Ladies and Gentlemen,
One of the most renowned figures from the walk of life of politics, intellectual area and publishing in the Albanian-wide area, the thinker, philosopher and policy-maker, Arbën Xhaferi, passed away two days ago.
People’s physical separation from life causes in us the mixed sensation of sorrow, pain and emotional provocation, but also the enlightened legacy that great man of the nations leave behind.
This legacy comes only from those who have a great spirit, a generous heart and an enlightened mind.
Arbën Xhaferi had all three.
Arbën Xhaferi was a genuine and unique political figure symbiotically encompassing within his personality the rare impeccable harmony of his intellectual and political talent.
His essence and identity consistent in this union, regardless of the field it emerged, may that be in culture, publications, or in the concrete field of politics or diplomacy.
Arbën Xhaferi had the gifting, the high theoretical skill, and the required ability to clarify and visualize the most complex social, philosophical and political phenomena.
This clarity would stem from the profound and accurate knowledge of the phenomena, the sharp thinking, iron logic and the eloquence of expression.
Given this skill of conception of Arbën Xhaferi, the presentation and comprehension of the Albanian issue would reach global scales, appear in new horizons, going beyond pieces and giving the entirety, or better said, the understanding of resting and resolving the Albanian issue.
This concept is broader, more flexible and more liberal than the actual relations of the Albanian issue in the Balkans. It is a concept of the righteous thinker led by knowledge and scientific argument.
Arbën Xhaferi’s undisputable quality of political thought is the radical knowledge of both resolved and unresolved national problems in Europe and beyond.
That is why each time he introduces the Albanian issue his point of view is from above, drawing comparisons, distinctions that clarify the goal and the thorough resolution of the Albanian issue.
Above all, Arbën Xhaferi is persistent and consistent in his ideas given his historical awareness, theoretical knowledge and the relations of Albanians with the surrounding neighbours.
This political, cultural and national consciousness makes Arbën Xhaferi a free individual from the complexes of inferiority, posing the natural request that Albanians as a collective body would be also released from the complexity of inferiority towards others.
In brining to rest and implementing the national interest of Albanians, Arbën Xhaferi thoroughly studies the internal Albanian potentials but without falling in the traps of euphoria, primitive nationalism, xenophobia, hegemony or utopian aspirations.
The debate and ideas of Arbën Xhaferi for the Albanian issue are contemporary just as they are rational; European as much as global; national as much as they are in the spirit of good neighbourly relations.
Arbën Xhaferi is a proponent of freedom, an enlightened thinker asking that his freedom be equal to the freedom of the other, asking for no impingement or the mutual respect of the space of freedom, be that individual or national.
It is precisely this intellectual, moral and humane potential that made that Arbën Xhaferi, apart from his contemplations, to approach politics from within, as an art, opportunity, as practice and pragmatism.
He gave the political actions the colour of his individuality.
The stripped notion of politician he clothed with the robe of the thinker, thus, humanizing the direction of politics in Macedonia.
During his presence in the political arena, Arbën Xhaferi radiated true leadership.
He assumed no executive position, even when he won the elections and his political party was a part of the government.
He was a leader. Moreover, he remained a leader to the very end.
He was not of those resolving the problem individually. He was of those that design and require a strategy in resolving major issues.
Arbën Xhaferi’s role in the political arena in Macedonia was positive and emancipating.
It was due to his persistence, vision and the requests he presented, imposed and designed as a leader of the Albanian in Macedonia that many processes were advances for the benefit of Albanians.
Arbën Xhaferi played an important role in Kosovo’s most difficult days, thus justifying his patriotic, political and humane potential.
Arbën Xhaferi was a natural supporter of the political philosophy of Kosovo Liberation Army.
Arbën Xhaferi would play an extraordinary role in overcoming the humanitarian crisis of Albanians being driven out of their lands in March, April 1999.
Arbën Xhaferi would play an important role in the affirmation of the Provisional Government of Kosovo that had just emerged from the war by supporting the new political spectrum without any hesitation or reserve.
Arbën Xhaferi remained all the time at the level of elite and of leaders, avoiding tensions even when typical paradoxes of Albanian life would emerge in practical life.
He was a political with a developed sense of the masses, and that is why he would never be excessive or lacking in concrete developments.
Being a man with a clear analytical and evaluative sense, in crucial moments he always aligned himself on the positive side, on the interest of the nations that he belonged.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Arbën Xhaferi has left deep footprints in the frames of the general movement for the liberation of Albanians by articulating his individuality in the political party, in establishing the public opinion, in analysing, synthesizing and assessing the position of Albanians in both the past and current century.
Arbën Xhaferi never strayed from the axis of his political and national identity.
Arbën Xhaferi remained in the political arena with dignity, until the days when the disease struck him which caused him to reduce the political activity, but not his thinking, ideas and the ongoing articulation on various aspects of political affairs, philosophical and cultural problems.
The early passing away of Arbën Xhaferi is an extraordinary loss for the family, for the political arena in Macedonia but also in Kosovo and beyond.
It is a loss for all of us who have come to know him, for his numerous friends, for all those who have worked with him.
With Arbën Xhaferi passing away, one of the most enlightened minds of the Albanian civilization also came to rest.
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and on my personal behalf, allow me to express my most sincere condolences to Xhaferi family, to his friends and all those who appreciate the overall contribution of Arbën Xhaferi.
