harmony by producing inter-marriage relations, out of which children are born and generations are brought up, which deepen further more the religious harmony and tolerance. In this way, Albania offers a praiseworthy model of inter-religious dialogue and understanding, which at present constitutes an extraordinary value for the dialogue among different cultures and civilizations. To further highlight this value and to share it with the others, we will be soon be organizing an international symposium on this topic, during the month of November; there will be a lot of guests but we would also welcome distinguished participants of this meeting, as well.
Concluding, allow me, to congratulate president Trajkovski and UNESCO for the initiative and well organization of this meeting. I am convinced that it contributes to the increase of the spirit of dialogue among cultures, to the cooperation among our countries and to the strengthening of the Euro-Atlantic spirit of the region.
Thank You!
