Ibrahim Rugova (2 December 1944 – 21 January 2006) was the first President of Kosovo, serving from 1992 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2006, and a prominent Kosovo Albanian political leader, scholar, and writer. He oversaw a popular struggle for independence, advocating a peaceful resistance to Yugoslav rule and lobbying for U.S. and European support, especially during the Kosovo War. He strongly emphasized the heritage of ancient Dardania, the independent kingdom and later province of the Roman Empire that included modern-day Kosovo, to strengthen the country's identity and to promote his policy of closer relations with the West. Owing to his role in Kosovo's history, Rugova has been dubbed "Father of the Nation" and "Gandhi of the Balkans," awarded, among others, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, and posthumously declared a Hero of Kosovo.
Rugova was born to an Albanian family in Yugoslavia (in what became Kosovo); Yugoslav communists executed his father and grandfather while Rugova was still an infant. He studied literature at the University of Pristina and the University of Paris, and received a doctorate with a dissertation on Albanian literary criticism. As a student, he participated in a civil rights movement for the Albanians, although he formally joined the Communist League of Yugoslavia to secure career advancements. Thereby, he worked as editor of prestigious literary and scholarly publications and research fellow at the Institute of Albanian Studies; in 1988, he was elected president of the Kosovo Writers Union.
Rugova entered politics in 1989, when he assumed the leadership of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), a newly formed political party that opposed the nullification of Kosovo's autonomy in the former Yugoslavia. In 1992, Rugova won the first presidential election in the Republic of Kosova, an unrecognised state declared in secret by members of Kosovo's former assembly within Yugoslavia. Serbia, led by Slobodan Milošević, retained effective power in Kosovo throughout most of the 1990s, but did not secure the full cooperation of the Albanian population. The Republic of Kosova collected donations from Kosovars at home and abroad and set up parallel institutions, including independent, albeit often clandestine, educational and healthcare systems for the ethnic Albanians.
As president, Rugova continued to support his non-violent path to independence even as proponents of an armed resistance formed the Kosovo Liberation Army to counter increasing Serbian oppression on the ethnic Albanians. In 1998, Rugova secured a second term as president, but was placed at odds with the KLA as the Kosovo War broke out. In 1999, he participated in the failed Rambouillet talks, as a member of the Kosovar delegation, seeking an end to the hostilities. Having resided in the capital Pristina during his entire presidency, Rugova was taken prisoner by the state authorities after NATO began its U.S.-led aerial campaign against Yugoslav atrocities in Kosovo. Rugova was exiled to Rome in May 1999 and returned to Kosovo in the summer that year, shortly after the KLA and NATO occupation.
Rugova remained nominal president of the republic with Bujar Bukoshi as his prime minister; meanwhile, Hashim Thaçi, a former KLA commander, had been leading a provisional government since April that year. Effective power, however, was in the hands of the United Nations administration. In 2000, Rugova and Thaçi agreed to relinquish their positions and to work on creating provisional institutions of self-government until Kosovo's final status was decided. Rugova was elected president of Kosovo by the newly formed parliament in 2002 and again in 2005. While his pre-war popularity had certainly diminished, he remained the most powerful leader in the country until his death from lung cancer in 2006.
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Qemal Stafa
Qemal Stafa (20 March 1920 in Elbasan - 5 May 1942 in Tirana) was a founding member of the Albanian Communist Party, and the leader of its youth section. He was very active in the National Liberation Movement of Albania during World War II. He was killed in a house at the outskirts of Tirana by the Italian fascist forces, who had occupied Albania. It is believed that he may have been betrayed by one or more of his comrades, possibly Enver Hoxha (the first secretary of the Albanian communist party & leader of Albania), who gained much from his death. The source of these allegations may derive from the deaths of many communist party members, during and after WWII, caused by the same Enver Hoxha. The 5th of May, his death anniversary, was chosen after the end of the war as the Martyrs' Day of Albania to commemorate all those who gave their life for Albania's liberation.
Many streets, squares and schools in different cities bear his name as well as a military base and the most important stadium in the country.
Many streets, squares and schools in different cities bear his name as well as a military base and the most important stadium in the country.
Andon Zako Çajupi
Andon Zako Çajupi (27 March 1866 – 11 July 1930) was a leading Albanian rilindas, poet, and playwright writer that actively participated in the Albanian National Awakening.
He was born in the village of Sheper, Upper Zagoria, Albania, then Ottoman Empire, on March 27, 1866. Çajupi's father, Harito Zako, was a tobacco merchant, with a business extending throughout the then-Ottoman Empire and also into Italy and other parts of western Europe.
Çajupi's elementary education was undertaken at the nearest Greek elementary school. In 1882, he moved to Alexandria, where he studied French for five years at Sainte Catherine des Lazaristes. During his time in Alexandria, Çajupi met several western European lawyers representing businesses in Egypt. These meetings convinced him to study law in Switzerland, and in 1887, Çajupi arrived in Geneva, where he studied law for five years. While studying law in Switzerland, he met his future wife, Eugenia. The couple had a son, Stefan.
After graduating, Çajupi practiced law in Geneva for three years. Eugenia died in 1892, and this tragedy forced Çajupi to leave Switzerland and return to Albania. After his return in 1894, Çajupi found employment representing a German company in Cairo.
During the Egyptian career, Çajupi defended a French company against the interests of the Egyptian government and the German law firm employing him, a move which caused him to terminate his employment with the firm but ultimately proved fruitless as he lost the case. Due to his family's wealth, however, this did not cause him serious difficulties, and he withdrew to his villa at Heliopolis near Cairo.
During this time, Çajupi met many Albanian businesspeople and joined the Albanian nationalist movement in Egypt where he played an active role in agitating for Albanian independence from the Ottoman Empire. Records from 1902 show that he was an active member of the Albanian Fraternity of Egypt, Vëllazëria e Egjiptit. Çajupi's financial support and professional expertise were both required in his role promoting Albanian independence. Following the declaration of Albanian independence, Çajupi organized a party in his home.
He was born in the village of Sheper, Upper Zagoria, Albania, then Ottoman Empire, on March 27, 1866. Çajupi's father, Harito Zako, was a tobacco merchant, with a business extending throughout the then-Ottoman Empire and also into Italy and other parts of western Europe.
Çajupi's elementary education was undertaken at the nearest Greek elementary school. In 1882, he moved to Alexandria, where he studied French for five years at Sainte Catherine des Lazaristes. During his time in Alexandria, Çajupi met several western European lawyers representing businesses in Egypt. These meetings convinced him to study law in Switzerland, and in 1887, Çajupi arrived in Geneva, where he studied law for five years. While studying law in Switzerland, he met his future wife, Eugenia. The couple had a son, Stefan.
After graduating, Çajupi practiced law in Geneva for three years. Eugenia died in 1892, and this tragedy forced Çajupi to leave Switzerland and return to Albania. After his return in 1894, Çajupi found employment representing a German company in Cairo.
During the Egyptian career, Çajupi defended a French company against the interests of the Egyptian government and the German law firm employing him, a move which caused him to terminate his employment with the firm but ultimately proved fruitless as he lost the case. Due to his family's wealth, however, this did not cause him serious difficulties, and he withdrew to his villa at Heliopolis near Cairo.
During this time, Çajupi met many Albanian businesspeople and joined the Albanian nationalist movement in Egypt where he played an active role in agitating for Albanian independence from the Ottoman Empire. Records from 1902 show that he was an active member of the Albanian Fraternity of Egypt, Vëllazëria e Egjiptit. Çajupi's financial support and professional expertise were both required in his role promoting Albanian independence. Following the declaration of Albanian independence, Çajupi organized a party in his home.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Great Albania ( Ethnic Albania )
Greater Albania[1] or Ethnic Albania (Albanian: Shqipëria Etnike) is an irredentist concept of lands that are considered to form the national homeland by most Albanians,[2] based on claims on the present-day or historical presence of Albanian populations in those areas. In addition to the existing Republic of Albania, the term incorporates claims to regions in the neighbouring states, the areas include Kosovo and the Preševo Valley of Serbia, territories in southern Montenegro, northwestern Greece ( the Greek regional units of Thesprotia and Preveza, referred by Albanians as Chameria), and a part of western Republic of Macedonia.
The unification of an even larger area into a unique territory under Albanian authority had been theoretically conceived by the League of Prizren, an organization of the 19th century whose goal was to unify the Albanian inhabited lands (and other regions) into a single autonomous Albanian Vilayet within the Ottoman Empire.[3] However, the concept of a Greater Albania, as in greater than Albania within its 1913 borders, was only ever implemented de facto and de jure under the Italian and Nazi German occupation of the Balkans during World War II.[4]
According to the Gallup Balkan Monitor 2010 report, the idea of a Greater Albania is supported by the majority of Albanians in Albania (63%), Kosovo (81%) and the Republic of Macedonia (53%).[5][6]
In a survey carried out by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), published in March 2007, only 2.5% of the Albanians in Kosovo thought unification with Albania is the best solution for Kosovo. 96% said they wanted Kosovo to become independent within its present borders.[7]
In the various territories of the Balkans inhabited by Albanians, armed forces were created during the 90s.[8] For the list of military/paramilitary organisations see below.
The unification of an even larger area into a unique territory under Albanian authority had been theoretically conceived by the League of Prizren, an organization of the 19th century whose goal was to unify the Albanian inhabited lands (and other regions) into a single autonomous Albanian Vilayet within the Ottoman Empire.[3] However, the concept of a Greater Albania, as in greater than Albania within its 1913 borders, was only ever implemented de facto and de jure under the Italian and Nazi German occupation of the Balkans during World War II.[4]
According to the Gallup Balkan Monitor 2010 report, the idea of a Greater Albania is supported by the majority of Albanians in Albania (63%), Kosovo (81%) and the Republic of Macedonia (53%).[5][6]
In a survey carried out by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), published in March 2007, only 2.5% of the Albanians in Kosovo thought unification with Albania is the best solution for Kosovo. 96% said they wanted Kosovo to become independent within its present borders.[7]
In the various territories of the Balkans inhabited by Albanians, armed forces were created during the 90s.[8] For the list of military/paramilitary organisations see below.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Lasgush Poradeci
Llazar Sotir Gusho, (27 December 1899 in Pogradec – 12 November 1987 in Tirana), is a 20th-century Albanian poet and writer known by the pseudonymLasgush Poradeci.
After Poradeci finished elementary school at Pogradec in 1908, he studied at a language school in Monastir, Ottoman Empire. At the beginning of WWI he returned to Pogradec, after which his father sent him to study at the Lycée Léonin in Athens. At the end of 1921 he enrolled at the Şcoala Naţională de Arte Frumoase, Bucharest, where he took paid work to subsidize his studies, and in 1922 joined Bucharest's association for the Albanian diaspora, the Albanian colony; later being elected its secretary. In the summer of 1924 the Romanian government awarded him a scholarship to attend the Faculty of Romano-German Philology of the University of Graz in Austria; he finished a doctorate there in 1933. He returned to Albania the following year to teach art at a secondary school in Tirana, this until 1944 when he became unemployed. In 1947 he briefly taught at Tirana's Institute of Science, then translated for the Naim Frashëri state-owned publishing house, retiring in 1974. Poradeci died in poverty in 1987.
After Poradeci finished elementary school at Pogradec in 1908, he studied at a language school in Monastir, Ottoman Empire. At the beginning of WWI he returned to Pogradec, after which his father sent him to study at the Lycée Léonin in Athens. At the end of 1921 he enrolled at the Şcoala Naţională de Arte Frumoase, Bucharest, where he took paid work to subsidize his studies, and in 1922 joined Bucharest's association for the Albanian diaspora, the Albanian colony; later being elected its secretary. In the summer of 1924 the Romanian government awarded him a scholarship to attend the Faculty of Romano-German Philology of the University of Graz in Austria; he finished a doctorate there in 1933. He returned to Albania the following year to teach art at a secondary school in Tirana, this until 1944 when he became unemployed. In 1947 he briefly taught at Tirana's Institute of Science, then translated for the Naim Frashëri state-owned publishing house, retiring in 1974. Poradeci died in poverty in 1987.
Albanian hymn Translate to English
Albanian lyrics Translate
Prej lufte veç ai largohet
Rreth flamurit të përbashkuar
Me një dëshir' e një qëllim,
Të gjith' atij duke iu betuar
Të lidhim besën për shpëtim.
Me një dëshir' e një qëllim,
Të gjith' atij duke iu betuar
Të lidhim besën për shpëtim.
Around our flag we stand united,
With one wish and one goal,
A sacred oath we bestow upon it
Proclaiming loyalty for our salvation.
--------------------------------------With one wish and one goal,
A sacred oath we bestow upon it
Proclaiming loyalty for our salvation.
Prej lufte veç ai largohet
Që është lindur tradhëtar,
Kush është burrë nuk frikësohet,
Po vdes, po vdes si një dëshmor!
Kush është burrë nuk frikësohet,
Po vdes, po vdes si një dëshmor!
From war abstains only he,
Who a traitor is born,
He who is a true man is not frightened,
But dies a martyr to the cause.
--------------------------------------Who a traitor is born,
He who is a true man is not frightened,
But dies a martyr to the cause.
Në dorë armët do t'i mbajmë,
Të mbrojmë atdheun në çdo kënd,
Të drejtat tona ne s'i ndajmë;
Këtu armiqtë s'kanë vënd!
Të mbrojmë atdheun në çdo kënd,
Të drejtat tona ne s'i ndajmë;
Këtu armiqtë s'kanë vënd!
With weapons in our hands a-brandished,
We will defend our fatherland,
Our sacred rights we’ll not relinquish,
The foe has no place in our land.
--------------------------------------We will defend our fatherland,
Our sacred rights we’ll not relinquish,
The foe has no place in our land.
Se Zoti vetë e tha me gojë
Që kombe shuhen përmbi dhé,
Po Shqipëria do të rrojë;
Për të, për të luftojmë ne!
Që kombe shuhen përmbi dhé,
Po Shqipëria do të rrojë;
Për të, për të luftojmë ne!
For God himself proclaimed:
The nations of the earth shall wane,
And yet will live, will thrive Albania.
For her our fight won’t be in vain.
--------------------------------------The nations of the earth shall wane,
And yet will live, will thrive Albania.
For her our fight won’t be in vain.
O Flamur, flamur, shenj' e shenjtë
tek ti betohemi këtu
për Shqipërinë, atdheun e shtrenjtë,
për nder' edhe lavdimn e tu.
tek ti betohemi këtu
për Shqipërinë, atdheun e shtrenjtë,
për nder' edhe lavdimn e tu.
O Flag, flag, you sacred symbol
upon you we now swear
for Albania, our dear fatherland
for honour and your commends
--------------------------------------upon you we now swear
for Albania, our dear fatherland
for honour and your commends
Trim burrë quhet dhe nderohet
atdheut kush iu bë therror.
Përjetë ai do të kujtohet
mbi dhe, nën dhe si një shenjtor!
atdheut kush iu bë therror.
Përjetë ai do të kujtohet
mbi dhe, nën dhe si një shenjtor!
Brave man is named and honoured
the one who sacrificed himself for the fatherland
Forever he will be remembered
on earth and under as a saint!
the one who sacrificed himself for the fatherland
Forever he will be remembered
on earth and under as a saint!
Hymn to the Albanian Flag (Himni flamurit)
Himni i Flamurit (English: Hymn to the Flag) is the national anthem of Albania. The words were written by the Albanian poet Asdreni (Aleksandër Stavre Drenova) but are merely different from the original Romanian lyrics which Andrei Barseanu wrote for Porumbescu's piece. The hymn was first published as a poem in Liri e Shqipërisë (in English: Freedom of Albania), an Albanian newspaper in Sofia, Bulgaria, on April 21, 1912. The original title of the poem was "Betimi mi flamur," ("Pledge to the Flag"). It was later printed in a volume of poems by Drenova titled Ëndra e lotë (in English: Dreams and tears), which was published in Bucharest.
The music of the anthem was composed by the Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu, originally for the song "Pe-al nostru steag e scris Unire" (or "E scris pe tricolor unire").
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)