Prishtina, 15 August 2022
In the University Library in Prishtina, the 40th edition of the International Seminar on Albanian Language, Literature and Culture was opened.
The welcoming speech of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, at the opening of the 40th edition of the International Seminar on Albanian Language, Literature and Culture:
Dear Director Munishi,
Dear co-director Dhurata Sheri,
Honourable president of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, Mehmet Kraja,
Dear members of the Academy,
Dear Ministers,
Dear professors, researchers, ladies and gentlemen,
I am sorry that I cannot be with you today at the most important annual event for the field of Albanianology.
Language and words, one by one, always put us in front of a high responsibility. Perhaps not only of responsibility, but also of debt. Language has given so much to each of us. But this giving in the form of a gift from the language and from its creators must be turned into a relationship. So, what we have received we must also give.
The relationship between language and nation is only historical. These are two consciousnesses that help knowledge and universal curiosity. Through the language, not only the love for the nation, but also for life itself, for the language itself and the human being, has been properly taught.
While language builds and maintains our relationships, writers and researchers maintain our language.
Attacked by interrupted thinking, by quick thinking, by oversimplification, by unnecessary translation, Albanian is not only our tool for knowledge, politics and life, but it is also our goal of development.
Language by its public nature is our common property. When a writer, publicist or translator enriches his or her language, it has enriched all of us through our common Albanian.
Linguistic power lies not only in the evidence of antiquity, which has scientifically overcome doubts, but also in recognition and use. The better we know the language, the better we master our thoughts. Therefore, language is political and individual independence.
That we should not try to untie the strong knot of language, nation, history and geography is a proven attitude. They are tightly connected one after the other. But we must protect it for the sake of results in all disciplines. Not just for our culture, but for all the cultures that are offered to us in writing. Even for the sake of learning foreign languages, we need a deep knowledge of the mother tongue.
Translations have performed many tasks, giving us the style, biography and history of another country and at the same time adding to our vocabulary.
Therefore, all of us as beneficiaries of the language must remember Çabej and his message, that “we must serve to the language same as it serves us”.
Language is the form of the nation that we take everywhere with us. We should not expect to pay homage for not applying the mandatory rules that oblige us as a discipline.
Everyone should have a high sense of responsibility and not only the designers, professionals and language scientists of the Albanian language. We must therefore make it available to all our compatriots wherever they live.
In our institutions, work is being done for the first time to implement the concept document for learning the Albanian language in diaspora and for language certification.
Together with the institutions of the Republic of Albania, we have prepared the first-level text “Albanian language and culture” dedicated to our children in diaspora, which will be distributed in September, as well as the common Albanian Primer book.
We believe that it is possible to integrate our diaspora in Europe and the world without assimilation. Learning the Albanian language is the key to integration without assimilation.
Albanians are a nation of language, not only of the flag and other symbols. Therefore, knowledge of the language is necessary to better understand our people and to learn our history. The role of the Seminar and the contribution of researchers in this aspect is very valuable.
The fortieth edition of the Seminar, as far as I am informed, will have the largest number of seminarians and participants ever, around 150. Congratulating you on this jubilee year, I wish for the most fruitful lectures, sessions and courses in the elaboration of linguistic issues and the learning of Albanian.
Thank you.
Last modified: August 16, 2022